Review on Thermoelectric Refrigeration: Materials and Technology

Abstract

Conventional refrigeration systems use Chloro Fluoro Carbons (CFCs) and Hydro Chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as heat carrier fluids. Use of such fluids in conventional refrigeration systems has a great concern of environmental degradation and resulted in extensive research into development of novel Refrigeration and air conditioning technologies. Thermoelectric refrigeration is one of the techniques used for producing refrigeration effect. A brief review about introduction of thermoelectricity, principal of thermoelectric cooling and thermoelectric materials has been presented in this paper. The research and development work carried out by different researchers on development of thermoelectric R system has been thoroughly reviewed in this paper. Thermoelectric modules offer many advantages including: No moving parts, Small and lightweight, Maintenance- free Acoustically silent and electrically quiet, Heat or cool by changing direction of current, flow Wide operating temperature range, Highly precise temperature control to within 0.1°C, Operation in any orientation, zero gravity and high G- levels Environmentally friendly and Sub- ambient cooling.