Computational Optimization of a Thermoelectric Ice-Maker as a Function of the Geometric Parameters of a Peltier Module

摘要

The objective of this paper is to optimize a thermoelectric ice-maker installed in a no-frost refrigerator, by means of a computational model. This model provides the electric power consumption of the Peltier module and the ice production. The Peltier module is the most important part of the thermoelectric ice-maker; therefore, it must be optimized in order to obtain an efficient ice-maker. First of all, the length of the thermocouples of the Peltier module has been optimized in order to obtain the maximum ice production. It turned out that 3.5 kg per day could be achieved if 1.5-mm-long thermocouples were used. The coefficient of performance (COP) was 0.44. Second, the ice production was expressed as a function of the number of thermocouples of the Peltier module. Given a constant electric power consumption of the module, the results showed that the maximum ice production was achieved with a Peltier module with 254 thermocouples. However, if a module with 140 thermocouples was installed, the ice production would decrease by only 1%.