Laird Technologies Releases the Second in its Series of Thermal Management Application Notes

Laird Technologies, Inc., a global leader in the design and manufacture of customized, performance-critical components for wireless systems and other advanced electronics applications, today announced the release of its latest application note entitled "Thermoelectrics vs. Compressors in Climate-Controlled Electronic Enclosures". This application note is the second in a series of notes describing the role of Thermal Management in numerous market segments.

This application note compares and contrasts the two cooling technologies in order to provide the best solution for a climate-controlled enclosure application. Comparisons of efficiency, reliability, control accuracy, as well as installation and maintenance, demonstrate that a thermoelectric solution has significant advantages over conventional compressors.

Air conditioners utilizing Thermoelectric Assemblies (TEAs) are often considered as an alternative to conventional vapor-compression systems for enclosure cooling. Because a TEA core is compact, robust, and completely solid-state, the inherent reliability of such a system is attractive to engineers and end-users alike. However, there is an inherent reluctance to choose the thermoelectric system due to preconceptions about energy efficiency and unfamiliarity with the technology.

A Thermoelectric Assembly (TEA) has considerable advantages over a comparably-sized, compressor-based solution in climate-controlled electronic enclosures. It both cools and heats, offering more precise temperature control than a compressor-based unit; and it is more energy efficient throughout the temperature range of the application, by 25% to 95% in cooling and up to 400% in heating.

The TEA's solid-state construction provides advantages in reliability, installation, vibration, and maintenance. Additionally, it's smaller size and weight allows easier mounting and occupies less space than a compressor-based unit. Because it operates on DC power, a TEA can be utilized globally regardless of available AC line voltage and frequency.

Utilizing a TEA in climate-controlled electronic enclosures is the ideal solution because of its efficiency, reliability, accuracy, compact design, quietness, and easy installation.

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