What is a TEC?

A Thermo-electric-cooler (TEC, picture above) is a small solide device that can operate as
heatpump or electrical generator. When used as heat pump (which is the one we want to
know about), then, its called TEC thermo-electric-cooler.
If used as electrical power generator, then, its called TEG thermo-electric-generator.
When its used as TEC, it uses the peltier effect to move heat.
Pelteir Effect
The Peltier effect was discovered in 1834. When current passes through the junction of two
different types of conductors it results in a temperature change. However, the practical
application of this concept required the development of semiconductors that are good
conductors of electricity but poor conductors of heat - the perfect balance for TEC
performance. Today, bismuth telluride is primarily used as the semiconductor material,
heavily doped to create either an excess (n-type) or a deficiency (p-type) of electrons.

TEC WorkingA TEC consists of a number of p- and n-type pairs (couples) as I mentioned above, connected
electrically in series and sandwiched between two ceramic plates.
When connected to a DC power source, current causes heat to move from one side of the
TEC to the other.
This process creates a hot side and a cold side on the TEC.
A typical application exposes the cold side of the TEC to the object or substance to be cooled

and the hot side to a heatsink which dissapates the heat to the environment. A heat exchanger
(e.g. Good heatsink or Watercooling system) may be required.

History
This effect is named after French physicist Jean-Charles Peltier, who discovered it in 1834.
Peltier found that the junctions of dissimilar metals were heated or cooled depending on the
direction of electric current flow through them. The heat that the flow of current in one
direction generated was absorbed if the direction of current was reversed. Peltier
inadvertently discovered this while investigating how electricity functions. He connected
copper and bismuth wires to each other and connected them to a battery, thus creating a pair
of junctions of two dissimilar metals. When the battery was switched on, one of the junctions
heated up while the other cooled down.

Definition
When an electric current flows through the junction of two different metals, heat evolves at
the upper junction T2 and is absorbed at the lower junction T1. The Peltier heat that the lower
junction absorbs per unit time Q can be represented as:
Q = ?ABI = (?B ?A)I
where ? is the Peltier coefficient -?AB of the entire thermocouple and ?A and ?B are the
coefficients of each material. These Peltier coefficients signify the amount of heat current
that is carried per unit charge through a given material. Current should be continuous across a
junction. Therefore, if ?A and ?B are different, the flow of heat is discontinuous. This leads to
a non-zero divergence at the junction and the heat must either accumulate or deplete there,
depending on the currents sign. An interesting result of the Peltier effect is that the direction
of heat transfer is dependent upon current polarity. A reversal in polarity results in a change

in heat transferal direction and consequently, the sign of the heat that is absorbed or evolved.
The Peltier effect is proportional to the first power of current, not to its square. It is therefore
the irreversible heat generation that results from the resistance throughout the circuit.
Peltier Cooler
A Peltier cooler (Peltier heater, Peltier device, Peltier heat pump, solid state refrigerator,
thermoelectric cooler, or thermoelectric heat pump) is a solid-state active heat pump that
transfers heat from one side of the device to the other against the temperature gradient by
taking in electric current. When Direct Current passes through such a device, heat passes
from one side to the other. This enables the device to be used as both a heater and a cooler,
though it is mostly employed for cooling purposes. It is also used as a temperature controller
that can heat or cool.

Introduction
Peltier devices, also known as thermoelectric (TE) modules, are small solid-state devices that
function as heat pumps. A "typical" unit is a few millimeters thick by a few millimeters to a
few centimeters square. It is a sandwich formed by two ceramic plates with an array of small
Bismuth Telluride cubes ("couples") in between. When a DC current is applied heat is moved
from one side of the device to the other - where it must be removed with a heatsink. The
"cold" side is commonly used to cool an electronic device such as a microprocessor or a
photodetector. If the current is reversed the device makes an excellent heater.
As with any device, TE modules work best when applied properly. They are not meant to
serve as room air conditioners. They are best suited to smaller cooling applications, although
they are used in applications as large as portable picnic-type coolers. They can be stacked to
achieve lower temperatures, although reaching cryogenic temperatures would require great
care. They are not very "efficient" and can draw amps of power. This disadvantage is more
than offset by the advantages of no moving parts, no Freon refrigerant, no noise, no vibration,
very small size, long life, capability of precision temperature control, etc.
The reader is directed to the following excellent sources of information on Peltier devices
from the manufacturers themselves:

