JP7740276B2 - Thermoelectric power generation device and thermoelectric power generation method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric power generation device that is attached to a line of manufacturing equipment in a steelworks, and a thermoelectric power generation method using the thermoelectric power generation device.

It has long been known that when a temperature difference is applied to dissimilar conductors or semiconductors, an electromotive force is generated between the high-temperature and low-temperature parts. This property has been exploited to create thermoelectric generators that directly convert heat into electricity using thermoelectric elements.

By using a thermoelectric generator, thermal energy, which has not previously been utilized, can be effectively utilized as electricity. As a result, the use of thermoelectric generators is expanding in a variety of fields.

For example, the present inventors have proposed using thermoelectric power generation devices in the manufacturing equipment rows of steelworks (Patent Documents 1 to 3). Since various processes that are carried out at high temperatures, such as ironmaking, steelmaking, casting, hot rolling, and heat treatment, can be carried out in steelworks, converting the excess heat generated in these processes into electricity would contribute to energy conservation and a reduction in _CO2 emissions.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-203301 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-058082 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-119308

However, when actually attempting to generate thermoelectric power in a steelworks manufacturing equipment row, it was found that there was a problem of electrical leakage being prone to occur.

The present invention was made to solve the above problem, and aims to prevent the occurrence of electrical leakage when thermoelectric power generation is performed in rows of manufacturing equipment at a steelworks.

As a result of extensive research to achieve the above objectives, the inventors have discovered that the cause of the electrical leakage is the intrusion of moisture and iron powder (including iron oxide powder) into the thermoelectric power generation device, particularly the thermoelectric power generation module.

In other words, in steelworks, not only are various processes carried out at high temperatures, but cooling water is also often used to cool the workpieces and manufacturing equipment. For example, in the continuous casting process, cooling water is used to cool the rollers that come into contact with high-temperature steel slabs. In such cases, thermoelectric generators installed in rows of manufacturing equipment are exposed to water vapor in addition to high temperatures. As a result, it has been found that moisture can enter the thermoelectric generators, causing short circuits.

In addition, dust resulting from the manufacturing process is inevitably present around the rows of manufacturing equipment in steelworks. The main component of this dust is iron powder derived from the steel being processed. Because the iron powder is very fine, it has been found to penetrate the interior of thermoelectric power generation devices and cause short circuits. Much of this iron powder is oxidized to form iron oxide. While iron oxide conducts electricity less well than metallic iron, it is not a perfect insulator. For example, wustite has an electrical conductivity of approximately 30 Ω ^-1 cm ^-1 , and magnetite has an electrical conductivity of approximately 250 Ω ^-1 cm ^-1 . Therefore, if the iron powder penetrates the interior of a thermoelectric power generation device, it can cause a current leak. Furthermore, when fine iron powder (iron oxide powder) penetrates the interior of a thermoelectric power generation device, moisture tends to aggregate and be retained around the iron powder, which is thought to synergistically increase the risk of a current leak.

As such, it was found that the area around the rows of manufacturing equipment at steel mills is an extremely harsh environment with moisture and fine iron powder present, making it extremely susceptible to electrical leakage.

The present invention was completed based on the above findings, and its gist is as follows:

1. A thermoelectric power generation device that is attached to a train of manufacturing equipment in a steelworks,
a heat receiving plate, a cooling plate facing the heat receiving plate, a thermoelectric power generation module disposed between the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate, and a sealing member;
The thermoelectric power generation module includes:
a pair of opposing insulating substrates;
a plurality of thermoelectric power generation elements sandwiched between the pair of insulating substrates;
an outer periphery sealing frame that is sandwiched between the pair of insulating substrates and seals the outer peripheries of the pair of insulating substrates;
a terminal portion connected to the thermoelectric power generation element;
a lead member connected to the terminal portion and provided to penetrate through the insulating substrate of the pair of insulating substrates that is on the cooling plate side and the cooling plate,
the sealing member is disposed in an annular shape on the outer periphery between the cooling plate and the thermoelectric power generation module,
The lead member is disposed inside the sealing member.

