Solar Based Thermoelectric Refrigerator Using Peltier Module

Abstract

Abstract: Refrigerators being used nowadays, utilize a compressor and coolant as a working fluid for the transmission of the heat. Thermal energy is absorbed and released as the coolant used goes through expansion and compression and its state changes from liquid to vapor and vice-versa. The solar-based thermoelectric refrigerator also known as the Peltier refrigerator offers several advantages over conventional systems. It consists of solid-state devices, with no mobile parts, which makes the system dependable, and less noisy. There is no use of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons, which have an inadequate effect on the environment. They occupy a very small room for operating, much less than the conventional systems. Temperature is controlled (< ± 7 °C) with the help of Peltier coolers. The efficiency of these coolers is less as compared to compressor-based refrigerators. Thus, they are used in specific applications where their unique advantages. However, some large-scale applications have been considered Peltier coolers are generally used in applications where small size is needed and the cooling requirement is low, for instance, cooling electronic components. The main motto of this project is to design a prototype of a thermoelectric Refrigerator using the Peltier effect to maintain a specified temperature, perform temperature control in the range of 5 °C to 25 °C, and provide refrigeration in the remote areas where the power supply is not possible. Keywords: solar refrigerator, Peltier module, thermoelectric, Peltier effect, refrigeration