International Journal of Thermophysics (2018) 39:108

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-018-2430-z

Optimal Control of Time Dependence of Temperature

in Thermoelectric Devices for Medical Purposes

L. Anatychuk1,2 · L. Vikhor1 · M. Kotsur1,2 · R. Kobylianskyi1,2 · T. Kadeniuk1

Received: 25 January 2018 / Accepted: 4 August 2018

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018

Abstract
The physical model of the thermoelement in the unsteady cooling mode is considered.
The heat capacity of the cooling object and the connecting and insulating plates, the
heat load, the heat exchange with the ambient, the release of the Joule heat due to the
presence of contact resistance between the thermoelectric material and the metallic
connecting plate, as well as the Thomson effect impact in the bulk of thermoelement
legs are taken into account. A method is described for calculating the optimal depen-
dence of the thermoelement supply current on time, which provides the preset time
dependence of the cooling temperature. Examples of computer simulation of cur-
rent control functions for implementation of the specified time functions of operating
temperature in medical devices are given.

Keywords Current control function · Process of unsteady thermoelectric cooling ·

Thermocouple · Time dependence of temperature

1 Introduction

The thermoelectric cooling method is widely used to provide thermal modes for various
electronic, medical and measuring devices. In some cases, such devices operate in the
unsteady modes and should change the operating temperature according to a specified
time law. The thermoelectric cooler enables easy realization of such unsteady modes
by controlling the cooling (heating) temperature by means of changing the supply
current of the thermoelement with time.
The process of time-dependent thermoelectric cooling–heating has not been suffi-
ciently studied yet. At the same time, the unsteady modes have a number of advantages.

B L. Vikhor
vikhorl@ukr.net

1 Institute of Thermoelectricity of the NAS and MES of Ukraine, Nauky Str., 1, Chernivtsi 58029,
Ukraine
2 Yurii Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, Kotsubynskyi Str., 2, Chernivtsi 58000, Ukraine

0123456789().: V,-vol 123

108 Page 2 of 12 International Journal of Thermophysics (2018) 39:108

In particular, in an unsteady state, it is possible to obtain deeper cooling than in a steady

one [1–4]. This is possible due to optimization of such modes. The application of math-
ematical modeling and computer methods is a reasonable way of solving optimization
problems, in particular, those related to determining of the optimal control functions.
The topical problem of controlling the process of thermoelectric cooling or heating
is to determine the dependence of the supply current on time thus providing a specified
time dependence of the temperature of the thermoelement working surface. Such
task concerns the problems of synthesis of control over the process of the unsteady
thermoelectric cooling or heating.
The analysis of some scientific information [5–14] shows that published results
of theoretical research into the unsteady-state cooling process mainly concern the
determination of the temperature behavior in the thermoelement powered by the cur-
rent pulses of a certain prescribed shape. As for the problems of synthesis of control
associated with the search for optimal time functions of the current for the unsteady
processes of cooling and heating, at the present time the methods for solving them
have not been studied sufficiently enough.
The aim of the work was to develop an algorithm and computer methods for cal-
culating the optimal time dependence of the thermoelectric converter supply current
ensuring a change in the temperature of an object either cooled or heated by this
converter in accordance with the specified law.
The problem of the cooling temperature control in the unsteady state is connected
with solving of two main tasks. First, it is necessary to be able to determine whether a
specified time dependence of the cooling temperature can be realized or not, since the
possibility of achieving a preset temperature over a certain period of time is restricted
by the response speed of the thermoelectric cooler. The answer to this question is given
by solving the optimization problem of finding the minimum cooling temperature for
a certain period of time. Computer methods for solving such a problem are proposed
in [15, 16]. In these papers, it is shown which minimum temperature is reached in the
unsteady cooling mode during different time intervals on application of single-stage
and two-stage thermoelectric coolers.
The second task is to find an algorithm according to which the shape of the current
control pulse I(t) is determined for a specified time function of the cooling temperature
T c (t). Methods for solving such a problem were considered in [17, 18]. The results were
obtained for approximate physical models of a thermoelectric cooler in the unsteady
mode. Only one thermoelectric leg was considered, whose material parameters, namely
the Seebeck coefficient α, resistivity ρ, thermal conductivity κ and volumetric heat
capacity c, are independent on temperature. In [17], only the absorption of Peltier
heat was taken into account on the cold surface of the leg. The heat capacity of
the cooling object, the release of Joule heat due to the contact resistance between the
thermoelectric material of the leg and the metallic connecting plate, which significantly
affect the cooling temperature in the unsteady mode [19], are not considered. In [18],
the influence of these factors is taken into account, but the impact of heat load, which
is important in practical application of the unsteady-state cooling, is disregarded.
Therefore, to find the relationship between the preset time temperature dependence
T c (t) and the current control function I(t), we use the refined physical model of the
thermoelement.

