Energy Evaluation of a Thermoelectric Cooling System for the Transfer of Vaccines Powered by Solar Energy

Vaccination is one of the most important methods in disease prevention. To maintain the effectiveness of these biological products it is necessary to keep them at temperatures between 2° C and 8° C. Thermoelectric chillers are solid-state devices that convert electrical energy into thermal energy, although these systems are designed for small cooling capacities, from 2 to 250 Watts, they are optimal for cooling portable systems. This paper describes the design, analysis and energy evaluation of a portable system for the transfer of vaccines in rural areas, which will be powered by solar energy. The design integrates the choice of thermal insulation, geometry, capacity and interior arrangement of the container. The energy analysis is carried out based on the modeling and simulation using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) of the system. The results show the temperature distribution within the refrigerated device, as well as the most appropriate arrangement for its implementation; the type of thermoelectric cell recommended to maintain vaccines at the optimum storage temperature and the capacity of the photovoltaic panel for the required energy. Based on the results, the energy evaluation that shows the viability of the system is carried out.