Thermoelectric air cooling

This chapter deals with the research aspects of thermoelectric module (TEM) application in air cooling based on Peltier effect. TEMs are gaining priority over conventional heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system due to less maintenance and high reliability, higher system life and easy integration with existing systems, environmental friendly due to no working fluids, and zero noise operations. The addressable issues of practical implementation of TEMs including merit of figures, cooling capacity characterization, coefficient of performance (COP) assessment, integration with solar photovoltaic (PV) system were discussed in detail. This chapter begins with the introduction of current challenges of HVAC technologies and need for alternative renewable technology. Further, overview of TEMs principle and performance index was provided, along with various practical application areas. The current challenges on the improvement and potential utilization of thermoelectric devices reasonable for thermoelectric cooling were also discussed and conclusion was drawn based on recent advancement.