Air conditioning using thermoelectric modules

• Main Authors: Dy, Gianpaolo, Esterban, Kristy, Lao, Sheena Danica
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2005
• Subjects: Air conditioning > Design and construction; Thermoelectric cooling
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/6244
• Institution: De La Salle University

The thesis is about the experimental design and fabrication of a prototype air conditioning unit using thermoelectric (TEC) modules or peltiers. This is in response to the inadequate air cooling options available in a tropical country like the Philippines. The objectives of the project were accomplished by extensive research and experimentation with both the components and the design. The most problematic area encountered in the process was finding a way to keep the temperature of the hot side of the modules low so as to achieve the desired cold side temperature. Since there was very scarce information as to how this type of technology can be used in this particular application, the researchers had to rely heavily on trial and error. After early attempts of force air blowing the heat out of the hot side coupled with different TEC configurations, a final design using 24 pairs (48 pieces) of stacked modules with a condenser used as a radiator and an evaporating coil was decided upon. During a reliability run of least 6-hours, the lowest temperature of 13ËšC was reached 1 1/2 hour from the 28ËšC start up temperature. That low reading was maintained until the end of the testing period. The researchers wanted to provide an alternative to the existing room air cooling by utilizing thermoelectric technology in a way it hasn't been used before. The resulting system has the added benefit of no harmful refrigerants (CFCs and HCFCs) poisoning the environment. While the performance of the prototype still cannot be compared to that of Freon-based air conditioners at present, the findings culled from the study can help future researchers in further expanding the capacity of thermoelectric modules.