Pipe-shaped thermoelectric power generating device

A pipe-shaped thermoelectric power generation device having two ends apart from each other along an axis direction, comprising:

• an internal through-hole along the axis direction of the pipe-shaped thermoelectric power generation device;
• a plurality of first cup-shaped components each made of metal;
• a plurality of second cup-shaped components each made of thermoelectric material;
• a first electrode;
• and
• a second electrode;
• wherein:
• the plurality of the first cup-shaped components and the plurality of second cup-shaped components are arranged alternately and repeatedly along the axis direction of the pipe-shaped thermoelectric power generation device,
• the first electrode and the second electrode are provided respectively at one end and at another end of the pipe-shaped thermoelectric power generation device,
• each of the first cup-shaped components has a shape of a circular truncated cone, a shape of an elliptical truncated cone, or a shape of a truncated pyramid,
• each of the first cup-shaped components has a first internal surface and a first external surface,
• the first internal surface has a shape of a periphery of a circular truncated cone, a shape of a periphery of an elliptical truncated cone, or a shape of a periphery of a truncated pyramid,
• the first external surface has a shape of a periphery of a circular truncated cone, a shape of a periphery of an elliptical truncated cone, or a shape of a periphery of a truncated pyramid,
• each of the first cup-shaped components comprises a first through-hole at a bottom end thereof,
• a cross-sectional area of each of the first cup-shaped components decreases in the direction toward the bottom end thereof,
• each of the second cup-shaped components has a shape of a circular truncated cone, a shape of an elliptical truncated cone, or a shape of a truncated pyramid,
• each of the second cup-shaped components has a second internal surface and a second external surface,
• the second internal surface has a shape of a periphery of a circular truncated cone, a shape of a periphery of an elliptical truncated cone, or a shape of a periphery of a truncated pyramid,
• the second external surface has a shape of a periphery of a circular truncated cone, a shape of a periphery of an elliptical truncated cone, or a shape of a periphery of a truncated pyramid,
• each of the second cup-shaped components comprises a second through-hole at a bottom end thereof,
• a cross-sectional area of each of the second cup-shaped components decreases in the direction toward the bottom end thereof,
• the internal through-hole along the axis direction of the pipe-shaped thermoelectric power generation device is composed of the plurality of the first through-holes and the plurality of the second through-holes,
• each of the first cup-shaped components is inserted in one of adjacent second cup-shaped components of the plurality of second cup-shaped components in such a manner that the first external surface of the each of the first cup-shaped components is adhered to the second internal surface of the one of adjacent second cup-shaped components,
• another one of adjacent second cup-shaped components of the plurality of second cup-shaped components is inserted in the each of the first cup-shaped components in such a manner that the first internal surface of the each of the first cup-shaped components is adhered to the second external surface of the another one of adjacent second cup-shaped components,
• the metal is nickel, cobalt, copper, aluminum, silver, gold, or alloy thereof,
• the thermoelectric material is Bi, Bi2Te3, PbTe, or Bi2Te3 containing Sb or Se, and
• the following mathematical formulas are satisfied:
• 5 degrees≦θ1≦45 degrees
• 5 degrees≦θ2≦45 degrees, and
• θ1=θ2,
• where θ1 represents an angle formed by a part of the first cup-shaped component in which the cross-sectional area is decreased and an axis direction of the first cup-shaped component, and
• θ2 represents an angle formed by a part of the second cup-shaped component in which the cross-sectional area is decreased and an axis direction of the second cup-shaped component.