The present invention includes a weapon with a thermoelectric system for reducing the heat of the weapon, comprising: a weapon; one or more panels in contact with at least one region of the weapon, wherein the each of the one or more panels independently comprise an electrically and thermally insulating material; a plurality of thermoelectric elements; and a plurality of conductors comprising (i) a compacted portion that is compacted in cross section inside the panel and (ii) an expanded portion that is expanded in at least one dimension outside the panel, wherein the expanded portion of the plurality of conductors projects away from and is disposed adjacent to a surface of the panel and directly connects one thermoelectric element to another thermoelectric element of the plurality of thermoelectric elements, wherein the plurality of thermoelectric elements comprises alternating n-type and p-type thermoelectric elements.

A method for operating a heat exchanger comprising a top side, a bottom side, and a thermoelectric device including thermoelectrically active elements which are electrically energizable for generating a heat flow between the top side and the bottom side, the method may comprise electrically energizing the thermoelectric device with an electric alternating current.

A thermocouple (TC) protection gauge may guard TCs from flying debris and fragments in an explosive environment or demanding commercial environments. The gauge may contain multiple co-located TCs. By using the protection gauge, the survivability of the TCs is significantly increased and allows for a longer time frame of data collection. Temperature data is acquired from multiple TCs that are experiencing approximately the same gas temperature and gas velocity. The temperature data may be used to reconstruct the real gas temperature of a dynamic event. Each of the TCs has a different diameter and therefore has a different time resolved temperature trace. The individual temperature traces may be used to extrapolate the real gas temperature using, for example, a reconstruction algorithm.

An apparatus includes a thermoelectric generator and a lens. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot plate, and is configured to convert heat directly into electrical energy. The lens faces the sun on one side and faces the hot plate on the other side. The lens is configured to concentrate heat from the sun and onto the hot plate.

A power generation element includes a first crystal region including Al.sub.x1Ga.sub.1-x1N (0<x1≤1), and a second crystal region including a first element and Al.sub.x2Ga.sub.1-x2N (0≤x2<x1). The first element includes at least one selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Te, and Sn. The first crystal region includes a first surface and a second surface. The second surface is between the second crystal region and the first surface. The second crystal region includes a third surface and a fourth surface. The third surface is between the fourth surface and the first crystal region. An orientation from the fourth surface toward the third surface is along a <0001> direction of the second crystal region. An orientation from the second surface toward the first surface is along a <000-1> direction of the first crystal region.

A thermoelectric device is disclosed. The thermoelectric device comprises: a body part comprising a hollow in which a semiconductor device is disposed; a plurality of connecting parts protruding on the lateral sides of the body part and comprising connecting holes; and a plurality of electrode parts connected to the semiconductor device and extending to the connecting holes of the connecting parts.

A method for forming a unique, environmentally-friendly energy harvesting element is provided. A configuration of the energy harvesting element causes the energy harvesting element to autonomously generate renewable energy for use in electronic systems, electronic devices and electronic system components. The energy harvesting element includes a first conductor layer, a low work function layer, a dielectric layer, and a second conductor layer that are particularly configured in a manner to promote electron migration from the low work function layer, through the dielectric layer, to the facing surface of the second conductor layer in a manner that develops an electric potential between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer. An energy harvesting component is also provided that includes a plurality of energy harvesting elements electrically connected to one another to increase a power output of the electric harvesting component.

The present inventive concept relates to a thermocouple connector and a manufacturing method of the same, the manufacturing method including forming connector pins, covering the connector pins using a glass material, the sensor electrodes including a positive sensor electrode and a negative sensor electrode respectively connected to the positive terminal and the negative terminal, the positive sensor electrode being the chromel and the negative terminal being the alumel, placing the connector pins in a center of a surrounding sealing material having a hole, filling liquid ceramic material into a space of the surrounding sealing material through the hole, sealing the hole, and solidifying the liquid ceramic material. According to the present inventive concept, the connector pin is provided by using the same kind of material as a material of the thermocouple sensor, whereby output voltage error is minimized and output voltage change due to long-term use is low.

A ZrCoBi-based p-type half-Heusler material can have a formula: ZrCoBi.sub.1-x-ySn.sub.xSb.sub.y, where x can vary between 0.01 and 0.25, and y can vary between 0 and 0.2. An average dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT) for the material can be greater than or equal to about 0.80 as calculated by an integration method for temperatures between 300 and 973 K. A ZrCoBi-based n-type half-Heusler material can have a formula: ZrCo.sub.1-xNi.sub.xBi.sub.1-ySb.sub.y, where x can vary between 0.01 and 0.25, and y can vary between 0 and 0.3. The material has an average dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT) is greater than or equal to about 0.65 as calculated by an integration method for temperatures between 300 and 973 K.

A temperature measurement device includes: a temperature sensor designed to measure a temperature, a thermo-generator forming, with the temperature sensor, what is known as a measurement surface, the thermo-generator being configured to convert thermal energy of the measurement surface into electrical energy, and the sensor being designed to measure a temperature of a sample in contact with the measurement surface, and an electronic board designed to receive the electrical energy converted by the thermo-generator and supply the temperature sensor, the device including the electronic board is positioned a non-zero distance away from the measurement surface in a direction perpendicular to the measurement surface.