Simplified Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) with Heatsinks Modeling and Simulation using Matlab and Simulink based-on Dimensional Analysis

Abstract

Energy sustainability is becoming central nowadays, especially in South Africa due to electricity blackouts. This article embarks on clean alternative energy based-on thermoelectricity with focus on thermoelectric cooler (TEC). However, in practice, a TEC requires heatsinks or heat-exchangers to function properly but heatsinks also introduce thermal resistance which affects its cooling power and efficiency − which must be addressed. As a result, a TEC with heatsinks model based-on dimensional analysis using Matlab / Simulink is examined. The research novel contributions are i) derivation of analytical forms for the TEC dimensionless cold and hot sides temperature and ii) Simulink TEC with heatsinks theoretical model based-on a simplified dimensional analysis, whereby a TEC with heatsinks parameters of interest can be easily simulated to ascertain analytically, numerically and graphically its optimal performance before implementing physically.