Abstract
We propose reducing a thermal resistance of a thermoelectric module by using grooved interlocking plates to increase efficiency of a thermoelectric generator. V-grooved plate thermal contact resistances monotonically decreased with increasing surface contact area. Thermal contact resistances of copper and aluminum plates having five times the contact surface area of planar plates were a quarter and a third of the planar ones, respectively. On the other hand, thermal contact resistances of rectangle-grooved plates decreased in a complicated manner with increasing surface contact area. Electric power and efficiency of a module with aluminum V-grooved plates were 25% and 16% higher than those of the module with planar ones. These results are caused by the decrease of the thermal contact resistances in the interlocking plates.
