Anomalous Nernst Heat Flux Sensing in Peltier Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Peltier elements face challenges in quantitatively measuring heat flow due to complex thermal circuits and high thermal resistance when combined with conventional heat flux sensors, leading to reduced cooling and heating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A Peltier element integrated with an anomalous Nernst heat flux sensor directly formed on its insulating board, utilizing a thin film of fine lines with residual magnetization, providing ultra-low thermal resistance of 10−8 to 10−10 m2K/W, allowing real-time heat flow detection without external power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional Seebeck heat flux sensor is attached to a Peltier element to measure heat flow, then heat flow measurement is enabled, but the thermal resistance becomes too large (10^-1 to 10^-2 m2K/W) significantly impairing the cooling and heating efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional Seebeck effect-based heat flux sensor with an anomalous Nernst effect-based sensor. This substitution fundamentally changes the physical mechanism from relying on temperature gradient-driven voltage generation to utilizing magnetic field-driven voltage generation in response to heat flow, achieving ultra-low thermal resistance while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters and physical principles of the heat flux sensor by utilizing the anomalous Nernst effect instead of the Seebeck effect. This parameter change enables the sensor to operate with significantly lower thermal resistance (10^-8 to 10^-10 m2K/W) while maintaining heat flow detection functionality
2Device complexity
If the density of heat flow is measured by considering only current magnitude and orientation, then measurement is simplified, but the measurement becomes inaccurate due to complex thermal circuits and thermal boundary conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The anomalous Nernst heat flux sensor directly measures heat flow density through the Peltier element without requiring external thermal circuits or complex boundary condition measurements. The sensor utilizes the inherent anomalous Nernst effect in magnetic materials to convert heat flow directly into measurable voltage signals, making the measurement system self-sufficient and independent of external thermal circuitry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic materials as an intermediary substance that mediates between heat flow and electrical measurement. The magnetic materials exhibit the anomalous Nernst effect where heat flow induces both temperature gradients and magnetic field changes, which together generate measurable voltage signals, serving as a bridge to quantify heat flow density
3Ease of operation
If a Peltier element is used for temperature control, then heating and cooling functionality is achieved, but quantitative detection and control of heat flow remains difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the Peltier element with the heat flux sensor into a single integrated device. The anomalous Nernst heat flux sensor is directly formed on the insulating board of the Peltier element, combining the heating/cooling functionality with real-time heat flow detection capability, enabling closed-loop temperature control with quantitative feedback
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The integration achieves high-speed and accurate heat flow measurement with negligible impact on cooling/heating efficiency, enabling precise temperature control and heat flow prediction.
Implementation Method 1
the anomalous Nernst effect that occurs in a magnetic material is characterized by the appearance of an electric field in a direction orthogonal to the temperature gradient caused by the heat flow passing through the sensor
Implementation Method 2
the Peltier effect (phenomenon in which heat flows when a current is caused to flow and the direction of heat flow changes depending on the direction of the current)
Data Source
AI summary
[Object] To provide a Peltier element with an ultra-low thermal resistance heat flux sensor that is capable of detecting heat flow passing through the Peltier element at high speed and has negligible thermal resistance.[Solving Means] It has a structure in which an anomalous Nernst heat flux sensor 20 is formed directly on one or both of an upper part and a lower part of an insulating board that forms a Peltier element 10. The present invention is favorably characterized in that each fine line (22a) of a thermoelectric generator is formed of a magnetic material having residual magnetization even in absence of an external magnetic field and is magnetized in a direction orthogonal to a length direction of the fine line, and each fine line (23a) of a connector is formed of a ferromagnetic material that is magnetized in a direction opposite to a direction in which each fine line (22a) is magnetized, a magnetic material having a Nernst coefficient with an opposite sign to that of each fine line (22a), or a non-magnetic material.