High Efficiency, Low Power Thermoelectric Coolers.
Abstract
This report describes the work performed on a 15 month development program. The purpose of this program was the development of a high performance, multi-stage thermoelectric (TE) cooler which would operate satisfactorily under extreme military environments. Five coolers each of three types (various heat loads), were designed and fabricated. Detailed environmental and performance tests were performed on these coolers. The electrical tests included measurement of COP/stage and performance under various heat loads on each type of cooler. The effect of adding radiation shielding to each type was also determined. All of the coolers performed satisfactorily after environmental and performance testing. Performance data, predicted from design calculations and computerized material parameter measurements, showed excellent correlation with measured test data. A TE material development and evaluation program was conducted in conjunction with the cooler design and fabrication effort. P-type TE material was produced which was comparable to that commercially available. Advanced computerized TE material evaluation techniques developed by Marlow Industries were used to evaluate alpha, rho, Kappa, and Z for a particular lot of material toward the end of the program. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA083225