To provide a stress relaxation structure that can achieve both high thermal conductivity and high thermal stress relaxation ability and has excellent vibration durability, and a thermoelectric conversion module having such a stress relaxation structure. The stress relaxation structure includes a rolled-up body having a first thermal conductor and a second thermal conductor that are alternately rolled up. The first thermal conductor is metal foil, and the second thermal conductor is porous metal foil.

An exhaust manifold for a vehicle configured for improving fuel efficiency of the vehicle by improving fluidity of exhaust gas may include a manifold body having a plurality of inlet portions which are outwardly extended and an outlet portion which is outwardly extended, wherein the manifold body may have a flat surface formed on at least a portion of a top surface thereof.

An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing an assembly, a heated cover, and an internal computer, is provided. The assembly is made up of a sample block, a number of Peltier thermal electric devices, and a heat sink, clamped together. A control algorithm manipulates the current supplied to thermoelectric coolers such that the dynamic thermal performance of a block can be controlled so that pre-defined thermal profiles of sample temperature can be executed. The sample temperature is calculated instead of measured using a design specific model and equations. The control software includes calibration diagnostics which permit variation in the performance of thermoelectric coolers from instrument to instrument to be compensated for such that all instruments perform identically. The block/heat sink assembly can be changed to another of the same or different design. The assembly carries the necessary information required to characterize its own performance in an on-board memory device, allowing the assembly to be interchangeable among instruments while retaining its precision operating characteristics.

A method for converting heat to electric energy is described which involves thermally cycling an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes. The material is heated by extracting thermal energy from a gas to condense the gas into a liquid and transferring the thermal energy to the electrically polarizable material. An apparatus is also described which includes an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes and a heat exchanger for heating the material in thermal communication with a heat source, wherein the heat source is a condenser. An apparatus is also described which comprises a chamber, one or more conduits inside the chamber for conveying a cooling fluid and an electrically polarizable material sandwiched between electrodes on an outer surface of the conduit. A gas introduced into the chamber condenses on the conduits and thermal energy is thereby transferred from the gas to the electrically polarizable material.

A thermoelectric conversion element that can efficiently make a temperature difference across a thermoelectric conversion material is provided. In the thermoelectric conversion element, on a first surface of a thermoelectric conversion module comprising a P-type thermoelectric element, an N-type thermoelectric element, and an electrode, a thermally conductive resin layer A and a thermally conductive resin layer B having a lower thermal conductivity than the thermally conductive resin layer A are provided in an alternating manner so as to be in direct contact with the first surface, and on a second surface on the opposite side of the first surface of the thermoelectric conversion module, a thermally conductive resin layer a and a thermally conductive resin layer b having a lower thermal conductivity than the thermally conductive resin layer a are provided in an alternating manner so as to be in direct contact with the second surface.

Systems and methods are provided for generating electric power using low grade thermal energy from a vehicle. The methods may include surrounding at least a portion of a coolant conduit system with a flexible thermo-electrochemical cell including a nanoporous cathode electrode, a nanoporous anode electrode, and an electrolyte. A coolant fluid may be circulated through the coolant conduit system, which is in thermal communication with a power generating unit, such as an internal combustion engine or fuel cell stack. The method includes maintaining a temperature gradient in the electrolyte solution by contacting the anode electrode with the coolant conduit system, and exposing the cathode electrode to a temperature lower than a temperature of the coolant conduit system. Generated electrical charges can be collected for subsequent use.

Aspects relate to an energy harvesting device adapted for use by an athlete while exercising. The device may utilize a mass of phase-change material to store heat energy, the stored heat energy subsequently converted into electrical energy by one or more thermoelectric generator modules. The energy harvesting device may be integrated into an item of clothing, and such that the mass of phase change material may store heat energy as the item of clothing is laundered.

A vehicle device for a road tolling or road communication system for installation in a vehicle, comprising electronic components, which are supplied with energy by a thermoelectric generator, which produces electrical energy from a temperature difference present on two sides of the generator, wherein in the installed position of the vehicle device, one of said sides faces a window pane of the vehicle and the other of said sides faces the interior of the vehicle.

An optical device including a shaped electrode on a substrate thereof utilizes total internal reflection to provide improved transmission of electromagnetic radiation (‘light’) to the substrate compared to standard electrode designs that involve flat electrode surfaces. Redirection of incident light by a tilted or otherwise shaped contact or material added on the contact provides otherwise reflected light to an open surface region of the substrate. Optional plasmon mediated focusing of incident p-polarized light may be realized.

A turbocharger assembly (1) comprises a turbine (4), a compressor (6), a housing (8), one or more electronic components (38, 40, 41, 42, 45, 47, 50, 51, 52, 54, 58) and a pettier device (46). The pettier device (46) is configured to provide electrical power to the one or more electronic components (38, 40, 41, 42, 45, 47, 50, 51, 52, 54, 58).