2.2.1 Calculating the thermoelectric couple open-circuit voltage Voc

According to [8], if we consider the thermoelectric couple in Figure 3 (a), and assume that no other heat arrives at the cold side Tc other than through the two thermoelectric legs, the thermoelectric couple open-circuit voltage Voc can be found by:

$$V\_{\alpha\varepsilon} = \left(\mathbf{a}\_p - \mathbf{a}\_n\right) \left(T\_h - T\_c\right) \text{ measured in volts} \tag{1}$$

where α<sup>p</sup> and α<sup>n</sup> is the Seebeck coefficient of the p-type and n-type pellets of the thermoelectric couple respectively, and may be found quoted in manufacturer literature or obtained by practical measurement. Typical values for Bi2Te3 thermoelectric couples are <sup>α</sup><sup>p</sup> of around 230 � <sup>10</sup>�<sup>6</sup> V/K and <sup>α</sup><sup>n</sup> of around �<sup>195</sup> � <sup>10</sup>�<sup>6</sup> V/K [9]. Th is the surface temperature of the hot side of the thermoelectric couple, and Tc is the surface temperature of the cold side of the thermoelectric couple, measured in Kelvin.
