Study of thermoelectric adsorption cooler hybrid

• Main Author: Tan, Kian Guan.
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/46098
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

An innovative type of integrated cooling device which can be scaled into different size is proposed. At a relatively low surface temperature of evapourator, it offers a wide range of cooling rates at a much high efficiency. The thermoelectric-adsorption chiller hybrid combines thermoelectric and batch cycled adsorption chiller in a manner that overcomes the characteristically low COP of both cycles, and simultaneously eliminates the fluid controls, fluid pumps, coolant loops and mechanical systems that would limit the ability to miniaturise the conventional chillers. Electron flow in semiconductors and sorption of refrigerant on silica gel beds primarily exist on the surface rather than bulk phenomena. Hence, the performance of cooling cycles of these processes is not affected in a great extent as the device is miniaturised, and this explains the ability to be scale-independent. A significant element in the suggested thermoelectric and adsorption cycles will be replacing coolant loops in the adsorption chiller with the help of electron flow in the thermoelectrics. Switching of desorber and adsorber beds, hence the hot and cold junctions is changed by a simple reversal of the polarity of the electrical input to the thermoelectrics in allowing the electron flow to be in the opposite direction.