Thermoelectric generating unit, thermoelectric generator using the thermoelectric generating unit, mounting structure of the thermoelectric generator, and exhaust duct and engine including the mounting structure

1. A thermoelectric generator comprising:

one or more thermoelectric generating units, each thermoelectric generating unit of the one or more thermoelectric generating units comprising:

a thermoelectric transducer that comprises:

a cooling part on a cold side of the thermoelectric transducer; and

a heating part on a hot side of the thermoelectric transducer for supplying steam of a heating medium, and which is configured to generate electric power by a temperature difference between the cold side and the hot side,

wherein the heating part comprises:

a plate-like hollow member provided along a hot-side surface of the thermoelectric transducer, the plate-like hollow member forming a plate-like cavity inside; and

a tubular member having two open ends being positioned distantly from each other and connected to the plate-like hollow member, the tubular member forming a tubular cavity communicating the plate-like cavity with the two open ends, the tubular member heated from outside by a hot fluid, and

wherein the plate-like cavity and the tubular cavity form a circulation path in which a heating medium charged in the cavities circulates.

2. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 1 , wherein:

the two open ends of the tubular member are connected to a same connecting surface of the plate-like hollow member, and

the connecting surface is opposed to a heating surface of the plate-like hollow member which makes contact with the thermoelectric transducer.

3. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 1 , wherein a reinforcement bridge which connects a connecting surface and a heating surface is provided in the plate-like cavity of the plate-like hollow member, at a position that keeps communication between the plate-like hollow member and the two open ends of the tubular member and that does not completely block the plate-like cavity.

4. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 1 wherein the one or more comprise a plurality of thermoelectric generating units, each of the plurality of thermoelectric generating units:

arranged in a row direction and a column direction, and

connected to each other in a planar pattern.

5. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 4 , wherein a heating surface of each of the plate-like hollow members are partially or entirely integrated in a modular plate-like form.

6. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 4 , wherein the plate-like cavities of adjacent ones of the thermoelectric generating units are communicated by a path.

7. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a heating plate which constitutes the heating surface;

a connecting plate which constitutes a connecting surface to which the tubular members are connected; and

a framing plate which creates a space between the heating surface and the connecting surface and thereby provides at least one plate-like cavity,

wherein the heating plate, the connecting plate, and the framing plate are joined together in a modular plate-like form in which the plate-like hollow members are integrated.

8. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a mounting structure that comprises a duct that has an opening; and

wherein:

a cooling surface of each of the cooling parts is at least partially integrated in a modular plate-like form;

the thermoelectric generators are mounted in such a manner as to close the opening; and

a connecting surface for the tubular members and the plate-like hollow members is exposed in the duct.

9. The thermoelectric generator according to claim 4 , further comprising

a mounting structure comprising a duct has a plurality of openings, and

wherein:

the thermoelectric generators are mounted in such a manner as to close the openings, and

the tubular members exposed in the duct are arranged in an overlapped manner in a gas flow direction in the duct.