TEC -Thermoelectric Coolers

A very compact way to manage localized cooling of on-board components is to install a thermoelectric cooler (TEC). These lightweight devices use a direct current (DC) to drive heat transfer from a heat source toward a cooler surface or heat sink. This effect, known as the Peltier effect, can not only force heat dissipation in the direction that provides cooling, but it can also be reversed by inverting the polarity. In that case, the device transfers heat in the opposite direction, allowing it to provide heating to a component when in contact with a heat source.