{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/83374"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/83374","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Design and Optimization of a Self-powered Thermoelectric Car Seat Cooler","abstract":"It is well known that the seats in a parked vehicle become very hot and uncomfortable on warm days. A new self-powered thermoelectric car seat cooler is presented to solve this problem. This study details the design and optimization of such a device. The design relates to the high level layout of the major components and their relation to each other in typical operation. Optimization is achieved through the use of the ideal thermoelectric equations to determine the best compromise between power generation and cooling performance. This design is novel in that the same thermoelectric device is utilized for both power generation and for cooling. The first step is to construct a conceptual layout of the self-powered seat cooler. Using the ideal thermoelectric equations, an analytical model of the system is developed. The model is validated against experimental data and shows good correlation. Through a non-dimensional approach, the geometric sizing of the various components is optimized. With the optimal design found, the performance is evaluated using both the ideal equations and though use of the simulation software ANSYS. The final design consists of a flat absorber plate embedded into the car seat with a thermoelectric attached to the back. A finned heat sink is used to cool the thermoelectric. The device is shown to generate enough power to provide a reasonable temperature drop in the seat.","abstract_html":"It is well known that the seats in a parked vehicle become very hot and uncomfortable on warm days. A new self-powered thermoelectric car seat cooler is presented to solve this problem. This study details the design and optimization of such a device. The design relates to the high level layout of the major components and their relation to each other in typical operation. Optimization is achieved through the use of the ideal thermoelectric equations to determine the best compromise between power generation and cooling performance. This design is novel in that the same thermoelectric device is utilized for both power generation and for cooling. The first step is to construct a conceptual layout of the self-powered seat cooler. Using the ideal thermoelectric equations, an analytical model of the system is developed. The model is validated against experimental data and shows good correlation. Through a non-dimensional approach, the geometric sizing of the various components is optimized. With the optimal design found, the performance is evaluated using both the ideal equations and though use of the simulation software ANSYS. The final design consists of a flat absorber plate embedded into the car seat with a thermoelectric attached to the back. A finned heat sink is used to cool the thermoelectric. The device is shown to generate enough power to provide a reasonable temperature drop in the seat.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Cooke, Daniel Benjamin"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Mechanical Engineering","degree_department":"Mechanical Engineering","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Tian, Zhiting"],"committee_members":["Zuo, Lei","Huxtable, Scott T."],"year":2018,"date_issued":"2018-05-22","date_published":"2018-05-22","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:00Z","subjects":["Non-dimensional Equations","Solar Thermoelectric Generator","Thermoelectric Cooler"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:15529"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:15529","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/83374","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Tian, Zhiting"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Zuo, Lei","Huxtable, Scott T."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Mechanical Engineering"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Cooke, Daniel Benjamin"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2018-05-23T08:00:18Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2018-05-23T08:00:18Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2018-05-22"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Mechanical Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Non-dimensional Equations","Solar Thermoelectric Generator","Thermoelectric Cooler"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:15529"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/83374"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["It is well known that the seats in a parked vehicle become very hot and uncomfortable on warm days. A new self-powered thermoelectric car seat cooler is presented to solve this problem. This study details the design and optimization of such a device. The design relates to the high level layout of the major components and their relation to each other in typical operation. Optimization is achieved through the use of the ideal thermoelectric equations to determine the best compromise between power generation and cooling performance. This design is novel in that the same thermoelectric device is utilized for both power generation and for cooling. The first step is to construct a conceptual layout of the self-powered seat cooler. Using the ideal thermoelectric equations, an analytical model of the system is developed. The model is validated against experimental data and shows good correlation. Through a non-dimensional approach, the geometric sizing of the various components is optimized. With the optimal design found, the performance is evaluated using both the ideal equations and though use of the simulation software ANSYS. The final design consists of a flat absorber plate embedded into the car seat with a thermoelectric attached to the back. A finned heat sink is used to cool the thermoelectric. The device is shown to generate enough power to provide a reasonable temperature drop in the seat."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstractgeneral","label":"General Abstract","values":["It is well known that the seats in a parked vehicle become very hot and uncomfortable on warm days. A new self-powered thermoelectric car seat cooler is presented to solve this problem. The term thermoelectric refers to devices which convert thermal energy directly to electrical energy and can also convert electrical energy to thermal energy. This study details the design and optimization of such a device. Design relates to the layout and relationship of the major components. Optimization refers to the best use the given components to maximize power output and seat cooling. The final design consists of a flat absorber plate embedded into the car seat with a thermoelectric attached to the back. A finned heat sink is used to cool the thermoelectric. The device is shown to generate enough power to provide a reasonable temperature drop in the seat."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Design and Optimization of a Self-powered Thermoelectric Car Seat Cooler"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Tian, Zhiting"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Zuo, Lei","Huxtable, Scott T."],"dc:contributor.department":["Mechanical Engineering"],"dc:creator":["Cooke, Daniel Benjamin"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2018-05-23T08:00:18Z"],"dc:date.available":["2018-05-23T08:00:18Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2018-05-22"],"dc:description.abstract":["It is well known that the seats in a parked vehicle become very hot and uncomfortable on warm days. A new self-powered thermoelectric car seat cooler is presented to solve this problem. This study details the design and optimization of such a device. The design relates to the high level layout of the major components and their relation to each other in typical operation. Optimization is achieved through the use of the ideal thermoelectric equations to determine the best compromise between power generation and cooling performance. This design is novel in that the same thermoelectric device is utilized for both power generation and for cooling. The first step is to construct a conceptual layout of the self-powered seat cooler. Using the ideal thermoelectric equations, an analytical model of the system is developed. The model is validated against experimental data and shows good correlation. Through a non-dimensional approach, the geometric sizing of the various components is optimized. With the optimal design found, the performance is evaluated using both the ideal equations and though use of the simulation software ANSYS. The final design consists of a flat absorber plate embedded into the car seat with a thermoelectric attached to the back. A finned heat sink is used to cool the thermoelectric. The device is shown to generate enough power to provide a reasonable temperature drop in the seat."],"dc:description.abstractgeneral":["It is well known that the seats in a parked vehicle become very hot and uncomfortable on warm days. A new self-powered thermoelectric car seat cooler is presented to solve this problem. The term thermoelectric refers to devices which convert thermal energy directly to electrical energy and can also convert electrical energy to thermal energy. This study details the design and optimization of such a device. Design relates to the layout and relationship of the major components. Optimization refers to the best use the given components to maximize power output and seat cooling. The final design consists of a flat absorber plate embedded into the car seat with a thermoelectric attached to the back. A finned heat sink is used to cool the thermoelectric. The device is shown to generate enough power to provide a reasonable temperature drop in the seat."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:15529"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/83374"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["Non-dimensional Equations","Solar Thermoelectric Generator","Thermoelectric Cooler"],"dc:title":["Design and Optimization of a Self-powered Thermoelectric Car Seat Cooler"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Mechanical Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:00Z"}