Patent ID: 7932459

Claim:
A thermal energy resource to electric energy conversion system comprising: a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements each including first and second conductive members having different Seebeck coefficients, and a joining member joining the first and second conductive members together, wherein each thermoelectric conversion element has one end portion at which the joining member joins the first and second conductive members together, and wherein each of the first and second conductive members includes a connecting portion on a side farther from the joining member; a first conductive coupling member electrically connecting the connecting portion of the first conductive member of a first one of the thermoelectric conversion elements to one of a heat-absorbing end portion and a heat-dissipating end portion; a second conductive coupling member electrically connecting the connecting portion of the second conductive member of a second one of the thermoelectric conversion elements, to the one of the heat-absorbing end portion and heat-dissipating end portion; a third conductive coupling member electrically connecting the connecting portion of the first conductive member of a third one of the thermoelectric conversion elements to the connecting portion of the first conductive member of a fourth one of the thermoelectric conversion elements; and a fourth conductive coupling member electrically connecting the connecting portion of the second conductive member of the third thermoelectric conversion element to the connecting portion of the second conductive member of a fifth one of the thermoelectric conversion elements; wherein: the end portions of the thermoelectric conversion elements and the one of the heat-absorbing end portion and heat-dissipating end portion are disposed in a plurality of different temperature environments, each of which belongs to a respective one of a higher temperature side and a lower temperature side; the thermoelectric conversion elements and the one of the heat-absorbing end portion and heat-dissipating end portion are electrically connected to and spaced from one another by the first to fourth conductive coupling members such that a relationship of Tm>Tn is constantly maintained where Tm represents a temperature of the higher temperature side, and Tn represents a temperature of the lower temperature side; and open ends in a circuit system including the thermoelectric conversion elements and the one of the heat-absorbing end portion and heat-dissipating end portion are short-circuited to one another so as to close the circuit system as a whole, wherein thermal energy is converted to electric energy.