Thermoelectric Power Generation and Refrigeration Systems

ME 372 Instructor: Jesse Adams March 1, 2001 By: Ann-Marie Vollstedt

Thermoelectric Power Generation and Refrigeration Systems What are thermoelectric devices used for? Thermoelectronic devices are used in a variety of applications. They are used by the military for night vision equipment, electronic equipment cooling, portable refrigerators, and inertial guidance systems. Military quality night vision binoculars 8 (Figure 1) retail at about $500. These products are useful to the military during war and training because they are reliable, small, and quiet. Another advantage to these
Figure 1: Night vision binoculars.

thermoelectric products is that they

can be run on batteries or out of a car lighter. The medical community uses thermoelectric applications for hypothermia blankets, blood analyzers, and tissue preparation and storage4. The main advantage of thermoelectric devices to the medical community is that the devices allow doctors precise temperature control, which is useful in handling tissue samples. Hypothermia blankets are pads that patients rest on during surgery to keep their body at a certain temperature. Many people have thermoelectric products in their homes such as beer keg coolers, wine cellar chillers, water coolers, and picnic basket coolers. Water Coolers like Advanced Thermoelectric Products M-5
7

(Figure 2) retail for about $350. The M-5 holds 0.74 gallons of water and weighs 14.7

pounds without the bottle. Consumers like the M-5 because it constantly keeps water at an ideal drinking temperature of 39-52 degrees Fahrenheit.

Thermoelectric devices are probably most well known for their contribution to powering spacecrafts like the Voyager (1980). Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators provided all of the on- board electrical power for NASAs Voyager. The Thermoelectric devices proved reliable since they were still performing to specification 14 years after launch. The power system provided the equivalent of 100-300 watts electrical power and multiples thereof.9 NASA is now requiring higher efficiency rates out of smaller units.
Figure 2: M-5 water cooler

What is a Thermoelectric device? A thermoelectric device is one that operates on a circuit that incorporates both thermal and electrical effects to convert heat energy into electrical energy or electrical energy to a temperature gradient. Thermoelectric elements perform the same cooling function as Freon -based vapor compression or absorption refrigerators. Energy is taken from a region thereby reducing its temperature. The energy is than rejected to a heat sink region with a higher temperature. Thermoelectric elements are in a totally solid state, while vapor cycle devices have moving mechanical parts that require a working fluid.3

Thermoelectri c modules (Figure 3) are small, sturdy, quiet heat pumps operated by a DC power source. They usually last about 200,000 hours in
Figure 3: Thermoelectric module

heating mode or about 20 hours if left on cooling mode. When power is supplied, the surface where heat energy is absorbed becomes cold; the opposite surface where heat energy is released becomes hot. If the polarity of current flow through the module is reversed, the cold side will become the hot side and vice-versa. Thermoelectric modules can also be used as thermocouples for temperature measurement or as generators to supply power to spacecrafts and electrical equipment.

The History of Thermoelectrics In 1821, Thomas Seebeck discovered that a continuously flowing current is created when two wires of different materials are joined together and heated at one end. This idea is known as the Seebeck Effect1 (Figure 4). The Seebeck effect has two main applications including temperature measurement and power generation.

Thirteen years later Jean Charles Athanase reversed the flow of electrons in Seebecks circuit to create refrigeration. This effect is known as the Peltier Effect.1 This idea forms the basis for the thermoelectric refrigerator. Scottish scientist William Thomson (later Lord Kelvin) discovered in 1854 that if a
Figure 4: Seebeck effect: Two wires of different metals are connected at both ends to create a closed circuit. If one end is heated a current will flow continuously.

temperature difference exists between any two points of a currentcarrying conductor, heat is either

evolved or absorbed depending upon the material.6 If such a circuit absorbs heat, then heat may be evolved if the direction of the current or of the temperature gradient is reversed.

Thermocouples, Generators, and Refrigerators Thermoelectric modules can also be used as thermocouples for measuring temperature or providing the temperature-sensing element in a thermostat. To measure temperature the thermoelectric circuit is broken so the current quits flowing. When the current ceases, voltage is measured by a voltmeter1 (Figure 5). The voltage generated is a function of
Figure 5: The voltage generated is a function of the temperature difference and the materials of the two wires used.

the temperature difference and the

materials of the two wires used. Two wires used to measure temperature in this manner form a thermocouple. Thermocouples are the most prevalent device for temperature measurement. Thermoelectric modules can also be used as power generators. A thermoelectric generator (Figure 6) has a power cycle closely related to a heat engine cycle with electrons serving as the working fluid. Heat is transferred from a high temperature heat source to a hot junction and than rejected to a low temperature sink from the cold junction. The difference between the two quantities is the net electrical work produced. The voltage output has been increased significantly with the use of
Figure 6: A simple thermoelectric generator

semiconductors instead of metal pairs. Some use n-

type and p-type materials connected in series for greater efficiency (Figure 7). N-type materials are heavily doped to create excess electrons, while p-type materials are used to create a deficiency of electrons. Melcor, the worlds first manufacturer of thermoelectric coolers, utilizes processed bismuth telluride to yield semiconductors with thermoelectric properties3. The couple is connected in series electrically and in parallel thermally then integrated into modules. The modules are placed between ceramic
Figure 7: A Thermoelectric generator using n and p-type materials.

