Seebeck Measurement System

Thermoelectric Measurements
The Seebeck Measurement System

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
The Seebeck Effect
¾ The Seebeck Effect, or thermoelectric effect
¾ Direct conversion of temperature differences into electricity
¾ Discovered in 1821 by Thomas Johann Seebeck
¾ Found that a voltage existed between two ends of a metal bar
when a temperature gradient, ΔT, existed in the bar
¾ When a closed loop is made of two metals with a temperature
difference, a magnetic field is produced.
¾ Effect is that a voltage, or thermoelectric EMF, is created in the
presence of two metals with a temperature difference between the
junctions

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
The Seebeck Effect
Kc Kh
A

dV = SAB ( Kh − Kc ) B B

+ -
dV
¾ A and B are a pair of dissimilar metals, whose two junctions are held at
different temperatures
¾ Kh – Kc is the difference in temperature of the hot and cold junctions
¾ SAB is the relative Seebeck Coefficient, thermoelectric power
¾ Varies with the level of the temperature at which the temperature difference
occurs
¾ dV – voltage difference across the terminals of an open circuit
¾ Does not depend on the distribution of temperature along the metals between the
junctions

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
The Seebeck Effect
T2 T2
A ¾ If the circuit is closed, a
B B current will flow through
in the metals, detected
- +
V by:
T2 ¾ Magnetic field produced
V = ∫ ( SB (T ) − SA(T ))dT around the wires
T1 ¾ Joule heating produced by
the resistance in the wires
V = ( SB − SA)(T 2 − T 1)
¾ Galvanometer or
Simplify the equation if the Seebeck ammeter placed in circuit
Coefficients are effectively constant of the to measure the current
measured temperature range

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Causes of the Seebeck Effect

¾ Charge Carrier Diffusion

¾ Charge carriers diffuse when one end of a conductor is at a
different temperature than the other
¾ Hot carriers diffuse from the hot end to the cold end
¾ Cold carriers diffuse from the cold end to the hot end
¾ Motion of charge carriers results in an electrical current

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Causes of the Seebeck Effect

¾Phonon Drag
¾A phonon is a quantized mode of vibration
occurring in a rigid crystal lattice
¾Not always in local thermal equilibrium – they move
along the thermal gradient
¾Loss of momentum by interaction with carriers and
imperfections in the lattice
¾If the phonon-electron interaction is predominant,
phonons tend to push electrons to one end of the material
¾ Occurs strongly at the Debye temperature
¾ Region of thermopower vs. temperature is highly variable under
a magnetic field

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Taking Measurements

¾ Two pairs of MMR Cold Stage Temp Mod Junctions

Seebeck Stage Reference Junctions
thermocouples:
¾ One based on junctions of Modulated Heater
Cu-Metal with known
properties
¾ One based on Cu-Metal of
unknown properties
Tested Reference
¾ Computer controlled Sample Material

heater, located close to

working junctions, far
from reference Output V1 Output V2

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Taking Measurements

¾Principle of operation:
¾Assume all four thermocouples have same
temperature
¾V1 and V2 = zero
¾Apply power to heater to create temperature
difference between working and reference junctions
¾Get some non-zero values for V1 and V2
¾Assume the temperature difference is the same for both
pairs because the sample stage is symmetrical
¾ Gives the ratio of the specific thermovoltages equal to the
differences in the voltages V1 and V2

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Taking Measurements

¾ Difference is very small, so

direct measurement will
not give high accuracy
¾ Eliminate the inaccuracy by
taking measurements at two
temperature points, and
operate with the difference
signal
¾ Additionally, take multiple
measurements at each point
and average the results

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Components in a Seebeck System

¾ Pure high-pressure gas ¾ Seebeck Vacuum Chamber

(greater than 1800 psi) ¾ SB100 Seebeck Electronics
¾ Gas Lines, Pressure ¾ Sample Mounting Stage
Gauge, etc
¾ Filter/Dryer Apparatus
¾ Refrigerator
¾ Computer
¾ Temperature controller
¾ Circuit Breakout Box
¾ Vacuum Pump

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Gas, Lines, Gauges, etc

¾99.998% Pre-purified Nitrogen at 2640 psi or

higher
¾High Pressure Nitrogen Regulator
¾High Pressure Nitrogen Lines (supplied)
¾Gas Flow Meter (supplied)

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Filter/Dryer Systems

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The Joule-Thomson Refrigerators

R2500-XX

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Computer System

¾Pentium Processor, 1 GHz minimum

¾CD-ROM Drive (4x)
¾250 MB RAM
¾50 MB free on hard drive
¾2 RS232 Serial Ports

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Vacuum Pump and Accessory Kit

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Seebeck Electronics

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Seebeck Vacuum Chamber

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Seebeck Sample Mounting Stage

For Temperatures
below 400 K

For Temperatures
above 400 K

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Possible Temperature Ranges

Kelvin Scale Centigrade Scale

¾ 70 K to 580 K ¾ - 200 ºC to 305 ºC
¾ 80 K to 580 K ¾ - 190 ºC to 305 ºC
¾ 70 K to 730 K ¾ - 200 ºC to 455 ºC
¾ 80 K to 730 K ¾ - 190 ºC to 455 ºC
¾ 300 K to 730 K ¾ 25 ºC to 455 ºC

K = ºC + 273

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL