Study on the performance of a solid-state thermoelectric refrigeration system equipped with ionic wind fans for ultra-quiet operation

Abstract

Conventional compression refrigeration systems generate considerable noise and vibration. The noise results in serious, negative impacts on people. Thermoelectric refrigeration technologies are considered a potential way to overcome these challenges. A novel thermoelectric refrigeration system, wherein thermoelectric chips are coupled with ionic wind fans, is proposed. Its performance was experimentally investigated and compared with theoretical results. The actual operating noise of the thermoelectric refrigeration system is only 4.2 dB(A), which is much lower than the maximum noise value that does not affect sleep. From experiments under different operating conditions, the optimal operating voltage of the thermoelectric chip is 5.5 V at 283.15 and 313.15 K on the cold and hot sides. The maximum coefficient of performance (COP) values reaches 0.28 and 0.31, which are equivalent to those of a system coupled with mechanical fans. Additionally, an ionic wind fan has an optimal operating voltage of 10.8 kV to maximize its air supply efficiency. Notably, such an operating voltage might be distinguished from the optimal voltage that achieves maximum operational performance for the new system. When the operating voltage of the thermoelectric chip is 5 V, the optimal operating voltage to obtain a maximum COP of 0.31 is 11.1 kV. Moreover, the experimental refrigeration capacity is greater than 8 W. The new system shows the ultra-quiet ability to operate at a large refrigeration capacity, and has good potential in applications, such as advanced refrigeration, building air-conditioning and ventilation systems.