plates to offer optimum stability, electrical insulation, and thermal conductivity. The modules can be either mounted in parallel to increase the heat transfer effect or stacked to achieve high differential temperatures. Global makes a thermoelectric generator5 (Figure 8). In the center of the generator is a thermoelectric module, which contains lead-tin-telluride semiconductor elements. On one side of the module there is a gas burner. The other side has aluminum cooling fins or a heat pipe to keep it cool. The hot side maintains a

temperature of 540 degrees Celsius, while the cold side stays at about 140 degrees Celsius.
Figure 8: Global's thermoelectric generator

Thermoelectric devices can also be used as refrigerators on the bases of the Peltier effect.1 To create a thermoelectric refrigerator (Figure 9), heat is absorbed from a refrigerated space and than rejected to a warmer environment. The difference between these two quantities is the net electrical work that needs to be supplied. These refrigerators are not overly popular because they have a low coefficient of performance. The coefficient of performance for thermoelectric refrigerators can be calculated by dividing the cooling effect by the work input as shown in the
Figure 9: A Thermoelectric refrigerator based on the Peltier effect.

example on page 10.

Temperature Range It is theoretically possible to get a temperature range of about 75 degrees Celsius working against the hot side at a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius.2 This will only happen if there is no thermal load, which will not happen in a real system. Typical applications yield about half of the theoretical temperature difference. More extreme temperatures can be reached by using multiple thermoelectric modules. Since thermoelectric modules will not perform as well in colder temperatures, their temperature range becomes much smaller.

Advantages Thermoelectric devices are advantageous because they are reliable, light in weight, small, quiet, and inexpensive.2 They will function in environments that are too severe, too sensitive, or too small for conventional refrigeration. These environmentally friendly devices offer precise temperature control, while requiring minimal maintenance because they have no moving parts. Thermoelectric devices are most useful for small cooling jobs where a compressor based system would be impractical. These devices are also useful because they can heat as well as cool depending on the polarity of the power source. Assembly Thermoelectric modules are installed2 through mechanical clamping, epoxy bonding, and solder bonding (Figure 10). While the modules are strong in compression,

they are weak in shear so excess loading should be avoided. Maximum recommended compression loading is 350 lbs. per sq. inch of module surface. Future Research Researchers are working on improving the efficiency of
Figure 10: Thermoelectric Installation guide

thermoelectric devices, reducing the cost of producing them and increasing their applications. Researchers are trying to maximize the electricity output for a given heat source by changing the materials used in construction. They are also studying materials so they can predict their reliability and long-term behavior. The Japanese government is funding thermoelectric research in the fields of space technology, and domestic and industrial uses. Professor Michael Rowe proved that the amount of heat contained in the water leftover from a bath would provide enough electricity to power a color television for an hour.9 Electric power was produced through a series of thermocouples squeezed in between a few hot and cold-water channels. The power produced was about 100 watts. Research in the field of thermoelectrics is bound to continue because it offers a convenient, earth friendly alternative to normal power systems.

Example Problem Problem 10.73 from Thermodynamics, An Engineering Approach. Question: A thermoelectric refrigerator removes heat from a refrigerated space at 5 degrees Celsius at a rate of 130 Watts and rejects it to an environment at 20 degrees Celsius. Determine the maximum coefficient of performance this thermoelectric refrigerator can have and the minimum required power input? Solution: Recall: The standard comparison for refrigeration cycles is the reversed Carnot cycle. The performance of refrigerators is expressed in terms of the coefficient of performance (COP). COP=

QH CoolingEffect = WorkInput Wnet in

1 ( TH 1) TL

The COP for Carnot refrigerators is:

a. Maximum coefficient of refrigeration: COP max = COP r =

( 1 TH 1) TL

1 = 10.72 293K ( 1) 268K

b. Minimum required power input:

.

W in

QL 130W = = = 12.1W COPmax 10.72

Works Cited

1. Cengal,Yunus, and Michael Boles. Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach. Hightstown: McGraw Hill, 1998. 2. An Introduction to Thermoelectrics. Tellurex Corporation. February 8, 2001. < http://www.tellurex.com/> (1 February 2001). 3. Thermoelectric History/General Information. Melcor, Thermoelectric Engineering Handbook. < http://www.melcor.com/handbook.htm> (1 February 2001). 4. Thermoelectric Applications. Melcor, Thermoelectric Engineering Handbook. < http://www.melcor.com/handbook.htm> (1 February 2001). 5. About Generators. Global Thermoelectrics.< http://www.globalte.com/genabout-frames.htm > (1 February 2001). 6. Thermoelectrics. The Columbia Encyclopedia. < http://www.bartleby.com/65/th/thermoel.html > (1 February 2001). 7. The M-5 Water Cooler. Advanced Thermoelectric Products. < http://www.electracool.com/products.htm> (27 February 2001). 8. Night Vision Binocular. Night Vision Optics. < http://www.nightvisionoptics.com/> (27 February 2001). 9. Thermoelectric Generators: Seebeck effect used for conversion of heat energy into electric power. Global Techno Scan. http://www.globaltechnoscan.com/31jan-6feb/generators.htm (1 February 2001).