Temperature and time dependent finite-element model of a thermoelectric couple

The cooling performance of a thermoelectric (TE) couple is modeled from mathematical differential equations via finite-elements with the use of a digital computer. The finite-element model, which incorporates material property dependence on time and temperature, is presented. TE couple transient performance is investigated by applying an on-off current waveform to the model. Results from the model output are compared with experiment.