Design and Development of a Thermoelectric

Beverage CoolerBy:

Brandon Carpenter Andrew Johnston

Tim TaylorFaculty Advisor:

Dr. Quamrul MazumderUniversity of Michigan - Flint

Objective

• Refrigerator designed for cooling large

multiple items• Inefficient if only a single item is to

be cooled• Due to size is non-portable• Technology requires coolant, compressor,

and cumbersome tubing

Objective

• Apply concept of refrigerator to a small

scale device• Solid-state, eliminate need for coolants• Portability; can be taken wherever needed• Concentrate cooling onto single object to

be cooled, eliminate energy waste in

cooling empty space

Objective

Turn This Into This

Engineering Approach

• Use Peltier thermo cooler to provide

cooling • Use tight fitting aluminum sleeve to

enhance conductivity• Machine base to match contour of

can bottom• Use fans with heat sink to remove heat• Power with drill battery

Preliminary Calculations

• Initial goal: to cool a can from 700F to 350F in approximately 5 minutes.

• Required Cooling Rate:q= ρ V c

q= (1000kg/m3)( 3.54(10-4)m3)( 4.189kJ/kg∙K)( .0533 K/second)

This gives a value for q of .079 kW, or 79 Watts.

Further Calculations

• Base: ΔT = 16K kAl = .58W/m•K A= .00383m2 dx= .0051m

• q = kA q= (.58)(.00383)(3137) q = 6.99W

• Sleeve: ΔT = 16K kAl = .58W/m•K

L = .108m r1= .0327m r2= .0349m

• q = 2πLk q= 2π(.108)(.58) = 95.4W [3]

• Total Cooling = 95.4W + 6.99W = 102.4W

Main Components

• Peltier CoolerModel TEC1-12709

Rated for 90W/ 139W Max

Notes on Cooler

• While a cooler with a higher rated wattage

would theoretically be able to remove

more heat, it creates more heat due to

resistance and requires a much larger

heat sink.

• In order to remain portable a smaller

cooler was needed, affecting cooling time.

Main Components

• Sleeve6061 Aluminum

Cut to appropriate length

2.62” Inner Diameter

0.065” Wall

Thickness

Main Components

• Machined Base6061 Aluminum

Designed to accommodate various cans,

as dimensions can differ

Manufacturing / Assembly

• Aluminum tubing was cut into appropriate • lengths to make sections

1. Beverage Compartment

2. Fan Housing (which was not used)

3. Wiring Compartment

4. Battery Compartment

Manufacturing / Assembly

• Discs were made

to serve as plates

between sections

and for mounting

purposes

Manufacturing / Assembly

• Components were assembled using

machine screws and

adhesives

Manufacturing / Assembly• Insulation was placed

around beverage compartment

• Thermal paste was

applied between

thermo cooler,

heat sink, top disc,

base, and sleeve

Testing Procedure

Testing Procedure• A 12 oz. pop can is filled with water and placed in

the beverage compartment

• Initial temperature of the water is recorded

• Cooler is turned on, and temperature is recorded in two minute intervals

• Additionally, the ambient air temperature, starting battery voltage, and final battery voltage are recorded to check for any correlation

Testing Procedure• For each test, the data is entered into

an Excel spreadsheet

For comparison purposes, a similar test was conducted using a refrigerator

Cooling Module Test #1 Time (minutes) Temperature (⁰F) dT/dt (⁰F / min) Ambient Air: 65.5(⁰F)

0 82.2   Starting Voltage: 12.45V2 79.7 1.25 Final Voltage: 9.14V4 77.7 16 75.7 18 73.9 0.910 72.3 0.812 70.5 0.9

  dT/dt min 0.8  dT/dt max 1.25  dT/dt ave 0.975

ResultsData in graph form

Discussion• Refrigerator – constant 0.317 F / min⁰• Cooler - maximum 0.65 F / min ⁰ - average 0.317 F / min⁰• In terms of the cooler outperformed the

refrigerator• Could only maintain this cooling level for

short period due to battery

Conclusion• With available technology idea is not

yet practical

• Current Peltier coolers are not very

efficient, require large heat sinks which

hinder portability

• Also battery power/size ratio insufficient

for portability