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Development of a sustainable dual-stage TEC refrigerator for reduced energy consumption

Author

Listed:
  • Alani, W.K.
  • Zheng, J.
  • Lei, L.
  • Fayad, M.A.

Abstract

Thermoelectric coolers (TECs) have emerged as an alternative to conventional refrigerators due to quiet operation and elimination of traditional components. Furthermore, integrating a solar photovoltaic system (PV) into TEC refrigerators offers a solution to meet the growing global demand for sustainability. However, high-capacity TEC models consume more power and low-power TEC models often underperform due to insufficient cooling capacity, and the challenge of balancing energy consumption and cooling performance limits their widespread adoption. This study presents a sustainable dual-stage TEC refrigerator that reduces energy consumption and enhances cooling performance by integrating various TEC models. TEC12703 served as primary unit for maintaining temperatures with minimal consumption, and TEC12715 functioned as a booster for rapid temperature reduction. The refrigerator powered by a PV system operated in two modes, normal and energy-saving. It decreased internal temperature from 17 °C to 4 °C within 7 h, even with frequent door opening. The average power consumption was 94.9 W/h in the normal mode and decreased to 5.8 W/h in the energy-saving mode. The peak coefficient of performance was 0.9, with an overall efficiency of 6.4 %. This novel refrigerator demonstrates a good cooling performance with reduced energy consumption, offering a sustainable solution for modern refrigeration.

Suggested Citation

  • Alani, W.K. & Zheng, J. & Lei, L. & Fayad, M.A., 2025. "Development of a sustainable dual-stage TEC refrigerator for reduced energy consumption," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:328:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225022352
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.136593
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