123
International Journal of Thermophysics (2018) 39:108 Page 3 of 12 108

Fig. 1 Schematic of the thermoelement in the unsteady cooling mode. (1) thermoelement legs, (2) connecting
plate, (3) insulating plate, (4) cooled object, (5) area of contact resistance

2 Physical Model of a Thermoelement in the Unsteady Mode and Its

Mathematical Description

To describe the thermoelement in the unsteady cooling mode, we use the schematic
shown in Fig. 1. The thermoelement legs of a height l and cross section area s are
made of n- and p-type conductivity materials. The characteristics of the leg material,
namely the Seebeck coefficient αn,p (T ) and the resistivity ρn,p (T ), depend on the
temperature, and the thermal conductivity coefficient κn,p and the heat capacity cn,p
are considered to be constants owing to their insignificant dependence on temperature
in thermoelectric materials for coolers. It is assumed that the heat-releasing surface of
the thermoelement is maintained at a fixed temperature T h , whereas the lateral surface
of the legs is adiabatically insulated. At the cold junction of the thermoelement, the
absorption of the Peltier heat, the release of the Joule heat at the junction with the
contact resistance r c , the lumped volumetric heat capacity g of the connecting and
insulating plates and the object under cooling, the heat exchange with the ambient,
whose temperature is T a , and the heat load, whose power is q0 , are considered.
For such a model, the temperature distribution in thermoelement legs is assigned
by a system of one-dimensional equations of the unsteady-state heat conduction given
by
⎧
⎨ cn ∂ Tn  κn ∂ T2n + ρn (T ) I (t) − Tn ∂α∂nT(T ) I (t) ∂ Tn
2 2
∂t ∂x s2 s ∂x
n
, (1)
⎩ c p ∂ T p  κ p ∂ T2p + ρ p (T ) I 2 (t) ∂α (T ) ∂ Tp
2
∂t ∂x s2
− T p ∂pT p I (t)
s ∂x

where x ∈ [0, l], t ∈ [0, tmax ]. I(t) is the current in the legs of a thermoelement which
is a function of time. In Eq. 1, the first term on the right-hand side takes into account

123
108 Page 4 of 12 International Journal of Thermophysics (2018) 39:108

the heat conduction in the thermoelement legs, the second one is the Joule heat release,
and the third one is the Thomson heat generated in the bulk of the thermoelement legs
due to the temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient αn,p (T ).
The boundary conditions for these equations have the form
 
∂T ∂ Tp  
κn s n + κ p s − α p (Tc (t)) + |αn (Tc (t))| I (t)Tc (t)
∂x ∂ x x0
∂ Tc (t) rc
−g − 2s H (Tc (t) − Ta ) + 2 I 2 + q0  0,
∂t s
Tn (0, t)  T p (0, t) ≡ Tc (t)
Tn (l, t)  T p (l, t) ≡ Th . (2)

where the thermoelement cold surface temperature is the specified time function T c (t),
H is the coefficient of the convective heat exchange with the ambient.
The first condition in (2) is a heat balance equation on the cold junction between
thermocouple n- and p-type legs. For the general case, the first term is the heat due to
the thermal conductivity, the second term is the Peltier heat, the third term is a heat due
the lumped thermal capacity of connecting and insulating plates as well as of the object
under cooling connected to them, the fourth term is the convective heat transfer from
the cooled object surface, the fifth term is the Joule heat at the junction contacts, and
the last term is the active heat load, which is released by the cooled object. The second
condition in (2) is the equality between cold surface temperatures of n- and p-type
legs and their equivalence to the specified time function T c (t). The third condition in
(2) indicates that the hot junctions are considered to remain at a constant temperature.
For the general case, the initial temperature distribution in the legs should corre-
spond to a steady-state distribution with an initial value of the current I 0 , which can
be approximated by the function
(n, p) 2 2 (n, p) (n, p)
Tn, p (x, 0)  C0 I0 x + C1 x + C2 , (3)

