thermoelectric effect
Let an agent explain the thermoelectric effects and their physics, relay materials, figure of merit and applications from physics and engineering references, describe devices such as thermocouples and Peltier coolers, and distinguish thermoelectric effects from thermionic emission, pyroelectricity and Joule heating.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain the thermoelectric effects and their physics, relay materials, figure of merit and applications from physics and engineering references, describe devices such as thermocouples and Peltier coolers, and distinguish thermoelectric effects from thermionic emission, pyroelectricity and Joule heating.
The direct conversion between temperature differences and electric voltage in conductors and semiconductors, comprising the Seebeck effect in which a temperature difference across a junction of two materials produces a voltage, the Peltier effect in which a current through a junction absorbs or releases heat, and the Thomson effect in a single conductor; thermoelectric effects underlie thermocouples, thermoelectric generators and Peltier coolers.
What it is for: Sensing temperature, generating power and pumping heat.
It can be explain the effects; relay materials and metrics; describe devices; distinguish related phenomena.
Distinguishing features
Reversible
Junction-based
Solid state
Low efficiency
What it looks like
Not a visible object; junctions of dissimilar materials in devices.
Physical character
Seebeck effect discovered: 1821 year
Peltier effect discovered: 1834 year
figure of merit ZT of good materials: about 1-2 ratio
typical Seebeck coefficient: microvolts to hundreds of microvolts per kelvin note
How it is recognised
Heat to electricity and back at junctions
Seebeck, Peltier and Thomson effects
Thermionic emission ejects electrons; pyroelectricity is in crystals; Joule heating is irreversible
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - in registry terms
is used in - for temperature measurement
is contrasted with - which is irreversible
In practice
Families and kinds
Seebeck effect and thermocouples
Peltier effect and thermoelectric coolers
Thomson effect
thermoelectric generators including radioisotope generators
thermoelectric materials such as bismuth telluride and skutterudites
Standards and regulation
IEC thermocouple standards
No regulation of the effect itself
Failure modes and hazards
Low conversion efficiency
Confusing Seebeck and Peltier directions
Thermocouple drift and calibration errors
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What the effects are.
Science.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What are the Seebeck, Peltier and Thomson effects, and how do they differ from thermionic emission and pyroelectricity? definition
- Is the question about the physics, materials, a device or an application? boundary
Physics
Physics.
Physics
Physics.
- Why do temperature differences produce voltages in conductors, and what are the Onsager relations? definition
- Which entry fits solid-state physics? action
Materials Materials.
Science.
Metrics
Figure of merit.
Metrics
Metrics.
- What is the figure of merit ZT, and what limits thermoelectric efficiency? measurement
- Which references are standard? provenance
Research
Materials research.
Research
Research.
- What materials are used and researched, from bismuth telluride to nanostructured compounds? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Devices Devices.
Application.
Sensing
Thermocouples.
Sensing
Sensing.
- How do thermocouples measure temperature, and what standard types exist? provenance
- Which entry fits thermocouple? action
Power
Generators and coolers.
Power
Power.
- How do thermoelectric generators, radioisotope generators and Peltier coolers work? provenance
- Which entry fits thermoelectric generator? action
Context History and outlook.
Context.
History
History.
History
History.
- How did Seebeck, Peltier and Thomson discover the effects? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of electromagnetism? action
Outlook
Outlook.
Outlook
Outlook.
- What are the prospects for thermoelectric waste heat recovery, with assessments attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits waste heat recovery? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should Seebeck effect and Peltier effect be separate primary entries?
- How should physics references be linked?
- How should devices relate to the effects entry?