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Electronic cooling using thermoelectric devices

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4921457· OSTI ID:22402477
Thermoelectric coolers or Peltier coolers are used to pump heat in the opposite direction of the natural heat flux. These coolers have also been proposed for electronic cooling, wherein the aim is to pump heat in the natural heat flux direction and from hot spots to the colder ambient temperature. In this manuscript, we show that for such applications, one needs to use thermoelectric materials with large thermal conductivity and large power factor, instead of the traditionally used high ZT thermoelectric materials. We further show that with the known thermoelectric materials, the active cooling cannot compete with passive cooling, and one needs to explore a new set of materials to provide a cooling solution better than a regular copper heat sink. We propose a set of materials and directions for exploring possible materials candidates suitable for electronic cooling. Finally, to achieve maximum cooling, we propose to use thermoelectric elements as fins attached to copper blocks.
OSTI ID:
22402477
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 106; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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