In the present study, a series of theoretical and experimental studies on the heat transfer characteristics from heat sinks and Heat Sink/TEC assemblies by using different cooling methods have been performed. Two types of cooling methods such as ducted flow and slot jet impingement are employed in the present study. The relevant parameters influencing heat transfer performance in ducted flow and slot jet impingement studies are listed, respectively. They are: (1) ducted flow - the steady-state heat loads, the input current of TEC, ratio of heat sink height to channel height (Hs/Hc) and channel Reynolds number (ReD). The ranges of parameters studied are Qc,s=10~50 W, I=2~10 A, Hs/Hc=0.42~1, ReD=7351~30055 (or Ui=1.95~7.98 m/s). (2) slot jet impingement -the steady-state heat loads, the input current of TEC, ratio of jet separation distance to nozzle width (H/Wj), ratio of heat sink height to nozzle width (Hs/Wj) and jet Reynolds number (Rej). The ranges of above-mentioned parameters studied at steady state are Qc,s=8~18 W, I=2~6 A, H/Wj=2~10, Hs/Wj=0.74~3.40 and Rej=194~1693. Their effects on heat transfer characteristics in ducted flow and slot jet impingement have been systematically explored. For heat sinks and HS/TEC assemblies in a ducted flow, the transient-/steady-state local and average heat transfer characteristics are studied. The results manifest the effects of ReD and Hs/Hc on transient-/steady-state local and average Nusselt Number are more significant as compared with qcv,s (or Qt,s) and I. Similar trend can be found for external thermal resistance. Moreover, the effects of , Qc,s and I on local and average overall thermal resistance are significant. By the statistical sensitivity analysis of ANOVA F-test, ReD has the most significant effect on steady-state average Nusselt number and average external thermal resistance, and is significantly affected by any one of , I and Qc,s in the present parametric studies. In addition, new correlations as well as RSM models of steady-state average Nusselt number, average external thermal resistance and average overall thermal resistance in terms of relevant influencing parameters for heat sinks and HS/TEC assemblies are presented. For heat sinks and HS/TEC assemblies with slot jet impingement, the transient-/steady-state local and average heat transfer characteristics are studied. The results manifest the effects of Rej and Hs/Wj on transient-/steady-state local and average Nusselt Number are more significant as compared with H/Wj, Qc,s (or Qt,s) and I. Similar trend can be found for external thermal resistance. Moreover, the effects of , Qc,s and I on local and average overall thermal resistance are significant. By the statistical sensitivity analysis of ANOVA F-test, Rej has the most significant effect on steady-state average Nusselt number and average external thermal resistance, and is significantly affected by any one of , I and Qc,s in the present parametric studies. In addition, new correlations as well as RSM models of steady-state average Nusselt number, average external thermal resistance and average overall thermal resistance in terms of relevant influencing parameters for heat sinks and HS/TEC assemblies are presented. In addition, an effective semi-empirical method combines thermal network models and empirical correlations for exploring the thermal performance of heat sinks and HS/TEC assemblies are successfully established. Comparisons of the predicted parameters such as ΔT, Tc, Th and COP evaluated by this method with the experimental data are made with the average deviations of 3.6%, 1.3%, 0.3% and 1.5%, respectively; as well as with the maximum deviations of 18.7%, 5.8%, 2.2% and 13.1%, respectively. Furthermore, a systematical design optimization method, which allows the thermal engineer to meet several design objectives and constraints simultaneously and effectively, has been successfully presented and applied to the optimal designs for heat sinks and HS/TEC assemblies with various external thermal resistances in the present study. First of all, a statistical method for the sensitivity analysis is performed to determine the key factors that are critical to the design; and a response surface methodology (RSM) is applied to establish explicit regression models in terms of the design factors with an well-organized design of experiments (DOE). By employing the gradient-based numerical optimization technique, a series of constrained optimal designs can be efficiently performed. With this design optimization method, optimal designs for heat sinks and HS/TEC assemblies under different external thermal resistances are successfully explored with design constraints.