Thermoelectric meterials

Three effects: seebeck, peltier, thomson

The seebeck effect: this is an effect using thermoelectric materials to convert heat
energy into electric energy. It is named this after the german physicist Thomas
Johann Seebeck in 1821.
He discovered that if you make a circuit loop with two different metal alloys joined
in two spots at different temperatures, a compass needle would be deflected.
Seebeck realized this occurred due to a thermoelectric force causing an electrical
current. 1 Using Amprees law ( a magnetic field in a space around a current is
proportional to the electric current which serves as its source) 2 he concluded that
there must be a current if there is a magnetic field occurring. What is happening
more specifically is the temperature difference creates an electric potential (also
called voltage) which can drive an electric current in a closed circuit. 1 This is what
became the seebeck effect.
What is happening is that the electrons at the hot end will have more energy than
the electrons at the cold end. This will cause the electrons to move towards the cold
end causing an electrical potential since this flow of electrons causes the hot end to
be more positive and the cold end to be more negative as it will have more
electrons.
V = S(Th Tc)
V = voltage
S= seebeck coefficient
Th = hot temperature
Tc = cold temperature
Peltier effect: In 1834 a man by the name of Jean Peltier discovered this.
This effect takes current and creates heating or coolin. Somewhat the opposite of
the seebeck effect.
Depending on the flow of current, heat could be added or removed from a system.
A peltier element used in many appliances works like this:
two ceramic plates parallel to eachother are joined by a layer of P-type and N-Type
semiconductors.
each semiconductor element is sandwhiched by a nickel diffusion barrier and copper
interconnects them.
A peltier element is mostly used for cooling and this is done when the current flows
from negative to positive. This occurs as electrons move from a high to low energy
state as they pass by the cooling plate where heat is absorbed. As they pass by the
heat disapating plate they release the heat and go back up to absorb it. 3

As current passes through positive to negative direction, the cooling plate will
instead radiate heat.
Heat = P x I
P = peltier coefficient
I = current

Thomson effect: William Thomson also known as Lord Kelvin

I dont really want to talk about this guy

USES: Thermoelectric materials can be used in a variety of ways.

Most power generated is wasted and is released into the environment. This is not
very efficient. Using thermoelectric materials to turn the heat into energy saves the
environment and energy.
In space exploration, such as sending out probes deep into space. These probes and
other space equipment cant rely on solar power as the sun is not going to shine on
them very well deep in space. Fuel is limited and batteries run out of power. Using
the spaces heat which is very very cold the seebeck law can be used to generate
power by using space as the cold end and the other side (the inside) of the probe as
the hot end. Strontium-90 produces heat as it decays and it is often used to form a
radio-isotope thermos electric generator in space missions. 4

Peltiers is often used in fridges and the water coolers Why isnt the water room
temperature? A peltier element is inside cooling water as it flows out.
pros and cons:
pros: solid state (no moving parts)
no maintenance
long lifetime

cons: none really,

large electrical power needed or a lot of heat required to be used commercially
not the MOST efficient way for cooling

1 http://thermoelectrics.caltech.edu/thermoelectrics/history.html
2 http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/magnetic/amplaw.html
3 http://www.marlow.com/resources/general-faq/6-how-do-thermoelectric-coolerstecs-work.html
4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzGnNkOxdpI