PRODUCT OVERVIEW
The Technology
Promethient’s Thermavance™ system allows for the cooling and heating of a person via direct thermal conduction. Heat is pumped from the person, cooling them, or heat is pumped to the person, warming them. Thermavance is a patented system that was developed by Charles Cauchy, an internationally recognized expert in thermoelectric device design, manufacturing and applications. Thermavance combines solid state heat pumping provided by a thermoelectric device and couples it with thermally conductive, flexible, and lightweight graphene.
HEATING & COOLING
Thermoelectric Devices and the Peltier Effect
Solid state heat pumping is accomplished with a specialized semiconductor called a thermoelectric device, or “TED.” TED’s use the flow of electrons to create the Peltier Effect within the semiconductor. The Peltier Effect is created at the junction of P and N type semiconductor elements that are laminated between two ceramic plates. With the application of a voltage and the flow of current, one plate will heat and the opposing plate will cool. When the polarity of the applied voltage is reversed, the heat flow will reverse.
TRANSFERRING HEAT
Graphene Nanotechnology
To transfer heat to and from the thermoelectric device, Thermavance uses graphene as a thermal conduit. Graphene is comprised entirely of carbon characterized by a molecular structure featuring a flat layer of carbon atoms. Graphene exhibits a high level of thermal conductivity that is greater than that of copper. Moreover, graphene is lightweight and flexible facilitating its use in surfaces that must be flexible and able to conform to the human body.
