Solar-powered thermoelectric refrigeration with integrated phase change material: An experimental approach to food storage

Abstract

In this paper, a novel phase change material (PCM) based Thermoelectric (TE) food storage refrigerator incorporating an integrated solar-powered energy source is introduced. The novelty aspects of this research lie in the unique combination of PCM with solar energy, not only to maintain temperatures below 5 °C, vital for reducing food spoilage, but also in designing extra experiments using water as a cooling method to enhance system performance. Designed to preserve a diverse range of fruits and vegetables with different moisture content below 5 °C, the system innovatively employs PCM to extend cooling time, reduce energy load, and avoid conventional refrigerants, contributing to environmental sustainability. Experimentally, the average time for PCM solidification was around 3.5 h, with a corresponding latent heat release time, maintaining a temperature range of 0 to 5 °C. The system effectively accommodated various food items with water content levels from 50 % to 99 %, achieving the target temperature within around 2 to 4 h and demonstrating a promising coefficient of performance (COP) of 0.69. A standout innovation included the utilization of water flow through copper piping to accelerate heat removal from TEC, enhancing the performance of the system and reducing the solidification time of PCM by approximately an hour. This research represents a significant advancement in refrigeration technology, highlighting the feasibility and optimization potential of integrating solar energy and PCM, and introduces a new direction for enhancing efficiency through water-cooled heat sinks.