Performance improvement of a transcritical CO2 refrigeration cycle using two-stage thermoelectric modules in sub-cooler and gas cooler

A novel integration of a trans-critical CO₂ refrigeration cycle with thermoelectric modules in the gas cooler and sub-cooler is presented, wherein a two-stage thermoelectric generator (TEG) produces power from the waste heat of gas cooler, which is a considerable amount of required power in two-stage thermoelectric cooler (TEC) to sub-cool the refrigerant before expansion device. Mathematical simulation of TEG and TEC as well as energy and exergy based thermodynamic analysis of the proposed system is performed, and the effects of some important parameters on the system performance are investigated. A comparison is carried out between the proposed system and the simple CO₂ refrigeration cycle, indicating that the proposed configuration improves the coefficient of performance (COP) about 19%. Also, it is observed that the TEC and TEG have better performance in a two-stage configuration. The parametric study reveals that the new configuration decreases the cycle operation pressure at maximum COP and exergetic efficiency.     

Performance optimization for two-stage thermoelectric refrigerator system driven by two-stage thermoelectric generator

A new configuration of combined thermoelectric device, two-stage thermoelectric refrigerator driven by two-stage thermoelectric generator, is proposed in this paper. The thermodynamic model of the combined device is built by using non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory. The analytical formulae for the stable working electrical current, the cooling load versus the working electrical current, and the coefficient of performance (COP) versus the working electrical current of the combined device are derived. For the fixed total number of thermoelectric elements of the combined device, the allocations of the thermoelectric element pairs among the two thermoelectric generators and the two thermoelectric refrigerators are optimized for maximum cooling load and COP, respectively. The influences of the heat source temperature of the two-stage thermoelectric generator and the heat source (cooling space) temperature of the two-stage thermoelectric refrigerator on the optimal performance of the combined thermoelectric device are analyzed by detailed numerical examples.     

Performance analysis of multi-stage thermoelectric coolers

Multi-stage thermoelectric coolers offer larger temperature differences between heat source and heat sink than single-stage thermoelectric coolers. In this paper, a pyramid-type multi-stage cooler is analyzed, focusing on the importance of maximum attainable target heat flux and overall coefficient of performance, COP. Having considered the COP and the thermal resistance of a heat sink as key parameters in the design of a multi-stage thermoelectric cooler, analytical formulas for COP and heat sink thermal resistance versus working electrical current are derived. For a fixed cooling target heat flux, the ratio of the heat sink thermal resistance to the respective single-stage value and the attainable COP in a cascaded cooler are determined as a function of the number of stages. Numerical simulations clearly indicate that the thermal resistance of the hot side heat sink is the controlling factor in determining the overall performance of a multi-stage thermoelectric cooler.     

Effect of heat transfer on the performance of thermoelectric generator-driven thermoelectric refrigerator system

A model of thermoelectric generator-driven thermoelectric refrigerator with external heat transfer is proposed. The performance of the combined thermoelectric refrigerator device obeying Newton’s heat transfer law is analyzed using the combination of finite time thermodynamics and non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Two analytical formulae for cooling load vs. working electrical current, and the coefficient of performance (COP) vs. working electrical current, are derived. For a fixed total heat transfer surface area of four heat exchangers, the allocations of the heat transfer surface area among the four heat exchangers are optimized for maximizing the cooling load and the coefficient of performance (COP) of the combined thermoelectric refrigerator device. For a fixed total number of thermoelectric elements, the ratio of number of thermoelectric elements of the generator to the total number of thermoelectric elements is also optimized for maximizing both the cooling load and the COP of the combined thermoelectric refrigerator device. The influences of thermoelectric element allocation and heat transfer area allocation are analyzed by detailed numerical examples. Optimum working electrical current for maximum cooling load and COP at different total number of thermoelectric elements and different total heat transfer area are obtained, respectively.     

A design method of thermoelectric coolerConception d'un refroidisseur thermoélectrique

A system design method of thermoelectric cooler is developed in the present study. The design calculation utilizes the performance curve of the thermoelectric module that is determined experimentally. An automatic test apparatus was designed and built to illustrate the testing. The performance test results of the module are used to determine the physical properties and derive an empirical relation for the performance of thermoelectric module. These results are then used in the system analysis of a thermoelectric cooler using a thermal network model. The thermal resistance of heat sink is chosen as one of the key parameters in the design of a thermoelectric cooler. The system simulation shows that there exists a cheapest heat sink for the design of a thermoelectric cooler. It is also shown that the system simulation coincides with experimental data of a thermoelectric cooler using an air-cooled heat sink with thermal resistance 0.2515°C/W. An optimal design of thermoelectric cooler at the conditions of optimal COP is also studied. The optimal design can be made either on the basis of the maximum value of the optimal cooling capacity, or on the basis of the best heat sink technology available.     

