Characterization of thermoelectric flexible modules: test bench fine tunning and experimental analysis

Abstract

Within the framework of the TERMOFLEX research project, run by the Government of Navarra, in collaboration between NAITEC and the UPNA ITF group, flexible thermoelectric modules have been designed and manufactured. Thermoelectric modules are devices with the ability to generate an electric current due to the application of a temperature difference between their faces, through the Seebeck effect. Unlike the rigid modules, which already exist on the market, the flexible module is still at the prototype level, without commercial appearance. Its main advantage is that it can be used on curved surfaces. It has been designed two benches for the characterization of flexible thermoelectric modules and for the characterization of the dissipators needed for this purpose. Both of them have been correctly designed and therefore they have fulfilled the expectative. Regarding the characterization of flexible modules, one of the modules has been able to generate a power of 4mW. This is not only big amount for a flexible module, but the curves also obtained for the results fit closely a parabolic function. With this results, flexible modules are put at the forefront of flexible technology.