Economic Feasibility of Application Semiconductor Heat Pumps

Abstract

Energy consumption around the world is growing continuously and more rapidly. There are three ways to solve the energy problem in the future: the use of new and more efficient use of existing energy sources and the rational use of extracted energy. Modern technologies for developing fuel deposits allow extracting on average no more than 40 percent of the subsurface content, the level of science and technology does not allow achieving a greater level of its extraction with sufficient economic effect. The most cost-effective, simple and feasible way to efficiently use the extracted energy is to utilize the waste heat. The article considers the advantages and possibility of using thermoelectric heat pumps based on Peltier elements. (Research purpose) The research purpose is in justifying the effectiveness of using semiconductor heat pumps in thermal technological processes at livestock facilities. (Materials and methods) During the study, the authors used methods of system analysis and synthesis of existing knowledge in the field of research on the development of thermoelectric heat pumps. (Results and discussion) The article presents the adjusted methodology for calculating the efficiency of thermoelectric heat pumps. The heat energy withdrawn by the hot circuit, and directed to heating the air, exceeds the energy consumed from the electrical network. (Conclusions) The utilization coefficient in most modern thermoelectric installations is at the level of 3-5, which means that one kilowatt-hour of electrical energy consumed produces 3-5 times more thermal energy. Heat pumps are efficient because they allow to use renewable energy, and therefore they are economically feasible.