Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Computational Study on the Thermal Influence of the Components of a Thermoelectric Ice Maker on Ice Production

  • Published:
Journal of Electronic Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to study the thermal resistances of two components of a thermoelectric ice maker installed in a no-frost refrigerator, in order to optimize ice production. The study is conducted using a computational model developed by the Thermal and Fluids Research Group of the Public University of Navarre, as explained and validated in previous papers. Firstly, three dissipators with different space between the fins are simulated using Fluent computational fluid dynamics software to study their influence on both ice production and refrigerator performance. The computational model predicts maximum ice production of 2.82 kg/day with less than 7 W extra electric power consumption, though these values depend to a great extent on the cooling and freezing power of the refrigerator. Secondly, this work focuses on reducing the size of the components in order to save raw materials and reduce the cost of the device. The computational model predicts that the final design produces 2.42 kg/day of ice, saves 65% of raw materials, and reduces by 50% the cost assigned to the thermoelectric modules.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G. Min and D.M. Rowe, Appl. Energy 83, 133 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. J.G. Vián, D. Astrain, and M. Dominguez, Appl. Therm. Eng. 22, 407 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. J.G. Vián and D. Astrain, Appl. Therm. Eng. 29, 1935 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. D. Astrain, J.G. Vián, and J. Albizua, Appl. Therm. Eng. 25, 3149 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. A. Rodríguez, J.G. Vián, and D. Astrain, Appl. Therm. Eng. 29, 2961 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. J.G. Vián, D. Astrain, A. Rodríguez, and A. Martínez, J. Electron. Mater. 39, 1786 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. J.G. Vian and D. Astrain, J. Enhanc. Heat Transf. 12, 159 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. D. Astrain, J.G. Vian, and M. Dominguez, Appl. Therm. Eng. 23, 2183 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. J.G. Vian and D. Astrain, Appl. Therm. Eng. 28, 1514 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. S.B. Riffat and S.A. Omer, Renew. Energy 23, 313 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. B.J. Huang, C.J. Chin, and C.L. Duang, Int. J. Refrig. 23, 208 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. R. Chein and G. Huang, Appl. Therm. Eng. 24, 2207 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. R. Chein and C. Yehong, Int. J. Refrig. 28, 828 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. D. Astrain, J.G. Vián, A. Martínez, and A. Rodríguez, Energy 35, 602 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. A. Martínez, J.G. Vián, D. Astrain, and A. Rodríguez, J. Electron. Mater. 39, 1463 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. W.M. Rohsenow, J.P. Hartnett, and Y.I. Cho, Handbook of Heat Transfer, 3rd ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998), pp. 334–351.

    Google Scholar 

  17. M.M. Yovanovich, Y.S. Muzychka, and J.R. Culham, J. Thermophys. Heat Transf. 13, 495 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Energy and Materials Engineering, Public University of Navarre, 31006, Pamplona, Spain

    A. Rodríguez, D. Astrain, A. Martínez & J.G. Vián

Authors
  1. A. Rodríguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Astrain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Martínez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J.G. Vián
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Martínez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rodríguez, A., Astrain, D., Martínez, A. et al. Computational Study on the Thermal Influence of the Components of a Thermoelectric Ice Maker on Ice Production. J. Electron. Mater. 41, 993–998 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-011-1814-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-011-1814-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation