Peltier heating up to 190C
Peltier heating up to 190C
Hello everyone,
I purchased the TEG2-07025HT-SS that operates at up to 190°C. I'm considering using the hot side to warm a plate while keeping the cold side at room temperature. Can this be done simply by applying voltage?
Using a resistance type device for heating is much more effective. Peltiers are helpful when both heating and cooling are required because they can reverse their operation by changing polarity. However, implementing them is not straightforward. Considering their inefficiency and the thermodynamic principles involved in heat transfer, there isn't a clear solution. If the cold side operates at room temperature, no heat will flow into the Peltier, and any heating depends solely on the device's resistance (acting as a resistive heater). The same applies to cooling; the hot side must become warmer than the surrounding air to function properly. More information can be found in articles from Peltier manufacturers online.
William P explained the situation clearly. For resistance-based devices, Peltiers work well when both heating and cooling are needed because they can reverse their operation by changing polarity. However, they are not easy to implement due to their inefficiency and the constraints of thermodynamics. If the cold side matches ambient temperature, heat won’t move into the Peltier, so any heating relies on its own resistance (acting as a resistive heater). The same applies for cooling—heat must be pushed from the air to the hot side, which must become warmer than the surrounding air. You can read more about this in articles from Peltier manufacturers online.
I also learned that some people are using Peltiers as heating elements, achieving temperatures around 60°C, not as high as 190°C. What are your thoughts on that?
I'm not a specialist, but I get the idea of cooling with them partially. My thought is that the cold side stays below ambient temperature. Even the manufacturers of Peltiers say it's easier and more efficient to just heat a regular resistance device rather than using a cold side. The special ability of Peltiers lets you reach temperatures lower than ambient, which a typical water loop can't achieve because it relies on ambient air for cooling the radiator. However, if you go much colder (especially with humidity), condensation starts to be an issue quickly. If you need to keep a temperature above ambient, you'd need both heating and cooling—which makes sense for things like medical equipment that must stay at body temperature. That would require an engineer to calculate heat flow and power properly.
The formulas are easy to find, but you’d need to know the thermal resistance and surface area of the components involved to work it out. This isn’t beyond the knowledge of a reasonably informed hobbyist. But honestly, this forum can’t offer much help. There are already Pelrier forums with people who have the skills to answer such questions.