Development of a thermoelectric refrigerator with two-phase thermosyphons and capillary lift

Abstract

A thermoelectric domestic refrigerator has been developed, with a single compartment of 0.225 m 3, for food preservation at 5 °C. The cooling system is made up of two equal thermoelectric devices, each composed of a Peltier module (50 W) with its hot side in contact with a two-phase and natural convection thermosyphon (TSV) and a two-phase and capillary lift thermosyphon (TPM), in contact with the cold side. The entire refrigerator has been simulated and designed using a computational model, based on the finite difference method. Subsequently an experimental optimization phase of the thermosyphons was carried out, until thermal resistance values of R TSV = 0.256 K/W and R TPM = 0.323 K/W were obtained. These values were lower than those obtained with finned heat sinks. Finally, a functional prototype of a thermoelectric refrigerator was built, and the results which were obtained demonstrate that it is able to maintain a thermal drop (Ambient Temperature–Inside Temperature) of 19 °C. The electric power consumption at nominal conditions was 45 W, reaching a COP value of 0.45. The study demonstrated that by incorporating these two-phase devices into thermoelectric refrigeration increases the COP by 66%, compared with those which use finned heat sinks.