2. The thermoelectric power generation device described in paragraph 1 above, further comprising fastening means for fastening the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate.

3. The thermoelectric generator described in 1 or 2 above, wherein the sealing member is an O-ring.

4. The thermoelectric generator described in 1 or 2 above, wherein the sealing member is made of fluororubber.

5. The thermoelectric power generation device described in paragraphs 1 or 2 above, further comprising a support member for supporting the sealing member between the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate.

6. The thermoelectric power generation device according to 1 or 2 above is installed in a line of manufacturing equipment at a steelworks;
A thermoelectric power generation method for converting heat into electric power by the thermoelectric power generation device.

The present invention makes it possible to prevent electrical leakage caused by the intrusion of moisture or fine iron powder when using a thermoelectric power generation device in a steelworks production equipment row.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of a thermoelectric power generation device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the structure of a thermoelectric power generation device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the structure of a thermoelectric power generation device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the structure of a thermoelectric power generation device according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the structure of a thermoelectric power generation device according to a fifth embodiment.

Next, a method for implementing the present invention will be described in detail. Note that the following description is merely an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited in any way by the following description.

[Thermoelectric power generation device]
A thermoelectric power generation device in one embodiment of the present invention is a thermoelectric power generation device that is attached to a row of manufacturing equipment in a steelworks and used, and includes a heat receiving plate, a cooling plate facing the heat receiving plate, a thermoelectric power generation module arranged between the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate, and a sealing member.

(heat receiving plate)
The thermoelectric generator of the present invention includes a heat receiving plate for receiving heat from a heat source. When using the thermoelectric generator of the present invention, the thermoelectric generator is simply installed so that the heat receiving plate is located on the heat source side. The heat from the heat source is received by the heat receiving plate and then transferred to one side (high temperature side) of the thermoelectric generation module.

The material of the heat receiving plate is not particularly limited, but from the standpoint of heat resistance, it is preferable to use at least one selected from the group consisting of metal, ceramic, and carbon. The metal is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use at least one selected from the group consisting of copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and steel, for example.

(Cooling plate)
The thermoelectric generator of the present invention includes a cooling plate facing the heat receiving plate. When using the thermoelectric generator of the present invention, the thermoelectric generator is simply installed so that the cooling plate is located on the side opposite the heat source. The cooling plate cools the other surface (low temperature side) of the thermoelectric generation module.

The cooling plate can be any material that can cool the thermoelectric power generation module. The cooling plate may be, for example, a heat sink or a heat exchanger, but from the perspective of cooling efficiency, a heat exchanger is preferable. The heat exchanger may be, for example, a water-cooled plate with a cooling water flow path inside. If the cooling plate is a heat sink, it is preferable to provide heat dissipation fins to improve cooling efficiency.

The material of the cooling plate is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of thermal conductivity, it is preferably made of metal. The metal is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use at least one selected from the group consisting of copper, copper alloy, aluminum, and aluminum alloy, and among these, aluminum or an aluminum alloy is preferable.

(Thermoelectric power generation module)
The thermoelectric power generation device of the present invention includes a thermoelectric power generation module disposed between the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate, i.e., the heat receiving plate is disposed on the high temperature side of the thermoelectric power generation module, and the cooling plate is disposed on the low temperature side.

The number of thermoelectric power generation modules per thermoelectric power generation device is not particularly limited, and may be one or more. In other words, one or more thermoelectric power generation modules may be provided between a pair of heat receiving plate and cooling plate. When using multiple thermoelectric power generation modules, the thermoelectric power generation modules may be fixed together using fixing members.

The thermoelectric power generation module includes the following features (1) to (5).
(1) A pair of opposing insulating substrates; (2) A plurality of thermoelectric generating elements sandwiched between the pair of insulating substrates; (3) A peripheral sealing frame sandwiched between the pair of insulating substrates and sealing the outer periphery of the pair of insulating substrates; (4) Terminal portions connected to the thermoelectric generating elements; (5) Lead members connected to the terminal portions and provided through the insulating substrate of the pair of insulating substrates on the cooling plate side and the cooling plate.

