<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In this paper we address the problem of optimization of the so called supercooling effect in thermoelectric nanoscaled layers. The effect arises when a short term electric pulse is applied to the layer. The analysis is based on constitutive equations of the Maxwell-Cattaneo type describing the time evolution of dissipative flows with the thermal and electric conductivities depending on the width of the layer. This introduces memory and nonlocal effects and consequently a wave-like behaviour of system’s temperature. We study the effects of the shape of the electric pulse on the maximum diminishing of temperature by applying pulses of the form <italic>t<sup>a</sup></italic> with <italic>a</italic> a power going from 0 to 10. Pulses with <italic>a</italic> a fractionary number perform better for nanoscaled devices whereas those with <italic>a</italic> bigger than unity do it for microscaled ones. We also find that the supercooling effect is improved by a factor of 6.6 over long length scale devices in the best performances and that the elapsed supercooling time for the nanoscaled devices equals the best of the microscaled ones. We use the spectral methods of solution which assure a well representation of wave behaviour of heat and electric charge in short time scales given their spectral convergence.</p></abstract>

In this paper we address the problem of optimization of the so called supercooling effect in thermoelectric nanoscaled layers. The effect arises when a short term electric pulse is applied to the layer. The analysis is based on constitutive equations of the Maxwell-Cattaneo type describing the time evolution of dissipative flows with the thermal and electric conductivities depending on the width of the layer. This introduces memory and nonlocal effects and consequently a wave-like behaviour of system’s temperature. We study the effects of the shape of the electric pulse on the maximum diminishing of temperature by applying pulses of the form ta with a a power going from 0 to 10. Pulses with a a fractionary number perform better for nanoscaled devices whereas those with a bigger than unity do it for microscaled ones. We also find that the supercooling effect is improved by a factor of 6.6 over long length scale devices in the best performances and that the elapsed supercooling time for the nanoscaled devices equals the best of the microscaled ones. We use the spectral methods of solution which assure a well representation of wave behaviour of heat and electric charge in short time scales given their spectral convergence.

Optimization of supercooling effect in nanoscaled thermoelectric layers

Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas.

Centro de Investigación en Ciencias. Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México,

Communications in Applied and Industrial Mathematics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Optimization of supercooling effect in nanoscaled thermoelectric layers"}

In this paper we address the problem of optimization of the so called supercooling effect in thermoelectric nanoscaled layers. The effect arises when a short...

Optimization of supercooling effect in nanoscaled thermoelectric layers

Publicado en línea: 20 may 2016

Páginas: 98 - 110

Recibido: 30 dic 2014

Aceptado: 14 jun 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/caim-2016-0008

Palabras clave
Heat Transfer, Supercooling Effect, Nanoscaled Thermoelectric Layers

© 2016 Iván Rivera et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Optimization of supercooling effect in nanoscaled thermoelectric layers

Publicado en línea: 20 may 2016

Páginas: 98 - 110

Recibido: 30 dic 2014

Aceptado: 14 jun 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/caim-2016-0008

Palabras claveHeat Transfer, Supercooling Effect, Nanoscaled Thermoelectric Layers

© 2016 Iván Rivera et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
Heat Transfer, Supercooling Effect, Nanoscaled Thermoelectric Layers