Heat exchange unit

Abstract

A heat exchange unit is constituted of a thermoelectric module and a heat exchanger. The thermoelectric module includes an upper electrode, a lower electrode, and a plurality of thermoelectric elements interposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, wherein the heat exchanger composed of aluminum or aluminum alloy having high thermal conductivity is attached to the upper electrode and/or the lower electrode via an insulating layer. The surface roughness of the heat exchanger adjoined to the insulating layer is controlled to be less than 4.7 μm and greater than 0.1 μm. This prevents cracks and fractures from being formed in the insulating layer, which is thus improved in adhesion with the heat exchanger. Thus, it is possible to demonstrate high heat-absorption/dissipation performance and high reliability in the heat exchange unit due to a reduced thermal resistance between the thermoelectric module and the heat exchanger.

1 . A heat exchange unit comprising:
 an upper electrode;   a lower electrode;   a plurality of thermoelectric elements interposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode; and   a heat exchanger that is attached to the upper electrode or the lower electrode via an insulating layer,   wherein the heat exchanger is composed of a metal having high thermal conductivity, and the surface roughness of the heat exchanger adjoined to the insulating layer is less than 4.7 μm.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchange unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is composed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchange unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer is composed of an insulating resin layer having high thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchange unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer is a composite layer in which an insulating resin layer having high thermal conductivity is laminated on an alumite layer. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchange unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer is composed of a polyimide resin or an epoxy resin. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchange unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer is composed of a varnished polyimide resin or a varnished epoxy resin. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchange unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer is composed of an insulating resin dispersed with fillers having high thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchange unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer is composed of a varnished insulating resin dispersed with fillers having high thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchange unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the fillers are composed of alumina powder, aluminum nitride powder, magnesium oxide powder, or silicon carbide powder. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchange unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the fillers are composed of alumina powder, aluminum nitride powder, magnesium oxide powder, or silicon carbide powder. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchange unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface roughness of the heat exchanger adjoined to the insulating layer is greater than 0.1 μm.