Analysis of Thermoelectric Phenomena

Thermoelectric phenomena provide the direct conversion of heat into electricity or electricity into heat. The phenomena are described by three related mechanisms: the Seebeck, Peltier, and Thomson effects. The Seebeck effect describes the conversion of temperature differences directly into electricity; at the atomic scale, an applied temperature gradient causes charged carriers in the material to diffuse from the hot side to the cold side, generating a current flow. The Peltier effect describes the production of heat at an electrified junction of two different materials — the forced flow of charged carriers creates a temperature difference. The Thomson effect describes the heating or cooling of a current-carrying conductor in the presence of a temperature gradient.