Importance

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Abstract

An active thermoelectric plate exchanger is provided that includes a plurality of thermally conductive plates and a thermoelectric (TE) assembly having an array of thermoelectric modules (TEM) (e.g., TE coolers or TE generators) for heating/cooling or power generation. For cooling/heating, the TECs actively transfer heat between two fluids. For power generation, the TEGs generate and output power when two fluids having a thermal differential therebetween is applied across the TEGs. Several TE assemblies may be disposed in a stacked configuration between thermally conductive plates contacting the fluids. Additional fluid turbulence generating structures may be included with the fluid flow chambers/paths to generate fluid turbulence and increase thermal efficiency. These structures may include a thermally conductive plate with surface structures or may be a thermally conductive wire cloth, woven wire or wire mesh or screen. The resulting plate exchanger is modular and scalable.

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First Claim