Thermoelectric Module| TE Module |Ferrotech-Nord
A thermoelectric (TE) module, also called a thermoelectric cooler or Peltier cooler is a semiconductor-based electronic component that acts as a small heat pump, moving the heat from one side of the device to the other. Electrodynamic modules are also occasionally used to generate electricity by using a temperature differential between the two sides of the module.
Thermal technical reference guide
A comprehensive technical description of the electrical
Thermodynamic coolant versus traditional refrigerant based system
Provides a guide for the benefits of using thermodynamic coolant in selection applications
Thermodynamic module basics
By applying a low-voltage DC power to the one-to-one module, the heat will be transported from one side to the other through the module. A module face will be cold, therefore, while the opposite face is warm together. It is important to note that this phenomenon can be reversed so that changes in polarity (plus and minus) will be taken in the opposite direction due to the heat of the applied DC voltage. Consequently, a thermal module can be used to make both heating and cooling by which it is highly suitable for precise temperature control applications. A thermodynamic module can also be used for power generation. In this mode, a temperature differential will be applied throughout the differential module.
A practical
thermal module usually consists of two or more elements of N and P type manganese semiconductor material that is connected in the electrical chain and in thermal parallel. These thermodynamic elements and their electrical connectors are generally increasing between two ceramic substrates. The substrate captures the overall structure together and keeps the individual elements uninterrupted by electricity from each other and from outer mounting surfaces. Most thermodynamic modules are approximately 2.5-50 mm in size
Thermoelectric Technical Reference Guide
A comprehensive technical explanation of thermoelectrics
Thermoelectric Cooling Versus Traditional Refrigerant-Based Systems
Provides a guide to the benefits
Thermoelectric Module Basics
By applying a low voltage DC power to a TE module, heat will move from the module to one side to the other. One module face, therefore, will be cooled while the opposite face is simultaneously heated. It is important to note that due to the polarity (plus and minus) of the applied DC voltage, the opposite direction in the heat moved to the cause. Consequently, a thermoelectric module could be used for both heat and cooling thereby making it highly suitable for temperature control applications. A thermoelectric module can also be used. In this mode, a temperature difference is applied across the module.
A practical thermoelectric module usually consists of two or more elements of n and p-type doped semiconductor material that are connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel. These thermoelectric elements and their electrical interconnects are typically mounted between two ceramic substrates. The substrates hold the entire structure together, mechanically and electrically insulate the individual elements from one other and from the external mounting surfaces. Most thermoelectric modules range in size from about 2.5-50 mm (0.1 to 2.0 inches) square and 2.5-5mm (0.1 to 0.2 inches) in height. A variety of different shapes, substrate materials, metallization patterns and mounting options are available.
Diagram of a Thermoelectric Module
The schematic diagram above shows a typical
thermoelectric module assembly. Both N-type and P-type Bismuth Telluride thermoelectric materials are used in a thermoelectric cooler. This arrangement causes heat to move between the cooler and one direction only while the electrical current moves back and forth alternately between the top and bottom substrates through each N and P element. The n-type material is doped so that it has an excess of electrons (more electrons than needed to complete a perfect molecular lattice structure) and the P-type material is doped so that it has a deficiency of electrons (less than electrons required to a perfect lattice structure). The extra electrons in the n material and the "holes" resulting from the deficiency of electrons in the material are the carriers which move the heat energy through the thermoelectric material. Most thermoelectric cooling modules are fabricated with an equal number of N-type and P-type elements where one N and P element pair form a thermoelectric "couple." For example, the above-illustrated module has N and P elements of two pairs and is termed a "two-couple module".
The cooling capacity (heat actively pumped through the thermoelectric module) is proportional to the magnitude of the applied DC current and the thermal conditions on each side of the module. By changing the current to zero to maximum, it is possible to control the surface
