Effective design, theoretical and experimental assessment of a solar thermoelectric cooling-heating system

Abstract

This study performed a theoretical and experimental assessment of a solar thermoelectric cooling-heating system using photovoltaic (PV) collector in the weather conditions of Sanandaj, Iran. The thermoelectric cooling system was tested as an auxiliary system from 11:00 to 12:12 to reduce the power consumption of compression cooling system and to increase its coefficient of performance from 12:00 to 18:00. The results were reported for a thermoelectric system tested during the given period. The maximum voltage and current applied to the thermoelectric system were 12 V and 3.043 A, respectively. The coefficient of performance in this maximum input power was calculated to be 1. Total energy consumption of thermoelectric system and energy generation of PV collector from 11:00 to 12:12 were found to be 56.465 and 361.406 kJ, respectively. The minimum temperature of cooling chamber and maximum outlet water temperature of thermoelectric system at maximum input power consumption were 12 and 45 °C, respectively, and temperature of the hot and cold sides of thermoelectric module in this consumption power were 69 and −3 °C, respectively, which were found to be noticeable. The findings showed that the operation time, energy consumption and coefficient of performance of compression cooling system and thermoelectric hybrid cooling system were 16,380 s, 8636.8 kJ and 5.3 and 15,000 s, 7911 kJ and 5.4, respectively, indicating a better performance for the hybrid cooling system.