(1) Insulating Substrates To ensure insulation between the thermoelectric power generating element and the heat receiving plate and cooling plate, the thermoelectric power generating module is provided with a pair of insulating substrates, and the thermoelectric power generating element is sandwiched between the pair of insulating substrates. The insulating substrates also function to absorb differences in thermal expansion in the planar direction between the components in contact with the insulating substrates (the thermoelectric power generating element, the heat receiving plate, the cooling plate, the peripheral sealing frame, etc.).

The insulating substrate can be any substrate that has insulating properties. The insulating substrate may be a rigid substrate or a flexible substrate, but from the perspective of thermal conductivity, a thinner substrate is better, so a sheet-like flexible substrate is preferred.

The insulating substrate may be made of any insulating material, such as ceramic or resin, but resin is preferred. While any resin can be used, from the standpoint of heat resistance, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyimide is preferred, with polyimide being even more preferred.

(2) Thermoelectric power generation element A thermoelectric power generation element, also known as a thermoelectric conversion element, has the function of converting heat into electricity. Specifically, an electromotive force is generated by creating a temperature difference between one side of the thermoelectric power generation element and the other side.

The thermoelectric power generating element is not particularly limited, and any element capable of generating thermoelectric power can be used. A typical thermoelectric power generating element has a structure that combines a pair of p-type and n-type semiconductors. The thermoelectric power generating element can be made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of BiTe-based, PbTe-based, Si-Ge-based, silicide-based, skutterudite-based, transition metal oxide-based, zinc antimony-based, boron compounds, clathrate compounds, cluster solids, zinc oxide-based, and carbon nanotubes.

Generally, the electromotive force per thermoelectric generation element is small, so multiple thermoelectric generation elements are used in a thermoelectric generation module. There is no particular limit to the number of thermoelectric generation elements used, and it can be determined according to the required power. If the number of thermoelectric generation elements per thermoelectric generation module is too small, a large number of thermoelectric generation modules will be required to ensure the required amount of power generation. Therefore, it is preferable that the number of thermoelectric generation elements per thermoelectric generation module be 2,000 or more. On the other hand, since there is a risk that the thermoelectric generation module will cease to function if even just a few of the elements contained in the thermoelectric generation module are damaged, it is desirable that the number of thermoelectric generation elements per thermoelectric generation module not be excessively large; specifically, it is preferable that the number be 6,000 or less.

(3) Peripheral Sealing Frame: A peripheral sealing frame is provided between the pair of insulating substrates to seal the peripheries of the pair of insulating substrates. By sealing the peripheries of the insulating substrates in this manner, it is possible to prevent moisture and iron powder from entering the interior of the thermoelectric power generation module from the periphery. The peripheral sealing frame may be provided near the outer edge of the insulating substrates so as to surround all of the thermoelectric power generation elements provided in the thermoelectric power generation module.

The shape of the peripheral sealing frame is not particularly limited, as long as it is frame-shaped. However, if the insulating substrate is rectangular, it is preferable that the peripheral sealing frame also be rectangular in shape, from the perspective of widening the space for mounting the thermoelectric power generation element. Note that the shape of the peripheral sealing frame here refers to the shape of the peripheral sealing frame when viewing the thermoelectric power generation module from a direction perpendicular to the insulating substrate.

The cross-sectional shape of the peripheral sealing frame is not particularly limited and may be any shape. For example, the cross-sectional shape may be rectangular or circular. An O-ring, for example, may be used as a peripheral sealing frame with a circular cross-sectional shape.

The material of the outer peripheral sealing frame is not particularly limited, and various materials can be used, such as resin, ceramic, and metal. If resin is used, it should have heat resistance appropriate to the usage environment. Furthermore, it is preferable to use at least one metal selected from the group consisting of copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and steel.

