Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a thermoelectric module. A first fluid passage is arranged at a heat dissipation side of the thermoelectric module and a second fluid passage is arranged at a heat absorption side of the thermoelectric module. The thermoelectric module includes P type and N type thermoelectric semiconductor elements. An electrical insulator couples the P type and N type thermoelectric semiconductor elements. Heat dissipation side electrodes are exposed in the first fluid passage and heat absorption side electrodes are exposed in the second fluid passage. At least the heat dissipation side of the thermoelectric module includes valleys and ridges with the heat dissipation side electrode being free from projections.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a thermoelectric module, in which heat exchange is performed between a first fluid flowing through a first fluid passage arranged at a heat dissipation side of the thermoelectric module and a second fluid flowing through a second fluid passage arranged at a heat absorption side of the thermoelectric module, the thermoelectric module including:
 a plurality of P type thermoelectric semiconductor elements and a plurality of N type thermoelectric semiconductor elements that are thermally arranged in parallel; 
 heat dissipation side electrodes formed by planar plates and heat absorption side electrodes formed by planar plates that electrically connect in series the P type thermoelectric semiconductor elements and the N type thermoelectric semiconductor elements; 
 an electrical insulator that couples the P type thermoelectric semiconductor elements and the N type thermoelectric semiconductor elements so as to impede fluid movement between the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage; 
 wherein the heat dissipation side electrodes are exposed in the first fluid passage and the heat absorption side electrodes are exposed in the second fluid passage; and 
 at least the heat dissipation side of the thermoelectric module includes valleys and ridges with the heat dissipation side electrodes being free from projections. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the valleys and ridges are formed by part of the electrical insulator projected into the first fluid passage further from the heat dissipation side electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , the part of the electrical insulator forms a plurality of flow paths in the first fluid passage. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the part of the electrical insulator projected into the first fluid passage is formed integrally with part of the electrical insulator that couples the P type thermoelectric semiconductor elements and the N type thermoelectric semiconductor elements. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the part of the electrical insulator projected into the first fluid passage is formed discretely from part of the electrical insulator that couples the P type thermoelectric semiconductor elements and the N type thermoelectric semiconductor elements and adhered to said part. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the valleys and ridges are formed by coupling the P type thermoelectric semiconductor elements and the N type thermoelectric semiconductor elements with the electrical insulator so that end faces of the P type thermoelectric semiconductor elements and N type thermoelectric semiconductor elements are located on different planes.