DESIGN AND EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THERMOELECTRIC REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

The main purpose of this design and build an affordable solar thermoelectric refrigerator for the people living in remote parts of country where electricity is still not available but sunlight is an ultimate source of light. The refrigerator could be used to store perishable items and facilitate the transportation of medicines as well as biological material that must be stored at low temperatures to maintain effectiveness. The design of the solarpowered refrigerator is based on the principles of a thermoelectric module (i.e., Peltier effect) to create a hot side and a cold side. The cold side of the thermoelectric module is utilized for refrigeration purposes; provide cooling to the refrigerator space. On the other hand, the heat from the hot side of the module is rejected to ambient surroundings by using heat sinks and fans. The designed solar thermoelectric refrigerator was experimentally tested for the cooling purpose. The results indicated that the temperature of the refrigeration was reduced from 30.2°C to 15.8°C in approximately 35 min. The coefficient of performance of the refrigerator (COPR) was calculated and found to be about 0.23. The intention of thermoelectric refrigerator is based on the opinion of a thermoelectric module which makes a hot side and a cold side. The cold side of thermoelectric module is used for refrigeration purpose to offer chilling to the refrigerator space on the further hand the warmth from the hot side of the module is rejected to ambient surrounding by using of heat sink and fan. The design of thermoelectric refrigerator was experimentally verified for the cooling persistence.