Thermoelectric Cooling

[Stu :)]

Just a mad, bad and wild idea, not taking it too seriously though.

Has anyone considered using thermoelectric cooling (the Peltier effect) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_effect) (also see here too) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling) to cool ESCs? The concept for most is properly so far left of center it's gone full circle and coming back in from the right.

The reason why ask is I saw these Thermoelectric (Peltier) Modules (http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=ZP9100&CATID=&keywords=Peltier&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=) at the local electronics store and the first thing that popped into my head was "hmmm ProBoat ESC". :D

Another use would be as a transition layer between the heat source and heat sink to produce power, what you'll do with the extra volts grief knows, maybe loop it back and charge the battery via a diode loop and regulator.

Stu :)

[nick_75au]

Ok if you have amps to spare the ones I have draw 4 amps, I have a couple of them (out of one of those car coolers) a little smaller than the pro-boat, they get icy cold on one side and burning hot on the other, you need a huge heat sink(8" square with fins) on the hot side to dissipate the heat produced and your esc will have icicles on it. , I saw 785boats water-cooled proboats today, they are elegantly simple and are extremely effective.
I believe that the power produced in reverse is in the milliamp range :D
I know your only semi serious and I sound a little too serious above I just couldn't think of a humourus answer.
Regards
Nick

[retoabcr]

Idea is sound but a few bugs to be ironed out, like all new ideas, some work and some don't!

[LtDoc]

lets see. Take original/working cooler. Water proof it. Shape to sort of resemble a hull. Get it cold running from vehicle battery. Put battery inside (large cooler) to run motor. Drive it till you see steam coming from heat-sinks. Call it a steamer. If it's large enough, transport beer to deserving observers. Me and Einstein have more in common than just hair and age!
- 'Doc

[Kmot]

Stu, I bought a bunch of those Peltier coolers a while back when I had the same "brainstorm".

Don't bother. The things draw too much current and get blazing hot on one side which will add ambient heat to the inside of your electronics compartment. I was interested in them for FE so the added weight was another debit to using them. But even in a tug where the weight wouldn't matter I don't think they would be worth the bother. A simple water cooling line works better. The ones I tested also did not get freezing cold on one side, they only got "cool".

[mfr02]

The boat should be moving in cold water. Best to use this ready supply of coolant should cooling be needed, rather than spend good money buying complications.

[Ghost 2501]

The boat should be moving in cold water. Best to use this ready supply of coolant should cooling be needed, rather than spend good money buying complications.

in otherwords, keep it simple, and a pipe at the rear of the boat picking up the propwash, and sending it through nylon tubes that link up with a brass tube that is epoxied to the esc, then onto a coil that circles the motor before exiting a the hull is about as simple as it gets.