Computational model for refrigerators based on Peltier effect application

A computational model, which simulates thermal and electric performance of thermoelectric refrigerators, has been developed. This model solves the non-linear system that is made up of the thermoelectric equations and the heat conduction equations providing values for temperature, electric consumption, heat flow and coefficient of performance of the refrigerator. Finite differences method is used in order to solve the system and also semi empirical expressions for convection coefficients. Subsequently a thermoelectric refrigerator with an inner volume of 55 × 10−3 m3 has been designed and tested, whose cold system is composed of a Peltier pellet (50 W of maximum power) and a fan of 2 W. An experimental analysis of its performance in different conditions has been carried out with this prototype, which, in his turn, has been useful for assessing the accuracy of the developed model. The built thermoelectric refrigerator prototype, offers advantages with respect to vapour compression classical technology such as: a more ecological system, more silent and robust and more precise in the control of temperatures which make it suitable for camping vehicles, buses, special transports for electro medicine, etc