Nonequilibrium thermodynamic analysis of a thermoelectric device

The performance of a thermoelectric device used as a heat pump or refrigerator is mainly affected by the Peltier, Fourier, Joule and Thomson effects. The differential equations governing the temperature field inside the device operated between two heat reservoirs are established by using nonequilibrium thermodynamics. New expressions are derived for the COP and the rate of heat pumping. Effects of the Thomson heat on these parameters are analyzed.