Thermal properties of commercial thermoelectric modules

This paper shows the results of testing two commercial thermoelectric modules, one is the typical 12 V, Tmax=80/spl deg/C and the other, designed for high temperature, is a 50 W, Tmax=200/spl deg/C. All the results have been obtained experimentally using a test bench designed and built for this purpose. Special procedures were applied in order to be able to control the temperature in both sides of the thermoelectric module during the experiments. A description of the test bench (which is very easy to build for any laboratory) and the procedures for testing modules in a convenient way are also included. The results obtained correspond to a wide range of working conditions: a temperature from -15/spl deg/C to 190/spl deg/C, a range of heat power from 10 W to 50 W, and electric power from 0.1 W to 80 W.