Matlab modeling of thermoelectric modules including thermal losses

The development of thermoelectric modules and their applications required accurate modeling of their performances. Usually, in applications or device testing only applied temperatures are known. Simple calculations which ignore the thermal losses on parasitic elements can overes-timate the performances. However, the calculations of internal temperatures generate recursive equations (heat flux, temperature difference and material properties) which can be numerically resolved, often with a finite element approach. In this work, an accurate and fast model of thermoelectric modules is developed in Matlab with an iterative procedure, avoiding domain discretization (e.g. finite element analysis). The model takes into account the passive components which lead to temperature drops inside the device. It provide a correct evaluation of the effective cold and hot side temperatures on the thermoelectric materials, which are used in the materials properties integral, with an iterative method, improving at each sequence the approximated solutions. Open circuit potential, cur-rent, power, heat fluxes and maximum efficiency are evaluated as a function of temperature. Results show that temperatures drops can be tens of degree Celsius and efficiency overestima-tion can reach 15% at high temperature range. The convergence of the algorithm is demon-strated within few iterations. The comparison of results with the experimental data from electrical characterization of com-mercial TEMs, confirms the reliability of the developed numerical analysis. Moreover, a com-plete Graphical User Interface has been developed, with the possibility to simulate each type of material and geometry.