Abstract: A thermoelectric module (7) having exothermic and endothermic surfaces, which are heated and cooled, respectively, when an electric current is supplied thereto is built in a manifold body (17), and a cavity (10c, 10d, 20d) is defined therein for entry of a fluid medium in cooperation with at least one of the exothermic and endothermic surfaces, together with a hollow (10a, 10b, 20a, 20b) that extends from an outside to the cavity. A stirring member (5) having a stirring portion (15) integrated together with a rotor (16) within the manifold body (17) for stirring the fluid medium within the cavity is disposed within the manifold body, so that a motor can be formed by the rotor (16) and a stator (8). In this structure, the stirring member (5) is rotated by supplying electric power to the stator (8), to allow the fluid medium to reach the cavity (10c, 10d) through the interior of the rotor (16).

Abstract: In a thermoelectric device such as a thermoelectric manifold having a plurality of stages of thermoelectric modules, not only are distributions of heat at endothermic and exothermic surfaces equalized to increase the heat exchange efficiency and also to suppress thermal strains in the thermoelectric modules, but also heat transmission between the thermoelectric modules is facilitated even though bowing occurs. For this purpose, in the thermoelectric device utilizing the plural thermoelectric modules, a fluid serving as a heat transfer medium is intervened between the thermoelectric modules and is utilized to achieve a transmission of heat from the exothermic surface of the thermoelectric module on a cooling side to the endothermic surface of the thermoelectric module on a heating side.

Abstract: A manifold having such a built-in and round thermoelectric module that is capable of coming into an efficient contact with heat exchanging media, to afford an improved efficiency of heat exchange. The module easy to manufacture has a structure facilitating the multiplication of its thermoelectric elements. The manifold (1) generally consisting of a heating side section (2) and a cooling side section (3) has a cooling side agitator (5), a heating side agitator (6), the module (7) and a motor assembly (8), all incorporated in or attached to the manifold. The module has heat transfer upright faces (50,51) so that any bubbles coming into cavities (52,55) are allowed to ascend along the faces and then leave the manifold (1) through outlets (22,43) protruding from an upper portion of the manifold. Permanent magnets (33) accompanying the agitators (5,6) act to transmit torque from one of them (6) to the other (5).