Parameter (Voltage, Current) Study of Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) for Automobile Air-Conditioner

Abstract

To overcome the weaknesses of the existing HVAC system, the use of newly emerging thermoelectric cooler which works on Peltier and Seebeck effect can be a solution. Thermoelectric cooling can be considered as one of the major applications of thermoelectric modules (TEM) or thermoelectric coolers (TEC). The aim of this project is to design a cooling system that will be mounted on a car AC conventional blower. Peltier effect is the main idea of this cooling system as it functions when a DC current flow through TE modules generating heat transfer and temperature difference across the ceramic substrates causing one side of the modules becomes cold and the other side to be hot. This project objective is to make use of the cold side of the modules to cool the ambient air to a lower temperature, so that it can be used as a personal cooler. Cooling system interfaces with a simple temperature controller is included. TEC air cooling for the sizing and design of the cooling system on the basis of analysis that can be deduced is indeed possible. Developed electronics is evaluated with simulated load. With hardware test results, the lowest cooling temperature can be achieved is 16.7 °C with power drawn by Peltier element is measured nearly 15.6 W.