Achieving high efficiency thermoelectric heating and cooling with metal foam heat exchangers
Date
2014-04-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This thesis examines the development of a high efficiency heat pump system using
thermoelectric (TE) and reticulated metal foam (RMF) technologies to power a vehicle`s
battery thermal management system. The focus is split into two areas: first a review of
TE’s sourcing or removing heat, second an examination of compact heat exchanger (HX)
design. Five TE suppliers were investigated to understand the performance and
limitations of their TE modules. Testing showed the Kyrotherm product to be superior so
it was used as a design basis. RMF’s are known to be an effective means to improve the
performance of compact heat exchangers, thus HX’s were evaluated with RMF foams
compressed to varying densities in order to understand their potential in conjunction with
thermoelectric devices. Experimental results showed performance was limited due to
adequate bonding, yet still on par with the highest efficiency technologies currently on the
market.
Description
Keywords
Thermoelectrics, Compact heat exchanger, Reticulated metal foam, Battery thermal management