DETAILED REVIEW/NOTE

APPLICATION OF THERMOELECTRIC MODULES

Introduction

 Thermoelectric modules are often used for

heating or cooling, but they can be used as
generators as well, if one side of this module
is heated and the other one is cooled.

 A thermoelectric module is a device with bi

directional functionality. It can, as the cooling
and heating the objects by simply changing
the direction of DC current.

 A TEC is a very precise device. It can provide

control of temperature with a precision of
0.01-0.001°C or better.

 TEC is a very fast device. It can provide both

cooling and heating with a rate of ones and
tens of degrees per second.
Working of Thermoelectric Module

Two unique semiconductors, one n-type and one

p-type, are used because they need to have
different electron densities. The semiconductors
are placed thermally in parallel to each other and
electrically in series and then joined with a
thermally conducting plate on each side. When a
voltage is applied to the free ends of the two
semiconductors there is a flow of DC current
across the junction of the semiconductors causing
a temperature difference. The side with the
cooling plate absorbs heat which is then moved to
the other side of the device where the heat sink
is.

Applications of Thermoelectric Modules

 thermoelectric generators are used to power
spacecraft. Spacecraft like Voyager 1 and
Voyager 2 utilize the heat generated from
radioactive decay of Plutonium-238 as heat
input to the thermoelectric generator. The
temperature difference between this heat
generated and the cold of outer space
produces electricity to power the spacecraft.

 application of thermoelectric power

generation includes waste heat recovery.
Thermoelctric generators can utilize heat
from exhaust pipes that would normally be
 wasted to the atmosphere. Using this heat to
generate electricity and improve the fuel
economy of vehicles

 Heat from steel manufacturing and gas flares

can also be harvested to provide energy
generation that produced no pollution.

 Solar heat recovery can also be utilized with

thermoelectrics. The heat from the sun is
focused on the thermoelectric modules hot
side while the ambient air cools the cold side.
This produces a high temperature delta across
the thermoelectric device which in turn
increases the devices energy conversion
efficiency.

 Medical applications of thermoelectrics are

divided into two categories. The first category
is cooling and heating and the second
category is power generation.
 Cooling and Heating-
1.thermoelectric chillers are utilized heat and or
cool liquids. These liquids can be pumped
through specialized blankets, wraps or vests
to cool and / or heat the patient.  This cooling
and heating method is used to treat Hypoxic-
ischemic encephalopathy (lack of oxygen at
birth). This chiller / heater and wrap system is
also used to perform Therapeutic
hypothermia and to treat low grade tissue
injuries.
2.Another important medical application of
thermoelectric is PCR (Polymerase Chain
Reaction). Developed in 1983 by biochemist
Kary Mullis. The work was award a Nobel
prize in Chemistry. PCR makes possible the
generation of thousand to millions of DNA
copies from a small amount of DNA
3.Small size, accurate and precise temperature
control and fast response time are all
characteristics of thermoelectrics that benefit
this medical application. 
o Power Generation-
1.For medical applications of thermoelectrics,
the Seebeck effect is utilized. With the
 Seebeck effect, body heat is converted to
electricity to power electronics. Two main
areas of research in thermoelectric Medical
Applications are that of powering implantable
medical devices and that of powering
wearable medical devices.

2.The below list of medical sensors are prime

candidates to be powered by thermoelectric
generators powered by body heat, thus
eliminating wires and batteries, and allowing
for uninterrupted data transmission. They can
also be connected to wireless sensor
networks (WSN) for continuous remote
patient monitoring-
o Electroencephalography – EEG (Electrical
activity of the scalp)
o Electrocardiography – ECG (Electrical activity
of the heart)
o Electromyography – EMG (Electrical activity of
the muscles)
o Pulse Oximeters (Oxygen saturation in the
blood)
o Ambulatory blood pressure monitors
(Continuous blood pressure measurement)
o Thermistors or Thermocouplse (Skin
Temperature)