A thermo-electric module is a semiconductor electronic component also called the Peltier Element, or Thermoelectric Element and operates as a compact heat pump.
When a direct current flows, heat moves from one side of the thermo-electric module to the other. This is called the "Peltier effect". This phenomenon cools one side of the thermo-electric module and at the same time, the opposite side is heated (See Figure 1 below). Also, reversing the polarity of the DC power supply reverses this phenomenon and heat transfer occurs in the opposite direction (See Figure 2 below). Accordingly, the thermo-electric module can be used for both cooling and heating purposes depending on usage conditions. Precise temperature control will be possible by use in combination with sensors and controllers according to its function.
Also, the fact that it is possible to take out electricity by adding a temperature difference to the front and back side of the thermo-electric module is called the "Seebeck effect" (See Figure 3 below). The greater the temperature difference, the greater the amount of electricity generated.
The thermo-electric module operates as a thermoelectric power generation module (Seebeck element) for energy harvesting that has been attracting attention in recent years.　Since this is not a system using steam to turn the turbine like thermal and nuclear power but is direct power generation due to the temperature difference of the thermoelectric power generation module, and environmental impact is low because there is no need to burn the heat source, there is great potential in the future for its use as part of the measures for CO2 reduction.