Precision Cooling with Peltier Elements
Traditionally, thermoelectric technology has been used primarily for cooling, as well as for temperature measurement via thermocouples.
Peltier elements are widely used in mobile coolers and silent hotel minibars. In automotive applications, they are employed for seat climate control and beverage cooling. In electric vehicles, they help regulate battery temperature, supporting optimal operation and efficient charging.
Peltier coolers enable highly effective thermal management in compact spaces, making them ideal for applications in laser systems, computer hardware, and medical technology. These elements respond rapidly and achieve high power densities.
This allows for precise temperature control in sensitive devices such as semiconductor lasers and biomedical processes. In biomedicine, for example, extremely small cooling surfaces—less than 1 mm²—are required to enable fast temperature cycling of small-volume samples.
One key application is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, where temperature ramp rates of up to 15 K per second can be achieved. This results in fewer byproducts during amplification, leading to more accurate diagnostic results.