Photovoltaic Thermoelectric Cooling System For Off-grid Vaccine Refrigerator: An Experimental Study

Abstract

The rapidly rising demand of refrigeration technologies mostly in the fields of refrigeration and air conditioning, medical applications and electronic component cooling resulted in much more energy being produced than the requirement. Thermoelectric refrigeration is a novel option that can transform excess power into effective cooling mitigating the problem of current energy concerns. Additionally, the utilization of solar energy as the main power source has ensured the system to be revolutionary and versatile. In comparison to typical cooling methods, thermoelectric coolers have garnered considerable attention for marginal cooling applications in medical science. This research examines thermoelectric freezers for thermal control systems in disciplines of medicine, such as cooling chambers for storing vaccines. The goal of this study is to construct and experimentally optimize a functional photovoltaic thermoelectric refrigeration system for the purpose of cooling of an optimal volume which works on the principle of Peltier effect to refrigerate and sustain a range of temperature between 2 to 8℃. The capacity of the thermoelectric module has been chosen based on the heat load calculations. The design specification is to cool the respective volume using the forced convection mechanism to a desired range of temperature in less than half an hour and maintain retention of heat for at least the next hour. The design criteria, potential parameters, and the final design of a PV integrated thermoelectric refrigerator are strategically highlighted. An approach is also offered for finding the optimal geometry and power required for operating a small-scale photovoltaic thermoelectric vaccine storage system. Finally, we note that the novelty of photovoltaic thermoelectric cooling systems have progressively superseded the conventional freezers in medical uses due to their benefits of compactness, innovative usage of renewable energy, versatility, and pollution-free properties. Both modeling and analysis of thermoelectric cooling systems are likely to benefit from this research.