Optimisation of the heat dissipation in thermoelectric devices by means of an element with phase change

An element with phase change and no moveable components has been developed in order to improve the heat dissipation in applications of thermoelectric refrigeration. With a fluid mechanics and heat transfer software (Fluent) a comprehensive study of the condensation phenomenon occurring into this element has been done in order to analyse its thermal behaviour needed to model the thermoelectric device using an electric analogy. Subsequently, several prototypes for different geometries, refrigerant loads and vacuum pressures were made to check the experimental results and compare to the theoretical ones. With this element, the authors have been able to reduce the thermal resistance considerably and with it to improve within 12-18% the total efficiency of the thermoelectric refrigerators including it.