TY - JOUR
T1 - Performance investigation of thermoelectrics with an external spacer inserted in serious
AU - Kim, Jake
AU - Kang, Yong Tae
AU - Kim, Sang Nyung
AU - Hwang, Joo Ho
AU - Lee, Soon Geul
AU - Hong, Hiki
AU - Kim, Moo Geun
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors deeply appreciate the financial support provided by Korea Energy Management Corporation Grant (2004-ENC03-P-02-0-000-2005), and MOCIE through EIRC program. The authors thank Mr. Chan Hyoung Park or his technical assistance for the present study.
PY - 2008/4
Y1 - 2008/4
N2 - This study consists of two parts: mathematical modeling for the start-up period (transient system) and an optimum design analysis of a thermoelectric cooler (TEC). In the mathematical modeling for the transient system, a dimensionless time to reach the steady state is determined, which can be practically adopted to reduce the start-up period during the operation of a thermoelectric module (TEM). The objectives of the optimum design analysis are to investigate the effect of key parameters characterizing the TEC on the coefficient of performance (COP) and to determine the optimal conditions for the TEC design. It is found that the COP increases up to 44% with an increase of the ratio of heat transfer area of the insulator to that of the TEM, γ. For micro-TEC, the COP is significantly affected by the TEM depth and spacer. Especially in the case of TEM depth of 100 μm, the COP is enhanced up to 110% at an optimal spacer depth ratio (ε - 1) of 10. The results show that the effect of figure of merit Zm (= S2 / R KTE) on the COP appears differently according to the combination of thermal conductance KTE, electric resistance R and Seebeck constant S of the TEM. It reveals that when a new thermoelectric material is developed, the optimal combination among KTE, R, and S as well as Zm should be considered simultaneously.
AB - This study consists of two parts: mathematical modeling for the start-up period (transient system) and an optimum design analysis of a thermoelectric cooler (TEC). In the mathematical modeling for the transient system, a dimensionless time to reach the steady state is determined, which can be practically adopted to reduce the start-up period during the operation of a thermoelectric module (TEM). The objectives of the optimum design analysis are to investigate the effect of key parameters characterizing the TEC on the coefficient of performance (COP) and to determine the optimal conditions for the TEC design. It is found that the COP increases up to 44% with an increase of the ratio of heat transfer area of the insulator to that of the TEM, γ. For micro-TEC, the COP is significantly affected by the TEM depth and spacer. Especially in the case of TEM depth of 100 μm, the COP is enhanced up to 110% at an optimal spacer depth ratio (ε - 1) of 10. The results show that the effect of figure of merit Zm (= S2 / R KTE) on the COP appears differently according to the combination of thermal conductance KTE, electric resistance R and Seebeck constant S of the TEM. It reveals that when a new thermoelectric material is developed, the optimal combination among KTE, R, and S as well as Zm should be considered simultaneously.
KW - Coefficient of performance
KW - Figure of merit
KW - Thermoelectric cooler
KW - Thermoelectric module
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2007.03.017
DO - 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2007.03.017
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:38749152874
VL - 47
SP - 486
EP - 494
JO - International Journal of Thermal Sciences
JF - International Journal of Thermal Sciences
SN - 1290-0729
IS - 4
ER -