where C 0 , C 1 and C 2 are constants determined by solving the problem of a steady-state

heat conduction in the legs at the DC of I 0 given by equations
⎧ 2
⎨ κn ∂ 2 T2n + ρn (T ) I02 − Tn ∂αn (T ) I0 ∂ Tn  0
∂x s ∂ Tn s ∂ x
(4)
⎩ κ ∂ 2 T p + ρ (T ) I0 − T ∂α p (T ) I0 ∂ T p  0
2
p ∂x2 p s 2 p ∂ T p s ∂ x

with the boundary conditions in the form of

 
∂ Tn ∂ Tp  
Tn (0)  T p (0), κn s + κps − α p (T p (0)) + |αn (Tn (0))| I0 Tn (0)
∂x ∂ x x0
rc 2
− 2s H (Tn (0) − Ta ) + 2 I0 + q0  0,
s
Tn (l)  T p (l) ≡ Th . (5)

123
International Journal of Thermophysics (2018) 39:108 Page 5 of 12 108

Under the restrictions I 0  0 A, T h = T a , the initial conditions for the unsteady

boundary problem (1) and (2) will have a simple form of

Tn (x, 0)  T p (x, 0) ≡ Ta . (6)

The optimal control problem is to find such a current control function I(t), which
ensures a preset time dependence of the cold temperature T c (t).

3 Solving the Problem of Optimal Control Synthesis

The solution of the formulated optimal control problem at arbitrary dependences of the
material parameters on temperature can be obtained only by complicated numerical
methods, for example, by constructing PI or PID regulators. We offer an approximate,
but a simple method that was already used in [18].
To solve the problem, the following averaged values of the thermoelectric material
parameters can be used:

α  (ᾱ p + |ᾱn |)/2; ρ  (ρ̄ p + ρ̄n )/2; κ  (κ p + κn )/2; c  (c p + cn )/2. (7)

The validity of such averaging is explained by the fact that in cooling thermoele-
ment the legs are made of n- and p-type BiTe-based materials with close in value
thermoelectric parameters.
It is necessary to note that, in the first approximation, the impact of the Thomson
effect in Eq. 1 can be considered by arithmetic averaging of the Seebeck coefficients
in the operating temperature range [20], and for resistivity coefficients it is expedient
to use integral averaging [20]. Then, the average values of these coefficients in (7) are
determined as follows:

ᾱn, p  (αn, p (Th ) + αn, p (Tc (t))/2, (8)

Th
1
ρ̄n, p  ρn, p dT (9)
(Th − Tc (t))
Tc (t)

The validity of such classical temperature averaging for the material parameters
was discussed in [20, 21]. It should be mentioned that the averaging (7)–(9) is feasible
because hot and cold temperatures T h , T c (t) are preset data. One should take into
account that ᾱn, p and ρ̄n, p and also the averaged values of α and ρ are temperature
independent but depend on time due to their dependence on preset function T c (t).
Such approximations make it possible to solve instead of the problem (1)–(3) for a
thermoelement the similar initial-boundary problem of the unsteady heat conduction
for a single leg with averaged according to (7)–(9) parameters α(t), ρ(t), κ and c.