(4) Terminals Terminals are connected to the thermoelectric generation elements, and lead members (described later) are connected via the terminals. Any material can be used as the terminals as long as they can electrically connect the thermoelectric generation elements and the lead members. Typically, it is preferable to use the same material as the electrodes used to connect the thermoelectric generation elements.

(5) Lead Member The thermoelectric power generation module includes a lead member for extracting the electric power generated by the thermoelectric power generation element. In the present invention, the lead member is installed so as to penetrate the insulating substrate of the pair of insulating substrates that is on the cooling plate side and the cooling plate. The lead member is also disposed inside a sealing member, which will be described later. It is preferable that the terminal portion and the lead member are provided on the positive electrode side and the negative electrode side of the thermoelectric power generation module, respectively.

The lead member can be a twisted cable, but it is preferable to use a metal rod. The shape of the metal rod is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a rectangular prism, but a cylindrical shape is preferable from the perspective of ease of sealing with a sealing member.

The lead member preferably has a flange portion that flares outward like a brim at the tip of the side that connects to the terminal portion. In other words, the lead member preferably has a lead member main body and a disk-shaped portion that is connected to the tip of the lead member main body on the side that connects to the terminal portion and has a larger diameter than the lead member main body. This shape prevents the lead member from coming loose from the thermoelectric power generation module.

The lead members are arranged to pass through the cooling plate. That is, the cooling plate has through-holes for attaching the lead members, and the lead members are installed so that they pass through the through-holes. It is preferable to fill the space between the lead members and the through-holes of the cooling plate with an insulating material. Filling with insulating material not only insulates the lead members from the cooling plate, but also further enhances the effectiveness of preventing the intrusion of moisture and iron powder. Resin can typically be used as the insulating material, and it is also preferable to use an adhesive that hardens after being poured between the lead members and the through-holes of the cooling plate.

(Sealing member)
The thermoelectric power generation device of the present invention includes a sealing member that is annularly disposed on the outer periphery between the cooling plate and the thermoelectric power generation module, and the lead member is disposed inside the sealing member.

If the sealing member were not present, moisture and iron powder would penetrate through the gap between the cooling plate and the thermoelectric power generation module, eventually penetrating into the thermoelectric power generation module through the lead member attachment section, causing a current leak. Therefore, in this invention, an annular sealing member is provided around the outer periphery between the cooling plate and the thermoelectric power generation module, preventing moisture and iron powder from penetrating through the gap between the cooling plate and the thermoelectric power generation module.

In this way, by sealing the outer periphery of the insulating substrate with the outer sealing frame and sealing the space between the cooling plate and the thermoelectric power generation module with the sealing member, it is possible to effectively prevent moisture and iron powder from entering the thermoelectric power generation module.

As the sealing member, it is preferable to use, for example, an annular elastic sealing member. The annular elastic sealing member can be of any shape, such as a rectangular or circular cross section, but it is preferable to use an O-ring.

The material of the sealing member is not particularly limited, and any material can be used as long as it can seal gaps and prevent the intrusion of moisture and iron powder. The material of the sealing member is preferably an elastic material, and more preferably an insulating elastic material. Typically, rubber can be used as an insulating elastic material. Note that the term rubber also includes elastomers. From the standpoint of heat resistance in particular, it is preferable to use fluororubber, and in particular, perfluoroelastomer.

(thermal conductive sheet)
A thermally conductive sheet is preferably provided between the heat receiving plate and the thermoelectric power generation module. Also, a thermally conductive sheet is preferably provided between the cooling plate and the thermoelectric power generation module. By providing a thermally conductive sheet, it is possible to reduce the thermal contact resistance between the components and improve the thermoelectric power generation efficiency. The thermally conductive sheet may be provided only between the heat receiving plate and the thermoelectric power generation module or between the cooling plate and the thermoelectric power generation module, but it is preferable to provide it on both sides. The thermally conductive sheet also has the function of absorbing the difference in thermal expansion in the thickness direction between the components (thermoelectric power generation module, heat receiving plate, cooling plate, etc.) that are in contact with the thermally conductive sheet.

