An examinaion about thermal capacities of thermoelectric coolers in battery cooling systems

Abstract

Peltier is a solid state active heat pump which can create a difference in temprature between two sides of the device by using electrical energy, the heater and the cooler sides of peltier is determined by the direction of direct current(DC) applied to the system. A Peltier consists of a P and a N type semi-conducting materials which are serial electrically and parallel thermally. The surfaces of the peltier are coated with ceramic which is thermally conductive but not electrically. Peltiers usually have low COP values which means the system requiers more energy compared to the conventional refrigeration cycle to dissipate same amount of heat energy. Advantages of peltier system are the system’s simplicity and being less prone to fault. In this study a series of experiments has been conducted and data has been collected for thermoelectric coolers systems which can be used for EV battery cooling. Through the experiments different current levels between 1 to 7 amps was applied to the system. Then coresponding voltage levels, temperature of water entering and exiting the system and surface temperatures of heater and cooler sides of the peltier were measured. All these measurements were after the system was stable and for a set period of time. The avarage of the measurements were used in calculations. It is observed that the thermal dissapation power of the system correlates with the amount of current that is drawed by the system.