# Thermal Analysis of a Dual Stage Thermoelectric Plate **URL:** \ **Category:** Project Spotlight\ **Created:** [March 15, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/thermal-analysis-of-a-dual-stage-thermoelectric-plate/65352 "2017-03-15T17:43:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jousefm](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/jousefm/32/34908_2.png) [@jousefm](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/jousefm)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/thermal-analysis-of-a-dual-stage-thermoelectric-plate/65352/1 "2017-03-15T17:43:04Z")
Dear SimScalers, in this weeks spotlight we will have a look at a simulation of a Dual Stage Thermoelectric Plate by our user @buzzing_info . ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/3/3218f8259739d9ecfb70f94896f53e297ae0c5f8.jpg) **Dual stage thermoelectric (peltier) temperature control plate. Objective is -40°C plate temperature with 12°C chiller water. The simulations are testing the effects of different plate designs, materials and thicknesses, temperature sensor placement, as well as estimating \Delta T\_{max}.** ## **Geometry:** ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/9/9b26630077aab7be03e0453204e67a13d3416248.jpg) ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/a/ac3f87e78fe217b5c310d7983be7469d1813ef51.jpg) ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/d/ded6e1eaaca426b66869e334bbb5991e9bf69b15.jpg) ## **Mesh:** The complete internal flow domain was meshed using the **[‘Tet-Dominant’](https://www.simscale.com/docs/content/preprocessing/meshing/tet-dominant.html?highlight=tet%20dominant)** on the SimScale platform. The resulting mesh ( flow domain only ) consists of approximately 0.4 million cells and is shown in the figure below. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/5/5bd8975420be3246b79e7b88f9f771612eaa6684.jpg) ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/3/3f23e4479f16fe11596d8f2f635166e0019a1921.jpg) ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/4/41ca2c27ce5936882f0fa7ed31aa55f338d8aaf3.jpg) ## **Simulation Setup:** The thermoelectric devices are simulated as a negative thermal flux on the top surface (the **Qc** , or cooling power), and a positive flux on the bottom surface ( **Qh** , the hot side power, sum of **Qc** and **Qe** , the electric power in). Peltier devices loose efficiency the greater the temperature differential between the sides, this is simulated by setting the thermal conductivity so **Qc** is conducted completely through at \Delta T\_{max} (the maximum temperature difference). We’ll run them at 8$V$, since that’s more efficient than the maximum rated 12$V$ (thus less waste heat to be transported by the second stage). From the plots in the manufacturer’s datasheet, that draws ~7.5$A$ (and **Qe** = 8$V$ x 7.5$A$ = 60$W$), has a maximum **Qc** of 93W, and \Delta T\_{max} of 58C. The device surface area is 0.00175 m^2, and thickness is 0.003 m. From the **[Laird PC12,139,F1,3550,TA,W6 Thermoelectric Datasheet](http://cdn.lairdtech.com/home/brandworld/files/THR-DS-PC12139F13550TAW6_092215.pdf)** ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f9fc92695fdc2c6bb3ddf902438b3a95c5c54293.jpg) ### **Thermoelectric parameters in the model:** **Top Surface Flux** = - **Qc** / A = -93 / 0.00175 = 53143 W/m^2 **Bottom Layer Flux** = ( **Qc** + **Qe** ) / A = (93 + 60) / 0.00175 = 87429 W/m^2 **Conductivity** = Top Flux \* Thickness / \Delta T\_{max} = 53143 \* 0.003 / 58 = 2.75 W/(m K) ### **Water Exchange Cold Plates** First type uses a single **Aavid Thermalloy 416101U00000G** water chilled cold plate. The second type (R1) uses 2 **Lytron CP15G01** cold plates in order to get lower thermal resistance from the water to the thermoelectrics. This improves total \Delta T\_{max} by ~5-10°C. Most simulations were run by setting a boundary condition holding the copper pipes to the water temperature of 12°C (285K), to visualize hot and cold spots. Since energy transfer to the flowing water in the pipes was not taken into account, a better \Delta T\_{max} estimation comes from the **“BottomT Ctrl”** simulations, which set the back of the cold plates to 12C, and set the thermal conductivity using the manufacturer’s data sheets, similar to the calculation for the thermoelectric device conductivity. The **CP15G01** datasheet resistance from water to cooling surface is 0.009 C/W, or a conductivity of 111 W/C. **Plate Conductivity** = (Thickness / Area) \* Conductivity = 0.008 / (.095 \* 0.15 ) \* 111 = 62 W/(m K) ## **Results:** Final performance (assuming a normal convective heat load on the cooling plate surface) is \Delta T\_{max} = 71K, or a minimum temperature of -59°C. The water bath will get up to ~20°C. This is similar to direct calculations. Also important is that reaching -40°C is simulated to take just 3 minutes from 25°C. Building it from **copper** instead of **aluminum** provides relatively little advantage. A critical factor in actual performance will be limiting thermal losses through hardware and surrounding structures. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/6/67ab9b7d6e9a6dcd023fa7491cef8b5003a26260.jpg) ### **SimScale project** : To look at the simulation setup, please have a look at the project from @buzzing_info : **[Dual Stage Thermoelectric Plate](https://www.simscale.com/projects/buzzing_info/dual_stage_thermoelectric/)** To copy this project into your workspace, simply follow the instruction given in the picture below. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/0/0be0165a25c71c7652adc1aca581cf4b1d29f047.jpg) * * * #### \underline{\textbf{Visit our SimWiki by clicking on the picture}} [![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/6/6486b7ace3c7a80e50e9d7d1798ac6c5e1e85e11.jpg)](https://www.simscale.com/docs/content/simwiki.html) ---
**Author:** ![jousefm](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/jousefm/32/34908_2.png) [@jousefm](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/jousefm)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/thermal-analysis-of-a-dual-stage-thermoelectric-plate/65352/2 "2017-03-15T18:35:22Z")