Cryogenic thermoelectric coolers with different passive branches

Abstract Cryogenic thermoelectric coolers (CTECs) can be widely used in the aerospace industry for satellite cooling systems. However, efficient p -type materials have not been found below 120 K. In this paper, four thermoelectric coolers have been fabricated from active elements (polycrystalline Bi 85 Sb 15 ) and different passive elements (Bi-2212 bars, Bi-2223 tapes, high-purity copper bars and EuBCO tapes). The maximal temperature drops between the hot and cold sides Δ T m were compared at both room temperature and cryogenic temperatures (80 K, 100 K and 120 K). The BiSb-EuBCO module could achieve a Δ T = 1.81 K at 120 K with a magnetic field of 0.1 T. The results show the possibility of fabricating thermoelectric coolers for cryogenic temperatures.