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Optimization strategies for segmented Peltier coolers
Author(s) -
Müller Eckhard,
Walczak Steven,
Seifert Wolfgang
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.200521047
Subject(s) - thermoelectric effect , thermoelectric cooling , seebeck coefficient , constant (computer programming) , materials science , work (physics) , thermal conductivity , temperature gradient , maximum power principle , power (physics) , volume (thermodynamics) , maximum temperature , thermoelectric materials , electrical resistivity and conductivity , thermodynamics , mechanics , computer science , electrical engineering , composite material , physics , engineering , meteorology , programming language
Abstract Commercialisation of Peltier coolers has progressed during last years and special efforts have been undertaken to enhance the efficiency of thermoelectric (TE) devices. Along with the continued search for advanced TE materials, the concept of functionally graded materials (FGM) offers a pathway to gradual improvement of device performance. Starting from the first principles of thermoelectricity in a 1D approach, a differential equation governing the coupling of thermal and electrical transports is applied here for modelling multi‐segment Peltier cooling elements within the framework of a constant parameters theory. With the constant material properties values in each segment representing volume average values of spatially varying non‐constant profiles, this model provides an approximation of excellent accuracy also for continuously graded elements. The work presents parameter studies on segmented Peltier elements based on material parameters close to real data thus revealing strategies for optimal design. As target parameters, the maximum C.O.P., maximum cooling power, and the maximum temperature difference have been determined for various shapes of gradients. Tendencies for favourite gradients of the Seebeck coefficient and the electrical conductivity have been found. Example calculations for a material with ZT ≈ 1 show an enhancement of the maximum temperature difference by up to 15% (13 K). (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)