热电制冷强化风冷散热模块的工作特性分析

热电制冷器(TEC)可以强化散热器冷却性能,但受热端散热强度、工作电流、工作热负荷等参数影响较大。本文建立了TEC强化风冷散热模块的有限元分析模型,对其温度分布、工作特性进行了系统的理论和实验研究,并提出了确定TEC强化风冷散热模块有效工作电流、有效热负荷和有效制冷系数范围的方法。仿真和实验结果表明:特定的TEC强化风冷散热模块存在一个极限热负荷Q_c,max,仅在工作热负荷Q_cc,max,且TEC工作电流处在有效范围内时,才可获得比无TEC的风冷散热模块更低的芯片结温,即TEC表现出强化散热器冷却性能的特点;有效工作电流范围会随Qc的增大而减小;增大热端散热强度可以降低芯片结温,但对于提升Q_c,max效果较小;制冷系数(COP)在有效范围内存在一个极值点,小于此值时芯片结温会随COP的减小而迅速增大。     

Performances of thermoelectric cooler integrated with microchannel heat sinks

In this study, experimental and theoretical studies on thermoelectric cooler (TEC) performance for cooling a refrigerated object (water in a tank) were performed. Microchannel heat sinks fabricated with etched silicon wafers were employed on the TEC hot side to dissipate heat. The measurements show that the temperature of the refrigerated object decreased with time. A theoretical model based on a lumped system was established to predict the transient behavior of the variation in temperature for the refrigerated object with time. The theoretical predicted temperature variation was in good agreement with the measured data. The relationship among the heat sink thermal resistances, TEC electric current input and minimum refrigerated objected temperature was examined based on the theoretical model. The calculated minimum temperatures were showed for the several cases of heat sink thermal resistance on the TEC hot side and electric current input. The minimum temperature can be obtained by increasing the electrical current input and decreasing the heat sink thermal resistance.     

便携式热电制冷器制冷性能优化的试验分析

设计、组装一台便携式热电制冷器并对其性能进行试验研究,结果显示,200 mL的水在33 min内降温17.0℃,折合制冷量7.3 W,制冷器容器的高度方向上存在较大温差,且水温降低后密度增大而下沉,使水的自然对流换热过程受到抑制,这2个因素的综合作用使制冷片冷热端温差增大,制冷量减小,工况恶化。为优化该制冷器的制冷性能,在制冷片冷端增设重力式热管(充注R134a)并进行试验研究,结果表明,1 L的水在75 min内温度降低12℃,折合制冷量9.3 W,比优化前增大了27.4%。表明重力式热管的加入能够改善制冷器内水的对流换热情况,增大换热面积,减小竖直方向上的传热温差。     

The characterization of a cascade thermoelectric cooler in a cryosurgery device

An experimental investigation using a Peltier thermoelectric cooler (TEC) to cool down a cryoprobe for cryosurgery was performed. Two prototypes of cryosurgery devices consisting of 5- and 6-stage TEC modules were analyzed using a variety of electrical voltages, circulating thermostatic bath (CTB) temperatures, and heat exchanger configurations to obtain an optimum cold side temperature and temperature differences between sides of the modules. To increase the heat exchanges at the hot side, a heat pipe system with a water block was used. Using an electric voltage of 12 V and a CTB temperature of 273.55 K, a cryogenic temperature of 177.09 K and a temperature difference of 99.87 K were achieved. These results indicate that the TEC module can be an effective cooling source for cryosurgery. The prototype has shown potential for clinical trials.     

User-friendly and intuitive graphical approach to the design of thermoelectric cooling systems

This study proposes a user-friendly graphical method for calculating the steady-state operational point of a thermoelectric cooler (TEC)-based active cooling system, including the heatsink role. The method is simple and intuitive and provides comprehensive information about the cooling system such as its feasibility, required heatsink, the TEC current, temperatures of the cold and hot sides, and coefficient of performance (COP). The method could help designers to examine and choose a thermoelectric module from catalogues to meet a specific cooling problem. To start using the method, designers need only the experimental TEC data provided by practically all manufacturers of such devices. The experimental results of this study verify the high accuracy of the proposed model and graphical approach.     

