Abstract: A carrier element includes a coupling to a heat source, a coupling to a heat sink, and a thermoelectric thin-layer element with a hot side and a cold side, arranged on the carrier element between the coupling to the heat source and the coupling to the heat sink. The hot side is in thermally conductive contact with the coupling to the heat source, and the cold side is in thermally conductive contact with the coupling to the heat sink. To avoid damaging tensile and shear stresses in the thermoelectric thin-layer element, especially in the thermoelectrically active material, while ensuring good thermal coupling at the same time, at least one elastic and/or flexible compensating section of the carrier element is set up between the coupling to the heat source and the coupling to the heat sink in such a way that it compensates for the difference between the expansions of the heat source and those of the heat sink by a change of shape of the compensating section.

Abstract: A thermoelectric module (10) has a plurality of series-connected thermoelectric elements which are arranged between a first module housing plate defining a high-temperature side and a second module housing plate defining a low-temperature side, wherein laterally beside the thermoelectric elements and towards the end faces of the module housing plates at least one elastic compensating element is provided, which exerts a lateral holding force on the thermoelectric elements and extends from one inner side of the opposed module housing plates to the other. Such thermoelectric module (10) is contained in a thermoelectric generator unit (100), with a generator housing (102) in which at least one elastic compensating element (20) and at least one thermoelectric module (10) are accommodated, wherein the generator housing (102) exerts a pretension on the thermoelectric module (10) via the elastic compensating element (20).