In recent years, advancements in thermoelectric materials have substantially increased the application potential of thermoelectric cooling technology. As the primary energy conversion unit in thermoelectric cooling systems, the performance of the thermoelectric cooling unit (TECU) has a direct impact on system efficiency and reliability. However, current designs of TECU are limited owing to a lack of standardized procedures. Moreover, existing research has primarily focused on heat transfer processes, while the impact of condensation from humid air on the cold-side during practical operation remains largely unexplored. This study proposes a systematic design process based on rated cooling capacity and designs a TECU with a cooling capacity of 500 W. Subsequently, a coupled simulation model integrating “thermoelectric effects–heat transfer–heat-mass conversion” is developed to investigate the thermal and humidity characteristics of thermoelectric cooling performance. Simulation results show a linear relationship between temperature and cooling performance. A 2 ℃ increase in cold-side temperature increases cooling capacity by 32.3 W, while an equivalent increase in hot-side temperature reduces it by 26.2 W. By contrast, the effect of humidity is non-linear and complex. Humidity only affects the cooling performance once it reaches the condensation threshold. The condensation phenomenon improves heat transfer efficiency and increases cooling capacity by an average of 64.3 W. Under varying temperature and humidity working conditions, the TECU maintains a constant cooling capacity of 500 W by adjusting the TECU input current. Notably, the coefficient of performance improves by 61.0 % under high-humidity conditions, reaching 1.41. This study provides valuable theoretical insights for the design and application of TECU.
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