Analysis of optimum configuration of two-stage thermoelectric modules

In this paper, the theoretical analysis and stimulating calculation were conducted for a basic two-stage thermoelectric module, which contains one thermocouple in the second stage and several thermocouples in the first stage. The study focused on the configuration of the two-stage thermoelectric module, especially investigating the influences of some parameters, such as the allocation of the junction temperature difference in the module, the length of thermocouples and the number of thermocouples, on the cooling performance of the module. The obtained analysis results indicate that changing the junction temperature difference in the second stage, the length of thermocouples and the number of thermocouples in the first stage can improve the cooling performance of the module. These results can be used to optimize the configuration of the two-stage thermoelectric module, and provide guides for the design and application of thermoelectric cooler.     

Integration of dye-sensitized solar cells, thermoelectric modules and electrical storage loop system to constitute a novel photothermoelectric generator

This study self-develops a novel type of photothermoelectric power generation modules. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) serve as the photoelectric conversion system and a copper (Cu) heat-transfer nanofilm coating on both sides of the thermoelectric generator (TEG) acts as a thermoelectric conversion system. Thus module assembly absorbs light and generates electricity by DSSCs, and also recycles waste heat and generates power by the TEG. In addition, a set of pulsating heat pipes (PHP) filled with Cu nanofluid is placed on the cooling side to increase cooling effects and enhance the power generation efficiency. Results show that when the heat source of thermoelectric modules reaches 90 degrees C, TEG power output is increased by 85.7%. Besides, after thermoelectric modules are heated by additional heat source at 80 degrees C, the electrical energy generated by them can let a NiMH cell (1.25 V) be sufficiently charged in about 30 minutes. When photothermoelectric modules is illumined by simulated light, the temperature difference of two sides of TEG can reach 7 degrees C and the thermoelectric conversion efficiency is 2.17%. Furthermore, the power output of the thermoelectric modules is 11.48 mW/cm2, enhancing 1.4 % compared to merely using DSSCs module.     

Thermoelectric cooling of microelectronic circuits and waste heat electrical power generation in a desktop personal computer

Thermoelectric cooling and micro-power generation from waste heat within a standard desktop computer has been demonstrated. A thermoelectric test system has been designed and constructed, with typical test results presented for thermoelectric cooling and micro-power generation when the computer is executing a number of different applications. A thermoelectric module, operating as a heat pump, can lower the operating temperature of the computer's microprocessor and graphics processor to temperatures below ambient conditions. A small amount of electrical power, typically in the micro-watt or milli-watt range, can be generated by a thermoelectric module attached to the outside of the computer's standard heat sink assembly, when a secondary heat sink is attached to the other side of the thermoelectric module. Maximum electrical power can be generated by the thermoelectric module when a water cooled heat sink is used as the secondary heat sink, as this produces the greatest temperature difference between both sides of the module.     

Experimental investigation on two-stage thermoelectric cooling system adopted in isoelectric focusing

Performance of temperature control is crucial to the operation of isoelectric focusing equipment (IEF). In this paper, two-stage thermoelectric cooling module (TEM) is proposed to be adopted in IEF to realize prompt and precise temperature control as well as low focusing temperature (T_f). Three different prototypes including HP + baffle, AL + baffle and HP + fin are developed to obtain optimal design. Experimental setups of these prototypes are built up to test their performance. Temperature distribution on cooling plate, COP and air temperature in bottom chamber with respect to different T_fs are adopted as performance indices to evaluate performance of these prototypes. Experimental results show that aluminum plate with heat pipes, used as cooling plate, can improve its temperature uniformity. Moreover, fin-type heat sink with baffle can effectively dissipate heat on the hot side of TEM with little impact on the other parts of IEF. The T_f of HP + baffle can be kept at 10 °C. And its COP can reach 2.0 under general working condition.     

Production,characterization and optimization of thermoelectric module and investigation of doping effects on thermoelectric performances

The objective of this study is to produce the thermoelectric (TE) module called as a Peltier module or element using new and promising materials that work at high temperature for generation of electricity with thermoelectric energy conversion from waste heat at high temperatures. Peltier modules used commercially nowadays can work at relatively low temperatures and their efficiency increase in proportion to the temperature difference between the surfaces of the modules. They consist of a pair of p- and n-type semiconductor. In this study, calcium cobalt oxide was chosen as a p-type semiconductor whilst zinc oxide was chosen as n-type semiconductor. Pure and aluminum-doped zinc oxide and silver-doped calcium cobalt oxide powders were synthesized via sol–gel processing successfully. The obtained powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry (DTA-TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the particle size distribution of the powders obtained via sol–gel processing was determined using a particle size analyzer. One and two leg oxide thermo-electric modules consisting of one pair of p-type 0.03 percent silver doped calcium cobalt oxide and n-type 0.02 percent aluminum doped zinc oxide bulks of 25 square millimeter cross-section and 3 millimeter heights were constructed. The thermoelectric module constructed was tested at high temperatures, and compared to other similar oxide modules reported in literature. Ultimately, the thermal stress and alteration of thermal stress depending on the leg length and side length of semiconductors were calculated using the finite element analysis (FEA) model in ANSYS 15.0 software. According to the results of the analysis, TE module was optimized in terms of mechanical behavior.     

