Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9691694 | International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer | 2005 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
The temperature distribution of a thermoelectric cooler under the influence of the Thomson effect, the Joule heating, the Fourier's heat conduction, and the radiation and convection heat transfer is derived. The influence of the Thomson effect on the temperature profiles, on the fraction of the Joule's heat that flows back to the low-temperature side, and consequently on the maximum attainable temperature difference and the maximum allowable heat load are emphasized and explored. The results suggest that the cooling efficiency of a thermoelectric cooler can be improved not only by increasing the figure-of-merit of the thermoelectric materials but also by taking advantage of the Thomson effect. A possible development direction for the thermoelectric materials is thus given.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
Authors
Mei-Jiau Huang, Ruey-Hor Yen, An-Bang Wang,