Methodology for extracting thermoelectric module parameters

The fundamental temperature-dependent parameters of a thermoelectric (TE) module: coefficient, electrical resistance, thermal conductance, and figure-of-merit are necessary, among other factors, for the conception of models for this type of devices. In this work we present a methodology for calculating these parameters from observable variables, which are obtained from temperature, voltage, and electric current measurements made on a working TE devices. The extracted parameters are plotted against the average temperature between the hot and cold side of the module. Results are verified by inserting average-value parameters into an electro-thermal SPICE model of a thermoelectric module and comparing simulation and measured (using a TE module characterization system) results for a given test configuration.