THERMOELECTRIC COOLER MODULES

TEC MODULES
Thermoelectric devices are semiconductor heater or refrigeration units which use the Peltier effect to
create a heat flux between the two surfaces of the module. Named after French physicist Athanase
Peltier, the Peltier Effect shows that a temperature differential is created when DC current is applied
across two dissimilar materials with a P-N junction characteristics. The Peltier Effect is one of the
three thermoelectric effects, the other two are known as the Seebeck Effect and Thomson Effect.

The typical thermoelectric module is manufactured using two thin ceramic wafers with a series of P
and N doped bismuth-telluride semiconductor material elements sandwiched between them. The ceramic
material on both sides of the module adds rigidity and the necessary electrical insulation. The N element
type material has an excess of electrons, while the P element type material has a deficit of electrons.
One P element and one N element make up a couple junction that creates the thermoelectric effect.

When a DC current is applied to the circuit, a thermoelectric module can work as a cooler or
heater depending on the direction of current. A thermoelectric cooler (TEC), or solid state heat pump,
transfers heat from one side of the device to the other side against the temperature gradient.

There are many products using thermoelectric coolers, including small refrigeration systems, CCD
cameras, laser diodes, and portable picnic coolers. In addition to the aforementioned, they are also
used in thermal management of electronic devices, such as microprocessors, memory modules, etc.

89-27 ACCESS ROAD, NORWOOD, MA 02062 USA | T: 781.769. 2800 F: 781.769.9979 | WWW.QATS.COM
 THERMOELECTRIC COOLER MODULES

There are a set of equations that define the performance of a TEC. For example if one wants to
maintain a cold temperature (TC) at a certain level for a specific amount of current (less than IMAX) to
extract a specific amount QC (less than QMAX) from the cold side, the hot side temperature (Th) can be
found from the QC equation. Subsequent equations for Qh,V and COP can be used to find the values of
Qh,V and COP. The correlations are as follows:

EQUATIONS:
Heat pumped (cold side):

Heat rejected (hot side):

Voltage across the TEC module:

Coefficient of performance (COP):

WHERE:
N is the number of couples k is the thermal conductivity of Bi2Te3 material (W/m•K)
I is the input current to TEC module (A) ρ is the electrical resistivity of Bi2Te3 material (Ω•m)
V is the voltage across TEC module (V) Th is hot side temperature (K)
SAB is the Seebeck coefficient of Bi2Te3 material (V/K) Tc is cold side temperature (K)
R is module electrical resistance (Ω)

NOTES
SAB, k and ρ are thermoelectric material properties that vary with temperature. Typical values are:
SAB = 200 x 10-6 V/K
k = 1.5 W/mK (at 300 K)
 = 10 x 10-6 Ω•m
ρ
» Cold side is identified as seen on right
» Positive wire: red
» Negative wire: black
» Use thermal grease on both cold and hot surfaces for contact with heat sink and device
» For maximum reliability a non-condensing environment is recommended
» Lead wire: #20 AWG, solid tinned copper
» Sealed by silicone rubber RTV, for protection against moisture
» Ceramic plates = (96% Al2 02, white)

89-27 ACCESS ROAD, NORWOOD, MA 02062 USA | T: 781.769. 2800 F: 781.769.9979 | WWW.QATS.COM
 THERMOELECTRIC COOLER MODULES

TEC Modules
FEATURES & BENEFITS
» Medium to small form factors (10x10 to 50x50 mm)
» Thin form factor (3.3 to 4.7 mm) TOP VIEW
» Cooling power, Qmax, from 2 to 133W
» Customizable shapes to suit different applications

APPLICATIONS
» Thermal management » Refrigerators
» Laboratory testing » Telecom equipment SIDE VIEW
» Laser diode » Biomedical equipment

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Part Imax Vmax Qmax ΔTmax Internal Modules Dimensions (mm) N
Weight
Number amps (volts) (watts) (Th=300K) Resistance Length Width Height Wire Length (Couples)
ATS-TEC40-45-001 4 15.4V 36.8W 68°C 3.02Ω±10% 40 40 4.5 300 26.8g 127

ATS-TEC40-47-002 4 15.4V 36.8W 68°C 3.02Ω±10% 40 40 4.7 100 28.6g 127

ATS-TEC40-40-003 5 15.4V 46.5W 68°C 2.51Ω±10% 40 40 4.0 100 23.8g 127

ATS-TEC40-39-004 6 15.4V 53.0W 68°C 2.05Ω±10% 40 40 3.9 100 23.3g 127

ATS-TEC40-35-005 8 15.4V 68.8W 68°C 1.51Ω±10% 40 40 3.5 100 22.9g 127

ATS-TEC50-40-007 12 15.4V 106.7W 68°C 0.91Ω±10% 50 50 4.0 100 51.4g 127

ATS-TEC50-38-008 15 15.4V 133.3W 68°C 0.75Ω±10% 50 50 3.8 100 40.2g 127

ATS-TEC40-42-010 3 24.1V 41.6W 68°C 6.82Ω±10% 40 40 4.2 100 27.5g 127

ATS-TEC10-47-012 4 0.8V 2.0W 68°C 0.16Ω±10% 10 10 4.7 100 4.3g 7

ATS-TEC30-47-013 4 8.5V 21.0W 68°C 1.73Ω±10% 30 30 4.7 100 16.3g 71

ATS-TEC23-36-014 3 8.5V 14.9W 68°C 2.05Ω±10% 23 23 3.6 100 7.4g 71

ATS-TEC40-47-015 3 15.4V 26.7W 68°C 3.42Ω±10% 40 40 4.7 140 28.5g 127

ATS-TEC50-38-016 7 29.4V 118.5W 68°C 3.36Ω±10% 50 50 3.8 140 38.4g 241

ATS-TEC30-36-017 3 15.4V 26.7W 68°C 3.42Ω±10% 30 30 3.6 100 13.5g 127

ATS-TEC40-35-018 8 24.1V 111.5W 68°C 2.35Ω±10% 40 40 3.5 100 25g 199

ATS-TEC40-37-019 6 15.4V 53.3W 68°C 1.98Ω±10% 40 40 3.7 100 24.5g 124

ATS-TEC30-33-020 4 15.4V 35.6W 68°C 3.08Ω±10% 30 30 3.5 100 12.2g 127

89-27 ACCESS ROAD, NORWOOD, MA 02062 USA | T: 781.769. 2800 F: 781.769.9979 | WWW.QATS.COM R1_0414