Inhomogeneous thermal conductivity enhances thermoelectric cooling

Inhomogeneous thermal conductivity enhances thermoelectric cooling

We theoretically investigate the enhancement of thermoelectric cooling performance in thermoelectric refrigerators made of materials with inhomogeneous thermal conductivity, beyond the usual practice of enhancing thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of materials. The dissipation of the J...

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Main Authors: Tingyu Lu, Jun Zhou, Nianbei Li, Ronggui Yang, Baowen Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2014-12-01
Series:AIP Advances
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4903547
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spelling doaj-6dcfc79ae10446e897daaa203bd495bf2020-11-25T00:06:17ZengAIP Publishing LLCAIP Advances2158-32262014-12-01412124501124501-810.1063/1.4903547013497ADVInhomogeneous thermal conductivity enhances thermoelectric coolingTingyu Lu0Jun Zhou1Nianbei Li2Ronggui Yang3Baowen Li4Center for Phononics and Thermal Energy Science, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People’s Republic of ChinaCenter for Phononics and Thermal Energy Science, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People’s Republic of ChinaCenter for Phononics and Thermal Energy Science, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USACenter for Phononics and Thermal Energy Science, School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People’s Republic of China We theoretically investigate the enhancement of thermoelectric cooling performance in thermoelectric refrigerators made of materials with inhomogeneous thermal conductivity, beyond the usual practice of enhancing thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of materials. The dissipation of the Joule heat in such thermoelectric refrigerators is asymmetric which can give rise to better thermoelectric cooling performance. Although the thermoelectric figure of merit and the coefficient-of-performance are slightly enhanced, both the maximum cooling power and the maximum cooling temperature difference can be enhanced significantly. This finding can be used to increase the heat absorption at the cold end. We further find that the asymmetric dissipation of Joule heat leads to thermal rectification. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4903547
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Tingyu Lu
Jun Zhou
Nianbei Li
Ronggui Yang
Baowen Li
spellingShingle Tingyu Lu
Jun Zhou
Nianbei Li
Ronggui Yang
Baowen Li
Inhomogeneous thermal conductivity enhances thermoelectric cooling
AIP Advances
author_facet Tingyu Lu
Jun Zhou
Nianbei Li
Ronggui Yang
Baowen Li
author_sort Tingyu Lu
title Inhomogeneous thermal conductivity enhances thermoelectric cooling
title_short Inhomogeneous thermal conductivity enhances thermoelectric cooling
title_full Inhomogeneous thermal conductivity enhances thermoelectric cooling
title_fullStr Inhomogeneous thermal conductivity enhances thermoelectric cooling
title_full_unstemmed Inhomogeneous thermal conductivity enhances thermoelectric cooling
title_sort inhomogeneous thermal conductivity enhances thermoelectric cooling
publisher AIP Publishing LLC
series AIP Advances
issn 2158-3226
publishDate 2014-12-01
description We theoretically investigate the enhancement of thermoelectric cooling performance in thermoelectric refrigerators made of materials with inhomogeneous thermal conductivity, beyond the usual practice of enhancing thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of materials. The dissipation of the Joule heat in such thermoelectric refrigerators is asymmetric which can give rise to better thermoelectric cooling performance. Although the thermoelectric figure of merit and the coefficient-of-performance are slightly enhanced, both the maximum cooling power and the maximum cooling temperature difference can be enhanced significantly. This finding can be used to increase the heat absorption at the cold end. We further find that the asymmetric dissipation of Joule heat leads to thermal rectification.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4903547
work_keys_str_mv AT tingyulu inhomogeneousthermalconductivityenhancesthermoelectriccooling
AT junzhou inhomogeneousthermalconductivityenhancesthermoelectriccooling
AT nianbeili inhomogeneousthermalconductivityenhancesthermoelectriccooling
AT rongguiyang inhomogeneousthermalconductivityenhancesthermoelectriccooling
AT baowenli inhomogeneousthermalconductivityenhancesthermoelectriccooling
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