Control of a thermoelectric cooling unit complex mixed electrical connection in an uneven temperature field

Abstract

A possibility of optimal thermal management of a number of temperature-dependent and heat-laden elements of radio electronic equipment with different power dissipation in an uneven temperature field using a set of thermoelectric cooling devices with mixed electrical connection and fixed geometry of thermocouple branches has been considered. Ratios for determining the relative operating current corresponding to the minimum supply voltage at a given thermal load for different temperature gradients and thermocouple branch geometries are derived. The possibility of selecting a supply voltage for a group of thermoelectric coolers with parallel electric connection using both analytical and graphical methods of solving a system of algebraic equations of first and second orders is shown. The basic parameters, reliability indices and dynamic characteristics of a thermoelectric cooler complex with mixed electrical connection when a group of thermoelectric coolers with series electrical connection operates at maximum cooling capacity and supply voltage variation of a group of coolers with parallel electrical connection are evaluated. Analysis of the research results showed the possibility of selecting the optimum supply voltage for a group of thermoelectric coolers with parallel electric connection in the interrelation of energy, mass-dimensional and dynamic characteristics, taking into account the reliability indicators of the complex as a whole. It is shown that by reducing the supply voltage of a group of thermoelectric coolers with parallel electric connection included in the complex, the energy, mass-size and dynamic characteristics are improved, and the reliability of the complex with mixed electric connection in an uneven temperature field is increased.