Implementation of current and ventilation control for enhanced TEC performance

This study presents a control scheme for thermoelectric coolers (TECs), based on the implementation of a double PI control loop for supply current and ventilation regulation. A test bench was developed, including a thermal closet and all the necessary automation for data acquisition. Industrial thermocouples were employed in order to record the heat flow and, by extension, the coefficient of performance (COP). Thus, the cooperation of heat sink's control via fans and TECs' supply current control via a DC/DC converter is investigated. Also, a multistage TEC structure was considered in order to improve COP factor and reduce power consumption.