Advancing sustainable cooling: Performance analysis of a solar-driven thermoelectric refrigeration system for eco-friendly solutions

Abstract

The solar-powered thermoelectric refrigerator (SPTR) is an innovative approach that uses solar energy to cool spaces. Its effectiveness relies on solar insolation rates and an intelligent dual-axis solar tracking system (STS) that maximizes solar energy capture. Performance analysis of SPTR with the fixed panel solar system (WST) and dual-axis STS by keeping the SPTR at a standard ambient temperature of 25 °C was carried out under local climate conditions. The experimental test setup includes a thermoelectric refrigerator (TER), thermoelectric module (TEM), solar panels, and STS. The experimental findings showed that the coefficient of performance (COP) of SPTR depends on the solar irradiance, the system's input power, the surface temperature of the solar panels, and the cooling rate. The maximum and minimum values of COPs were 1.19 and 0.27 for directly coupled SPTR with a WST and 2.07 and 0.39 for STS, respectively. Compared with the stand-still solar system, a COP enhancement of 44–75 % is achieved. The results also show that the cooling load is a function of the refrigerated space, and the products are to be cooled, which is affected by the thermoelectric properties of the TEM. The cooling rate is recorded at its maximum when the system is operated using an STS on a clear sunny day with a maximum solar insolation rate. The SPTR has proven to be environmentally friendly, the best alternative to conventional cooling systems, and sustainable due to the independence of traditional energy resources.

Keywords

• Green energy
• Peltier effect
• Solar energy
• Solar irradiance
• Sustainable refrigeration
• Thermoelectric cooling