123
108 Page 6 of 12 International Journal of Thermophysics (2018) 39:108

Applying the Laplace transform method [22], as suggested in [18], we obtain a

relation between the preset function of the cooling temperature T c (t) and the current
control function I(t) in the form of
⎡ ⎤
at
1 r
⎣ I 2 (t) + κ
K (t − τ )ρ(τ )I 2 (τ )dτ + Φ(t, Tc (t))⎦, (10)
c
I (t) 
α(t)Tc (t) s csl
0

κs
at
where Φ(t, Tc (t))  −g dTdtc (t) − H sTc (t) − rc 2
s I0 +A− l ϑ1 (t − τ ) dTdτ
c (τ )
dτ −
0
κ
at κs ρ(0)l 2 rc 2
l Th +H sTa +q0 +0.5 s I0 + s I0 κ
csl ρ(0)I0 K (τ )dτ , A  (α(0)I0 + H s) , a 
2 ,
α(0)I0 +H s+ κsl cl 2
0 
K(t)  ϑ1 (t) − ϑ0 (t), ϑ1 (t)  1 + 2 ∞ k1 exp(−π k at), ϑ0 (t)  1 +
2 2
∞ k 2 2
2 k1 (−1) exp(−π k at).
The relation (10) is a nonlinear integral equation, which is solved by a numerical
method of successive approximations. A fairly complex algorithm for solving such an
equation is realized by means of computer application developed in the MathLab 7.0.

4 Examples of Current Control Functions for Thermoelectric Medical

Devices

Temperature influence is an important physiotherapeutic factor in the treatment of

many diseases of the human body. Proposed in Sects. 2 and 3, the method of calculating
the time function of the thermoelectric module supply current to ensure a preset time
change in the temperature of its working surface was used to determine the functions
of controlling the supply current of a thermoelectric converter in medical devices. Let
us consider some examples of such practical application of the unsteady process of
thermoelectric cooling (heating).

4.1 Thermoelectric Device for Treatment of Skin Diseases

In dermatology and cosmetology, the temperature effect is used in the complex treat-
ment of skin diseases such as alopecia areata, pink and vulgar acne, chronic eczema,
lichen planus, flat warts, annular granuloma, hemangioma, etc., and also to smooth
wrinkles, improve skin elasticity, etc. [23–25]. For cryomassage, a rapid decrease in
temperature is required, i.e., cooling of the skin to the cryostability threshold of tis-
sues, which is 5–10 °C. When the tissues are cooled below the cryostability threshold,
crystallization of the tissue fluid leads to their destruction (cryodestruction). There is a
fine line between the processes of cryomassage and cryodestruction, so it is important
to clearly control the temperature effect on the human skin. Such control is possible
with the help of a thermoelectric method of cooling–heating.
In the work [26], a model of a thermoelectric device for the treatment of skin diseases
is proposed. The device is expedient to use for cryomassage that leads to improvement
in metabolic and reparative processes and acceleration of the inflammation regress. In

123
International Journal of Thermophysics (2018) 39:108 Page 7 of 12 108

Fig. 2 The specified time o

Tc, C
dependences of the cooling 30
temperature T c (t) of the device
for the treatment of skin 20
diseases: (1) cooling to − 30 °C,
(2) cooling to − 20 °C
10

0
1
-10
2
-20

-30

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

t, s

accordance with medical requirements, such a device should provide a periodic time
change of the temperature on the skin surface in the range from + 25 °C to − 30 °C
[25, 27–30]. In such a case, according to the results of computer simulation of the
temperature distribution in the skin layers described in [26], the temperature inside
the said layers will reach the limit of the cryostability threshold in tissues without
destroying the skin tissues themselves.
Examples of periodic time dependences of the cooling temperature T c (t), which
can be realized on the surface of the skin, are shown in Fig. 2. In the first mode
(dependence 1), the cooling should be achieved to − 30 °C in 10 s, in the second mode
(dependence 2), down to − 20 °C. It should last up to 30 s, followed by warming up
to the initial temperature of 25 °C within 10 s. Such specified temperature functions
T c (t) are provided by controlling the working current of the ALTEC-22 thermoelectric
module, which is a part of the operating instrument of the medical device.
Figure 3 shows the calculated periodic functions I(t) for controlling the module
supply current. The calculations were performed taking into account that the ther-
moelectric legs of the module are made of BiTe-based materials of n- and p-types
conductivity with standard thermoelectric characteristics αn,p , ρn,p , κn,p , cn,p [20]. It
was assumed that the working surface of the module is in direct contact with the human
body, the heat generation of which is 5 W·cm−2 [31] and creates the heat load on a
working surface of the module thermoelectric leg of q0  0.1 mW.

