An architectural structure having: a wall of a room of the architectural structure; and a panel integrated into the wall, wherein the panel includes thermoelectric components (TECs) arranged as a TEC grid, thereby defining a radiant panel, wherein: the TECs, of the TEC grid, are thermally coupled to a common heat sink formed in part by an exterior surface of the wall; and the wall defines a wall surface area, the panel defines a panel surface area, and the panel surface area is between 5% and 20% of the wall surface area.

A thermoelectric power generator includes: a thermoelectric power generation module that includes a heat receiver and a heat dissipater and generates electric power by a temperature difference between the heat receiver and the heat dissipater; a cooling device that cools the heat dissipater; and a control device. The generated power of the thermoelectric power generation module is distributed to consumption power used in the cooling device and effective power used in an external load. The control device includes: a monitoring unit that monitors a state of the cooling device and outputs monitoring data; an adjustment unit capable of adjusting the effective power supplied to the external load; and a control command unit that outputs a control command that controls an adjustment unit based on the monitoring data.

A thermoelectric conversion structure is provided which provides satisfactory heat transfer characteristics without the formation of a thermally conductive grease layer between a thermoelectric conversion module and heat transfer target members. In a thermoelectric conversion structure, a thermoelectric conversion module integrated by joining the surfaces of a thermoelectric conversion element on a high temperature side and a low temperature side to thermally conductive elastomer sheets containing a thermally conductive filler is arranged between heat transfer target members and that transfer heat to the thermoelectric conversion element, and the surfaces of the thermally conductive elastomer sheets and the corresponding surfaces of the heat transfer target members and are in direct intimate contact with each other.

A thermoelectric conversion structure is provided which provides satisfactory heat transfer characteristics without the formation of a thermally conductive grease layer between a thermoelectric conversion module and heat transfer target members. In a thermoelectric conversion structure, a thermoelectric conversion module integrated by joining the surfaces of a thermoelectric conversion element on a high temperature side and a low temperature side to thermally conductive elastomer sheets containing a thermally conductive filler is arranged between heat transfer target members and that transfer heat to the thermoelectric conversion element, and the surfaces of the thermally conductive elastomer sheets and the corresponding surfaces of the heat transfer target members and are in direct intimate contact with each other.

A package structure is provided. The package structure includes a semiconductor die and a thermoelectric structure disposed on the semiconductor die. The thermoelectric structure includes P-type semiconductor blocks, N-type semiconductor blocks and metal pads. The P-type semiconductor blocks and the N-type semiconductor blocks are arranged in alternation with the metal pads connecting the P-type semiconductor blocks and the N-type semiconductor blocks. When a current flowing through one of the N-type semiconductor block, one of the metal pad, and one of the P-type semiconductor block in order, the metal pad between the N-type semiconductor block and the P-type semiconductor block forms a cold junction which absorbs heat generated by the semiconductor die.

An energy conversion system for use in a rifle with a barrel and a handguard includes an interface with a curved surface that conforms substantially to a curvature of the barrel such that the curved surface receives heat from the barrel. The interface further includes a substantially flat mounting surface and a heat-conducting material disposed between the curved surface and the substantially flat mounting surface to conduct the heat from the curved surface to the substantially flat mounting surface. Moreover, a spring is positioned to be between the interface and the handguard to apply a force to the interface so that the curved surface substantially maintains contact with the barrel. A thermoelectric generator is secured to the substantially flat mounting surface and includes a positive lead and a negative lead.

A chip of thermoelectric conversion material may have a concave portion and may be capable of realizing high joining properties to an electrode. Such a chip of thermoelectric conversion material may have a concave on at least one surface of the chip of thermoelectric conversion material. The shape of such chips of may be rectangular parallelepiped, cubic, and/or columnar shape.

A chip of thermoelectric conversion material may have a concave portion and may be capable of realizing high joining properties to an electrode. Such a chip of thermoelectric conversion material may have a concave on at least one surface of the chip of thermoelectric conversion material. The shape of such chips of may be rectangular parallelepiped, cubic, and/or columnar shape.

Provided herein is a thermoelectric element that includes a cold end, a hot end, and a p-type or n-type material having a length between the hot end and the cold end. The p-type or n-type material has an intrinsic Seebeck coefficient (S), an electrical resistivity (ρ), and a thermal conductivity (λ). Each of two or more of S, ρ, and λ generally increases along the length from the cold end to the hot end. The thermoelectric element may be provided in single-stage thermoelectric devices providing enhanced maximum temperature differences. The single-stage thermoelectric devices maybe combined with one another to provide multi-stage thermoelectric devices with even further enhanced maximum temperature differences.

The present invention relates to an electrothermal converter, which has at least one cold side and one warm side. Provision is made that all the components of the converter cope with the thermal loads appearing when the converter is operated and/or in particular maintains its mechanical stability.