The major disadvantage of the Peltier effect is low efficiency. The flowing current itself tends to generate a significant amount of Joule heating which adds to the overall heat dissipation requiring some form of active cooling system.
Unfortunately, the need for a DC power source and the generally higher cost of TE systems compared to resistive heaters, precludes their use in most heat-only applications. Furthermore, Peltier devices have a far more limited temperature range than most resistive heaters.
The most common failure mechanism of Peltier modules is mechanical fracturing of the semiconductor pellets or the associated solder joints. These fractures initially do not propagate completely through the pellet or solder joint and can be detected by a rise in the series resistance of the device.
The large construction cost comes from the power supply and the heat exchanger part, and the large operating cost comes from the fact that the Peltier coolers require a lot of current.
You cannot cool any space with it - unless you stick the hot back-end out a window.
Peltier systems typically excel in lower temperature ranges (e.g., -20°C to +70°C), while compressor systems are more efficient across wider temperature ranges, including sub-zero. Additionally, compressor systems can cover a wider temperature delta than Peltier systems, making them more flexible overall.
The lifespan of a thermoelectric module is 200,000 to 300,000 h, and a module can last for more than 100,000 h of continuous operation (Table 4) [88–90].
Its advantages include low construction costs and the ability to generate electricity continuously. The main disadvantages are related to pollution and dependence on fossil fuels.
Disadvantages of Peltier Systems
Can't provide low temperatures (below 10°C) Not very energy-efficient compared to compressor-based systems (although control technology means cooling can be more accurately measured than with a compressor, so these systems can be energy-efficient for small temperature gradients)
Contrary to Joule heating, the Peltier effect is reversible and depends on the direction of the current.
Along with cracks developing, the crack surface will be oxidized, the resistance of that portion will go up, and due to the increasing joule heat, the partial temperature goes up. Finally it will burn out or the solder and thermoelectric elements will be melted and cause the breaking of wire.
The minimum temperature is -60C. Therfore, the maximum delta T is 380C. Using cold side Temperatures below 0C will yield lower and lower additional power gains as temperature decreases.
The Peltier effect is the reverse phenomenon of the Seebeck effect; the electrical current flowing through the junction connecting two materials will emit or absorb heat per unit time at the junction to balance the difference in the chemical potential of the two materials.
Additionally, they are environmentally friendly, as they do not use refrigerants. However, their efficiency is lower compared to conventional cooling systems, and they typically generate more heat than they remove, making them less suitable for high-power applications [1].
Besides low efficiency and relatively high cost, practical problems exist in using thermoelectric devices in certain types of applications resulting from a relatively high electrical output resistance, which increases self-heating, and a relatively low thermal conductivity, which makes them unsuitable for applications ...
In order to achieve TEG system cost of $1/W, it is necessary to achieve the heat exchanger cost of $1/(W/ oC). Considering different cold temperatures, the cost of TEG ranged from $13,500/kW to $16,000/kW at 500 oC hot temperature and from $10,000/kW to $12,000/kW at 575 oC hot temperature (Hendricks et al., 2016).
Thermal energy can produce pollution, often in the form of escaped chemicals or water released in thermal power plants or storage facilities. Air and water pollution may be linked to geothermal fields. For example, steam may emit heat waste that might affect cloud formations and weather patterns.
Air and water pollution are two leading environmental issues associated with geothermal energy technologies. Additional concerns are the safe disposal of hazardous waste, siting and land subsidence. Most geothermal power plants require a large amount of water for cooling or other purposes.
Hybrid power systems are those that generate electricity from two or more sources, usually renewable, sharing a single connexion point. Although the addition of powers of hybrid generation modules are higher than evacuation capacity, inverted energy never can exceed this limit.
Peltier modules efficiency heavily depends on the temperature differential. If you try to make both sides too different in temperature, the COP will reach zero, meaning your peltier is wasting electricity and outputting heat without actually doing work (i.e. cooling).
The Peltier module will prove sufficient in air conditioning for indoor applications as desired. Peltier effect has an efficiency of around 10 – 15% compared to the refrigerants 40 – 60 % efficiency.
Unlike traditional refrigerators that use refrigerants and compressors, thermoelectric fridges rely on a phenomenon called the Peltier Effect. This unique mechanism makes them ideal for applications such as compact refrigerators, beverage coolers and wine chillers.