4.2 Thermoelectric Device for Cryodestruction

According to medical requirements [25, 32–34], the device for cryodestruction of

human skin areas should provide freezing of skin tissues at a rate (40–50) °C·min−1 ,
thus lowering the temperature on the skin surface down to − 45 to − 50 °C.
A model of the medical device with the thermoelectric micromodule ALTEC-98A
for cryodestruction is proposed in [35]. The time dependence of the temperature T c (t)
on the human body surface shown in Fig. 4 was selected for the operating mode of the

123
108 Page 8 of 12 International Journal of Thermophysics (2018) 39:108

Fig. 3 Calculated control I, A

functions of the thermoelectric 8
module supply current I(t) in the
device for the treatment of skin
diseases: (1) cooling to − 30 °C, 6
(2) cooling to − 20 °C
1
4
2

-2
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
t, s

Fig. 4 The specified time

Tc, oC
dependence of the operating 40
temperature T c (t) of the device
for cryodestruction
20

-20

-40

-60
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
t, s

instrument. It is necessary to achieve the cooling of the device working tool down to
− 45 °C in 60 s, hold this temperature for 30 s, then warm up to the initial temperature
of 25 °C in 15 s. If necessary, this cycle can be repeated several times.
Figure 5 shows the calculated control function for the supply current I(t) of a ther-
moelectric micromodule, which provides a specified time dependence of the operating
temperature of the device (Fig. 4).
The current direction, which provides cooling of the working surface of the instru-
ment, is considered positive, whereas heating is thought to be negative. To achieve
the preset cooling level within 60 s, the current must be gradually increased to 1.75
A, then it is sufficient to reduce it to 1.15 A to maintain cooling at − 45 °C for 30 s.
For heating, the direction of the current is then reversed for the opposite one, its value
is increased to 0.4 A within 15 s and the power is turned off when the temperature
reaches 25 °C.

123
International Journal of Thermophysics (2018) 39:108 Page 9 of 12 108

Fig. 5 Calculated control I, A

function of the thermoelectric 2
module supply current I(t) in the 1.75
device for cryodestruction 1.5
1.25
1
0.75
0.5
0.25
0
-0.25
-0.5
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
t, s

4.3 Thermoelectric Device for Reflexotherapy

Reflexotherapy is a promising field of application of thermoelectric cooling–heating.

The methods of reflexotherapy are based on stimulation of the reflex zones of the
nervous system, as a result, arised impulses are transmitted to the corresponding centers
of the nervous system. The nervous system, in its turn, directs impulses to the damaged
biological tissues thus activating the process of self-healing. Reflexology helps to
treat diseases of the spine (osteochondrosis, radiculitis, etc.); hernia of intervertebral
disks and protrusions; headaches and dizziness arising on the background of cervical
osteochondrosis, intercostal neuralgia, as a consequence of osteochondrosis in the
thoracic spine, and also overcome the problems of insomnia, recovery from trauma,
depression, excess weight, weakening of immunity, etc.
The use of thermoelectric devices for reflexotherapy enables obtaining a specified,
precisely regulated temperature, excluding mechanical influence on the corresponding
parts of the human body. This provides the advantages of the thermoelectric method of
thermal action on biologically active points of a human as compared to other traditional
methods of reflexotherapy [36–38].
The experimental sample of the thermoelectric device for reflexotherapy “ALTEC-
7009,” intended for the treatment of various human diseases using one of the methods
of reflexotherapy, namely thermopuncture, is described in [39]. The operational prin-
ciple of such a device is based on the cyclic thermal effect on the bioactive acupuncture
points of the human body, namely the heating or cooling of several bioactive points
simultaneously. The device makes possible to reproduce the specified optimal func-
tions for changing the temperature of the thermoelectric instrument in the range from
− 10 °C to + 50 °C. The device employs a thermoelectric module ALTEC-98A.
Based on the existing techniques of carrying out therapeutic sessions of reflexother-
apy by traditional methods [40], optimal temperature and time intervals for the
cryothermic effect on bioactive points of the human body were established. An exam-
ple of the periodic time dependence of temperature on the surface of the skin T c (t),
which needs to be realized with the use of the device for reflexotherapy, is shown in
Fig. 6.

