Acta Mechanica Slovaca 2023, 27(4):62-74 | DOI: 10.21496/ams.2023.034

Modelling and Experimental Testing of a Solar Thermoelectric Refrigerator

Francis Onoroh1, Uche Paul Onochie2, Larry Orobome Agberegha ORCID...3
1 Full Affiliation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos Nigeria
2 Full Affiliation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Alex Ekwueme University, Ndufu Alike, Nigeria
3 Full Affiliation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta state, Nigeria

This research centered on the design, simulation and testing of a solar thermoelectric refrigerator. Mathematical models of the system were derived and solved using MATLAB to predict the performance of the refrigerator at various operating conditions of applied voltage and temperature gradients. Simulations were carried out in order to test the system's effectiveness when powered with solar energy. Simulation results of the thermoelectric refrigeration showed the heat pumping capacities of the TEC1-12706 module as 42.6W, 38.9W, 35.3W and 31.7W at temperature gradients of 5°C, 10°C, 15°C and 20°C respectively, the heat dissipation capacities of the TEC1-12706 module as 132 W, 125.3 W, 118.7 W and 112.2 W at temperature gradients of 5°C, 10°C, 15°C and 20°C respectively and the corresponding coefficient of performance as 0.468, 0.436, 0.402 and 0.368 at temperature gradients of 5°C, 10°C, 15°C and 20°C respectively. The experimental results indicated a steady decline of temperature in the refrigerated chamber from 28.7°C to 3.3°C in a time frame of three hours. Thus, solar power thermoelectric refrigerator is an alternative source of cooling as it is environmentally friendly.

Keywords: Thermoelectric refrigerator, Coefficient of Performance, Temperature gradient, Solar irradiation, Photovoltaic.

Received: April 23, 2023; Revised: September 6, 2023; Accepted: September 12, 2023; Published: December 16, 2023  Show citation

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Onoroh, F., Onochie, U.P., & Agberegha, L.O. (2023). Modelling and Experimental Testing of a Solar Thermoelectric Refrigerator. Acta Mechanica Slovaca, 27(4), 62-74. doi: 10.21496/ams.2023.034
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