Share

IIR document

Revealing the dynamic cooling characteristics of thermoelectric cooler under periodic current input.

Author(s) : LUO D., ZHANG H., CHENG L., PAN J., WANG K., ZHANG P., CHEN H.

Type of article: IJR article

Summary

Pulsed current excitation, particularly periodic pulse excitation, has attracted increasing attention in recent years due to its potential to enhance the transient cooling performance of thermoelectric coolers (TECs). In this numerical study, a transient electro-thermal coupled numerical model is developed to investigate the dynamic
cooling characteristics of a TEC under periodic current excitation. In addition, an auxiliary time-averaged material- level indicator, ZTta, is used to assist in interpreting the transient thermoelectric response. Based on the validated numerical model, the effects of pulse parameters, including waveform, amplitude, cycle period, duty
cycle, and initial current, on the transient cooling behavior are systematically analyzed. The results indicate that compared with steady-state current operation, periodic pulse excitation significantly improves transient cooling performance, especially by reducing temperature overshoot and prolonging the cooling duration. By optimizing the pulse parameters—namely a cycle period of 8 s, a duty cycle of 50%, and an amplitude 2.5 times the operating current using a t2-type waveform—the cold-side temperature is substantially reduced while maintaining low overshoot levels. Moreover, it is observed that when the semiconductor width is set to 2.0 mm, the transient ZTta increases by 5% compared to the steady-state value, further validating the effectiveness of pulse xcitation in improving TEC cooling performance. Based on these findings, a set of optimization guidelines for structural design and pulse parameters under cyclic excitation is proposed, providing a theoretical basis for enhancing TEC performance in practical applications.

Available documents

Format PDF

Pages: 11 p.

Available

  • Public price

    20 €

  • Member price*

    Free

* Best rate depending on membership category (see the detailed benefits of individual and corporate memberships).

Details

  • Original title: Revealing the dynamic cooling characteristics of thermoelectric cooler under periodic current input.
  • Record ID : 30035289
  • Languages: English
  • Subject: Technology
  • Source: International Journal of Refrigeration - Revue Internationale du Froid - vol. 189
  • Publication date: 2026/09
  • DOI: http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2026.107030

Links


See other articles in this issue (30)
See the source

Indexing