FABRICATION OF SOLAR

REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
USING
THERMOELECTRIC
COOLER
PROJECT BY
GUIDED BY BABIN REJO
(A20ME12) MR.P.C.SURESH BALA
MURUGAN.S (A20ME13) DEPARTMENT OF
PRADEEP M.S (A20ME22) MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING PRINCE.DEVADAS(A20ME25)
 ABSTRACT
Refrigerators being used nowadays, utilize a compressor and
coolant as a working fluid for the transmission of the heat. Thermal
energy is absorbed and released as the coolant used goes through
expansion and compression and its state changes from liquid to
vapor and vice-versa. The solar-based thermoelectric refrigerator
also known as the Peltier refrigerator offers several advantages over
conventional systems. It consists of solid-state devices, with no
mobile parts, which makes the system dependable, and less noisy.
There is no use of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons, which have
an inadequate effect on the environment. They occupy a very small
room for operating, much less than the conventional systems.
Temperature is controlled (< ± 7 °C) with the help of Peltier coolers.
The efficiency of these coolers is less as compared to compressor-
based refrigerators. Thus, they are used in specific applications
where their unique advantages. However, some large-scale
applications have been considered Peltier coolers are generally used
in applications where small size is needed and the cooling
requirement is low, for instance, cooling electronic components. The
main motto of this project is to design a prototype of a
thermoelectric Refrigerator using the Peltier effect to maintain a
specified temperature, perform temperature control in the range of
5 °C to 25 °C, and provide refrigeration in the remote areas where
the power supply is not possible.
 I. INTRODUCTION
 Among all the sources of renewable energy Solar energy has the greatest potential, even if a
small amount of solar energy could be used, it will be one of the most important supplies of
energy. Solar energy maintains the temperature of the world above than in colder space, a
current is caused in the atmosphere and seas, is responsible for the water cycle, and also helps
in the photosynthesis process in plants. The worldwide demand for power for all needs of the
civilization is 10 Watts. Hence the sun provides us a thousand times more power than we
require. Electricity can be generated from solar energy with photovoltaic solar cells, which
convert the solar energy to electricity. The significant applications of a photovoltaic cell in Asia
are the energization of pump sets for farming irrigation, drinking water, rural electrification,
covering the street lights, community TV sets.
 Refrigeration is the most common way of keeping a thing below room temperature by keeping
a substance intended to cool or freeze. Refrigeration has numerous applications such as
household fridges, modern coolers, cryogenics, and hotness siphons. The absence of heat is
cold, consequently, to lower the temperature, one must eliminate heat, rather than add
coldness. To fulfill the second law of thermodynamics, work must be performed. Thermoelectric
Cooling/ Refrigeration uses the Peltier effect to generate a heat flux between the junction of
two different types of semiconductor materials. Peltier Plate transfers heat from one side to the
other, with consumption of electrical energy, which depends on the current's direction. Such an
instrument is also called a Peltier device, Peltier module, and thermoelectric cooler (TEC). It will
be used for cooling moreover as for the heating purpose, though practically the most aim is
cooling. It can even be used as a temperature controller. The benefits of a Peltier cooler as
compared to a vapor-compression fridge are the area unit, its non-movable components or
current fluid, long life, protection to the leaks, compact size, and its versatile form. The
disadvantages are a unit its means too high-priced and poor output rate. A lot of researchers
and companies are trying to develop Peltier coolers that are price-effective and contain
additional power.
• Peltier's plate once operated for cooling purpose, across the device a voltage is
applied, consequently, a distinction in temperature are aroused between the 2
sides. Once operated as an electrical generator, one facet of the device has a
temperature greater than the opposite facet, and hence, a voltage distinction is
raised between the 2 sides of the plate (known because of the Seebeck effect).
Thermoelectric cooler (TEC) is cooler and heater both. This is possible because of
the combination of 2 different materials to own hot and cold junctions at its ends.
This impact is achieved by the action of electrical voltage or potential. TEC works
on the Peltier impact principle within which the electrical voltage applied turns
into the thermal gradient. Electricity impact is visible once electrical phenomenon
is applied across the semiconductor materials P and N kind. The direction of the
present flow is to blame for the heating and cooling impact, the energy is carried
by lepton from cold to a hot junction. Though having too several benefits' TEC
cooler have a low constant of performance because the heat absorption at the
cold junction is incredibly less than energy equipped.
 II. OBJECTIVE
• The objective of the project is to develop a thermoelectric
cooling system by using solar energy.

