Recent progress of thermoelectric applications for cooling/heating, power generation, heat flux sensor and potential prospect of their integrated applications

With the acceleration of industrial development, the demand for energy is also increasing. People are now facing the main problems of energy crisis and environmental pollution. Thermoelectric (TE) technology is regarded as an environmentally friendly technology. Thermoelectric applications have become more and more diversified basing the development of thermoelectric technology. This paper mainly summarizes the applications of thermoelectric technology, providing a comprehensive review of three aspects: cooling/heating, power generation, and heat flux sensor. Thermoelectric coolers (TECs) can be used to heat or cool objects by using electricity to achieve precise temperature control. Conversely, using thermoelectric generators (TEGs) allows for capturing heat and convert it into electricity. This paper introduces the applications of TEC in air conditioning, electronic cooling and thermoelectric heat pumps, and its precise temperature control ability being used in new fields. The applications of TEG in automotive engines, solar energy and wearable devices are also described. This paper also presents the thermoelectric applications for heat flux sensor. However, the main challenges lying behind thermoelectric applications are the limitation of thermoelectric materials and the system’s inefficiency. Integrating temperature control, power generation and heat flux sensor for application, could improve the overall efficiency of the system and maximize energy utilization. The major objective of this paper is to provide an overview of thermoelectric applications and to explore their deeper integrated use.