Development of a heat exchanger for the cold side of a thermoelectric module

A heat exchanger for the cold side of Peltier pellets in thermoelectric refrigeration, based on the principle of a thermosyphon with phase change and capillary action has been developed. This device improves the thermal resistance between the cold side of a Peltier pellet and the refrigerated ambient by 37% (from 0.513 of the finned heat sink, to 0.323 K/W). Analytic calculations and experimental optimisation of the TPM have been carried out by building and testing several prototypes. It also has been experimentally proved that the COP of thermoelectric refrigerators can be improved up to 32% (from 0.297 to 0.393) by incorporating the developed device.