Experimental Analysis of Hybrid Energy Operated Refrigerator Coupled In EV

Abstract

This paper is focused on the performance of a solar-assisted DC refrigerator installed on the backside of the electric vehicle (EV). The experiments are performed by varying load conditions inside the refrigerator. The experimental setup consists of four solar PV panels, a charge controller, battery bank, voltage converter, DC refrigerator, and an electric vehicle. The temperature inside the refrigerator cabin was controlled with the thermostat position adjustment. The solar PV panels of the vehicle was generating 2.5-4 kWh energy on the average sunny day. The refrigerator's inside temperature was decreased with a faster rate at the third thermostat position and consuming higher energy at the seventh thermostat position among all load conditions. The fourth and fifth thermostat positions were better at maintaining the lower desired temperature inside the refrigerator cabin by consuming the minimum energy. The COP of the refrigerator was decreasing with the increasing compressor speed. The battery bank was able to run the refrigerator 240 hr, 96 hr, 72 hr for the no-load, 15 L load, and 25 L load conditions at the higher thermostat position. The vehicle was travelling 68.3 km, 65.3.6 km, 63.4 km distance in no-load, 100 kg, and 200 kg load conditions respectively by consuming 3010 Wh, 3230 Wh, and 3450 Wh energy. The travelling charge of this vehicle was 1-1.5 INR per kilometer