OPTIMIZATION OF A THERMOELECTRIC COOLER FOR A TURBOCHARGED TRACTOR

Year 2024, Issue: 715, 307 - 340, 16.07.2024

Ali Kürşad Arıcıoğlu , Gülay Yakar , Ali Gürcan

Abstract

This work covers a numerical analysis of the design and optimization of a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) operated by a thermoelectric generator (TEG). The aim of the work was to design the optimum mini refrigerator for tractors and also to provide cooling using the energy produced in the TEG used in the tractor. Thanks to the TEC powered with the TEG system, farmers will be able to preserve their food during working hours without additional fuel consumption. When the literature is examined, no study has been found in which cooling is done by using the compressor air of turbocharged systems. Therefore, this work will make an important contribution to the literature. According to the numerical results obtained, while the electrical power requirement was 34.78 W at an outdoor temperature of 30 °C, it was 26.54 W at an outdoor temperature of 15 °C. In other words, while the coefficient of performance was obtained as 0.301 at 15 °C, it was determined as 0.219 at 30 °C. In addition, while the electrical power value produced by the TEG system used in the tractor for an outdoor temperature of 15 °C was 50.71 W, it was 38.84 W at an outdoor temperature of 30 °C.

Keywords

Thermoelectric, cooler, electric, power input

TURBOŞARJLI BİR TRAKTÖR İÇİN BİR TERMOELEKTRİK SOĞUTUCUNUN OPTİMİZASYONU

Abstract

Bu çalışma, bir termoelektrik jeneratör (TEJ) tarafından çalıştırılan bir termoelektrik soğutucunun (TES) tasarımı ve optimizasyonunun sayısal bir analizini kapsamaktadır. Çalışmada, traktörler için optimum mini buzdolabının dizayn edilmesi ve aynı zamanda traktörde kullanılan TEJ’de üretilen enerji ile soğutmanın sağlanması amaçlandı. TEJ sistemi ile çalıştırılan TES sayesinde çiftçiler, ek yakıt tüketimine gerek kalmadan, mesai saatleri içerisinde gıdalarını muhafaza edebilecekler. Literatür incelendiğinde, turboşarjlı sistemlerin kompresör havası kullanılarak soğutmanın yapıldığı herhangi bir çalışmaya rastlanmamıştır. Dolayısıyla bu çalışma, literatüre önemli bir katkı sağlayacaktır. Elde edilen sayısal sonuçlara göre, elektrik gücü ihtiyacı 30 °C dış sıcaklıkta 34,78 W iken, 15 °C dış sıcaklıkta 26,54 W olarak elde edilmiştir. Yani performans katsayısı 15 °C’de 0,301 olarak elde edilirken, 30 °C’de 0,219 olarak belirlendi. Ayrıca traktörde kullanılan TEJ sisteminin, 15 °C dış ortam sıcaklığında ürettiği elektrik gücü değeri 50,71 W iken, 30 °C dış ortam sıcaklığında 38,84 W olmuştur.

Keywords

Termoelektrik, soğutucu, elektrik, güç girişi

Thanks

The authors are thankful to the Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Council (Report No. 2018FEBE035) for providing financial support to conduct Gürcan (2019)’s Master Thesis.

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