Apho2018 Theory Q3 Thermoelectricity Solution & Marking Scheme
Apho2018 Theory Q3 Thermoelectricity Solution & Marking Scheme
Apho2018 Theory Q3 Thermoelectricity Solution & Marking Scheme
A1.2 Using (A2) –(A5) we obtain the equation for the heat current at x
1.0 pt dT x kS I 2 L
q x kS 1 2
T T x , (A7) 0.5
dx L S 2
at x 0, and x L
kS LI 2 RI 2
q x 0 1 2
T T K 1 2
T T , (A8)
L 2S 2 0.25
kS LI 2 RI 2
q x L T1 T2 K T1 T2 . (A9) 0.25
L 2S 2
kS L
Here K , R .
L S
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equillibrium positions at finite temperature and participate in heat conduction process. If the
resistance of the thermocouple is neglected, these two subsystems may be considered as
noninteracting, the electron gas exchanges heat only with the heat source at T1 and the heat sink at
T2 , performing the ideal Carnot cycle.
A2.1 Electron gas receives heat from heat source due to the Peltier effect 0.25
0.25 pt q1 1 I (A10)
A2.2. The heat amount transferred to the heat sink due to the Peltier effect 0.25
0.25 pt q2 2 I (A11)
A2.3. Power delivered by the electron gas due to the Seebeck emf is 0.5
0.5 pt P I T1 T2 I (A12)
A2.4 The efficiency of the ideal Carnot cycle applied to the thermocouple can be
0.5 pt written as
P T T
, 1 2 . (A13) 0.25
q1 T1
Thus
T1 T2 T1 T2
(A14)
T1 1
0.25
Comparing these equations, one has 1 T1 .
This is the Peltier coefficient at the first junction contacting with the heat source.
Generally, one has T .
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T1 T2 T1 T2 0.25
I . (A20)
RL R 1 m R
Substituting (A20) into (A19) we obtain the expession for the efficiency
m T1 T2
2
. (A21)
KR 1 m T T 0.25
2
T1 1 m 1 2
2
A3.3. Replacing the figure of merit
0.25 2
Z (A22)
KR
T T
and c 1 2 the efficiency of the ideal Carnot cycle in (A21), one has
T1
m
c 2
. (A23)
1 m 1 0.25
1 m c
ZT1 2
From (A23) one sees that larger Z leads to the larger efficiency of the
corresponding thermoelectric generator. The condition ZT1 1 can be used for
material application in thermoelectric generators.
M 1 Z
T1 T2 .
(A26) 0.25
2
A4.3. Using (A25), (A26) we obtain the maximum efficiency of the thermoelectric 0.25
0.25 pt generator
T T M 1
max 1 2 (A27)
T1 T2
M
T1
(Correct expression containing either M , Z or both is also accepted)
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A5. The maximum figure of merit
A5.1 According to (A22) Z takes the maximum value Z Z m when KR y is
0.5
S
smallest. Denoting k A S A k B S B A B y, x A
S A SB SB
one has the equation k A x k B A B y . 0.25
x
It is easily to show the function y has the minimum at x=xm, where
1/2
Ak B S k
xm or A A B .
BkA SB B k A 0.25
(A28)
M 1 Zm
T1 T2 1 3.2 103 363 1.46
2
M 1
max C 6.0% .
T2
M ( A.33)
T1
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B. Thermoelectric refrigerator
B1. The cooling power and the maximum temperature difference
B1.1 For cooling purpose we choose the current direction so that heat is absorbed at 0.25
0.25pt upper junction (temperature T1) due to Peltier effect and transferred to the A & B
bars. Using (A.9) one gets cooling power taken out from heat source at T1
RI 2
qC T1 I K T1 T2 (B.1)
2
where K , R are thermal conductance and internal resistance of thermocouple.
B1.2. dqC
Condition for the maximum cooling power qCM is founded from 0 , one
0.5 dI 0.25
has
T1
Iq , (B2)
R
2T1
qCM K T2 T1 . (B3)
2R .
The maximum temperature depression is derived from the condition qCM 0 ,
which gives
2T1min
2 2
ZT1min 0.25
Tmax T2 T1min . (B4)
2 KR 2
2
Here Z is the figure of merit of the thermocouple.
KR
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B3. The coefficient of performance
B3.1 According to the energy conservation law, the power supplied by the electrical
0.5pt source P equals to the Joule heat plus Peltier’s heat taken away in thermocouple
per unit of time:
0.25
P (T2 T1 ) I RI 2 . (B.8)
The equation for Coefficient of Performance (COP) is
RI 2
qC
T1I K T2 T1
2 0.25
2
(B9)
P (T2 T1 ) I RI
B3.2. Electrical current I corresponds to the maximum of the COP is found from the
0.25
d
equation 0 . (B9) may be rewritten in convenience form
dI
1 T1 T2 I 2 K T2 T1
. (B10)
2 2 (T2 T1 ) RI I
d
The equation 0 leads to
dI
2
R T1 T2 I 2 4 K T2 T1 RI 2 K T2 T1 0 ,
2 K T2 T1 I K 2
I2 T2 T1 0 , (B.11)
TM RTM
with TM
T2 T1 . (B.12)
2
Solution of (B.11) is
K T2 T1
I
TM
1 Z TM 1 . (B.13) 0.25
2
(Taking into account that Z , (B.13) can be written in other form
KR
T2 T1
I ) (B.14)
R 1 Z TM 1
B3.3. Substituting (B.14) into (B.9) one has 0.25
0.25 T1 1 ZTM T2 / T1
max . (B.15)
T2 T1 1 ZTM 1
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