A thermoelectric apparatus according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a heat dissipation member having a groove formed therein, a first electrode disposed in the groove, a semiconductor structure disposed on the first electrode, a second electrode disposed on the semiconductor structure, a substrate disposed on the second electrode, and a sealing member disposed between a sidewall of the groove and the substrate.

A thermal management system for an object comprising: one or more thermoelectric elements, one or more light emitting sources, electricity transport medium; electrical energy storage, and a controller. Heat energy that is generated or absorbed by the object is converted by said thermoelectric element to electrical energy. This energy is transferred to light emitting source to emit the energy to the environment or delivered to the electrical energy storage or back to the thermoelectric elements using the electricity transport medium and the controller to achieve the thermal goal of the thermal management system.

The invention relates to an energy recovering assembly (1) and a method of providing the same for extraction of electric power. The assembly comprises a first array (2) of tubes (6) and a second array (3) of tubes (13). The tubes (6) of the first array (2) are interdigitated with the tubes (13) of the second array (3), such that two tubes (13) of the second array (3) are arranged between two successive tubes (6) of the first array (2), or such that two tubes (6) of the first array (2) are arranged between two successive tubes (13) of the second array (3). Thermo electric modules (4) are received in gaps (7) between adjacent tubes (6, 13) of the first (2) and second arrays (3). Fixation arrangements (5) are received in interspaces (X) between two tubes (6; 13). The fixation arrangements (5) are operable between a first state in which the fixation arrangement (5) is insertable in the associated interspace (X), and a second state in which the fixation arrangement (5) is adapted to exert a pressure on the two tubes (6; 13) in the associated interspace (X), forcing each of the two tubes (6; 13) towards the thermo electric modules (4) and towards the successive tubes (6; 13) adjacent the thermoelectric modules (4).

The invention relates to a method for cyclical operation of a thermoelectric cell arrangement by periodically changing the temperature of the thermoelectric cell arrangement, wherein the thermoelectric cell arrangement is thermally coupled to a cyclically operated absorption heat pump. The following method steps are carried out cyclically: thermally coupling the thermoelectric cell arrangement during a cooling phase to a cold side of the absorption heat pump, thermally coupling the thermoelectric cell arrangement during a heating phase to a hot side of the absorption heat pump. The invention also relates to a harvester device for generating electrical energy by means of a thermoelectric cell arrangement, wherein the thermoelectric cell arrangement is thermally coupled to an absorption heat pump, wherein the thermal coupling makes it possible to effect, in time with the working cycle of the absorption heat pump, a temperature change in the thermoelectric cell arrangement.

A semiconductor product comprising: a semiconductor substrate and a test structure, the test structure comprising: a thermopile and at least one temperature sensitive element, the at least one temperature sensitive element being located in the substrate, or between the substrate and the thermopile.

A heating and cooling device is disclosed comprising at least one integral low voltage heating and cooling source and an efficient flexible heat distribution means having a thermal conductivity of from 375 to 4000 W/mK for distributing the heat and cool across a surface. Further aspects include thermal interface compounds to provide full thermal contact as well as the use of a phase change material to provide a long lasting heating and/or cooling effect without the use of external electrical input. Preferred applications include automotive and furniture seating heating and cooling, along with outdoor garments having distributed heating and cooling effects.

A thermoelectric generator includes a first channel for passing a warm fluid along a direction of flow, a second channel for passing a cold fluid, a plurality of thermocouple elements disposed along the direction of flow between the first and second channels, a first member includes portions disposed between the elements and the first channel and associated with the individual elements for providing a heat coupling between the associated element and the first channel, and a second member including portions disposed between the elements and the second channel and associated with the individual elements for providing a heat coupling between the associated element and the second channel. The sum of the thermal resistances of those portions that are associated with a first element positioned upstream of a second element is bigger than the sum of the thermal resistances of those portions that are associated with the second element.

Disclosed is a flexible thermoelectric system. More particularly, the flexible thermoelectric system includes thermoelectric units that are wearable on the human body; a heating unit that is provided on one side of the thermoelectric units so as to be disposed between the thermoelectric units and the skin and is formed of a hygroscopic and exothermic material; and a heat dissipating unit that is provided on other side of the thermoelectric units such that the heat dissipating unit faces the heating unit and the thermoelectric units are disposed between the heat dissipating unit and the heating unit; wherein the heating unit and the heat dissipating unit are flexible. Due to such a configuration, the flexible thermoelectric system may be flexibly attached to the skin and temperature difference between upper and lower surfaces of the thermoelectric units may be maximized. Accordingly, power generation or cooling performance may be improved.

A thermoelectric device having a flat tube, a first thermoelectric module, and a second thermoelectric module. The thermoelectric modules each have a housing that includes at least two opposite first walls. A plurality of thermoelectric elements is arranged between the first walls of the housing. The thermoelectric elements have opposite surfaces, each of which is in thermal contact with one of the first walls of the housing of the thermoelectric module.

A thermoelectric cooling device has first and second sides which can act as hot and cold sides. Heat exchangers are preferably in thermal conductance with the first and second sides and air may be directed by fans past the heat exchangers. Closed fluid systems may also be used. Furthermore, improved heat sink constructions are believed to improve the efficiency of the thermoelectric device.