Title:
METHOD FOR PRODUCING A DEVICE FOR DIRECT THERMOELECTRIC ENERGY CONVERSION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2003023871
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
In devices used for the direct conversion of heat into electricity, or vice versa, known in the art as thermoelectric power generators, thermoelectric refrigerators and thermoelectric heat pumps, the efficiency of energy conversion and/or coefficient of performance have been considerably lower than those of conventional reciprocating or rotary, heat engines and/or vapor-compression systems, employing certain refrigerants. The energy conversion efficiency of power generating devices, for example, aside from the hot and cold junction temperatures, also depends on a parameter known in the art as the thermoelectric figure of merit Z=S<2>sigma/k, where S is the thermoelectric power, sigma is the electrical conductivity and k is the thermal conductivity, of the material that constitutes the p-type, and/or n-type, thermoelements, or branches, of the said devices. In order to achieve a considerable increase in the energy conversion efficiency, a thermoelectric figure of merit of the order of 10<-2> K<-1>, or more, is needed. It is reasonably expected that such an order of magnitude, for the figure of merit, can be realized with a composition of matter, comprising magnesium, silicon, lead and barium, and optionally comprising one, or more, additional doping materials.
Inventors:
NICOLAOU MICHAEL C (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2002/028402
Publication Date:
June 12, 2003
Filing Date:
September 06, 2002
Export Citation:
Assignee:
NICOLAOU MICHAEL C (US)
International Classes:
C22C23/00; C22C24/00; C30B11/00; H01L29/00; H01L35/14; C01B33/06; H01L35/20; H01L35/22; H01L35/34; (IPC1-7): H01L35/22; H01L35/34; H01L35/20; C22C23/00; C22C30/04
Foreign References:
| US6225550B1 | 2001-05-01 | |||
| US20020069907A1 | 2002-06-13 | |||
| US3782927A | 1974-01-01 |
Other References:
NICOLAOU M C: "NEW COMPOSITIONS OF MATTER FOR DIRECT THERMOELECTRIC ENERGY CONVERSIONS", AEROSPACE POWER, CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY, ELECTROCHEMICAL CONVERSION. ATLANTA, AUG. 8 - 13, 1993, PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERSOCIETY ENERGY CONVERSION ENGINEERING CONFERENCE (IECEC), NEW YORK, IEEE, US, vol. 1 CONF. 28, 8 August 1993 (1993-08-08), pages 1687 - 1693, XP000428345
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2000, no. 13 5 February 2001 (2001-02-05)
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2000, no. 13 5 February 2001 (2001-02-05)
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