THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR FOR EXHAUST SYSTEMS AND CONTACT MEMBER FOR A THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR

摘要

A thermoelectric generator (7) has a first flow channel (1) with an inlet (11) and an outlet (12) for guiding a warm fluid, wherein the inlet (11) and the outlet (12) of the first flow channel (1) define a first flow direction (10) for the warm fluid, a second flow channel (2) having an inlet (21) and an outlet (22) for guiding a cold fluid, wherein the inlet (21) and the outlet (22) of the second flow channel (2) define a second flow direction (20) for the cold fluid, a plurality of thermocouples (3; 31, 32, 33) adjacent to each other in the first flow direction (10) between the first flow channel (1) and the second flow channel (2), a first contact element (4), which is arranged between the plurality of thermoelements (3; 31, 32, 33) and a wall of the first flow channel (1), which contacts the individual thermoelements (3; 31, 32, 33). associated contact sections (41, 42, 43), which has a heat-conducting connection between the respectively associated thermocouple (3; 31, 32, 33) and the wall of the first flow channel (1) and a between the plurality of thermocouples (3; 31, 32, 33) and a wall of the second flow channel (2) arranged second contact element (5), which individual thermocouples (3; 31, 32, 33) associated contact portions (51, 52, 53) which provide a thermally conductive connection between the respective associated thermocouple (3; 31, 32, 33) and the wall of the second flow channel (2) , on. In this case, the sum of the heat transfer resistances of those contact portions (41, 51) of the first and second contact element (4, 5), which are associated with a first thermocouple (31) disposed in the first flow direction (10) upstream of a second thermocouple (32) is greater than the sum of the thermal transmittances of those contact portions (42, 52) of the first and second contact members (4, 5) associated with the second thermocouple (32). Furthermore, a contact element for such a thermoelectric generator is disclosed.