Abstract: Provided is a thermoelectric conversion module which achieves, in the vicinity of an element/high-temperature-side electrode bonded part, stress relaxation or strain relaxation within the element and at the bonded part, on which stress is concentrated. A thermoelectric conversion module comprising: electrodes arranged on its high-temperature side and low-temperature side; and P-type and N-type thermoelectric conversion elements connected to the electrodes via a bonding layer; wherein an area where the high-temperature-side electrode is connected to an end face of the P-type or N-type thermoelectric conversion element is smaller than an area where the low-temperature-side electrode is connected to an end face of the P-type or N-type thermoelectric conversion element.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module includes: a piping for flowing a compressible fluid; high temperature electrodes which are provided on a top surface and a bottom surface of the piping and electrically insulated from the piping; thermoelectric conversion elements which are provided on the respective high temperature electrodes, each element containing at least a pair of p-type thermoelectric semiconductor and n-type thermoelectric semiconductor which are electrically connected in series with one another; low temperature electrodes which are provided on the respective thermoelectric conversion elements and electrically connect the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor in series with the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor; and a first case member for accommodating the piping, the high temperature electrodes, the thermoelectric conversion elements and the low temperature electrodes so as to form a space for flowing a refrigerant for the low temperature electrodes.

Abstract: In an airtight container in which the flow tube is arranged inside of the housing, the housing includes the movable plate part in which the deformation part having flexibility is arranged around the inner rigid part, and the thermoelectric conversion module is sandwiched between the inner solid part and inner plate part of the flow tube in the airtight container. By reducing pressure in the airtight container, the deformation part of the movable plate part deforms and the inner plate part contacts the thermoelectric conversion module in a uniformly pressed condition. The inner solid part of the movable plate part is cooled by the cooling part and the inner plate part is heated by supplying the heating fluid in the flow tube, so that the temperature difference occurs in the thermoelectric conversion module, thereby generating electricity.

Abstract: To produce a temperature difference in the thermoelectric conversion module, a tabular member of the cooling side arranged side of the thermoelectric conversion module is fitted in a uniform pressed condition on the thermoelectric conversion module. In the airtight container in which the flow tube penetrates the housing and the thermoelectric conversion module is arranged in the reduced pressure space between the housing and the flow tube, a tabular member of the cooling side of the housing corresponding to the thermoelectric conversion module is formed by the thin plate that is flexible, and the thermoelectric conversion module is sandwiched between the thin plate and the flow tube. The thin plate contacts the thermoelectric conversion module in a pressed condition by reducing pressure in the reduced pressure space, and the thin plate deforms by following the shape of the thermoelectric conversion module and fits due to its flexibility.