Análise e desenvolvimento de sistema de condicionamento de ar automotivo baseado em módulos termoeléctricos

Abstract

The automotive air conditioning is extremely important for the comfort of drivers and passengers. Depending on the prevailing climate, cooling or heating may be more important. This research presents a technical feasibility study on the use of thermoelectric modules for automotive air conditioning, referring only to cooling. The analysis is made as a proposed solution to the problem of excessive use of fuel and engine power by the typical automotive air conditioning system. Thermoelectric refrigeration is based on discoveries made in the 19th and 20th centuries by Seebeck, Peltier and W. Thomson, which consists of generating electrical voltage when subjected to a temperature difference between its sides. From thermoelectric modules that are electronic devices, tablets that operate using the Peltier effect, currently used for refrigeration of small environments. The work shows that with good heat dissipation from the hot part of the pads it is possible to condition the air for automobiles. It also presents a theoretical review that supports the concept of thermoelectric refrigeration, and subsequently presents the stages of building the experimental model. From the experimental model, an analysis of the system's efficiency is presented, comparing the theoretical analysis and performance parameters of the thermoelectric system with the results of the experiments carried out. These parameters are the coefficient of performance, figure of merit, maximum heat transfer rate, refrigerator performance as a function of temperature and maximum temperature difference. Recommendations regarding aspects that can be improved in future work and respective conclusions are also included in this study.