Design and Development of Portable Chest Fridge Using Peltier Module

Abstract

This study aims to make cooling equipment that would have a more substantial purpose than the commercially produced ones and designed as eco-friendly. Fridge, Freezers, Air-conditioning Units, and other cooling appliances that are commonly used in offices, households, restaurants, grocery stores, and other establishments have a great impact on the daily living of humans. However, most of these machines release harmful gas, particularly chlorofluorocarbon or CFC, to the atmosphere that causes the depletion of the Ozone Layer. Moreover, these machines are not easy to transport due to their weight and size. Today, there are mini-fridges that are showcased in the market which are expensive but not equally efficient as the design we have made. Thus, this study focuses on making a model of a mini-fridge that is cost-effective, lightweight, easy to store food, and environment friendly. The design is composed of materials mixed with scrap and supplies that were bought from the local hardware. The construction of the compressor-free mini-fridge is composed of different components such as cooling module assembly, wiring assembly, and cover assembly. On the initial test, the first one and half-hour showed consistency of the ambient temperature produced by the thermoelectric module and the cost consumed in kilowatt-hour energy. It took 60 minutes to reach 6 degrees Celsius as the desired ambient temperature to cool the container. And 90 minutes to reach the same temperature when it contains food inside. This project was commended for its design and its low-cost rates of the materials used in assembling the project. However, the design was suggested to have a durable and appealing hard case which would be still a part of its development.