Thermoelectric cooling in downhole measuring tools

Thermoelectric cooling is a highly effective and novel technique used for cooling solidstate circuitry inside downhole measuring equipment. A Peltier device in a deep well measuring tool works as a heat pump. The understanding of the thermal behavior inside is important in designing the tools. For this study, thermal modeling is used, but accurate modeling of the Peltier device is crucial in predicting the thermal behavior and subsequent thermal management of the tool. This paper is based on numerical simulations using computation fluid dynamics and experimental analysis of the thermal behavior inside an industry-standard deep well measuring tool using a model equipped with Peltier cooling device. The present modeling results are based on two mathematical models to predict the thermal behavior of the Peltier device. Results show a technique that can be used in designing cooling performance of downhole equipment and generally in Peltier cooling at elevated temperatures.