Cool chips - thermoelectric coolers

[damo]

http://www.coolchips.gi/

Gibraltar based company developing ultra efficient thermoelectric devices with projected Carnot efficiency of 55% (compared to 5-8% for traditional Peltier devices). Uses a concept known as a vacuum diode which thermally insulates the hot and cold sides while still allowing current to flow.

Not available to the unwashed masses yet. Sounds to good to be true and we all know what that usually means.

Any thoughts on these devices? Do you think the claims are true or false?

[DavidDLC]

http://www.coolchips.gi/

Gibraltar based company developing ultra efficient thermoelectric devices with projected Carnot efficiency of 55% (compared to 5-8% for traditional Peltier devices). Uses a concept known as a vacuum diode which thermally insulates the hot and cold sides while still allowing current to flow.

Not available to the unwashed masses yet. Sounds to good to be true and we all know what that usually means.

Any thoughts on these devices? Do you think the claims are true or false?

55% is not too good to be true !

Of course much better compared to 5-8 %

I will say too good to be true when they are >99%

[Zad]

If they really are 55% efficient then they would be better off devising a system of heat-pumping the waste heat from refrigerators, freezers, aircon etc into the domestic hot water system.  It could save a fortune.

[damo]

If they really are 55% efficient then they would be better off devising a system of heat-pumping the waste heat from refrigerators, freezers, aircon etc into the domestic hot water system.  It could save a fortune.

Or they could use the waste heat from fridges, freezers and aircons to generate electricity. I would imagine the efficiency heat to electricity mode of this device would be less than it's electricity to cooling as per normal Peltier devices. Heck, mount them on a roof with an appropriate cold side heat sink to convert the suns heat directly into electricity. Potential competitor for PV?

[wkb]

Or they could use the waste heat from fridges, freezers and aircons to generate electricity. I would imagine the efficiency heat to electricity mode of this device would be less than it's electricity to cooling as per normal Peltier devices. Heck, mount them on a roof with an appropriate cold side heat sink to convert the suns heat directly into electricity. Potential competitor for PV?

Get some plutonium, and wrap them together in an insulation shell.  That is how NASA powers deep space probes.