Design and experimental study of an outdoor portable thermoelectric air-conditioning system

Abstract

This study aims to identify suitable microclimate cooling systems to reduce heat stress and improve human thermal comfort. A portable thermoelectric air conditioner was developed for local cooling of the human body. Effects of core components thermoelectric refrigerators (TECs), hot end heat dissipation, intake flow and cold end heat exchangers on TEAC performance. It is shown that, remarkably, this operating voltage can be distinguished from the optimal voltage for the maximum operational performance of TEAC. When the TECs operating voltage is 4V, the maximum COP is 2.2, and the best operating voltage is 10V, the maximum cooling capacity is 26.7 W (COP=0.92). Simulation data show that the area of the diffuser can effectively control the contact between the air and the cooling surface with an error of less than 10% compared to the experimental results. The fans and radiators attached to the hot side of the TEM play an important role in keeping the temperature difference on the hot side of the TECs as small as possible, by dissipating the heat generated on the hot side of the TEM to the external environment. In addition, the experimental refrigeration capacity is greater than 26.7 W and the new system has ultra-quiet operation at large refrigeration capacity, which has promising potential for advanced refrigeration, building air conditioning, ventilation systems and other applications. • Thermalelecrtic air conditioner (TEAC) can achieve a cooling capacity of 26.7W and a cooling coefficient of 0.92, enabling local cooling of the human body. • The maximum cooling capacity of thermoelectric refrigerator varies nonlinearly with the surface area and height of thermoelectric leg. • The increase of cooling capacity decreases with the increase of intake flow rate. • Increasing the strength of heat dissipation at the hot end of the thermoelectric cooler has a larger effect on the TEAC cooling capacity than on the cooling coefficient.