Thermoelectric cooling

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Thermoelectric cooling uses the Peltier effect to create a heat flux between the junction of two different types of materials. This effect is commonly used in camping and portable coolers and for cooling electronic components and small instruments. There are no moving parts and such a device is maintenance free. Due to the relatively low efficiency, thermoelectric cooling is generally only used in environments where the solid state nature outweighs the poor efficiency. Thermoelectric junctions are generally only around 5-10% as efficient as the ideal refrigerator (Carnot cycle), compared with 40-60% achieved by conventional compression cycle systems (reverse Rankine systems like a compressor).

A potential replacement for thermoelectric cooling is thermotunnel cooling.

The effect is used in satellites and spacecraft to counter the effect of direct sunlight on one side of a craft by dissipating the heat over the cold shaded side whereupon the heat is dissipated by radiation into deep space.

Thermoelectric coolers are also used to cool computer components to aid overclocking. Used in conjunction with a heat sink or waterblock, Peltiers are capable of cooling a chip below ambient room temperature.