The Peltier Effect

History of the Seebeck Effect

• Discovered by Thomas Johann Seebeck in
1821.
• He accidentally found that a voltage existed
between two ends of a metal bar when a
temperature gradient existed within the bar.
 The Seebeck Effect
• A temperature difference causes diffusion of
electrons from the hot side to the cold side of a
conductor.
• The motion of electrons creates an electrical
current.
• The voltage is proportional to the temperature
difference
• This resulted in the invention of Thermocouple
 What is the Peltier Effect?
The Peltier effect is named after Jean Charles Peltier
(1785-1845) who first observed it in 1834.
• The Peltier effect is a temperature difference created by
applying a voltage between two electrodes connected to
a semiconductor material.
• The Peltier effect is one of three types of thermo-electric
effects; the other two are the Seebeck effect and the
Thomson effect.
• In a Peltier-effect device, the electrodes are typically
made of a metal with excellent electrical conductivity.
 What is the Peltier Effect?
• The semiconductor material between the electrodes
creates two junctions between dissimilar materials,
which, in turn, creates a pair of thermocouples.
• When voltage is applied to the electrodes to force
electrical current through the semiconductor,
thermal energy flows in the direction of the charge
carriers.
• Peltier-effect devices are used for thermoelectric
cooling in electronic equipment and computers
when more conventional cooling methods are
impractical.
 What is a Peltier Cooler?

It is a thermoelectric heat pump that will

produce a temperature gradient that is
proportional to an applied current
 Peltier Effect With Dissimilar Metals
• At the junction of two dissimilar metals the
energy level of conducting electrons is forced
to increase or decrease.
• A decrease in the energy level emits thermal
energy, while an increase will absorb thermal
energy from its surroundings.
• The temperature gradient for dissimilar metals
is very small.
 Semiconductor Peltier
• Bismuth-Telluride n and p blocks
• An electric current forces electrons in n type
and holes in p type away from each other on
the cold side and towards each other on the
hot side.
• The holes and electrons pull thermal energy
from where they are heading away from each
other and deliver it to where they meet.
Device Construction
• Individual couples are connected in series
electrically and in parallel thermally.
• Couples are thermally connected by a ceramic
that has high electrical resistivity and high
thermal conductivity.
 Change in Temperature @ 12v
Temperature and Temperature Difference
as a Function of Time
160.00

140.00

120.00
Temperature (¡F)

100.00
Hot Side
80.00
Cold Side
60.00
Temp
Difference
40.00

20.00

0.00
0 200 400 600 800
Time (s)
 Temperature Gradient
• Carnot Efficiency Temperature Gradient as a Function of Voltage
• Nc @ 12v: 70.00
• =1-Tc/Th
• =1-283.6/342.3 60.00

• =17.1% 50.00
Voltage vs
Temperature, ¡C

Temp Diff
40.00
Cold vs V

30.00 Hot vs V

20.00

10.00

0.00
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00
Voltage, V
 Applications
• Deep space probes
• Microprocessor cooling
• Laser diode temperature stabilization
• Temperature regulated flight suits
• Air conditioning in submarines
• Portable DC refrigerators
• Automotive seat cooling/heating
 Pros and Cons
• Pros
 Solid state (no moving parts)
 No maintenance
 Long service lifetime
• Cons
 Large electrical power requirements
 Inefficient compared to phase change
cooling
Mars Science Laboratory, also called “Curiosity”, is part of
NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term program of
robotic exploration of Mars. It is powered by the Multi-Mission
Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG).