Finite elements for thermoelectric device analysis in ANSYS

Author

Antonova, Elena E. ; Looman, David C.

Author_Institution

ANSYS Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA

fYear

2005

fDate

19-23 June 2005

Firstpage

215

Lastpage

218

Abstract

A new set of ANSYS coupled-field elements enables users to accurately and efficiently analyze thermoelectric devices. This paper reviews the finite element formulation, which, in addition to Joule heating, includes Seebeck, Peltier, and Thomson effects. Examples of steady-state and transient simulations of a thermoelectric generator and a single-stage Peltier cooler are presented for thermoelectric analysis verification. An analysis of a multistage thermoelectric cooler is performed to demonstrate ANSYS parametric analysis capability.

Keywords

Peltier effect; Seebeck effect; Thomson effect; finite element analysis; physics computing; thermoelectric conversion; thermoelectric devices; ANSYS coupled-field elements; ANSYS parametric analysis; Joule heating; Peltier effect; Seebeck effect; Thomson effect; finite element formulation; multistage thermoelectric cooler; single-stage Peltier cooler; steady-state simulation; thermoelectric device analysis; thermoelectric generator; transient simulation; Analytical models; Electromagnetic analysis; Electromagnetic coupling; Equations; Finite element methods; Magnetic analysis; Performance analysis; Resistance heating; Thermoelectric devices; Thermoelectricity;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Thermoelectrics, 2005. ICT 2005. 24th International Conference on

ISSN

1094-2734

Print_ISBN

0-7803-9552-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICT.2005.1519922

Filename

1519922