Experimental characterization of a novel configuration of thermoelectric refrigerator with integrated finned heat pipes

Abstract

• A thermoelectric refrigerator is constructed and characterized in this work. • A performance analysis is performed including energy consumption, cooling time, temperatures and COP. • A mathematical model is developed to predict transient temperatures and cooling limit time. • Empirical equation for transient temperature prediction is settled. Thermoelectric refrigerating systems (TER) are environment-friendly technologies. They have several advantages such as low maintenance costs, are less cumbersome and long lifetime. However, these systems have low coefficient of performance and are limited in achieving low temperature levels. This study investigates a new configuration of TE refrigerator employing a novel arrangement of heat sinks with integrated flat and finned heat pipes. A mathematical model is firstly developed to predict transient temperatures and cooling limit time. An experimental characterization is then performed and it includes optimization of energy consumption, cooling time, temperature levels and TE refrigerator related COP. TE module coefficient of performance (COP TEC ) is evaluated at 0.74 while the hot and cold sides temperature difference ΔT is equal to 32.7 °C. The coefficient of performance of the TE refrigerator (COP TER ) is evaluated at 0.297 with an inside/outside temperature difference ΔT i/ o = 13 °C and an energy consumption rate of 42.7 Wh. Multiple experiment's results lead to a specific characterized chart adapted for this TE refrigerator. An empirical equation for transient temperature prediction is established and presents a novel contribution in this work.