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Ultra-high performance wearable thermoelectric coolers with less materials

Author

Listed:
  • Ravi Anant Kishore

    (Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems, Virginia Tech
    15013 Denver West Pkwy)

  • Amin Nozariasbmarz

    (Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

  • Bed Poudel

    (Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

  • Mohan Sanghadasa

    (U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Redstone Arsenal)

  • Shashank Priya

    (Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems, Virginia Tech
    Pennsylvania State University, University Park)

Abstract

Thermoelectric coolers are attracting significant attention for replacing age-old cooling and refrigeration devices. Localized cooling by wearable thermoelectric coolers will decrease the usage of traditional systems, thereby reducing global warming and providing savings on energy costs. Since human skin as well as ambient air is a poor conductor of heat, wearable thermoelectric coolers operate under huge thermally resistive environment. The external thermal resistances greatly influence thermoelectric material behavior, device design, and device performance, which presents a fundamental challenge in achieving high efficiency for on-body applications. Here, we examine the combined effect of heat source/sink thermal resistances and thermoelectric material properties on thermoelectric cooler performance. Efficient thermoelectric coolers demonstrated here can cool the human skin up to 8.2 °C below the ambient temperature (170% higher cooling than commercial modules). Cost-benefit analysis shows that cooling over material volume for our optimized thermoelectric cooler is 500% higher than that of the commercial modules.

Suggested Citation

  • Ravi Anant Kishore & Amin Nozariasbmarz & Bed Poudel & Mohan Sanghadasa & Shashank Priya, 2019. "Ultra-high performance wearable thermoelectric coolers with less materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09707-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09707-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Xiaoli & Jani, Ruchita & Orisakwe, Esther & Johnston, Conrad & Chudzinski, Piotr & Qu, Ming & Norton, Brian & Holmes, Niall & Kohanoff, Jorge & Stella, Lorenzo & Yin, Hongxi & Yazawa, Kazuaki, 2021. "State of the art in composition, fabrication, characterization, and modeling methods of cement-based thermoelectric materials for low-temperature applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    2. Liao, Tianjun & He, Qijiao & Xu, Qidong & Dai, Yawen & Cheng, Chun & Ni, Meng, 2021. "Coupling properties and parametric optimization of a photovoltaic panel driven thermoelectric refrigerators system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    3. Manuela Castañeda & Elkin I. Gutiérrez-Velásquez & Claudio E. Aguilar & Sergio Neves Monteiro & Andrés A. Amell & Henry A. Colorado, 2022. "Sustainability and Circular Economy Perspectives of Materials for Thermoelectric Modules," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Xiaowen Sun & Yuedong Yan & Man Kang & Weiyun Zhao & Kaifen Yan & He Wang & Ranran Li & Shijie Zhao & Xiaoshe Hua & Boyi Wang & Weifeng Zhang & Yuan Deng, 2024. "General strategy for developing thick-film micro-thermoelectric coolers from material fabrication to device integration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Madruga, Santiago & Mendoza, Carolina, 2022. "Introducing a new concept for enhanced micro-energy harvesting of thermal fluctuations through the Marangoni effect," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PA).
    6. Li, Yan, 2022. "A concentrated solar spectrum splitting photovoltaic cell-thermoelectric refrigerators combined system: Definition, combined system properties and performance evaluation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    7. Dehai Yu & Zhonghao Wang & Guidong Chi & Qiubo Zhang & Junxian Fu & Maolin Li & Chuanke Liu & Quan Zhou & Zhen Li & Du Chen & Zhenghe Song & Zhizhu He, 2024. "Hydraulic-driven adaptable morphing active-cooling elastomer with bioinspired bicontinuous phases," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Yin, Tao & He, Zhi-Zhu, 2021. "Analytical model-based optimization of the thermoelectric cooler with temperature-dependent materials under different operating conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    9. Zhang, Aibing & Pang, Dandan & Wang, Baolin & Wang, Ji, 2023. "Dynamic responses of wearable thermoelectric generators used for skin waste heat harvesting," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    10. Wu, Yongjia & Gao, Yahui & Wang, Caixia & Chen, Qiong & Ming, Tingzhen, 2023. "The energy saving performance of the thermal diode composite wall in different climate regions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(P1).
    11. Amin Nozariasbmarz & Daryoosh Vashaee, 2020. "Effect of Microwave Processing and Glass Inclusions on Thermoelectric Properties of P-Type Bismuth Antimony Telluride Alloys for Wearable Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-12, September.
    12. Liu, Huicong & Fu, Hailing & Sun, Lining & Lee, Chengkuo & Yeatman, Eric M., 2021. "Hybrid energy harvesting technology: From materials, structural design, system integration to applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).

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