lämpösähköisissä

lämpösähköisissä refers to a phenomenon and its applications related to the conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy, or vice versa. This process is known as the thermoelectric effect. The most common thermoelectric effects are the Seebeck effect and the Peltier effect.

The Seebeck effect describes the creation of a voltage difference across a material when there is a temperature gradient. This means that if one side of a thermoelectric material is heated and the other side is cooled, an electric current will flow. This principle is the basis for thermoelectric generators, which can convert waste heat into electricity.

The Peltier effect is the inverse of the Seebeck effect. It states that when an electric current flows through a junction of two dissimilar thermoelectric materials, heat is either absorbed or released at that junction, depending on the direction of the current. This allows for the creation of thermoelectric coolers, which can provide localized cooling without the need for moving parts like compressors.

Thermoelectric devices are solid-state, meaning they have no moving parts, which contributes to their reliability and longevity. They are also generally compact and silent. However, their efficiency in converting heat to electricity or vice versa is currently lower than conventional methods, which limits their widespread adoption. Despite this, they find applications in niche areas such as cooling small electronic components, powering remote sensors, and in some specialized automotive applications. Research continues to focus on improving the efficiency and reducing the cost of thermoelectric materials.