International Journal of scientific research and management

(IJSRM) ||Volume||4||Issue||07||Pages|| 4480 -4485||2016||

Website: www.ijsrm.in ISSN (e): 2321-3418

Design of Compressor less Solar Powered Refrigerator

Saghar Mehdi
Master Of Technology Inthermal Engineering

Abstract
The thermoelectric effect has been proven as a source of cooling and small power generation as defined by
the Peltier-Seebeck effect. Thermoelectric modules, optimized by semiconductors, have been used for
temperature regulation by operating as a heat pump to maintain computing devices and integrated circuits at
optimum temperatures for improved processing efficiency. Thermoelectric modules have also been used to
capture microwatt electrical power from personal computing and other small scale devices by way of
utilizing the waste heat rejected through its heat sink. In modern data centers and server farms, water
cooling of electronics has been widely adapted as a more efficient cooling method than standard air
conditioning and ventilation systems due to its vastly larger thermal capacity. However, even high density
electronics cabinets and processing units are low level heat applications unfit for waste heat recovery by
standard thermodynamics cycles and heat pumps. When applying the thermoelectric effect to the
temperature difference between the heat source of the processing electronics and the heat sink of a water
cooling system, potential exists for practical and economic energy recovery.
This study demonstrates the feasibility of waste energy recovery from high power density electronics in data
centers and server farms by way of the practical and economic application of thermoelectricity. An
overview of thermoelectricity and the thermoelectric effect is given, including a review of semiconductor
materials and electronics cabinet cooling techniques. This report describes an investigation into the
efficiency of applying thermoelectricity to low temperature waste heat situations. Conclusions are presented
concerning the effectiveness of this application towards waste heat utilization for power recovery.

INTRODUCTION environmental damage. Energy from the sun,

Electricity generation is the leading cause of wind, and thermal energy stored in the Earth's
industrial air pollution in the country. Most of our crust are examples. For comparison, fossil fuels
electricity comes from coal, nuclear, and other such as oil, coal, and natural gas are not
non-renewable power plants. Producing energy renewable, since their quantity is finite once we
from these resources takes a severe toll on our have extracted them they will cease to be
environment, polluting our air, land. Renewable available for use as an economically-viable energy
energy sources can be used to produce electricity source. While they are produced through natural
with fewer environmental impacts. It is possible to processes, these processes are too slow to
make electricity from renewable energy sources replenish these fuels as quickly as humans use
without producing CO2. them, so these sources will run out sooner or later.
Renewable energy is energy derived from natural So this project is intended at the development of a
resources that replenish themselves over a period solar based compressor free mini fridge. This
of time without depleting the Earth's resources. fridge will be suitable for cooling purposes meant
These resources also have the benefit of being for small objects and will have a relatively small
abundant, available in some capacity nearly chilling time as compared to the normal
everywhere, and they cause little, if any, refrigeration systems. Also for the backup, this

Saghar Mehdi ,IJSRM volum 4 issue 07 July 2016 [www.ijsrm.in] Page 4480
 DOI: 10.18535/ijsrm/v4i7.17

fridge will be attached to a dynamo based

charging system which will maintain the smooth
operation of fridge in case of non-availability of
solar power.
In most of the rural areas of our country, the
electric supply is either sporadically available or Peltier Unit in Fridge
not available at all. The most severe effect of this The peltier unit used in this fridge is TIC 12073.
problem is on the Primary Health Care Centers. This unit works on 5 volts DC and takes
Due to no electricity, most of the PHC’s do not maximum current of 4 amps at full load. The
maintain adequate supply of medicines and power rating of this unit is 20 watts.
equipment which need to be kept in a cold
environment. So in case of any emergency, the Cooling Fan
patient is to be referred either to the town or city
hospital which results in loss of precious time and
may prove fatal for the patient.

