FlexiTEC - flexible thermoelectric cooling using next generation miniaturisation

Thermoelectric devices are devices that use electricity to pump heat. They can provide both heating and cooling in the same device. Their lack of moving parts makes them good choices for robust, small, quiet, environmentally friendly systems with minimal maintenance.

Existing thermoelectric systems are rigid, and more complex shapes or softer surfaces such as the body are difficult to interact with. Our proposal, entitled FlexiTEC, is to develop a fully flexible thermoelectric system. This will increase the ease of use of thermoelectric systems, and encourage take up in personal thermoelectric temperature control systems, for example in active heating and cooling seating products.

Such local environment control can significantly save energy, as only the environment that you immediately feel is controlled, rather than the entire space around you. In addition thermoelectric systems have a higher efficiency in heating then local electrical heaters. These efficiency advantages are especially important in electric vehicle development, where cabin temperature control can have up to a 40% impact on range for example in freezing conditions.

In order to achieve this aim, full system level modelling and optimisation of the coupled impact of thermoelectric materials, device architecture and flexible heat sinks will be performed in order to achieve the required balance between electrical, thermal and mechanical properties. This will direct the material, device and system innovation in order to accelerate progress towards a high performance, robust, flexible system.

Development work will include novel processing routes to enable next generation miniaturisation, coupled with a module designed to be more resistant to failure than conventional devices. In addition, flexible heat sinks will be optimised and constructed using novel low cost processing.

This work will be undertaken at European Thermodynamics Ltd near Leicester, a leading UK centre for industrial thermoelectrics research, and will partner with University of Leicester and Queen Mary University of London to harness their expertise in the mechanics of thermoelectric materials and advanced thermoelectric processing routes respectively.