Characterizing the thermal efficiency of thermoelectric modules
Name
560664372-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
4.12 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
4cb203421c8f9beb8093dae3b116ccb4
Author(s)
Phillips, Samuel S
Advisor(s)
Gang Chen.
Date Issued
2009
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
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.
Description
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2009.
"June 2009." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 22).
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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