A novel experimental case study on optimization of Peltier air cooler using Taguchi method

Abstract

Nowadays, the commercial application of Thermoelectric Peltier cooler has widely increased including portable air/water refrigerator, electronic cooling process, thermal management systems in medical science, water distillation process and so on. Many studies have proved that the thermal/exergetic/economic performance of Peltier cooler significantly depends on fluid flow conditions on both sides of the module, input power and number of Peltier modules. Hence, in this research, attempts are made to provide an experimental-based optimization process for Peltier air cooler using well-known Taguchi method. Thermal fluid conditions, input power and number of modules (in the same total input power) are varied to optimize the cooler from COP (coefficient of performance), exergetic efficiency and cost per unit of cooling viewpoints. Number of modules are changed from 1 to 2, 3 and then 4 modules. The air flow rate and input power are varied between 30 and 78 m3/h and 22–60 W respectively for each tested mode. The results indicate that, the greater number of modules provides higher COP (in the same total input power). Optimum number of modules minimizes the cost per unit of cooling of the Peltier cooler. Increment of air flow on the cold side, increases and then decreases the COP of the cooler which is meaningful. Number of modules was found as the most effective factor while input power and thermal fluid conditions are as the second and the third effective parameters. Interestingly, Taguchi method can identify the impact level of each factor (number of modules, input power and air flow) on desired parameters (COP, cooling cost and exergy efficiency) as reported and discussed in this paper.