Methodology for Extracting Thermoelectric Module Parameters

The fundamental temperature-dependent parameters of a thermoelectric module (TEM), such as Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistance, thermal conductance, and figure-of-merit are necessary, among other factors, for conception of models for this type of devices. This paper presents a new methodology to experimentally determine these parameters from observable variables obtained from temperature, voltage, and electric current measurements made on a working TE device. Calculated parameters are plotted against the module's average temperature. Results are verified by inserting the average-value parameters into an electrothermal SPICE model of a TEM and comparing simulation and measured results for a given test configuration.