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<< Lancair Builders' Mail List >>
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Back in 1821, John Seebeck discovered that if you heat the junction of two
dissimilar metals, a voltage is produced. The device commonly known as the
thermocouple was born.
In 1834, during a "I wonder what would happen" moment, Jean Peltier applied
current to a thermocouple junction and noted that if the current flowed one
way the junction got hotter and if the current flowed the other way, the
junction got cooler.
Jump ahead 125 years. Researchers have optimized the Peltier effect through
application of semiconductor and ceramic materials. The high cost and
relative inefficiency of Peltier devices outweigh the benefits (light
weight, no moving parts and infinite life) when compared to freon based
refrigeration except in a few specialized research and commercial
applications. The beer cooler is a good example.
The 1990's saw the emergence of an application that the Peltier device had
been waiting 170 years for.... the Pentium processor. The PII-266 processor
produced more heat than could be removed on a hot day with an aluminum heat
sink and fan. Putting a Peltier module between the processor and the heat
sink increased the heat flux to an acceptable limit. Millions were made.
Unfortunately, when Intel got their packaging worked out, all those Peltier
modules hit the surplus market with a thud. They can be found there today at
reasonable prices.
http://www.mpja.com/product.asp?product=9080+PM
Warning Will Robinson! Danger! Danger! This is not a project for the
neophyte engineer. The mechanical, electrical and thermal considerations are
not insignificant. The deflections in the base plate at 5 PSID can be enough
to fail the module. The nearly 3KW (4 horsepower) of electrical power would
light up a small house. The up side is you get air conditioning, heating and
a standby power source for a fraction of what a freon system would weigh.
Also the system would only require a few seconds before cool air would be
refreshing the cabin occupants.
Now you are going to thinking about this, aren't you?
Regards
Brent Regan
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LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html
LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair
Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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