Mechanical Transport
The internal heating described for the convection concept takes some small, but non-zero, amount of time to diffuse from its origin (uniform within the thermoelectric pellets) to the end surfaces. However, the cold and hot surfaces are produced essentially instantaneously. If we attach a portion of a thermoelectric device to hot and cold heat exchangers and operate it for a very short time, it will instantly make its end surfaces cold and hot, thereby affecting the heat exchange fluids as desired. If we then disconnect it from the heat exchangers and move a “fresh” portion of the thermoelectric device into contact with the heat exchangers, the original portion can be placed somewhere away from these heat exchangers and can gradually come back to thermal equilibrium. If we have enough portions to allow a formerly powered portion to reach thermal equilibrium before it is used again, all of the internal heating that would have detracted from the performance on the cold side will be eliminated. This BSST innovation is closely related to the convection concept in that Joule heating is transported away from the thermoelectric device.