Peltier & Seebeck Effects

The cooling property of these devices is due to the Peltier Effect, while the electrical power
generating property is due to the Seebeck Effect. A thermoelectric module can be used as
either a cooler or a power generator, but not with the best efficiency. Peltier Effect coolers are
almost always constructed with Bismuth Telluride (Bi2Te3) and used around room
temperature and below. Seebeck Effect power generators are often constructed of PbTe or,
SiGe as well as Bi2Te3 and are used at much higher temperatures.

Rate of Temperature Change

Peltier device cooling & heating speed - they can change temperature extremely quickly, but
to avoid damage from thermal expansion control the rate of change to about 1 degree C per
second.Just reverse the polarity of the power supply! But, be sure not to exceed the
temperature rating of the module, usually 80C for standard models to 200C for high
temperature models.
Power Supply Requirements
What are the power supply requirements? A simple DC supply is fine if the AC ripple is not
more than about 10% or 15%. Don't exceed the specified Vmax of the module.
Temperature Control
Marlow does not recommend ON/OFF control, while other manufacturers don't seem to
object to this. Varying the power supply voltage works. Pulse width modulation can be used,
but a frequency above 1 KHz (Marlow) or 2 KHz (Tellurex) is recommended (watch out for
EMI!) It's best to use some kind of temperature sensor feedback (thermistor or solid-state
sensor) and a closed-loop control circuit.
Moisture Concerns
If a TE module is to be used to cool anywhere near freezing one has to be very concerned
about water condensation. Ever-present water vapor begins to drop out of the air at the "Dew
Point." This will result in the TE module, and what it is being used to cool, to get wet.
Moisture inside of the TE module will cause corrosion and can result in a short-circuit.
Solutions to this problem are to operate the TE module in a vacuum (best) or a dry nitrogen
atmosphere, or to insulate or seal the module so well that no moisture can enter. One could
seal the edges of the TE module with RTV silicone sealant, but some manufacturers
recommend against this technique as water vapor can migrate through silicone sealant and
become trapped inside of the module. As a solution Tellurex offers a polyamide epoxy
sealant, TE Tech has a special potting material, and Nord has a special coating. If the TE
module is being used to cool, for example, an energized electrical device to 0oC there is still
the issue of preventing water condensing on that device and causing corrosion, a short circuit
or electrical leakage.
Module Testing
The DC voltage that a standard ohmmeter applies will cause a temperature change (Peltier
Effect) which will in turn cause a voltage to be generated (Seebeck Effect) which will cause
the ohmmeter to read strangely (drifting, and even a 'negative' resistance. So, then use the
"diode test" position on the ohmmeter? No - even though a TE module is constructed of an
array of N and P doped semiconductors there isn't an actual diode junction. A resistance test
can be made with an LCR meter which measures resistance using an AC voltage. Using a HP
4274A LCR meter expect to measure a few ohms for small modules and a fraction of an ohm
for larger ones. While one does not usually see the resistance parameter specified on

manufacturer's data sheets it is probably not a bad of a check of a module's health, especially
if more sophisticated test methods are not available.
Heatsink Grease
Heat must be transfered from the object being cooled (or heated) to the Peltier module, and
heat must be transfered from the Peltier module to the heatsink. Realistically, the interface
between the Peltier module surfaces to the object being cooled and to the heatsink will not be
perfect. There will be peaks and valleys in the surfaces resulting in tiny air pockets which
conduct heat poorly. It is common to place a "thermal interface material" (TIM) between the
Peltier module surfaces and what it's mated to. One could write a book on TIMs alone. There
are silicone-based greases, elastomeric pads, thermally conductive tapes, thermally
conductive adhesives, and so on. Suffice it to say that old-fashioned zinc oxide silicone
heatsink grease is still one of the most popular materials, albeit a bit messy. There are better
performing materials. Keep in mind that the object is to fill microscopic surface
imperfections, which requires a thin film of heatsink grease. Don't apply this stuff with a
trowel - it doesn't conduct heat as well as metal-to-metal (or metal-to-ceramic) contact.
Think thin film.
TE modules can be purchased with one or both sides metallized, or metallized and pre-tinned.
This allows soldering the heatsink and/or the object being cooled to the thermoelectric
module for the ultimate in heat transfer. One needs to bear in mind that materials expand and
contract with temperature change and not to mount the TE module in such a way that it can't
move slightly with temperature change - otherwise it may crack under the stress.

