Characterizing the thermal efficiency of thermoelectric modules

An experimental setup was designed and utilized to measure the thermoelectric properties as functions of temperature of a commercially available, bismuth telluride thermoelectric module. Thermoelectric modules are solid state semiconducting devices that act reversibly as both a heat pump and a power generator. The experimental setup encased the modules in an insulating container and thermal power was provided by a variable power cartridge heater, using type-K thermocouples to measure the temperature difference across the module. The measured parameters were compared against published data on a similar type of module. The thermal conductivity was measured within 21% of the accepted value on average, the Seebeck coefficient within 16%, the figure of merit within a factor two, and the thermal efficiency within 20% for low [delta]T of less than 25°C.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Phillips, Samuel S

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Gang Chen.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/54524

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/54524