Thermoelectric-Driven Room Air Cooling via a Multi-U Shaped Heat Sink System

Abstract

The compact sizing and lightweight characteristics of thermoelectric devices have garnered significant attention, leading to their widespread use across varied fields. This study experimentally investigates the application of thermoelectric refrigeration in air conditioning, employing a moderately designed system. A unique, multi-U shaped heat sink system was developed, wherein thermoelectric devices were affixed onto rectangular tubes befitting their dimensions, thereby facilitating water as an auxiliary medium for energy transfer. This design enabled the transformation of cold water from the system's cold side to the indoor unit's water-air heat exchanger, while hot water was directed to the outdoor evaporative cooling tank. A Peltier-type thermoelectric device was harnessed for this experiment. The devised setup was subjected to multiple tests to evaluate its thermal performance under the climate conditions of Najaf. Preliminary results validated the effectiveness of the water cooling methodology, with the water temperature observed to decrease to 14℃. Consequently, the room air was cooled by the water-air heat exchanger, reaching temperatures between 20℃ and 24℃. This study underscores the potential of integrating thermoelectric devices with innovative heat sink designs for efficient room air cooling.