• To study the different thermoelectric materials that are

essential to enhance the thermoelectric cooler coefficient of
performance.

• To use the solar-based refrigerator as an alternative to using

the compressor.

• To achieve a higher coefficient of performance.

z
III. METHODOLOGY
 Thermoelectric refrigerators operate using the Peltier effect (thermoelectric
effect). Peltier effect in short is a generation of heat from electrical energy.
Peltier plate (TEC) is made up of two unique semiconductors, one is n-type and
one is p-type. They are used because they have different electron densities.
The alternating p & n-type semiconductors are placed thermally in parallel to
each other and electrically in series and then joined with a thermally
conducting plate on each side and sand witched between two ceramic
insulators.
When a voltage is applied to the free ends of the two semiconductors using copper
rods there is a generation of junctions at two semiconductors. The flow of DC across
the junction of the semiconductors builds a temperature difference. The device has
two sides, and when a current flows through a device, it produces heat from one side
to the other, so that one side gets cooler while the other gets hotter. The side with the
low temperature i.e. cool side absorbs heat which is then transported by the
semiconductor to the other side of the device, so another side becomes hot. The hot
side is attached to a heat sink so that it remains at normal temperature while the
other side goes below ambient temperature . In some applications, multiple Peltier
modules (TEC) can be packed together for obtaining the desired temperature.
The solar panel converts light energy into electrical energy. Two types of solar panels
can be used Monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels. According to project
specifications we use monocrystalline type due to its high efficiency so, these panels
produce DC. The battery is used for the storage of electricity coming from solar
panels, sometimes batteries built with inverters are used for the conversion of DC to
AC. This current is passed to copper rods then it goes to n & p semiconductors
through it. Formation of junctions takes place due to passing a current through
semiconductors, heat is produced and one side becomes cool by absorbing heat &
other become hot. The heat sink is attached to the hot side for the release of heat in
the atmosphere.
CONSTRUCTION
 The construction setup of the refrigerator
is as follows
 1. Thermo-electric module
 2. Refrigeration chamber
 3. Battery
 4. Solar cell
 5. Frame
1. Thermo-electric module
A thermo-electric module (TEM) is a solid state current device, which, if power is
applied, move heat from the cold side to the hot side, acting as a heat
exchanger. This direction of heat travel will be reversed if the current is
reversed. It is a phenomenon that is opposite to the Seebeck effect.
Combination of many pairs of p- and n-semiconductors allows creating cooling
units - Peltier modules of relatively high power. A Peltier module consists of
semiconductors mounted successively, which form p-n- and n-p-junctions. Each
junction has a thermal contact with radiators.
When switching on the current of the definite polarity, there forms a
temperature difference between the radiators one of them warms up and works
as a heatsink, and the other work as a refrigerator. A TE module is composed of
two ceramic substrates that give foundation and also electrical insulation to p-
type and n-type semiconductors. The TE module is composed of silicon bismuth
semiconductor cause this pair gives the highest COP. Specification
1. Material used- Silicon - Bismuth
2. A = 0.04 x 0.04 = 0.0016 m2
3. Q max =33.3 watt
4. V max = 14.8 v dc
5. I max =6 amp
 3.2 Refrigeration chamber

 The chamber used is same as that of the chambers used in

conventional refrigeration. The chamber can be of any volume, shape
and size. For experimentation purposes the volume of the chambers is
kept low. Insulation provided to the chamber is done by polystyrene.
And aluminium casing is done in the inner side of insulation to provide
better cooling. We have used specific chamber and is as follows,
 1. The size of the box is
 Width - 28.7 cm, Length - 31.8 cm,Height - 33.7 cm.
 2. The power capacity is 60 W
 3. The capacity of cooling chamber is 7.8 L.
 4. The voltage is 240 V to 220 V AC and 12 V DC.