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Frontiers in Energy

ISSN 2095-1701

ISSN 2095-1698(Online)

CN 11-6017/TK

Postal Subscription Code 80-972

2018 Impact Factor: 1.701

Front. Energy    2016, Vol. 10 Issue (1) : 79-87    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-015-0380-8
RESEARCH ARTICLE
A low power, eco-friendly multipurpose thermoelectric refrigerator
N. Jagan Mohan REDDY()
Department of ECE, Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, Hyderabad 500075, India
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Abstract

There has been an immense endeavor to mitigate global warming in spite of which it has only been worse. This paper presents the design and implementation of a low power and eco-friendly refrigeration system using the thermoelectric effect. The conventional refrigerators make use of complex mechanisms which involves synchronous operation of various units, namely the compressor, condensers, expansion valves, evaporator, refrigerant and so on. But a thermoelectric refrigerator exploits the principle of the Peltier effect, thus avoiding the utilization of these complex components. This even helps curb the release of harmful chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere which contributes to the increase in global temperature. Moreover, the temperature can be controlled and set to required values with the help of a microcontroller. Hence, this can be used both for domestic and commercial purposes. The unit does not eject any harmful gases. Therefore, the heat expelled from the unit can be tapped for heating utilities, making the use of this device versatile in its application. Thus this proposal aims not only at reducing the air pollutants by not contributing to it but also at reducing the power consumption.

Keywords low power      eco-friendly      multipurpose      TEC-12706      Peltier effect      microcontroller (P89V51RD2BN)      temperature control     
Corresponding Author(s): N. Jagan Mohan REDDY   
Just Accepted Date: 26 August 2015   Online First Date: 09 October 2015    Issue Date: 29 February 2016
 Cite this article:   
N. Jagan Mohan REDDY. A low power, eco-friendly multipurpose thermoelectric refrigerator[J]. Front. Energy, 2016, 10(1): 79-87.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/10.1007/s11708-015-0380-8
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/Y2016/V10/I1/79
Fig.1  Block diagram
Fig.2  Philips microcontroller 8051
Fig.3  LM-35
Fig.4  ADC- 0809
Fig.5  Working of TEC-12706
Fig.6  Seven segment display
Digit a b c d e f g
0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
2 1 1 0 1 1 0 1
3 1 1 1 1 0 0 1
4 0 1 1 0 0 1 1
5 1 0 1 1 0 1 1
6 1 0 1 1 1 1 1
7 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
9 1 1 1 1 0 1 1
Tab.1  Functioning of seven segment display
Fig.7  Relay
Fig.8  Working model
Thermal quantities Units
Temperature K
Heat W
Thermal resistance K/W
Heat capacity J/K
Absolute zero temperature 0?K
Tab.2  Units of thermal quantities involved in the module
Fig.9  Thermal equivalent resistance of TEC-12706
Electrical quantities Units
Voltage V
Current A
Thermal resistance V/A= Ω
Capacity F
Ground 0?V
Tab.3  Units of the electrical equivalents of the module
Fig.10  Electrical equivalent resistance of the TEC-12706
Hot side temperature/°C
25 50
Qmax/W 50 57
?Tmax/°C 66 75
Vmax/V 14.4 16.4
Imax/A 6.4 6.4
Resistance/Ω 1.98 2.3
Tab.4  Performance specifications
Fig.11  Voltage versus temperature difference
Fig.12  Heat pump capacity versus temperature difference
Fig.13  Temperature difference versus current
Fig.14  Optimal COP versus temperature difference
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