Efficiency measurement of thermoelectric modules operating in the temperature difference of up to 550K

A technique to precisely measure the efficiency of thermoelectric modules has been developed within the framework of the Japanese project "The Development for Advanced Thermoelectric Conversion Systems" supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). For modules operating in the temperature difference of up to 550K, this technique can accurately measure both the heat flow rate through a module and the generated electrical power. Techniques to measure the efficiency of modules constructed by the different participating companies are crucial for the development of thermoelectric modules and for judging the progress of this project itself. However, neither commercially available modules that operate at temperatures above 573K are nor an efficiency measurement technique for such modules are readily available. At the laboratory level, relatively few evaluation systems for higher temperature modules have been developed. In this project, the measurement conditions for evaluation of such modules have been defined. Based on these defined conditions, we have developed an efficiency measurement system for different types of modules that operate in the temperature difference of up to 550K.