An apparatus for the conversion of thermal energy from a surface (20) of a pyrometallurgical vessel associated with a magnetic field to electrical energy, the device comprising a thermoelectric device having at least one thermoelectric element (60) capable of converting a thermal energy differential into electrical energy whereby appropriate alignment in the magnetic field increases the ability of the thermoelectric device to generate electrical energy; and a support structure (50) engagable with the pyrometallugical vessel, the support structure being able to support the thermoelectric device in a fixed position relative to the pyrometallurgical vessel and in the associated magnetic field so that a temperature differential exists between a first side (30) and a second side (40) of the thermoelectric device. In a preferred form the thermoelectric device is aligned in the magnetic field associated with the pyrometallurgical vessel to generate greater electrical energy from the device than would be generated in the absence of the magnetic field.