Problem Description
The objective of this project is to analyze the
efficiency of applying TE devices to a data center
to assess the practicality and feasibility of waste
heat recovery. Data centers produce relatively low Cooling Fan
temperature waste heat when compared to other We are using two Cooling fans in our refrigerator
applications. The efficiency of the electrical which are respectively mounted on one heat sink
conductors used in thermoelectric waste heat each. The main purpose of a cooling fan is to
recovery can be used to assess the magnitude of Dissipate heat from the heat sink by taking in
power generation. Material selection is necessary fresh air. The fans used in this fridge work on 12
to optimize the efficiency of the thermoelectric volts DC and draws 0.18 amps. The power
modules while maintaining an economic solution consumption of each fan is 2.16 watts.
as well as selection of the optimum heat sink to
make execution of TE devices in a data center Insulation Material
realistic. Two materials have been used as insulator in
constructing the body of refrigerator. For
MATERIALS USED preventing air leakage proper fixing has been
In this project, various equipment’s and materials done. The two materials used are given as follows:
are used for the proper functioning and Thermocol
performance of the fridge. These equipment’s and
materials are as follows:

Peltier Unit

Thermocol

Saghar Mehdi,IJSRM volum 4 issue 07 July 2016 [www.ijsrm.in] Page 4481

 DOI: 10.18535/ijsrm/v4i7.17

As we know the ice vendors take advantage of

thermocol for its economic value and good
insulation property as it does not allow the inner Steps in the construction of the fridge
temperature of cooling medium to go down. Firstly a box of thermocol is made of given
Hence it is also an economic source of insulation. dimensions and then the inner walls of the box are
covered with the aluminium sheet and the outer
Battery walls by the chart paper.
The taping of the box from outer side is done so as
to provide mechanical support and blocking of air.
The two Peltier units are well placed in the two
holes made in the box and kept on the heat sink
with hot side attached to the heat sink surface and
cold side inside the box.
The heat sink is linked with a fan which is used to
dissipate the heat of heat sink into the outer
The battery used in this fridge has following
atmosphere i.e. out of the thermocol box. So, the
specifications:
hot side of peltier unit is unable to affect the
7.5 ampere hour
temperature inside the box.
12 volt
In this fridge one battery is used as a time for the All the electrical connections are made putting a
working of the fridge. Also the extra connections switch for on/off and a LED as an indicator
for the second battery in the fridge are also whether the fridge is working or not. Two
provided if more cooling is required. batteries each of 12 Volts DC, 7.5 Ah are
Solar Charge Controller connected in parallel with the peltier units
connected in series and the two cooling fans.
All the electrical connections are made strong by
soldering them and all the wires are arranged
properly so as to avoid any inconvenience for the
user.

WORKING OF THE PROJECT

The batteries used in the fridge are rated at 12 Fridge
volts DC, 7.5 Amphrs. To charge these batteries The fridge is provided power supply form a 12
from the solar panel, a charge controller rated 12 volt DC 7.5 ampere battery.
volts, 10 amps is used as shown in the figure.
To start the fridge, the switch on the fridge is
turned on.
CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN
When the switch is turned on, a led starts glowing
indicating that the fridge is now online.
Now two Peltier thermoelectric devices which are
insulated from the cooling side and arranges in the
fridge generates cooling effect on inner side and
heat is dissipated on outer side.

Saghar Mehdi,IJSRM volum 4 issue 07 July 2016 [www.ijsrm.in] Page 4482

 DOI: 10.18535/ijsrm/v4i7.17

On the heat side of the peltier unit, a heat sink For evaluating the performance of our mini
along with the fan works to dissipate the heat from compressor-less solar fridge we tested it using a
the peltier unit in the outer environment. Fluke multimeter - 287 and data is recorded.
Afterwards graph was prepared for the same by
The Peltier thermoelectric Device will be so
taking the data from the multimeter.
arranged in a box with proper insulation system
and heat sink so that efficient cooling takes place
at all the time.
To turn off the fried, switch can be turned off.
Then the glowing led will also stop glowing
indicating no power for the fridge.

