A multi-stage cascaded thermoelectrical cooler (TEC) package is used in conjunction with an air cooling system to control temperature of battery cells in a battery module such that the temperature differences stay within a predetermined range. Battery cells in the battery module are divided into one or more regular sections and one or more TEC enhancing sections. A regular section and a TEC enhancing section can use different types of battery cell holders to assemble the battery cells. TECs in the TEC package are integrated into each enhancing section, where each stage of the TEC package is attached to one or more battery cells in a different region of the enhancing section. A higher stage, which is more powerful in enhancing heat transfer and extracting heat from battery cells, is attached to one or more battery cells in a section closer to the air outlet. The TEC package is powered by a discharging convertor circuit of the battery module.

Examples of flexible thermoelectric generators (TEGs), systems thereof, and methods of manufacturing the flexible TEGs are presented. The TEG devices can be used for cooling or heating. The flexible configuration allows the TEGs to conform to a wide range of surface shapes. A flexible thermoelectric generator (TEG) includes thermoelectric (TE) legs in vertical voids of a foam and conductive connectors coupled to TE legs. The TEGs can be used for cooling or heating in, e.g., cushions, mattresses, garments, footwear, carpets, flexible wraps, coolers, containers, etc.

Embodiments relate to an apparatus for a nano-scale energy converter and an electric power generator. The apparatus includes two electrodes separated by a distance. The first electrode is manufactured to have a first work function value and the second electrode is manufactured to have a second work function value, with the first and second work function values being different. A cavity is formed by the distance between the first and second electrodes, and a nanofluid is disposed in the cavity. The nanofluid includes nanoparticles suspended in a dielectric medium. The nanoparticles have a third work function value that is greater than the first and second work function values. The relationship of the work function values of the nanoparticles to the work function values of the electrodes optimizes the transfer of electrons to the nanoparticles through Brownian motion and electron hopping.

Methods of making various fibers are provided including co-axial fibers with oppositely doped cladding and core are provide; hollow core doped silicon carbide fibers are provided; and doubly clad PIN junction fibers are provided. Additionally methods are provided for forming direct PN junctions between oppositely doped fibers are provided. Various thermoelectric generators that incorporate the aforementioned fibers are provided.

A device to thermoelectrically cool a cooling fluid is described. The device includes a cooling fluid circulation system to circulate a cooling fluid which cools a hardware component of a computer. The device further includes a thermoelectric cooling unit to cool the cooling fluid. The device further includes a controller to execute temperature control instructions to control the thermoelectric cooling unit to cool the cooling fluid to a cooling temperature not lower than ambient temperature to reduce the risk of water condensation.

A thermoelectric module may include a unit thermoelectric member having a contact portion configured to come into contact with a subject; and a hydrophobic pattern disposed on the contact portion and configured to guide condensate water produced on the contact portion, to the outside of the contact portion, inhibiting stagnation of the condensate water on the contact portion and improving comfort.

A prosthetic socket cooling system and method includes a thermally conductive heat spreader including a curved shaped portion configured to maximize contact with a residual limb of a user. A heat extraction subsystem is coupled through a wall of the prosthetic socket and to the thermally conductive heat spreader and is configured to maintain a desired temperature inside the prosthetic socket.

A tubular heat exchanger, with a thermoelectric power generation function, includes: a thermoelectric power generation module 2 mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the heat exhaust tube 1; and a cooling pipe 3 mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the thermoelectric power generation module 2. The cooling pipe 3 is for allowing a cooling material to flow therethrough. The thermoelectric power generation module 2 performs thermoelectric power generation by using the outer circumferential surface of the heat exhaust tube 1 as a high-temperature source and using the inner circumferential surface of the cooling pipe 3 as a low-temperature source. The cooling pipe 3 is in tight attachment to the outer circumferential surface of the thermoelectric power generation module 2.

A hydro-electrochemical power generator includes an interlayer having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a first electrode in contact with the first end of the interlayer, wherein the first electrode includes a first material that is a corrodible metallic material, a second electrode in contact with the second end of the interlayer, wherein the second electrode includes a second material that is a corrodible metallic material, and at least one heat source coupled to one of the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to apply a temperature gradient across the first end and the second end of the interlayer, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to output a non-zero electrical voltage in response to the application of the temperature gradient.

Various examples of thin film thermoelectric (TE) devices, their fabrication and applications are presented. In one example, a thin film TE device includes a first substrate including a void; a p-type TE element attached to the first substrate at a first end and extending over the void to a second end; an n-type TE element attached to the first substrate at a first end and extending over the void to a second end adjacent to the second end of the p-type TE element; and an interconnection coupling the second ends of the p-type TE element and the n-type TE element. In some examples, TE device layers can be vacuum sealed between a supporting substrate and a transparent substrate. A thermal spreader can include TE modules having a distribution of TE elements that operate in generating or cooling modes to cool IC or device hotspots using self-generated power.