STUDY ON THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF THERMOELECTRIC COOLING

MODULE

SAFIRUL IKHMAL BIN SAHARUDIN

This dissertation is submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Thermal Fluid)

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

MAY 2009
‘I hereby declared that I have read through this report and I found that it has comply the partial
fulfillment for awarding the degree of Bachelor Mechanical Engineering (Thermal-Fluid)’

Signature :…………………………

Supervisor : Nazri B. Md Daud

Date :…………………………
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“I declare that this report is done by my own exclude the citation with the mentioned
references for each”

Signature:……………………….................
Author : Safirul Ikhmal Bin Saharudin
Date : 18th May 2009
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Dedication

This book is especially dedicated to my supervisor, all respective UTeM staffs and
friends for their undivided help and guidance in enabling me to gain experience and
knowledge in making my final year project a success.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

All praises to God for His blessings and guidance. Thanks for giving me the
strength and ideas to complete this project report. Without His blessing, I would
never complete this report on time.

I would like to thank Mr. Nazri Md Daud, as my supervisor in this project,

the most important person with all due respect. I also would like to thank my second
panel for his kindness in checking my report. Not to forget, lab technician, Mr.
Hairul for all his support, my family that gave me support and motivation during the
completion.

Last but not least, bundle of thanks to all people involved directly or
indirectly in completing this project report.
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ABSTRACT

Thermoelectric module is a device that converts electrical energy to cold and

hot temperature and it is called Peltier effect. This cooling system used direct current
(DC) as a power supply. Thermoelectric is made from two thin ceramic plates and in
the middle of this two plates consist of two semi conductor material in series denoted
as P-type and N-type. Current that flow through this thermoelectric will make N-type
has an excess of electrons or negative charge, while the P type material has a deficit
of electrons or positive charge. The combination of two types of semi conductor will
construct an electrical connection in series and thermal connection in parallel.
Electrons that moved from P-type to N-type will make one side cooled and vice
versa. The main focus in this project is to find the physical properties and
performance curve of thermoelectric module. The physical properties and
performance curve obtained from this experiment are compared to other journals and
previous research. Most of thermoelectric module manufacturer are not concern
about this matters. The experiment only focused on the cooling system. The concept
of thermoelectric module cooling system is used in various applications such as
mobile refrigerator in car connected to automobile cigarette lighter. The cooling
capacity of thermoelectric can be determined from the physical properties and the
performance curve. The value of physical properties of thermoelectric obtained from
this experiment are Seebeck coefficient, α = 0.0468 VoC-1, thermal conductivity, Kt
is 0.4074 WoC-1, and resistance R = 2.3603 Ω.
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ABSTRAK

Modul penyejuk termoelektrik merupakan satu alat yang menukarkan tenaga

elektrik kepada suhu sama ada panas mahupun sejuk. Keadaan ini dipanggil sebagai
kesan Peltier. Sistem penyejukan ini menggunakan arus terus sebagai sumber kuasa.
Modul termoelektrik diperbuat daripada dua jenis lapisan seramik nipis dan
dibahagian tengahnya terdiri daripada kepingan semi konduktor P dan N yang
disusun secara selari. Arus yang mengalir menyebabkan lapisan semi konduktor N
menerima lebihan elektron atau cas negatif dan lapisan semi konduktor P mempunyai
kekurangan elektron atau cas positif. Apabila kedua-duanya di gabungkan, ia akan
menjadi sambungan electrik secara sesiri dan sambungan termal selari. Elektron yang
bergerak dari P ke N menyebabkan satu bahagian tersebut menjadi sejuk dan
sebaliknya. Perkara utama yang akan difokuskan didalam projek ini ialah
menyediakan satu eksperimen untuk menentukan ciri-ciri fizikal modul
termoelektrik. Ciri-ciri fizikal yang dicari melalui eksperimen ini akan dibandingkan
dengan jurnal-jurnal atau kajian-kajian yang dijalankan sebelum ini. Kebanyakan
pengeluar modul termoelektrik tidak menyediakan ciri-ciri fizikal yang terperinci
untuk produk mereka. Eksperimen yang akan dijalankan hanyalah memfokuskan
kepada kesan penyejukan. Prinsip modul termoelektrik ini dalam sistem penyejukan
membolehkan ia digunakan dalam pelbagai aplikasi seperti peti sejuk mudah alih
yang boleh dimuatkan didalam kereta dan disambung pada palam pencucuh rokok.
Sifat-sifat fizikal yang ditentukan didalam eksperimen ini boleh menentukan tahap
penyejukan termoelektrik modul yang penting didalam sesuatu aplikasi. Nilai-nilai
sifat fizikal thermoelectric yang diperoleh daripada ujikaji ini ialah, pekali Seebeck,
α = 0.0468 VoC-1, konduktiviti termal, Kt is 0.4074 WoC-1, dan rintangan R = 2.3603
Ω.
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TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER TOPIC PAGE

DECLARATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv
ABSTRACT v
TABLE OF CONTENT vii
LIST OF TABLE xi
LIST OF FIGURES xii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xiv
LIST OF APPENDICES xv

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Problem Statement 2
1.3 Objectives 3
1.4 Scope 3
1.5 Project Summary 4

CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW 5

2.1 Introduction 5
2.2 Fundamental of Thermoelectric Device 5
2.3 An Experimental Investigation
of Thermoelectric 7
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CHAPTER TOPIC PAGE

2.4 Accuracy of the
Thermoelectric Module 7
2.5 Advantages of Thermoelectric 8
2.6 Thermoelectric Experimental Setup 9

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY 10

3.1 Determination of physical properties
of a thermoelectric module 10
3.1.1 Determination of
Seebeck Coefficient, α 11
3.1.2 Determination of total thermal
conductivity of thermoelectric, Kt 11
3.1.3 Determination of Resistance, R 12
3.1.4 Determination of coefficient
of performance, COP 12
3.2 Experimental apparatus for thermoelectric
module test 14
3.3 Operating procedures 16
3.3.1 Determination
Of Seebeck coefficient, α
and thermal conductivity, Kt 16
3.3.2 Determination of total resistance, R 17
3.3.3 Determination
of coefficient of performance 18

CHAPTER IV RESULT 19
4.1 Determination of Seebeck Coefficient, α
(TA= 21.2oC) 19
4.2 Determination of thermal conductivity
of thermoelectric, Kt (TA= 21.2oC) 20
4.3 Determination of total resistance, R
(TA= 21.2oC) 21
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CHAPTER TOPIC PAGE

4.4 Determination
of coefficient of performance (COP) 22
4.5 Data Analysis 25
4.5.1 Seebeck Coefficient, α. 25
4.5.2 Total thermal conductivity
of thermoelectric, Kt 26
4.5.3 Resistance, R 27
4.5.4 Coefficient of performance (COP) 28
4.5.5 Calculation for thermal conductivity
of thermoelectric, Kt 29
4.5.6 Calculation of resistance, R 29
4.5.7 Calculation of coefficient of
performance (COP) for QL= 2.62 W 30
4.5.8 Calculation of coefficient of
performance (COP) for QL= 3.16 W 31
4.5.9 Calculation of coefficient of
performance (COP) for QL= 3.69 W 32

CHAPTER V DISCUSSION 33
5.1 Results from previous research for
Seebeck Coefficient, α 33
5.2 Results from previous research for
thermal conductivity, Kt 35
5.3 Results from previous research for
Resistance, R 36
5.4 Results from previous research
for coefficient of performance, COP 37
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CHAPTER TOPIC PAGE

CHAPTER VI CONCLUSION 38
6.1 Recommendations 39

REFERENCES 40
BIBLIOGRAPHY 42
APPENDICES A-R 43
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LIST OF TABLES

NO. TITLE PAGE

4.1 Determination of Seebeck Coefficient, α 19

4.2 Determination of thermal conductivity of

thermoelectric, Kt 20

4.3 Determination of total resistance, R 21

4.4 Determination of coefficient of performance

(COP) for QL= 2.62 W 22

4.5 Determination of coefficient of performance

(COP) for QL= 3.16 W 23

4.6 Determination of coefficient of performance

(COP) for QL= 3.69 W 24
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LIST OF FIGURES

NO. TITLE PAGE

1.1 Cross Section of a Thermoelectric Module 1

(Source: http://www.melcor.com/tec.html)

3.1 Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity

experiment set up 15

3.2 Resistance and coefficient of performance

experiment set up 15

4.1 Voltage, V versus temperature difference, ∆T graph 25

4.2 Heat transfer from aluminum blocks face, QL

versus temperature difference, ∆T graph 26

4.3 Resistance, R versus Tm graph 27

4.4 Coefficient of performance, COP versus Current, I 28

5.1 Seebeck coefficient, α vs average temperature Tm 33

(Source: International Journal of Refrigeration
Volume 23, Issue 3, May 2000)
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5.2 Thermal conductivity, Kt vs average temperature Tm 35

(Source: International Journal of Refrigeration
Volume 23, Issue 3, May 2000)

5.3 Resistance, R vs average temperature Tm 36

(Source: International Journal of Refrigeration
Volume 23, Issue 3, May 2000)

5.4 Coefficient of performance, COP vs current, I 37

(Source: International Journal of Refrigeration
Volume 23, Issue 3, May 2000)
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LIST OF ABBREVIATION

