peltotien

Peltotien, also known as Peltier effect, is a thermoelectric phenomenon discovered by Jean Charles Athanase Peltier in 1834. It describes the occurrence of heating or cooling at an electrical junction between two different conductors when an electric current is passed through the junction. This effect is the reverse of the Seebeck effect, which generates a voltage when there is a temperature difference between two conductors.

The Peltier effect is utilized in various applications, including thermoelectric cooling and heating. Thermoelectric coolers, or Peltier coolers, are devices that use the Peltier effect to create a heat flux between the junction of two different types of materials. These devices are commonly used in portable refrigeration, such as in small coolers and heat pumps, as well as in precision temperature control systems.

The efficiency of a Peltier device is determined by several factors, including the Seebeck coefficient, the electrical resistivity, and the thermal conductivity of the materials used. The Peltier coefficient, denoted by π, is a measure of the amount of heat produced or absorbed per unit electric current at the junction.

In summary, the Peltier effect is a fundamental thermoelectric phenomenon that has significant practical applications in cooling and heating technologies. Its principles are based on the interaction between electrical current and temperature differences at the junction of two different conductors.