Thermoelectric Refrigeration

Abstract

This paper deals with the analogy between the cooling by thermoelectric system and that by compression system, theoretical consideration about the thermoelectric refrigeration in general, construction of an experimental refrigerator, observed value of the cooling capacity and its theoretical treatment.
The experimental refrigerator is of 35 l capacity with polystylene sheet inside lining and foamed polystylene wall insulation. The cooling system, placed in the rear of the compartment, consists of two single-stage thermoelectric panels, each with 42 couples in series assembled and set in polyester resin. Aluminium heat absorber and water-cooled heat dissipator are electrically insulated from but thermally conductive to cold and hot sides of the panels to obtain good heat transfer. With the compartment empty and the ambient temperature at 30°C, 34 degree drop of interior air tem-perature in three hours of operation was recorded. Observed cooling effect, which involves the heat absorbed by the system and the heat leakage through walls at steady state, was in good agreement with the calculated pumping effect of the system.