Thermoelectric cooler

Thermoelectric cooler is a device that converts from electricity to temperature difference. This device consists of p-type and n-type materials. When voltage is applied, current flows and result the difference temperature between its surfaces . Hot and cold surfaces can be reversed by reversing the direction of current.

Thermoelectric

Thermoelectric cooler is one of the methods to produce low temperature. Comparing with conventional method (vapor compression), thermoelectric cooler has advantage such as: thermoelectric can be a cooler or heater by change the direction of electrical current, no vibration, quite, reliable, and no refrigerant (environmental friendly)

However, disadvantage of thermoelectric cooler performance is very low. Coefficient of performance of Thermoelectric cooler is only about 0.3 (vapor compression COP : 3-4).

Due to its advantages, thermoelectric cooler can solve the problem that conventional method cannot be applied to it, such as electronics cooling.

The application of thermoelectric has been introduced in many aspects. We can find thermoelectric cooler system at small refrigerator or even thermoelectric air conditioner. In electronics, thermoelectric cooler also is one of the solutions to maintain chip temperature below allowable maximum temperature. Thermoelectric can be attached to the chip and cool the chip directly.

Performance of thermoelectric will decrease if heat dissipation from hot side is not released properly.  Heat sink can be attached to the hot side of thermoelectric cooler to support heat transfer from hot side to the ambient. Moreover, thermoelectric cooler can produce very low temperature by making cascade thermoelectric cooler. It means hot side thermoelectric cooler is attached by another thermoelectric cooler.