The simple relations to express consumer parameters for two-stage thermoelectric module connected in parallel

Abstract

The parallel connection scheme for two-stage thermoelectric modules has been known for a long time, but there have always been difficulties in its calculation. Making some assumptions, it is possible to obtain simple formulas for consumer parameters I/sub max/, Q/sub max/, U/sub max/, /spl Delta/T/sub max/. The thermoelectric properties are accepted to be identical in both stages and independent of the temperature. The correctness of these assumptions is explained. The temperature differences on both stages are admitted to be equal too. The simple formulas for I/sub max/, Q/sub max/, U/sub max/, /spl Delta/T/sub max/ are given. In particular, the maximum temperature difference is defined by the double material figure of merit.