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Investigation of conjugate heat transfer in environmental-friendly device thermoelectric beverage cooler design

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Abstract

Finding an alternative solution to conventional refrigerators, which often use a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle, has always been an environmental concern. Thermoelectric refrigerator, despite its lower efficiency yet very low pollution, is one of these alternative methods. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of this type of refrigerator and compare it in terms of pollution and performance with refrigerators with vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. For this purpose, by simulating the problem, the general design of the problem is obtained. Then, by determining the type of thermoelectric used and the geometry of the refrigerator, a laboratory setup is made. Finally, a laboratory test is performed on the setup. By adjusting the required voltage and input current of the thermoelectric, this refrigerator can have a coefficient of performance of 0.38 but instead reduces pollution by about 95%.

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Abbreviations

g :

Body accelerations

h :

Convection heat transfer coefficient

I :

Electric current

k :

Conduction heat transfer coefficient

P :

Power

p :

Pressure

Q :

Heat load

q :

Local heat flux density

R :

Electric resistance

T :

Temperature

t :

Time

u :

Flow velocity

V :

Voltage

W :

Work

\(\alpha\) :

Seebeck coefficient

\(\varLambda\) :

Thermal conductivity

\(\mu\) :

Viscosity

\(\varPi\) :

Peltier coefficient

\(\rho\) :

Density

\(\tau\) :

Deviatoric stress tensor

C :

Cold side or cold related

E :

Electrical

H :

Hot side

i :

x-Direction

j :

y-Direction

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy System Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Faculty, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    M. Naghmegou

  2. Battery and Energy Generators Research Lab, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    F. Torabi

  3. Department of Environmental Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    H. Borgheipour

Authors
  1. M. Naghmegou
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  2. F. Torabi
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  3. H. Borgheipour
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Borgheipour.

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The authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest.

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Editorial responsibility: Samareh Mirkia.

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Naghmegou, M., Torabi, F. & Borgheipour, H. Investigation of conjugate heat transfer in environmental-friendly device thermoelectric beverage cooler design. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 3655–3668 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03500-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03500-1

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