FLEXIBLE ASSEMBLIES WITH INTEGRATED THERMOELECTRIC MODULES SUITABLE FOR USE IN EXTRACTING POWER FROM OR DISSIPATING HEAT FROM FLUID CONDUITS

摘要

An assembly includes one or more thermoelectric modules, a compliant thermal interface, and a heat spreader. The compliant thermal interface is configured to conform against and intimately thermally contact an outer surface of a fluid conduit. The heat spreader is disposed generally between and thermally coupled to the compliant thermal interface and the one or more thermoelectric modules. The heat spreader may have greater flexibility than the one or more thermoelectric modules. The heat spreader may also have a thermal conductivity greater than the compliant thermal interface. The assembly may be circumferentially wrapped at least partially around a portion of the fluid conduit's outer surface, with the compliant thermal interface in intimate thermal contact with the fluid conduit's outer surface portion.