CFD modelling of thermo-electric devices for thermal management in downhole tools

Investigation of oil and gas fields using vertical seismic profiling subjects the electronics used to extreme temperatures and pressures. As wells become deeper, the need for effective thermal management in instrumentation and the demands placed on the tools increases. Various techniques including vacuum insulation, heat pipes, phase change media and thermo-electric cooling (TEC) devices are used to maximise the time equipment can be exposed to these hostile conditions. The performance of such devices is temperature dependent and the level of cooling attained is a function of thermal efficiency. This work examines the effect of different TEC devices on the thermal performance of a commercially available Vertical Seismic Profiling tool. Experimental validation of the model is based on measurements and is presented here. The predictions agree closely with the measurements and the model can be used as a computational tool reducing cost and time in measurements.