The use of the Peltier effect for simple and accurate calibration of thermoelectric devices

A method is described whereby absolute values for the Seebeck coefficient, the thermal conductance and the thermal capacity of thermoelectric devices may be obtained without the need to measure temperature differences or heat flows. The only requirement in addition to the device to be calibrated and its usual recording apparatus is a source of d. c. current and some metal blocks of known thermal capacity. A mathematical theory of the method is presented and tested experimentally. The method has been used to calibrate semiconductor thermoelements and muscle thermopiles and it is applicable in principle to many other devices such as calorimeters.