Abstract: A thermal treatment apparatus includes a treatment tank including a treatment chamber to perform thermal treatment on toner particles; a toner particle supply unit configured to supply toner particles into the treatment chamber; and a hot air supply unit including a supply port to supply hot air into the treatment chamber. The supply port of the hot air supply unit is disposed on a ceiling of the treatment chamber. The treatment tank further includes: a columnar member that is vertically disposed at the center inside of the treatment chamber; and a protruded member that is disposed at an upper end of the columnar member and has an approximately conical shape protruding toward the ceiling. The columnar member has a cylindrical shape and a radius of curvature RCP (mm) of an upper end edge in a vertical cross-section thereof is 5<RCP<75.

Abstract: A thermoelectric power module capable of withstanding a long time use in a high temperature environment where a temperature (Th) of a higher temperature portion exceeds 250° C. The thermoelectric power module includes: a thermoelectric power element; a first diffusion prevention layer consisting of molybdenum (Mo) and disposed on a surface of the thermoelectric power element; a second diffusion prevention layer consisting of an intermetallic compound of nickel-tin (Ni—Sn) and disposed on a surface of the first diffusion prevention layer opposite to the thermoelectric power element side; an electrode; a third diffusion prevention layer consisting of an intermetallic compound of nickel-tin (Ni—Sn) and disposed on a surface of the electrode; a solder layer containing lead (Pb) at not less than 85% and configured to join the second diffusion prevention layer and the third diffusion prevention layer to each other.

Abstract: A thermoelectric power generation unit is installed to face a steel material, and installed depending on an output of the thermoelectric power generation unit. A thermoelectric power generation device including a thermoelectric power generation unit that converts heat energy which varies in release state into electric energy to recover the energy can thus be provided in a continuous casting line or slab continuous casting line in which a heat source flows.

Abstract: A thermoelectric power generation device includes: a thermoelectric power generation unit; and a transporter capable of moving the thermoelectric power generation unit. A thermoelectric power generation device including a thermoelectric power generation unit that converts heat energy which varies in release state into electric energy to recover the energy can thus be provided in a steel material manufacturing line in which a heat source flows.

Abstract: A thermoelectric power module capable of withstanding a long time use in a high temperature environment where a temperature (Th) of a higher temperature portion exceeds 250° C. The thermoelectric power module includes: a thermoelectric power element; a first diffusion prevention layer consisting of molybdenum (Mo) and disposed on a surface of the thermoelectric power element; a second diffusion prevention layer consisting of an intermetallic compound of nickel-tin (Ni—Sn) and disposed on a surface of the first diffusion prevention layer opposite to the thermoelectric power element side; an electrode; a third diffusion prevention layer consisting of an intermetallic compound of nickel-tin (Ni—Sn) and disposed on a surface of the electrode; a solder layer containing lead (Pb) at not less than 85% and configured to join the second diffusion prevention layer and the third diffusion prevention layer to each other.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thermoelectric element of enhanced thermoelectric performance is provided by improving the preparation of thermoelectric material and employing hot plastic working in combination. The method comprises the step (a) of mixing and heat-melting a raw material of a predetermined composition; the step (b) of turning the heat-melted material 106 into microglobules by either of scattering and spraying, and then quenching the microglobules, thereby providing a globular powdery thermoelectric material; and the step (c) of plastically deforming the thermoelectric material in a hot condition, thereby to bring crystal grains of the thermoelectric material into a crystal orientation affording an excellent figure of merit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric element capable of varying the temperature characteristics for the figure of merit of the thermoelectric element by changing the conditions during manufacture, the method comprising the steps of mixing and melting by heating starting materials containing substances for controlling the carrier concentration at a predetermined ratio, solidifying the same to prepare an ingot, then powdering the ingot, pressing or press sintering the thus formed powder and further applying hot plastic deformation, in which at least one of the ratio of substances for controlling the carrier concentration or the temperature for carrying out hot plastic working is changed.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thermoelectric element with a higher thermoelectric performance than that of a conventional thermoelectric element. This fabrication method includes the steps of: (a) preparing a thermoelectric material having a predetermined composition; and (b) applying extruding pressure to the thermoelectric material in a first direction to extrude it through a die having, in an area which is not less than half of a deforming area of the thermoelectric material in the first direction, a maximum strain rate within +30% of an average strain rate so as to plastically deform the thermoelectric material into an extruded product of the thermoelectric material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thermoelectric element of enhanced thermoelectric performance is provided by improving the preparation of thermoelectric material and employing hot plastic working in combination. The method comprises the step (a) of mixing and heat-melting a raw material of a predetermined composition; the step (b) of turning the heat-melted material 106 (in FIG. 2) into microglobules by either of scattering and spraying, and then quenching the microglobules, thereby providing a globular powdery thermoelectric material; and the step (c) of plastically deforming the thermoelectric material in a hot condition, thereby to bring crystal grains of the thermoelectric material into a crystal orientation affording an excellent figure of merit.

Abstract: Powder of a semiconductor material and solvent are packed into a rubber tube and both ends of the rubber tube are fixed by fixing rings in a condition with sealing in the vertical direction effected by an upper cover and a lower cover. After this, the rubber tube is immersed in an oil bath and pressure is applied uniformly from the side faces to the semiconductor material within the rubber tube, using hydraulic pressure. An extrusion molding of rectangular shape and of smaller cross sectional area than before molding is formed by extrusion from an extrusion port of rectangular solid shape of a die (extrusion mold) in which pressure is applied in an extrusion direction D by a punch to a rectangular solid sintered body of thermoelectric semiconductor material.

Abstract: A thermoelectric semiconductor material having sufficient strength and performance and high production yield. The thermoelectric semiconductor material is characterized in that a sintered powder material of a thermoelectric semiconductor having a rhombohedral structure (or hexagonal structure) is hot-forged and plastically deformed to direct either the crystals of the sintered powder structure or the subcrystals constructing the crystals in a crystal orientation having an excellent figure of merit.