Battery charging
The batteries used in the fridge are charged from
the solar panels using a charge controller rated Working Fridge with temperature monitoring
12volts, 10 amps. The battery is connected to the As shown in the above figure, it can be observed
charge controllers which get supply from the solar that the refrigerator is operational as led is
panels and feeds it to the battery. glowing. Also in the background the multimeter is
showing the temperature inside the refrigerator
OBSERVATIONS simultaneously in the real
time.

The following observations were recorded using the Multimeter:

As shown in the table, from the readings given Starting time: 26 minutes 2 seconds
following observations can be made: Final stable temperature: 16.9 °C
Starting temperature: 30.9 °C Final time: 48 minutes 8 seconds

Saghar Mehdi,IJSRM volum 4 issue 07 July 2016 [www.ijsrm.in] Page 4483

 DOI: 10.18535/ijsrm/v4i7.17

RESULTS for variety of operations. Also the main purpose

The aim of the development of the fridge is to for which this fridge is made is being fulfilled as
provide efficient and effective cooling in the the space inside the fridge is sufficient enough to
designated locations and places. As observed from cool appropriate amount of medicines and
the data above, this fridge is capable of injections needed at the primary health care
maintaining an inner temperature of 16.5 oC after centres in the villages where there is sporadic or
20 minutes of continuous power supply and is no power supply.
maintaining it at a constant rate. Also when the Though this fridge is working satisfactorily to its
battery will be fully charged, Fridge will remain full capacity, still many changes and
operational for the time period of 3.2 hours after improvements can be done in this fridge to make
which the battery will be discharged and the it more users friendly and sophisticated in nature.
temperature inside the fridge will increase at a This measures and changes, if implemented can
very slow rate due to the insulation provided. play an important role in the future models to be
On the basis of the above data it can be said that developed. Some of these measures and changes
the above fridge can be easily used for the small are:
chilling operations where cooling is required in a Number of peltier units can be increased to further
small time. decrease the temperature inside the fridge. Same
fridge can be used for heating purpose if we also
This system is provided with a solar panel charge
insulate the other side i.e. heating side of the
controller which can be easily used to charge the
fridge within the box.
battery from the solar panels. In addition the
To increase the volume of the fridge maintaining
battery charger which runs on normal 220 volt ac
the same temperature inside the fridge, number of
supply is provided which can be used to charge
peltier units and heat sink has to be increased.
the batteries.
PID controllers can be used for making it a
In the above, the temperature corresponds to the temperature controlled fridge. This fridge can
value taken inside the fridge using the temperature also be equipped with a LCD display and
sensor of the Multimeter. Also from the table it is digital temperature sensor so that the
clear about the start logging instance and stop temperature inside the fridge can bemonitored.
logging instance of the Multimeter. In this project, this fridge is made up of
Thermocol and aluminium foils. Wooden material
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE can be used to make this fridge mores sturdy in
Solar power nowadays is playing a major role in constructions. Wood will also act as an additional
meeting the energy requirements of our country. It insulator for the cooling compartment.
is being developed at a very fast rate and its
applications in many areas are being explored. REFERENCES
The fridge is intended at exploring the same and 1. www.allaboutcircuits.com
provides an efficient and economical solution to 2. www.hometoelectricals.com
the areas where there is no electricity and cooling 3. www.peltie-info.com
is required. 4. Horway J B (1961), ―The Peltier Effect
This project main objective was to develop a mini and Thermoelectric Transients‖, University
compressor less solar fridge and this has been of Louisvill.
successfully done. The applications of this fridge
are very wide and it can be used in various places

Saghar Mehdi,IJSRM volum 4 issue 07 July 2016 [www.ijsrm.in] Page 4484

 DOI: 10.18535/ijsrm/v4i7.17

5. Jaspalsinh B (2012), ―A Design Method Thermoelectric Refrigerator‖, International

of Thermo Electric Cooler‖, IJME, Vol. 5, Journal of Mechanical Engineering and
No. 1, pp. 37-40. Robotics, Vol. 1, No. 3, October 2012.
6. MayankAwasthi, K V Mali (2012),
―Design And Development Of

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