THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To incorporate a thermoelectric element which generates electric power by utilizing heat in equipment having a thermal gradient in such a way that the thermal connection of the thermoelectric element in the equipment can be made reasonably and highly reliably when the element generates electric power. SOLUTION: Heat is conducted to a thermoelectric element 5 by means of a heat conducting structure composed of two parts 4a and 4b which can be separated easily from each other. In other words, the thermoelectric element 5 is firmly connected to a heat conducting plate 3 which is the high-temperature section of equipment and to one member 4a or 4b of the heat conducting structure and the other member 4b or 4a of the heat conducting structure is firmly connected to a heat radiating mechanism 2. Since the facing portions of the separating faces of the heat conducting structure are not formed in flat faces, but in recessing and projecting faces, the separating faces have large surface areas and can easily make heat exchange. Therefore, the thermal resistance of the thermoelectric element is remarkably reduced and the heat loss of the device is reduced and, in addition, the element can be easily assembled and disassembled without applying any strong stress as compared with the case where the separating faces of the heat conducting structure are formed in flat faces.