123
108 Page 10 of 12 International Journal of Thermophysics (2018) 39:108

Fig. 6 The specified time o

dependence of the operating
Tc, C
temperature T c (t) of 50
thermoelectric device for
reflexotherapy 40

30

20

10

-10
0 100 200 300 400 500
t, s

Fig. 7 Calculated control I, A

function of the thermoelectric 1
module supply current I(t) in the
0.8
device for reflexotherapy
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
0 100 200 300 400 500
t, s

The operating mode of the device starts with a cooling temperature of − 10 °C. The
initial steady-state temperature distribution in thermoelements, at which the tempera-
ture of − 10 °C is set on the working surface of the device in the mode without heat
load, is provided by supplying the module with a DC I 0 . The value of I 0 is determined
based on the ALTEC-98A module performances and amounts to I 0  0.45 A. In the
operating mode (Fig. 6), the instrument working surface should be warmed up from
− 10 °C to + 50 °C in 10 s, this temperature should be held for 240 s followed by
cooling down to − 10 °C in 20 s.
Figure 7 shows the calculated function for controlling the supply current I(t) of
a thermoelectric module, which provides a preset time dependence of the operating
temperature T c (t) of the device, which is shown in Fig. 6.
Obviously, this function I(t) is of a periodic character.
Thus, the use of optimal control functions for the supply current of a thermoelectric
device enables providing a precisely regulated cryothermic effect on the surface of
the human skin and obtaining a positive therapeutic effect during cryomassage, cryo-

123
International Journal of Thermophysics (2018) 39:108 Page 11 of 12 108

destruction and reflexotherapy. Such functions of the current control I(t) are realized
in practice with the help of special electronic controllers, which are part of the power
supply unit of the thermoelectric device.

5 Conclusion

A method is proposed for computer simulation of the optimal time function for con-
trolling the supply current of the thermoelectric device, which provides the specified
time dependence of the temperature of its working surface. It should be noted that
there are practically no experimental methods that allow finding similar functions for
controlling the supply current of the thermoelement in the cooling and heating modes.
The knowledge about required control functions of the supply current which are
optimal for specific purposes is rather important. Such functions are used for the
design and auto-calibration of special electronic controllers, which are necessary to
ensure the operation of a servo-system for controlling the process of cooling–heating
in thermoelectric devices for various purposes.

Funding Funding was provided by National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

References
1. L.S. Stil’bans, N.A. Fedorovich, Tech. Phys. 3, 460 (1958)
2. J.E. Parrott, Solid State Electron. 1, 135 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-1101(60)90045-9
3. V.P. Babin, E.K. Iordanishvilli, Tech. Phys. 14, 293 (1969)
4. K. Landecker, Solid State Electron. 3, 239 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-1101(61)90007-7
5. G.J. Snyder, J.-P. Fleurial, T. Caillat, R.G. Yang, G.J. Chen, J. Appl. Phys. 92, 1564 (2002). https://do
i.org/10.1063/1.1489713
6. T. Thonhauser, G.D. Mahan, L. Zikatanov, J. Roe, Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 3247 (2004). https://doi.org/1
0.1063/1.1806276
7. R.G. Yang, G.J. Chen, A.R. Kumar, G.J. Snyder, J.-P. Fleurial, Energy Convers. Manag. 46, 1407
(2005). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2004.07.004
8. L.M. Shen, H.X. Chen, F. Xiao, Y.X. Yang, S.W. Wang, Energy Convers. Manag. 80, 39 (2014). https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2014.01.003
9. L.M. Shen, F. Xiao, H.X. Chen, S.W. Wang, Int. J. Refrig. 35, 1156 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.i
jrefrig.2012.02.004
10. M. Ma, J. Yu, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 72, 234 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2
014.01.017
11. J.N. Mao, H.X. Chen, H. Jia, X.L. Qian, J. Appl. Phys. 112, 014514-1 (2012). https://doi.org/10.106
3/1.4735469
12. Chin-Hsiang Cheng, Shu-Yu. Huang, Tsung-Chieh Cheng, Int. J. Heat Mass Transf. 53, 2001–2011
(2010). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2009.12.056
13. A.A. Snarskii, I.V. Bezsudnov, Energy Convers. Manag. 94, 103 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enc
onman.2015.01.058
14. L.V. Hao, X.-D. Wang, T.-H. Wang, J.-H. Meng, Energy (Oxf.) 83, 788 (2015). https://doi.org/10.101
6/j.energy.2015.02.092
15. M. Kotsur, Adv. Electr. Comput. Eng. 15, 117 (2015). https://doi.org/10.4316/aece.2015.02015
16. M.P. Kotsur, Technology Audit and Production Reserves 1, N2(27) (2016). https://doi.org/10.15567/
2312-8372.2016.59320. [in Ukrainian]
17. E.K. Iordanishvili, B.E. Malkovich, Voprosy radioelektroniki, SeriyaTRTO, 2, 74 (1971) [in Russian]
18. M.A. Kazanov, A.S. Rivkin, J. Eng. Phys. 24, 641 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00838629

