Performance Analysis of Peltier-Based Portable Refrigerator Using TEC1-12706 Module

Abstract

Conventional refrigeration systems primarily rely on refrigerants that may contribute to environmental degradation through ozone depletion and global warming when leakage occurs. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for environmentally friendly cooling technologies that eliminate the use of harmful refrigerants. One promising alternative is the thermoelectric cooler (TEC), which operates based on the Peltier effect to generate a temperature difference between its hot and cold sides when supplied with direct current. This study presents the design, fabrication, and experimental performance evaluation of a portable refrigerator employing two TEC1-12706 thermoelectric modules integrated with heatsinks and DC fans to enhance heat dissipation. The proposed system was evaluated by monitoring the temperature variation of the cooling chamber under continuous operation. Experimental results demonstrate that the refrigerator operates using a 12 V DC power supply with a final operating current of 3.75 A. The dual-module configuration successfully reduced the cooling chamber temperature to 21.5°C after 40 minutes of operation, demonstrating its capability to provide effective cooling. These findings indicate that the proposed thermoelectric refrigerator offers a practical and energy-efficient cooling solution with relatively low power consumption while eliminating the need for conventional refrigerants. Therefore, the developed system has considerable potential for portable refrigeration applications requiring environmentally friendly and sustainable cooling technology