Abstract
A new process for manufacturing thermoelectric modules was proposed, and thermoelectric performance of the modules were evaluated. Both powders of p-type FeCo3Sb12 and n-type Co0.92Ni0.08Sb2.96Te0.04 compounds were alternately filled into 4×4 square holes of an insulating mold. The powders in the holes were compacted and sintered simultaneously at 903 K in vacuum for 20 min under the pressure of 60 MPa by a pseudo hot isostatic pressing (pseudo HIP) method, in which one-directional load is transmitted isostatically to the sample through the alumina powder filled around the sample. The sixteen sintered elements (1.9 mm×1.9 mm×9.0 mm) in the mold were electrically connected in series using silver paste. Then, a thermoelectric module was constructed by parallel sandwiching the mold with glass plates of 0.5 mm in thickness. The thermoelectromotive force was 591 mV at the temperature gradient of 356 K, and the internal resistance in the module was 2.77 Ω. In this case, the output power of 31.5 mW was obtained and the power density of 576 W/m2 was estimated. The value of output power was less than that of the theoretical calculation.