123
108 Page 12 of 12 International Journal of Thermophysics (2018) 39:108

19. A.S. Rivkin, Tech. Phys. 43, 1563 (1973)

20. A.A. Vayner, Thermoelectric Coolers (Radio i svyaz, Moscow, 1983). [in Russian]
21. A.I. Burshtein, Physical Basis of Calculation of Semiconductor Thermoelectric Devices (State Pub-
lishing House of Physical and Mathematical Literature, Moscow, 1962). [in Russian]
22. H.S. Carslow, J.C. Jaeger, Conduction of Heat in Solids (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1959)
23. X. Kecheng, N.N. Korpan, L. Niu, Modern Cryosurgery for Cancer (World Scientific Publishing,
London, 2012)
24. N.A. Samya, A. Sadekb, Egypt. J. Dermatol. Venereol. 34, 98 (2014)
25. H. Bause, Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde 152, 16 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00112-003-0867-
y
26. L.I. Anatychuk, L.M. Vikhor, R.R. Kobylianskyi, T.Y. Kadeniuk, J. Thermoelectr. 2, 46 (2017)
27. L.I. Anatychuk, O.I. Denisenko, R.R. Kobylianskyi, T.Y. Kadeniuk, Patent UA 107922 (2016)
28. L.I. Anatychuk, O.I. Denisenko, R.R. Kobylianskyi, T.Y. Kadeniuk, Patent UA 108563 (2016)
29. L.I. Anatychuk, O.I. Denisenko, R.R. Kobylianskyi, T.Y. Kadeniuk, Patent UA 108581 (2016)
30. L.I. Anatychuk, O.I. Denisenko, R.R. Kobylianskyi, T.Y. Kadeniuk, Patent UA 108582 (2016)
31. V. Leonov, R. Vullers, J. Renew. Sustain. Energy 1, 062701 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.325546
5
32. I.A. Moskalyk, O.M. Manyk, J. Thermoelectr. 6, 84 (2017)
33. W. Yiu, M.T. Basco, J.E. Aruny, B.E. Sumpio, Int. J. Angiol. 16, 1 (2007)
34. VYu. Shakhov, V.I. Kochenov, Vopr. Onkol. 9, 31 (1983). [in Russian]
35. L.I. Anatychuk, L.M. Vikhor, R.R. Kobylianskyi, T.Y. Kadeniuk, Phys. Chem. Solid State 18, 455
(2017). https://doi.org/10.15330/pcss.18.4.455-459. [in Ukrainian]
36. L.I. Anatychuk, L.Y. Kushnerik, O.I. Serediuk, Patent UA 8405 (2005)
37. L.Y. Kushnerik, V.N. Tsukanov, J. Thermoelectr. 6, 67 (2001)
38. L.I. Anatychuk, G.I. Boboshko, R.R. Kobylianskyi, J. Thermoelectr. 4, 89 (2007)
39. L.I. Anatychuk, L.M. Vikhor, R.R. Kobylianskyi, T.Y. Kadeniuk, O.V. Zvarych, J. Thermoelectr. 3, 65
(2017)
40. E.L. Macheret, I.Z. Samosyuk, Guide to Reflexology (Vishcha shkola, Kiyev, 1982). [in Russian]

123