Thermoelectric Cooler Performance Calculator

This Excel-based calculator helps engineers and researchers evaluate the performance of thermoelectric coolers (TECs) using fundamental input parameters. By entering technical specifications such as the maximum achievable temperature difference (ΔTₘₐₓ), current (Iₘₐₓ), and voltage (Vₘₐₓ) at ΔTₘₐₓ, users can compute the physical characteristics of the TEC module, including Seebeck coefficient, thermal resistance, and figure of merit (Z).

Once the TEC’s characteristics are defined, the tool allows you to:

  • Set desired hot and cold side temperatures (Tₕ, T꜀),
  • Input real-world operating conditions (ambient temperature, operating current),
  • Automatically calculate key performance indicators such as cooling capacity (Q꜀), heat rejection (Qₕ), voltage, input power, COP (Coefficient of Performance), and effective heat sink resistance (θₕₐ).

It also includes operating point suggestions for maximum cooling capacity and maximum efficiency (COP).

This intuitive tool is ideal for quick feasibility checks, design iteration, and optimization of TEC-based cooling systems.

Try Online: Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) Performance Calculator

Formulae Used :

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Generalized Chart of COP vs Current Ratio for a Single-Stage Thermoelectric Module, ZTc = 1

COP

 

Generalized Chart of Cooling Capacity Ratio vs. Current Ratio for a Single-Stage Thermoelectric Module (independent of ZTc)

Cooling Capacity

 

Universal Chart of Voltage Ratio vs. Temperature Difference Ratio for a Single-Stage Thermoelectric module, ZTc = 1

Voltage Ratio

 

Generalized Charts for a single stage Peltier module. ZTc = 1

COP and Cooling Capacity

 

Generalized charts for a single stage Peltier module, ZTc = 1

Voltage Capacity

(Source of Graphs : “Thermal Design” Book by HoSung Lee)

16 responses to “Thermoelectric Cooler Performance Calculator”

  1. sanjay Avatar
    sanjay

    hi
    how to calculate for maximum cooling capacity I and COP
    and for maximum COP
    I & COP

  2. Kelly Mclean-Leonard Avatar
    Kelly Mclean-Leonard

    Hello, could someone please explain to me what the maximum achievable Th – Tc is?

  3. Jumar Avatar
    Jumar

    do you have a research paper for this?

    1. viveksilwal Avatar
      viveksilwal

      Graphs are from “Thermal Design” Book by HoSung Lee

  4. Franco Binetti Avatar

    Hallo, can you please explain me the formula to calculate the operating resistance?
    thank you

  5. jado Avatar
    jado

    Hello,
    By what formula can you calculate the maximum COP and I?, I mean in the box in the middle

  6. lavish Avatar
    lavish

    Hello, it seems like the calculator doesn’t work at the moment. Could someone help me out with this?

  7. Rohan Rao Avatar
    Rohan Rao

    These are interesting graphs.
    I was designing a home water chiller.
    I think I will proceed with Thot = 40C and Tc = 5C.
    I was wondering what is the general Thmax of modules that are used for water cooling application.

    1. zaid Avatar
      zaid

      But can we do it like a fridge? To cool a certain insulated area ? If yes then how

  8. sunny Avatar
    sunny

    Hello, I wonder that the COP independent of the size of the thermoelectric legs? From the calculation results, I didn’t see the size of the TEC

  9. viveksilwal Avatar
    viveksilwal

    Could you let know the target cold side temp you wish to achieve with a 10 stage module and what is the ambient temperature for hot side ?

    1. oscar services Avatar
      oscar services

      temperature in Celsius Cool side 5 , hot side 26 and ambient between 27-32. This is for an HVAC application . FYI Hot side will be cooled with water.

    2. Oscar Gomez Avatar
      Oscar Gomez

      cold side temp =3 Hot side temp = 26

  10. Oscar Gomez Avatar
    Oscar Gomez

    reduce the delta t to increase the coe.

  11. viveksilwal Avatar
    viveksilwal

    You could find some research online for cascaded modules tried for cryogenic/cryocoolers application. There are few low kelvin coolers researches as well. These used 8-10 stages. But why would anyone use 10 stage cooler for only 1C delta between each stage ?

  12. Oscar Gomez Avatar
    Oscar Gomez

    do you have any study on a multistage module ? I wander what level of efficiency we could get for example with a 10 stage module with a delta t between state of less than 1 degree

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