Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2008
Abstract
This paper describes the development stages and performance of a solar powered thermoelectric refrigerator. It is carried out by installing a conventional thermoelectric refrigerator in a stand alone photovoltaic system for household usage. This photovoltaic driven refrigerator is powered by a field of solar panels, a battery bank, a solar charge controller, and an inverter. In this project, the output power of the photovoltaic system and the capability of the battery bank are determined. A compact thermoelectric refrigerator of 22 watts is applied to be investigated in respect to cooling effect produced. To make the device portable, daytime use and nighttime use of the refrigerator are treated in different ways. The effect of door-opening upon the cooling temperature produced by the photovoltaic driven thermoelectric refrigerator is investigated too. In order to efficiently operate this solar powered refrigerator, the sizing of this stand-alone photovoltaic system and the optimum tilt angle of the photovoltaic array must firstly be determined to maximize the electricity generation for matching the load requirement.
Keywords
Photovoltaic system, Solar powered refrigerator, Thermoelectric refrigeration.
Divisions
fac_eng
Publication Title
International Journal of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Volume
3
Issue
1
Publisher
International Journal of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Additional Information
Cited By (since 1996): 4 Export Date: 6 December 2012 Source: Scopus Language of Original Document: English Correspondence Address: Saidur, R.; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; email: hasan308@yahoo.com References: Bhuiyan, M.H.H., Asgar, M.A., Sizing of a stand-alone photovoltaic power system at Dhaka (2003) Renewable Energy, 28, pp. 929-938; Dai, Y.J., Wang, R.Z., Ni, L., Experimental investigation on a thermoelectric refrigerator driven by solar cells (2003) Renewable Energy, 28, pp. 949-959; Kaushika, N.D., Gautam, N.K., Kaushik, K., Simulation model for sizing of stand-alone solar PV system with interconnected array (2005) Solar Energy Material & Solar Cells, 85, pp. 499-519; Min, G., Rowe, D.M., Experimental evaluation of prototype thermoelectric domestic-refrigerator (2006) Applied Energy, 83, pp. 133-152; Saidur, R., Masjuki, H.H., Jamaluddin, M.Y., Ahmed, S., Energy and associated green house gas emissions from household appliances in Malaysia (2007) Energy Policy, 35, pp. 1648-1657; Shaahid, S.M., Elhadidy, M.A., Prospect of autonomous/stand-alone hybrid (photo-voltaic + diesel + battery) power systems in commercial applications in hot regions (2004) Renewable Energy, 29, pp. 165-177