Thermopile Spreading-Resistance Lab: Understanding Heat Spread in Thermoelectric Devices

What is a Thermopile?

A thermopile is an array of thermocouples connected in series, designed to convert temperature differences into electrical energy. Each junction in the thermopile generates a small voltage (Seebeck EMF) due to the Seebeck effect when there is a temperature difference between its two sides.

The total output voltage of the thermopile depends on the number of junctions and the magnitude of the temperature gradient across them.

Thermoelectric Effects in 2D Heat Spread

In this lab, heat spreads laterally from a hot contact patch through a material, affecting the Seebeck EMF generated at each junction. The spreading resistance accounts for how temperature gradients change with distance from the heat source.

This phenomenon is crucial for optimizing thermoelectric devices and understanding their performance under various conditions.

Spreading Resistance and Its Impact

The spreading resistance in a thermopile arises due to the non-uniform temperature distribution across its body. As heat spreads, the temperature gradient decreases with distance from the source, leading to a reduction in Seebeck EMF at junctions farther away.

This effect is particularly important for devices where precise control over temperature gradients and power output is required.

Real-World Applications of Thermopiles

Thermopiles find applications in various fields, including thermal imaging, energy harvesting, and temperature sensing. They are used in devices such as infrared cameras and thermoelectric generators.

Understanding the principles behind spreading resistance helps in designing more efficient thermoelectric systems for practical use.

Frequently asked questions

Try it live

Everything above runs in your browser — open Thermopile Spreading-Resistance Lab (2D) and change the parameters while it is running. Nothing is installed, nothing is uploaded, the whole model lives in one tab.