Evaluation of the TEC1-12706 device's performance for the development of a portable Peltier thermoelectric cooler box.

ABSTRACT

This study examines the operating performance of a Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) device by analysing critical relationships, including current, cooling power, coefficient of performance, and thermal management. Experimental data highlight major trade-offs associated with TEC technology. The Coefficient of Performance (COP) has a fast, inverse relationship with current, decreasing from its peak (over 2.1) at low currents (≈ 1.0 A) due to the quadratic dominance of Joule heating in the input power. While cooling power (Q_C) grows with current, the rate of increase slows, indicating that Q_C is approaching its maximum capacity as the linear Peltier effect is progressively negated by nonlinear resistive losses. To achieve the maximum temperature difference (ΔT = 40 °C), a large increase in current flowed through the device, as well as robust hot-side thermal management, as indicated by the rise in T_H corresponding to a lower T_C. This device can be utilised in a portable cooler box for solid state refrigeration due to its high temperature difference and cold side temperature being below zero degrees.

 Keywords: Thermoelectric cooler (TEC), cooling power, Peltier effect, coefficient of performance (COP), LiFePO₄.