PELTIER EFFECT
be called after a french watchmaker (1785-1845.), who discovered it in 1834.
How does Peltier effect work?
If you put a drop of water in the hollow on the joint of 2 conductors or semiconductors,
e.g. Sb and Bi, and
switch on the current, the drop would freeze
If the reverse direction of the current is applied, the drop would melt.
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TEC Structure
A Peltier module consists of semiconductors mounted successively, which
form p-n- and n-p-junctions.
TEC Characteristic
Definitions:
Imax Input current resulting in greatest △T (△ Tmax) [Amps]
N Number of thermocouples (p- and n-type pairs)
Qmax Maximum amount of heat that can be absorbed at cold face (occurs at
I=Imax, △ T = 0°C) [Watts]
Th Temperature of the TEC hot face during operation [°C]
Tc Temperature of the TEC cold face during operation [°C]
△ Tmax Maximum temperature difference a TEC can achieve (occurs at I=Imax,Qc = 0) [°C]
Vmax Voltage at △ T (△ Tmax) [Volts]