Commercial Thermoelectric Cooling Systems for Military Applications.

Abstract

This research examines current thermoelectric cooling (TEC) systems for possible microclimate cooling applications. TEC systems offer simplicity, but have some drawbacks. Although TEC systems have few moving parts, the power required for operation and the weight of the systems limit their usefulness in dismounted, untethered modes of operation. Unlike phase change material (PCM) cooling system TEC's can provide uninterrupted cooling for extended periods of time. TEC's operate on electricity and so do not suffer from the logistical difficulties of resupplying frozen PCM's to the field. In comparison to vapor compression (VC) cooling systems, TEC's are heavier and significantly less energy efficient. For tethered modes, with a large source of power, the simple TEC systems of fer a great deal. TEC's lose their advantage if power is limited and/or the complete system, including the power source, must be carried by an individuals. (MM)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA294645

Entities

People

  • Mark W. Wolfson
  • Roger Masadi

Organizations

  • United States Army Soldier Systems Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Coefficients
  • Compression
  • Cooling
  • Electric Current
  • Electricity
  • Energy
  • Energy Consumption
  • Environment
  • Heat Energy
  • High Pressure
  • High Temperature
  • Materials
  • Military Applications
  • Phase Change Materials
  • Research Facilities
  • Security
  • Thermoelectric Cooling

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.