COP = coefficient of performance

I = current through the thermoelectric module (amp)
Kt = total thermal conductivity of thermoelectric module, (W°C−1)
QL = cooling capacity (W)
P = electric power supplied to the thermoelectric module (W)
R = total electrical resistance of thermoelectric module (ohm)
TH = hot-end temperature of the thermoelectric module (K)
TL = cold-end temperature of the thermoelectric module (K)
V = voltage to the thermoelectric module (volt)
Z = figure of merit of thermoelectric module (K−1)
α = Seeback coefficient of thermoelectric module (V°C−1)
ΔT = temperature difference
h = heat transfer coefficient (30 W/m2.oC)
A = area of the block face (m2)
Ts = surface temperature of aluminum block surface (oC)
TA = ambient temperature or room temperature (oC)
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LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX TITLE PAGE

A Thermoelectric module: Melcor CP2-127-06L 43

B Aluminum Heat sink 43
C Container 44
D DC voltage regulator
(GW Instek model GPC-3030D) 44
E Data Logger (PicoLog USB TC-08) 45
F Thermal Paste 45
G Heater Plate 46
H Heater temperature control 46
I Voltmeter 47
J Ice Bath 47
K Computer 48
L Experiment Setup 48
M Graph from data logger 49
N Thermoelectric Performance Specification 50
O Thermoelectric Mechanical Drawing 51
P Data Logger TC-08 Manual 52
Q Types of Thermocouple 53
R DC Voltage Regulator Manual 54
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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Thermoelectric modules are devices that thermoelectric materials are placed between
ceramic plates. They are solid-state, vibration-free, noise-free heat pumps, pumping
the heat from one surface to another. If the heat at the hot side is dissipated to
ambience by a heat sink, this assembly becomes a cooling unit. Not just being a heat
pump, the thermoelectric module also can be used to generate electrical power by
converting any source of heat. When direct current (DC) voltage is applied to the
module, the positive and negative charge carriers in the pellet array absorb heat
energy from one substrate surface and release it to the substrate at the opposite side.
The surface where heat energy is absorbed becomes cold; the opposite surface where
heat energy is release, becomes hot as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1.1: Cross Section of a Thermoelectric Module

(Source: http://www.melcor.com/tec.html)
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Featured with no moving parts, being small in size and light in weight, the
thermoelectric modules have been widely used within the military, medical,
industrial, consumer, laboratory, electro-optic and telecommunications areas for
cooling, heating and electric power generation. Although thermoelectric phenomena
were discovered more than 150 years ago, thermoelectric devices have only been
applied commercially during recent decades.

The theories behind the operation of thermoelectric cooling can be traced

back to the early 1800s. Jean Peltier discovered there is a heating or cooling effect
when electric current passes through two conductors. Thomas Seebeck found two
dissimilar conductors at different temperatures would create an electromotive force
or voltage. William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) showed that over a temperature gradient,
a single conductor with current flow, will have reversible heating and cooling.

1.2 Problem Statement

Thermoelectric devices are widely used in various industries. The

manufacturer develops many types of thermoelectric with different features and
ability in cooling system. Some manufacturer does not provide physical properties
and the performance details of thermoelectric module. The coefficient of
performance (COP) for thermoelectric needs to be reviewed by the manufacturer in
order to convince customers about the performance of their products. Because of
that, a simple test rig needs to be fabricated in order to determine the COP using the
Peltier effect and Seebeck coefficient.
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1.3 Objectives

The objectives of this project are as follows:

1. To fabricate test rig in order to determine the physical properties and

performance curve of thermoelectric module experimentally.
2. Comparison between experimental results that have been obtained with or
researcher’s data.

1.4 Scope

The scope that focus in this project are:

1. Fabricate an experiment setup of thermoelectric cooling module system

model Melcor CP2-127-06L.
2. The performance curve will be determined based on the temperature
difference achieved by thermocouple. The temperature difference in
thermoelectric is recorded based on temperature in heater that attached to
the thermoelectric.
3. Determination of physical properties of thermoelectric based on the
experiments which are the total thermal conductivity of thermoelectric,
Kt, Seebeck coefficient, α, cooling capacity, QL, and coefficient of
performance, COP.
4. The performance curve is constructed using the experimental data.
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1.5 Project Summary

According to the problem statement, objectives and scope of the project, a

simple test needs to be run to obtain several important data. The experiment
regarding thermoelectric is fabricated to collect information based on the
performance analysis and physical properties. This information must be carried out
and proved by the data and graph from the readings in the experiment. The apparatus
and instruments need to be prepared to make sure the experiment is running well
without damaging the thermoelectric devices. The thermoelectric is very sensitive
and easy to get damage so this simple experiment is constructed based on the well
prepared procedure. The important data that should be carried out are the
performance analysis to get the coefficient of performance and the physical
properties.
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CHAPTER II

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

A literature review in this section is just a simple summary of the sources,

such as journals and papers related to the thermoelectric cooling module. In this
chapter, it is also discuss about the fundamental of thermoelectric, experiment of the
cooling module and development of thermoelectric. It might give a new
interpretation of old material or combine new with old interpretations.