Thermoresistive and thermoelectric properties of coplanar cellulose-MWCNTs buckypaper

Thermoresistive sensors are based on the change in electrical resistance with temperature variation, are easily read, and have a simple design but require external power for their operation. Thermoelectric devices (TDs) based on the Seebeck effect directly convert heat into electrical power without any moving parts, generating voltages from the temperature difference established between the ends of a solid-state material. In recent years, several thermoresistors and TDs have been manufactured with conductive films based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs), i.e., with buckypaper (BP), because they provide lightweight, flexible, and sensitive devices. Nevertheless, the electrical resistance and thermoelectric properties of CNTs are affected when they are randomly assembled to form a BP. Then, this study investigated the thermoresistive and thermoelectric properties of a coplanar BP with an active area of 1.0 cm². Morphological characterization was performed by scanning electron microscopy and showed bundles of multiwalled CNTs agglomerated on the surface but also impregnated into cellulose fibers. BP-based thermoresistive sensor had a maximum sensitivity of ??10.05% at 322 K. Moreover, the thermoelectric configuration presented a maximum thermovoltage and thermoelectric power of ??1.2 mV and ??0.09 mV/K, respectively. These results suggest that this coplanar BP can be easily applied in thermal sensors and thermoelectric device concepts.

     

Optimization of power generating thermoelectric modules utilizing LNG cold energy

A theoretical investigation to optimize thermoelectric modules, which convert LNG cold energy into electrical power, is performed using a novel one-dimensional analytic model. In the model the optimum thermoelement length and external load resistance, which maximize the energy conversion ratio, are determined by the heat supplied to the cold heat reservoir, the hot and cold side temperatures, the thermal and electrical contact resistances and the properties of thermoelectric materials. The effects of the thermal and electrical contact resistances and the heat supplied to the cold heat reservoir on the maximum energy conversion ratio, the optimum thermoelement length and the optimum external load resistance are shown.     

Theoretical study of a thermoelectric-assisted vapor compression cycle for air-source heat pump applications

This paper proposes a thermoelectric-assisted vapor compression cycle (TVCC) for applications in air-source heat pump systems which could enhance the heating capacity of the system. Performances of TVCC are calculated and then compared with that of basic vapor compression cycle (BVCC). The simulation results show that when coefficients of performance (COPs) of the two cycles are almost equal, the TVCC under maximum COP condition of the thermoelectric modules still performs better than BVCC by 13.0% in heating capacity through selecting the appropriate intermediate temperature. In addition, the TVCC can also achieve an improvement of 16.4%–21.7% in both the heating COP and capacity when compared with the BVCC with an assistant electric heater that is provided with the equivalent power input of thermoelectric heat exchanger. Thus, the TVCC could be beneficial to the applications in small heat pumps if there is always need for auxiliary electric heat.     

基于热电冷却的集成散热装置的性能优化分析

针对半导体器件热通量逐年增长的现象,讨论了1种由热电模块、散热器等集成的散热装置来满足其散热要求.通过在icepak中建立该散热装置的数值模型,从热电模块的冷、热端温度场及热电模块的制冷量和制冷系数,分析工作电流、热电臂面长比和环境温度对其散热性能的影响,从而选择合适的热电模块,并使之在最佳工况下运行,从而优化散热装置...     

Nontoxic and abundant copper zinc tin sulfide nanocrystals for potential high-temperature thermoelectric energy harvesting

Improving energy/fuel efficiency by converting waste heat into electricity using thermoelectric materials is of great interest due to its simplicity and reliability. However, many thermoelectric materials are composed of either toxic or scarce elements. Here, we report the experimental realization of using nontoxic and abundant copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanocrystals for potential thermoelectric applications. The CZTS nanocrystals can be synthesized in large quantities from solution phase reaction and compressed into robust bulk pellets through spark plasma sintering and hot press while still maintaining nanoscale grain size inside. Electrical and thermal measurements have been performed from 300 to 700 K to understand the electron and phonon transports. Extra copper doping during the nanocrystal synthesis introduces a significant improvement in the performance.