Mastering the Peltier Device: The Science and Practical Use of Cooling and Heating

The Peltier device is a special thermoelectric semiconductor element that cools on one side and heats on the other when current flows through it. By using this principle, we can efficiently control heat in various devices, including mini refrigerators, CPU coolers, experimental cooling equipment, and portable coolers. In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the structure and principle of the Peltier device, how cooling and heating occur, and how it is actually used in practice. The Peltier module mainly consists of P-type and N-type semiconductor elements made of bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3), arranged in a grid pattern, with ceramic plates bonded above and below. This structure maximizes the Peltier effect and allows heat to be absorbed on one side and transferred and emitted on the other side when current flows through it.     The Mechanism of Cooling and Heating in Peltier Devices When current flows through a Peltier device, holes move in the P-type ...