Experimental investigation and performance assessment of a solar-driven thermoelectric unit for localized heating and cooling applications

• Published in: Energy and buildings Vol. 253; p. 111517
• Main Authors: Koohi, Nima, Nasirifar, Sherwin, Behzad, Masoud, Cardemil, José M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15.12.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Adiabatic; Air conditioning; Air quality; Beverages; Cooling; Cooling loads; Cooling systems; Emissions; Energy efficiency; Energy performance; Environmental impact; Greenhouse gases; Heating; Indoor environment; Low carbon building; Performance assessment; Photovoltaics; Solar energy; Space heating; Thermal comfort; Thermoelectric; Thermoelectricity; User preferences; Thermoelectric; Energy performance; Indoor environment; User preferences; Low carbon building; Solar energy
• ISSN: 0378-7788; 1872-6178
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111517

•A heating/cooling thermoelectric device fully integrated with solar PV system.•Thermoelectric heating that is directly connected to building room is tested.•Achieving multipurpose device goals by cooling a small box for food and beverage.•User control on outlet temperature of heating mode by fan speed variations. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems help maintain the appropriate level of thermal comfort and air quality in buildings. To this end, the energy supply of these systems must be guaranteed. However, continuous efforts are required to improve the energy efficiency of this system and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the zero-emission building approach, the use of thermoelectric devices has been proposed to meet the heating/cooling needs in the building and help in flexibly changing the operating conditions according to the user's needs. In this study, an experimental setup was developed consisting of a multipurpose thermoelectric system that is directly powered by a solar photovoltaic panel. The heating mode was designed for space heating, whereas the cooling mode was tailored to an adiabatic box that could cool food and beverages. The results of this study will facilitate the practical use of this device in the future by directly connecting the thermoelectric system to the room and evaluating the response of the system to temperature changes requested by the user. This system has a high potential for delivering heating and cooling loads, achieving a coefficient of performance of 1.6 in the heating mode and 0.8–1.1 in the cooling mode. These results are promising given the current need to reduce negative environmental impacts in the building sector yet maintaining the same level of thermal comfort.