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New Method for Evaluating the Peltier Coefficient Based on Temperature Measurements in a Thermoelectric Module

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Abstract

A new method for determining the Peltier coefficient of thermoelectric devices has been developed. The Peltier coefficient has been evaluated by measuring the temperature distribution along the junction of two dissimilar materials X and Y. The energy balance has been used to link the Peltier coefficient with the hot and cold temperatures of the metallic blocks of a thermoelectric module (TEM), thus enabling the evaluation of this coefficient. Data on the thermal conductance of the pellets are also needed. The experimental device used in this paper is a TEM composed of N = 71 couples of bismuth telluride, suitably doped to provide individual n and p elements. Using nominal values given by the manufacturer for the Seebeck coefficient of the TEM, the Onsager reciprocal relation has been confirmed.

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Abbreviations

A :

Cross-section of the conductor (m2)

e > 0:

Magnitude of the electron charge (C particle−1)

I :

Electric current (A)

J U :

Energy flux along the conductor (W)

K :

Thermal conductance (W K−1)

L :

Dimension of the pellet (m)

N :

Number of thermocouples of the TEM

ORR:

Onsager reciprocal relation

Q c :

Heat flux between the cold block of the TEM and the environment (W)

Q h :

Heat flux between the hot block of the TEM and the environment (W)

R Cu :

Electrical resistance of a connector placed between two dies of the TEM (Ω)

t :

Time (s)

T :

Temperature (K)

T c :

Temperature of the cold block of the TEM (°C)

T h :

Temperature of the hot block of the TEM (°C)

T 0 :

Temperature of the environment (°C)

TEM:

Thermoelectric module

V :

Voltage between the terminals of two probes connected to the wire (V)

x :

Abscissa (m)

Z :

Figure of merit (°C−1)

α :

Seebeck coefficient (V K−1)

Γ:

Heat transfer coefficient (W K−1)

κ :

Thermal conductivity (W m−1 K−1)

μ :

Electrochemical potential of electrons (J particle−1)

Π:

Peltier coefficient (V)

ρ :

Electrical resistivity (Ωm)

τ :

Thomson coefficient (V K−1)

M:

Module

n :

n-Type pellet

p :

p-Type pellet

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Física de la Tierra y Termodinámica, Universitat de València, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain

    J. Garrido & A. Casanovas

Authors
  1. J. Garrido
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  2. A. Casanovas
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Correspondence to J. Garrido.

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Garrido, J., Casanovas, A. New Method for Evaluating the Peltier Coefficient Based on Temperature Measurements in a Thermoelectric Module. J. Electron. Mater. 41, 1990–1995 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-012-1966-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-012-1966-0

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