ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Modeling and performance/sensitivity analysis of a thermally regenerative electrochemical refrigerator powered by thermoelectric generator

Hamed Kamali, Mehdi Mehrpooya, and Adib Shabani

Caspian Faculty of Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

E-mail: mehrpoya@ut.ac.ir

Received: 9 February 2023  Accepted: 28 March 2023

Abstract:

As new routes for clean energy supply are investigated, novel technologies for high consumption sectors like refrigeration are being explored as well. Thermally regenerative electrochemical refrigerators (TRERs) are a promising option with several benefits and no adverse environmental impacts, but poorly have been studied up to now. In this work, a modified TRER is simulated in MATLAB and integrated with a 4-module TEG system and a battery pack which is a novel design among the limited studies. The proposed system can operate during the day powered by the TEGs and in night driven by the batteries. Performance analysis and a comprehensive sensitivity analysis are conducted on each section as well as the whole system. While setting the TRER in its optimal performance mode using genetic algorithm and WASPAS method of prioritizing, TEG and system’s performance are inspected. Results show the maximum TEG power as 469.9 W that is used to produce 237 W of cooling by the TRER and charge three 12 V batteries with a 100 AH capacity to 90% full, while driven by the batteries the TRER is capable of producing 101.4 W of cooling.

Keywords: Thermally regenerative electrochemical refrigerator; Thermoelectric generator; Coefficient of performance; Refrigerator power; Sensitivity analysis

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-023-02801-8

Chemical Papers 77 (8) 4501–4517 (2023)