Engineering has been on the forefront of improving sustainability and reducing Green-gas emission over the years. In the preservation of tangible commodities - conventional refrigeration systems contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change due to the use of harmful refrigerants. Energy consumption also plays a crucial role in the preservation of perishable and biodegradable materials. To address this challenge, research has explored sustainable alternatives, with thermoelectric refrigeration emerging as a more environmentally friendly option. Thermoelectric refrigerators are silent, robust, and offer precise temperature control compared to traditional vapour-compression systems. As engineering continues to drive sustainable practices and support the global net-zero goal, developing and adopting thermoelectric cooling technologies becomes increasingly important. Although based on other researches, thermoelectric systems currently exhibit a lower coefficient of performance (COP), they show promising potential, particularly in medical and biological applications, where reliability and precision are essential.
I participated in a research project aimed at evaluating the efficiency and improvement potential of a thermoelectric refrigerator to broaden its applications. The study identified several key insights:
- Thermoelectric refrigerator (TER) offers the advantage of using non-moving coolants and net zero contribution towards global warming.
- TER can be manufactured in portable sizes and store food, medicines, and vaccines increasing it scope of application.
- Solar-powered TERs can convert solar energy directly to generate a cooling effect within the system.
The key component in thermoelectric refrigeration is a semiconductor module that operates based on the Seebeck effect, using the peltier to convert electrical energy into a temperature gradient for cooling. The energy efficiency of the thermoelectric refrigerator was determined by the coefficient of performance (COP) of the Peltier module and the heat transfer effectiveness of the heat sink and cooling fans. Powering the thermoelectric refrigerator with renewable energy rather than conventional electricity supported sustainability and improved performance. This demonstrates that thermoelectric refrigeration has strong potential to reduce the high energy consumption associated with traditional vapour-compression systems while promoting cleaner energy use. The purpose of the research was to proffer solutions that are arising because of the use of conventional refrigeration systems. This research also focused on several practical aspects, including the thermoelectric figure of merit, material selection and coefficient of performance (COP) assessment. Findings revealed typical COP values for thermoelectric cooling applications and identified need to improve efficiency through material selection and system design optimization.
The coefficient of performance (COP) was a key indicator of the thermoelectric refrigerator’s efficiency, reflecting the ratio of cooling output to electrical energy input. Improving the COP directly enhances energy efficiency, reducing overall power consumption and the associated carbon footprint. By achieving higher COP values through effective heat transfer design and material optimisation, the system contributes to sustainability goals by conserving energy resources and supporting the global net-zero initiative. transfer effectiveness of the heat sink and cooling fans used. This Talk about net zero - material selection and devices used. Formula of C.O.P calculation below.
In all, refrigeration is essential to modern living, but traditional methods continue to harm the environment through Green House Gas emissions. Thermoelectric refrigeration offers a cleaner, refrigerant-free alternative that aligns with sustainable engineering goals. Thermoelectric refrigerators offer a cleaner alternative and can be powered by solar PV panels or batteries, making them a promising option for sustainable engineering. My research highlights potential from Thermoelectric refrigeration to support a greener ecosystem, though questions remain about the most effective power source to ensure both efficiency and sustainability. Currently, thermoelectric refrigeration is limited to small-scale applications, but further innovation could make it a key technology in reducing environmental impact and promoting refrigerant-free cooling solutions and towards attaining a sustainable environment and process.
