Improving the Performance of a Thermoelectric Cooler Using Variable Leg Geometry with Circular Cross-Sectional Area

Abstract

One cooling technique is the use of semiconductor-based thermoelectric coolers (TECs), which are distinguished by their small volume, lack of moving parts, and environmental friendliness. This study examined the impact of leg geometry on TEC performance. Several geometric forms, including Cylind-leg, Cone-leg, Cone Y -leg, and Cone X -leg, having a circular cross-sectional area of the legs, were tested. The efficiency of TECs in thermoelectric cooling is mainly influenced by their coefficient of performance (COP). To assess this, a 3D simulation utilizing the Peltier effect was performed using a variable electric current. The findings demonstrate that, as a result of the intrinsic thermal resistances in thermoelectric materials, temperature distributions between the legs change based on the applied electric current intensity. On the cold side, a temperature of approximately 231 K is achieved with different current values depending on the leg shape: 1.8 A for the Cone Y -leg, 2 A for both the Cone-leg and Cone X -leg, and 3.7 A for the Cylind-leg. Despite all geometries yielding similar values for COP Cooling , the electric current required to reach these performances varies. Among the tested models, the Cone Y -leg demonstrates the best energy efficiency, requiring the least current for equivalent thermal performance.