Volume 56

Development of a Coupled Thermal-Electrical Circuit Model for Peltier device in heat pump application for desalination systems Atmanandmaya, L Umanand, Subba Reddy B

Abstract

Incorporating Peltier heat pump techniques into existing energy systems and designing new large-scale applications require an understanding of the modelling and analysis of the Peltier module at the system level. Developing a specific application model for the energy conversion process is crucial for understanding and predicting the performance of Peltier-based systems. From the point of view that the thermal domain of desalination system can be easily translated to electrical network system for heat transfer analysis. In the present research work a thermal and electrical submodel of Peltier module is developed from the fundamental physics principles with circuit perspective based on the governing of the operation of the Peltier modules. The two submodels are interconnected, reflecting the bidirectional coupling between the thermal and electrical aspects of the Peltier module. In particular, the development and explanation of thermal capacitance associated with the heat capacity of material of the Peltier element is also described. Further, the model is extended for the application in heat pump in desalination system. The verification of the developed model simulation is carried out with the Peltier module, mounted on a heat sink and cold thermal mass, functions to actively pump the heat produced from the heat source in cyclic manner. A Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller is incorporated to the developed model for the Peltier module for the further verification of system temperature control within 1oC range for the set point temperature. The Experimental arrangement is designed and developed for the desalination system with the Peltier module for the validation of model.

Keywords Peltier module, heat pump, thermal model, circuit analysis, seebeck effect, desalination system