A Peltier module with a fan and radiator to

dissipate heat from the heat sink.

The choice of the appropriate temperature and pressure enable the investigation of wet
samples

The Peltier Cooled Specimen Stage is used to maintain water on samples inside the Quanta
specimen chamber. It uses a thermoelectric module to alter temperature, and this in
conjunction with the appropriate chamber pressure creates condensation on the sample. The
primary applications for this effect is to produce moisture on the sample or to keep the
sample wet.

RTD accuracy:

0.5C

Normal operating range:

20C from ambient

Maximum temperature range:

from -25C to +55C

An inside view of a TEC (Peltier element)

A Peltier element, with ceramic plates to partially insulate

the inside from the outer environment.

The Peltier effect is the phenomenon that a potential difference applied across a
thermocouple causes a temperature difference between the junctions of the different materials
in the thermocouple.

This effect is the opposite of the Seebeck effect (named after the scientist who discovered
it in 1821). The Seebeck effect is that if different metals are connected in two separate

places, and the intersections are kept at different temperatures, then a potential difference
between the "junctions" (the intersections) will result.
Later, in 1834, Jean Peltier found that the opposite of the Seebeck effect is also true: that a
potential difference (and thus a current) can cause a temperature difference, regardless of
what the ambient temperature is.

Since the hot junction can be placed outside of an insulated area, and the cold junction can
be placed inside the region, the Peltier effect can be used to cool a region (or an object).

Peltier Elements (Thermo-electric coolers)

The method of thermoelectric cooling (using the Peltier effect) is useful because it can cool
an object without any moving pieces or other complex machinery that isolates the cooler
from its ambient surroundings. The devices that are constructed to take advantage of this
phenomenon are known as Peltier elements, or thermo-electric coolers (TECs). The basic
ideas from the simple Peltier elements can be connected in series to construct far more
complicated Peltier modules (also known as practical TECs), which have greater cooling
capabilities. However, the greatest temperature difference between the heat sink and the cool
region for a Peltier device is on the order of 50C.
Common uses for Pelier elements include cooling computer components, especially the
CPU.
The most common combination of materials in the thermocouples of Peltier elements
(TECs) are the two semiconductors Bismuth and Telluride. Generally, a TEC has an array of
cubes or pellets made of the semiconductors, each of which is in contact with the radiators on
the hot and cold side of the Peltier element. These cubes are "doped" -- that is to say that
extra impurities are added so that there are extra or fewer free electrons in each cube. The
semiconductor cubes with extra free electrons (and thus carry mainly negative charge) are
known as N-type semiconductors, while those with few free electrons (and carry mainly
postive charge) are P-type semiconductors. The pairs of P and N semiconductor cubes are set
up and connected in an array so that the pairs have an electrical series connection, but a
thermal parallel connection. When a current is applied to this system (the TEC), the way the
current flows through the semiconductors induces a temperature difference, and causes the
heat-sink side of the Peltier element to heat up, and the cold side to cool (or cooling whatever
is in thermal contact with that side).
The heat-sink side of the TEC gets very hot, so it is necessary to have a fan and/or some
sort of radiator to dissipate this heat. Otherwise, the entire TEC would begin to heat up, and
pieces would fuse together.
"Normal" Peltier elements are roughly a few centimeters thick and a few millimeters or
centimeters on a side. To obtain greater cooling abilities, the individual elements are
connected in stacks, or they can be connected in some combination of series and parallel
electrical connections.