Implementacão computacional de uma metodologia para seleção de módulos para refrigeradores termoelétricos domésticos

Abstract

Thermoelectric modules are devices that convert electrical energy into temperature gradient and vice versa. These devices are characterized by being silent, having reduced dimensions and weights and precise temperature control. While refrigerators, thermoelectric modules have the advantage of not using refrigerants harmful to the environment. Although the COP of thermoelectric coolers is smaller than those of the processes of vapor compression cooling, researchers worldwide have struggled to develop domestic refrigerators to better exploit the advantages associated with this techonology. This paper presents the principles of thermoelectric, some current applications and future prospects of use and the fundamentals of thermoelectric cooling. This work also proposes a methodology for selection and analysis of thermoelectric modules available in the market for thermoelectric cooling. The results obtained with the methodology applied to a case study showed consistency between the values of COP found in the literature and those obtained for that case study. Thus, the results indicate that the proposed methodology can be a useful tool for selection and analysis of thermoelectric modules for use in single stage domestic thermoelectric cooling.