A unit of AVC Technology specializing in Thermoelectric Devices
Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC)
☉ 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.
TEC Structure
A Peltier module consists of semiconductors mounted successively, which form p-n- and n-p-junctions.
Heat is absorbed at the cold junction by electrons as they pass from a low energy level in the p-type element, to a higher energy level in the n-type element. At the hot junction,
energy is expelled to a thermal sink as electrons move from a high energy N element to a lower energy P element.
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]