There are no particular restrictions on the thermally conductive sheet, as long as it can be used in the environment in which the thermoelectric power generation module is used, but from the perspective of thermal conductivity, it is preferable to use a graphite sheet.

(Fascinating means)
The thermoelectric generator of the present invention preferably further comprises a fastening means for fastening the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate together. By fastening the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate together with the fastening means, the adhesion between the components is increased, and as a result, the sealing performance of the sealing member and the peripheral sealing frame described above can be further improved. Note that, here, "fastening the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate" means applying a force in a direction that brings the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate closer to each other to fix them.

The fastening means can be any means capable of fastening the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate, but typically the fastening means comprises bolts inserted through the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate. It is also preferable that the fastening means comprises a biasing member that biases the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate in a direction that brings them closer together. It is preferable to use a coil spring as the biasing member.

The location at which the fastening means is provided is not particularly limited, and it can be provided at any location. From the perspective of avoiding interference with the thermoelectric power generation module, it is preferable to provide the fastening means at a location where there is no thermoelectric power generation module, i.e., outside the thermoelectric power generation module. However, the fastening means can also be provided so as to penetrate the thermoelectric power generation module. In one embodiment of the present invention, the thermoelectric power generation device can include both fastening means (first fastening means) located outside the thermoelectric power generation module and fastening means (second fastening means) located so as to penetrate the thermoelectric power generation module.

(Support member)
Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a support member between the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate to support the sealing member. The installation position of the support member is not particularly limited, but it can typically be installed between the insulating substrate on the heat receiving plate side and the heat receiving plate.

The material of the support member is not particularly limited, but from the standpoint of electrical insulation, heat insulation, heat resistance, strength, etc., it is preferable to use ceramic.

[Thermoelectric power generation method]
In one embodiment of the present invention, a thermoelectric power generation method includes installing the above-described thermoelectric power generation device in a row of manufacturing equipment at a steelworks, and converting heat into electric power using the thermoelectric power generation device. As described above, the surroundings of the rows of manufacturing equipment at a steelworks are an extremely harsh environment, with moisture and fine iron powder present, making electrical leakage highly likely to occur. However, by using a thermoelectric power generation device having the above-described structure, it is possible to prevent moisture and iron powder from entering the thermoelectric power generation device, particularly the thermoelectric power generation module. As a result, electrical leakage is prevented, enabling stable thermoelectric power generation.

The manufacturing equipment row at the steelworks is not particularly limited, and can be any row of manufacturing equipment that has a heat source. Examples of manufacturing equipment rows that are particularly suitable for application include continuous casting lines and hot rolling lines.

Next, the structure of the thermoelectric generator of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Also, while the drawings used in the following description show the peripheral structure of one lead member of the thermoelectric generator, it is preferable that the peripheral structure of other lead members (not shown) be similar.

(First embodiment)
1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a thermoelectric generator 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The thermoelectric generator 1 includes a heat receiving plate 10 and a cooling plate 20 arranged opposite each other, and a thermoelectric generation module 30 sandwiched between them.

The thermoelectric power generation module 30 includes a pair of opposing insulating substrates 31, multiple thermoelectric power generation elements 32 sandwiched between the insulating substrates 31, an outer sealing frame 33, terminal portions 34, and lead members 35. The multiple thermoelectric power generation elements 32 are connected to each other by electrodes 36. The lead members 35 are generally cylindrical metal members, and have a disk-shaped portion at the bottom end with an increased diameter to prevent them from coming loose. The lead members 35 are connected to the thermoelectric power generation elements 32 via the terminal portions 34.

The outer peripheral sealing frame 33 is a resin or metal member that is fixed by being sandwiched between the insulating substrates 31. By providing the outer peripheral sealing frame 33 in this manner, it is possible to prevent moisture, iron powder, etc. from entering through the outer peripheral edge of the thermoelectric power generation module 30.

A thermally conductive sheet 40 is provided between the heat receiving plate 10 and the thermoelectric power generation module 30, and similarly, a thermally conductive sheet 40 is provided between the cooling plate 20 and the thermoelectric power generation module 30. By using the thermally conductive sheet 40 in this way, heat can be easily transferred, thereby improving power generation efficiency.

Furthermore, an annular sealing member 50 is disposed between the cooling plate 20 and the thermoelectric power generation module 30, more specifically, between the cooling plate 20 and the insulating substrate 31 on the cooling plate 20 side. The lead member 35 is located inside the annular sealing member 50.

In the thermoelectric power generation element of the present invention, a lead member 35 is provided that penetrates the insulating substrate 31. Therefore, without the sealing member 50, moisture and other substances that have entered between the cooling plate 20 and the insulating substrate 31 on the cooling plate 20 side from the outside can easily enter the interior of the thermoelectric power generation module 30 through the through holes provided in the insulating substrate 31 for attaching the lead member 35. However, by using the annular sealing member 50 in this manner to seal the outer periphery between the cooling plate 20 and the thermoelectric power generation module 30, it is possible to effectively prevent moisture and other substances from entering via the above-mentioned route.

The relative positions of the sealing member 50 and the peripheral sealing frame 33 are not particularly limited, but since both are installed to seal the periphery, it is preferable to place them in corresponding positions as shown in Figure 1. In other words, it is preferable to provide the sealing member 50 so that it contacts the upper surface of the peripheral portion of the insulating substrate 31 on the cooling plate 20 side, and to provide the peripheral sealing frame 33 so that it contacts the lower surface of the peripheral portion.

In addition, the sealing member 50 in this embodiment is an elastic seal member (packing) with a substantially rectangular cross section as shown in FIG. 1, but as mentioned above, it is also preferable to use an O-ring as the sealing member 50. The underside of the cooling plate 20 may be provided with a groove for installing the sealing member 50. The depth of the groove is less than the height of the sealing member 50 (or the diameter in the case of an O-ring).

In the thermoelectric power generation device 1 of this embodiment, the heat reception plate 10 and the cooling plate 20 are fastened together by a fastening means 70. In this embodiment, the fastening means 70 includes a bolt 71 and a coil spring 72. The bolt 71 is inserted into a through-hole provided in the cooling plate 20, and the tip of the bolt 71 is screwed into a threaded hole provided in the heat reception plate 10 to secure the plate. The coil spring 72 is installed between the head of the bolt 71 and the cooling plate 20, and the cooling plate 20 is biased toward the heat reception plate 10 by the coil spring 72.

Note that although only one fastening means 70 is shown in Figure 1, in practice, multiple fastening means 70 may be used to obtain the desired clamping force.

In addition, in the example shown in Figure 1, the fastening means 70 is provided in a position where no thermoelectric power generation module 30 is present (outside the thermoelectric power generation module 30). This structure eliminates the need to provide a through-hole in the thermoelectric power generation module 30 for passing the fastening means 70, simplifying the structure and further reducing the risk of moisture intrusion.

Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 1, an insulating material 60 is provided in the gap between the lead member 35 and the through-hole provided in the cooling plate 20. The insulating material 60 is formed by filling the gap with resin (adhesive) and allowing it to harden. Filling the gap with insulating material 60 in this manner is expected to be effective in preventing the intrusion of moisture and other contaminants. However, filling the gap with resin is difficult to completely fill the gap, and it is particularly difficult to completely eliminate the gap between the lead member 35 and the through-hole provided in the insulating substrate 31. Therefore, in the present invention, it is important to provide a sealing member 50 to prevent the intrusion of moisture and other contaminants from the periphery. From the perspective of more reliably preventing the intrusion of moisture and iron powder in harsh environments such as those found in production equipment rows at a steel mill, it is extremely effective to use both insulating material 60 and sealing member 50, as shown in FIG. 1.