2.2 Fundamental of Thermoelectric Device

According to the Edmund J. Winder and Arthur B. Ellis (1996) from the
“Thermoelectric Devices: Solid-State Refrigerators and Electrical Generators in the
Classroom”, thermoelectric devices are solid-state devices that convert thermal
energy from a temperature gradient into electrical energy (the Seebeck effect) or
convert electrical energy into a temperature gradient (the Peltier effect). The
application of these two effects is described as a thermodynamic principle in a
compelling manner. The focus is on the Peltier effect where the application is the
portable cooler, which is electrical energy is converted to the temperature.
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From this journal, the experiment of cooling module using Peltier effect can
be demonstrated using the assembled thermoelectric. The simplest demonstration of
the Peltier effect is allows it to establish a temperature difference between the heat
sinks. If direct contact by touch is not practical, digital thermometers can be
connected to the heat sinks so the temperature between hot and cold can be
measured. The experiment of thermoelectric cooling module is related to the
thermodynamics theory where the performance of thermoelectrics, is based on the
efficiency. The efficiency, ɳ, is defined as the ratio of work output to work input. A
device converting electrical work to mechanical work (example, an electric motor)
that could theoretically be 100% efficient that is, have an efficiency of one similarly,
the reverse process of converting mechanical work to electrical work could
theoretically have an efficiency of one. Besides that the theory from the heat pump
also has been reviewed, and it is related to the thermoelectric cooling module where
the temperature difference from ambient temperature that the two heat sinks reach:
the hot side hotter than ambient temperature, while the cold side is colder than
ambient temperature. Although resistive heating and transport effects are affecting
the temperatures at both heat sinks, ideal thermodynamic effects are also apparent.

Metals typically have thermo powers, which are too small for most practical
applications with the exception of thermocouples. Many semiconductors, however,
have much larger values of heat transfer, Q. Although metals produce a smaller
potential for a given temperature difference, they are good thermocouple materials
because they are inexpensive and can easily operate in high temperature
environments. The materials used in thermoelectric devices and described herein can
be used to introduce a variety of solid-state structures.
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2.3 An Experimental Investigation of Thermoelectric

Based on the journal from Yu-Wei et.al (2007), the heat sink on the hot side
plays an important role in the overall performance. The selection of heat sink is to be
determined, first is to measure the properties of thermoelectric first, and then verify
the thermal resistance of heat sink which can meet the thermal design temperature.
Theoretically, the thermal resistance of the air-cooling heat sink is constant when
dividing the temperature difference by the total amount of heat passing through the
heat sink. However, the thermal resistance in this article is only to divide temperature
by the heating power of heater. The amount of heat actually passes through heat sink
is more than the heat from heater. The influences of heating power and input current
are determined. According to the measurement of temperatures, the cooling module
includes thermoelectric cooler resistance and heat sink resistance. Thermoelectric
cooler resistance stands for the thermal capacity of the thermoelectric cooler, and
heat sink resistance for the capacity of the air-cooling heat sink. With increasing
input current, thermoelectric resistance decreases and heat sink resistance increases.
The opposite trends on input current result in an optimal value in the overall
resistance. With increasing heating power of heat source, thermoelectric resistance
increases and heat sink resistance decreases. Including these two effects, the overall
resistance grows with the increase of heating power.

2.4 Accuracy of the Thermoelectric Module

Reviewed from the Christopher D. Meyer article (2007), an experiment has to

be conducted due to the determination of the accuracy of the cooling module.
Difference material is used to determine the electrical resistivity and the thermal
connectivity. Each material property has to be considered and summarized.
Measurement of the internal electrical resistance of thermoelectric materials must
always account for the voltage resulting from any difference in temperature between
the ends of the material. In thermoelectric materials, current will cause heating and
cooling at the ends of the material through the Peltier effect. This effect can be
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minimized if the direction of current flow alternates quickly so that not enough heat
is distributed in one half cycle to create a significant temperature difference within
the tested device. Importantly, material properties and parameters can be
independently measured by separate experiments and used in the model with
reasonable accuracy.

2.5 Advantages of Thermoelectric

Based on the CRC of Thermoelectric handbook by John G. Stockholm

(2000), the advantages of thermoelectric can be shown in the industry where the cost
has been decreased regularly. The advantages of the thermoelectric in the small
system; thermoelectric modules can be the most economic because of the standard
off-the-shelf components itself. The operating voltage used by thermoelectric contain
series parallel electrical circuitry and this circuitry gives the best and flexible cooling
power. Other than that the size of thermoelectric itself made it easy to install or
attach to other device. The collaboration of heat exchangers with thermoelectric are
widely used in the cooling systems.