Abstract: The heat pipe has the advantages of high thermal conductivity，lightness and miniaturization． This study proposed a finite-time thermodynamic model of thermoelectric coolers based on heat pipe heat dissipation and the specific calculation methods for the thermal resistance of the cold and hot junctions． In order to reflect the cooling capacity per unit area of the thermoelectric module，the refrigeration rate density analysis method and the converted area thermal resistance method were used to analyze the influence of key operating parameters and design parameters with numerical examples． In order to compare the refrigeration performance under different working conditions， the thermodynamic perfectibility was introduced and the refrigeration performance of the thermoelectric refrigerator was comprehensively analyzed． The paper also revealed the optimum current working range and temperature difference range of thermoelectric coolers and analyzed the influence of the refrigeration module filling factor，cooling temperature difference，heat pipe parameters ( evaporation section length and tube wall thickness) on the refrigeration density，coefficient of performance ( COP) and thermodynamic perfectibility of the refrigerator． Its performance was compared with that of air cooling and the results can provide theoretical guidance for the design and operation of refrigerators based on heat pipe heat dissipation．

Key words: thermoelectric coolers, heat pipe, finite time thermodynamics, thermodynamic perfectibility, refrigeration density, coefficient of performance