Second Embodiment
2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a thermoelectric generator 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The thermoelectric generator 1 according to this embodiment has the same configuration as the thermoelectric generator according to the first embodiment described above, and further includes a support member 80 in the space between the heat receiving plate 10 and the cooling plate 20.

More specifically, the support member 80 is installed between the insulating substrate 31 on the heat receiving plate 10 side and the heat receiving plate 10, with the upper surface of the support member 80 contacting the lower surface of the insulating substrate 31 on the heat receiving plate 10 side, and the lower surface of the support member 80 contacting the upper surface of the heat receiving plate 10. By installing the support member 80 in this way and filling the gap between the insulating substrate 31 and the heat receiving plate 10, it becomes easier to apply pressure to the sealing member 50 and the peripheral sealing frame 33, further improving the sealing effect of these members.

It is preferable that the support member 80 be frame-shaped so as to support the outer periphery of the thermoelectric power generation module 30. In particular, it is preferable that the sealing member 50, outer periphery sealing frame 33, and support member 80 are all frame-shaped and arranged at corresponding positions on the outer periphery of the thermoelectric power generation module 30.

Also, if a support member 80 is used, the thermal conduction sheet 40 can be provided in areas where the support member 80 is not present.

The structure of parts not mentioned in the above description can be the same as that of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment, which is a modification of the second embodiment, will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Note that the structure of parts not mentioned in the following description can be the same as that of the second embodiment shown in Fig. 2.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the support member 80 has a rectangular cross section. In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, however, it has a V-shaped cross section. In this example, a rod-shaped member with a V-shaped cross section is placed between the heat receiving plate 10 and the insulating substrate 31 on the heat receiving plate 10 side, with the apex of the V facing upward. This shape reduces the contact area between the support member 80 and the heat receiving plate 10 and the insulating substrate 31, thereby suppressing heat conduction. The V-shape also creates an internal space, further suppressing heat conduction. Specifically, because the sealing member 50 and peripheral sealing frame 33 are installed above the support member 80, the thermoelectric generating element 32 is not present. Therefore, heat transferred through the support member 80 to the insulating substrate 31 is not effectively utilized. Therefore, by using a support member 80 with a structure such as that shown in FIG. 3 to suppress heat transfer through the support member 80, the thermal energy transferred to the area where the thermoelectric generating element 32 is located can be relatively increased, improving power generation efficiency.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Note that the structure of parts not mentioned in the following description can be the same as that of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, it is also possible to arbitrarily combine part or all of the configurations of the second and third embodiments.

As described above, in the thermoelectric power generation device of the first embodiment, the heat receiving plate 10 and the cooling plate 20 are fastened together by fastening means 70. As shown in FIG. 1, the fastening means 70 is a first fastening means installed outside the thermoelectric power generation module 30.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the thermoelectric power generation device 1 in this embodiment further includes, in addition to the first fastening means 70, a second fastening means 75 arranged to penetrate the thermoelectric power generation module. Like the first fastening means 70, the second fastening means 75 is configured to fasten the heat reception plate 10 and the cooling plate 20. Specifically, like the first fastening means 70, the second fastening means 75 also includes a bolt 76 and a coil spring 77. The bolt 76 is inserted into a through hole provided in the cooling plate 20, and the tip of the bolt 76 is screwed into a threaded hole provided in the heat reception plate 10 to secure it. The coil spring 77 is installed between the head of the bolt 76 and the cooling plate 20, and the cooling plate 20 is biased toward the heat reception plate 10 by the coil spring 77.

In this way, by using both the first fastening means 70 and the second fastening means 75, pressure can be applied more evenly. Note that although only one second fastening means 75 is shown in Figure 4, multiple second fastening means 75 may be used to obtain the desired clamping force.

When providing the second fastening means 75, it is preferable to provide a sealing frame 78 around the second fastening means 75. By providing the sealing frame 78, it is possible to prevent moisture, iron powder, etc. from entering through the area where the second fastening means 75 is provided.

