Experimental Study of a 1 kW Thermoelectric Module Heat Exchanger for Vehicle: Cabin Cooling and Heating Application

Abstract

This study investigates the performance of vehicle cabin supplemental cooling and heating systems equipped with a 1 kW thermoelectric module (TEM) heat exchanger. The TEM heat exchanger comprises 96 hermoelectric modules, the heat sink with a louver fin and water cooling jacket, attached on the thermoelectric modules both hot and cold side. The cooling and heating performance experiment was conducted under various conditions, considering parameters such as air flow volume, air inlet temperature, water inlet temperature, water flow rate, and intake voltage to the TEM heat exchanger. The calorimeter experimental results demonstrate that the cooling capacity and coefficient of performance (COP) were 1.63 kW and 1.6, while the heating capacity and COP are 4.44 kW and 4.4, respectively. An air-conditioning system level evaluation was then conducted using system bench apparatus, considering the environmental conditions when vehicles were in use; a rear air-handing unit (AHU) with a 1 kW TEM heat exchanger was employed to determine both cooling and heating performance.