The cross-sectional shape of the sealing frame 78 is not particularly limited and may be any shape. For example, it may be rectangular as shown in Figure 4, or it may be circular. An O-ring, for example, may be used as a sealing frame with a circular cross-sectional shape. The material of the sealing frame 78 is also not particularly limited and various materials may be used, such as resin, ceramic, and metal. If resin is used, it is sufficient to use a resin that has heat resistance appropriate to the usage environment. It is also preferable to use at least one metal selected from the group consisting of copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and steel.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment, which is a modification of the fourth embodiment, will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Note that the structure of parts not mentioned in the following description can be the same as that of the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 4.

The thermoelectric generator of this embodiment further includes a second sealing member 79 in addition to the configuration of the fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the second sealing member 79 is provided between the cooling plate 20 and the insulating substrate 31 on the cooling plate 20 side, surrounding the bolts 76 of the second fastening means 75. By providing the second sealing member 79 in this manner, it is possible to more effectively prevent the intrusion of moisture and iron powder from the location where the second fastening means 75 is provided. To further enhance the effectiveness of preventing the intrusion of moisture and other contaminants, it is preferable to provide the second sealing member 79 so that it contacts three components: the bolts 76 of the second fastening means 75, the cooling plate 20, and the insulating substrate 31 on the cooling plate 20 side.

It is preferable to use, for example, an annular elastic sealing member as the second sealing member 79. The annular elastic sealing member can be of any shape, such as a rectangular or circular cross section, but it is preferable to use an O-ring.

The material of the second sealing member 79 is not particularly limited, and any material can be used as long as it can seal the gap and prevent the intrusion of moisture and iron powder. The material of the second sealing member 79 is preferably an elastic material, and more preferably an insulating elastic material. Typically, rubber can be used as an insulating elastic material. Note that the term rubber also includes elastomers. From the standpoint of heat resistance in particular, it is preferable to use fluororubber, and in particular, perfluoroelastomer.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Thermoelectric power generation device 10 Heat receiving plate 20 Cooling plate 30 Thermoelectric power generation module 31 Insulating substrate 32 Thermoelectric power generation element 33 Peripheral sealing frame 34 Terminal portion 35 Lead member 36 Electrode 40 Thermally conductive sheet 50 Sealing member 60 Insulating material 70 Fastening means (first fastening means)
71 Bolt 72 Coil spring 75 Second fastening means 76 Bolt 77 Coil spring 78 Sealing frame 79 Second sealing member 80 Support member

Claims (5)

A thermoelectric power generation device to be attached to a line of manufacturing equipment in a steelworks,
a heat receiving plate, a cooling plate facing the heat receiving plate, a thermoelectric power generation module arranged between the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate, a thermally conductive sheet arranged between the heat receiving plate and the thermoelectric power generation module, a support member supporting an outer periphery of the thermoelectric power generation module, and a sealing member;
The thermoelectric power generation module includes:
a pair of opposing insulating substrates;
a plurality of thermoelectric power generation elements sandwiched between the pair of insulating substrates;
an outer periphery sealing frame that is sandwiched between the pair of insulating substrates and seals the outer peripheries of the pair of insulating substrates;
a terminal portion connected to the thermoelectric power generation element;
a lead member connected to the terminal portion and provided to penetrate through the insulating substrate of the pair of insulating substrates that is on the cooling plate side and the cooling plate,
the support member is disposed between the insulating substrate on the heat receiving plate side and the heat receiving plate,
the sealing member is disposed in an annular shape on the outer periphery between the cooling plate and the thermoelectric power generation module,
The lead member is disposed inside the sealing member. The thermoelectric power generation device of claim 1, further comprising fastening means for fastening the heat receiving plate and the cooling plate. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing member is an O-ring. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing member is made of fluororubber. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1 or 2 is installed in a line of manufacturing equipment in a steelworks,
A thermoelectric power generation method for converting heat into electric power by the thermoelectric power generation device.