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On-Off Controller Design for A Portable Refrigerator

Conference Paper · May 2015

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 Proceedings of 10th International Conference ITELMS’2015

On-Off Controller Design for A Portable Refrigerator

A.E. Coşgun *, H. Demirel **

*Karabuk University, Technology Faculty, Dept. of Mechatronics Engr. 78000, Karabuk, Turkey, E mail:
atilcosgun@karabuk.edu.tr
**Karabuk University, Engineering Faculty, Dept. of Elec.Elect. Engr. 78000, Karabuk, Turkey, E mail:
hdemirel@karabuk.edu.tr

Abstract

The paper presents a design of control system for a portable refrigerator. Mechanic and software design of the
system was realized for this purpose. To do this project a small metal box which has rectangular prism shape was used.
Desired temperature value was provided one button. Up side of button increases temperature value, the opposite side
decreases temperature values. To controlling temperature, there is a peltier which is provided cooling. Its usage is
considerably easy because the temperature value is controlled by the current over the Arduino microcontroller card. It
generate PWM signal to on-off control of peltier.

KEY WORDS: peltier, on-off control

1. Introduction

Temperature control is usually achieved by means of heat exchange with fluids, electrical heaters or
thermoelectric devices. This paper included about on-off control on “Peltier cell”. It is constituted of pairs of
semiconductors which, by imposing a direct current, generate a heat flow and consequently a temperature difference
across the two sides [1]. Owing to their small volume and ease of operation, among the possible applications [2], the use
of Peltier cells as temperature control elements is increasing in recent years, e.g. for setting medical cooling kits for
blood or vaccine storage [3], car-seat [4], electronics [5].
In literature, there are many of cooling technologies have been presented by a number of investigators. Gauger
et al.[6] evaluated several alternative refrigeration technologies according to six technical assessment criteria (state-of-
the-art, complexity, size and weight, maintenance, useful life and efficiency) with respect to their use in different
refrigeration applications (domestic air conditioning, commercial air conditioning, mobile air conditioning, domestic
refrigeration and commercial refrigeration). They concluded that none of the alternative refrigeration technologies were,
at the time of their research, as attractive as adapting vapors compression refrigeration to non-CFC refrigerants. Tassou
et al. [7] reviewed both current state of the art technologies and emerging cooling technologies with potential to reduce
the environmental impact of refrigeration in the food industry. According to their study, the main barriers for a more
widespread utilization of thermoelectric and Stirling cycle refrigeration are related to the lower efficiency and higher
costs associated with these technologies in comparison with vapor compression refrigeration.
In this study, a portable refrigerator system was designed and realized. Thermal camera was used to
observation its temperature as a real time. It was observed that the algorithm performed successfully and on off control
was used successfully.

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 Proceedings of 10th International Conference ITELMS’2015

2. Design of System

In this study, a portable refrigerator system was realized. Mechanical and electronic design of system
was realized with considering the system constraints. Designed system was given in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1. Portable Refrigerator

2.1 Mechanical Design

Mechanical part of system, consists of a mini rectangular prism shape box. 4 x 330 ml. coke could be placed
in the system at same time. It was given in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2. Refrigerator box

2.2 Electronic Design

Electronic part of the system consist of an arduino control card, peltier cell, fan, temperature sensor, power
supply and control panel. There are many type of arduino control card, but in this project arduino mega control card was
used. It has 54 digital input/output pins (of which 12 can be used as PWM outputs), 12 analog inputs, 4 UARTs
(hardware serial ports), a 84 MHz clock, an USB OTG capable connection, 2 DAC (digital to analog), 2 TWI, a power
jack, an SPI header, a JTAG header, a reset button and an erase button. Peltier cell was used for cooling of the system.
Fan was used to take outside the temperature on peltier cell. Temperature sensor, provide to temperature knowledge of
the system. Power supply was a voltage source of system and control panel was contsist of control button which was set
desired tempurature value of system.

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 Proceedings of 10th International Conference ITELMS’2015

3. Control Method of System

Temperature control was provided a button. Desired temperature value was set by means of the button. The
environmental temperature which was obtained with temperature sensor and the desired temperature value was
compared on arduino controller card. Arduino microcontroller sent a signal to turn off and turn on of transistor base leg
for keep constant desired temperature value according to the temperature range between desired temperature value and
environmental temperature value. It was given in Fig. 3.

Power Supply

Arduino
Transistor & Relay
Microcontroller

Temperature
Peltier from
Sensor
Refrigerator
on Refrigerator

Fig. 3. Block diagram of Portable Refrigerator

In Fig. 4. was shown thermal camera images of the system. Fig. 4.a is related to begining time refrigerator
structure and its temperature value was 29 degree, Fig. 4.b was related to 6. second and its temperature value as average
13 degree. and finally, Fig. 4.c was related to 10. second and its temperature value as average 1 degree.

a. b. c
Fig. 4. Thermal camera images of system

In Fig.5.a was related to increasing side of the temperature on peltier and In Fig.5.b was related to decreasing
side of the temperature on peltier.

a. b.
Fig. 5. Temperature value of portable refrigerator system

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 Proceedings of 10th International Conference ITELMS’2015

4. Conclusions

In this study, temperature control systems based on Peltier cells was illustrated. Basically, control method
which was on-off control was used to control desired temperature. It was observed that implementation of on-off
control was easy but an improved control system can be implemented. Thus, could be prevents continuous operation of
the control card and less energy could be consumed. In future, it is planned that different algorithm will be made more
robust with revisions. In addition to software revisions, mechanical design of system will be revised. Thermal insulation
will be made. It is planned that developed system will become an industrial machine with mechanical and software
revisions.

References

1. G. A. Mannella*, V. La Carrubba, V. Brucato “Peltier cells as temperature control elements: Experimental

characterization and modeling”, Elsevier - Applied Thermal Engineering 63, 2014, 234-245p.
2. S.B. Riffat, X. Ma, Thermoelectrics: a review of present and potential applications, Appl.Therm. Eng. 23 (2003)
913-935.
3. N.F. Guler, R. Ahiska, Design and testing of a microprocessor-controlled portable thermoelectric medical cooling
kit, Appl. Therm. Eng. 22 (2002) 1271-1276.
4. H.-S. Choi, S. Yun, K.-I. Whang, Development of a temperature-controlled car-seat system utilizing
thermoelectric device, Appl. Therm. Eng. 27 (2007) 2841-2849.
5. R. Chein, G. Huang, Thermoelectric cooler application in electronic cooling, Appl. Therm. Eng. 24 (2004) 2207-
2217.
6. Gauger DC, Shapiro HN, Pate MB. Alternative technologies for refrigeration and air-conditioning applications,
United States environmental protection agency, Project Summary EPA/600/SR-95/066; 1995.
7. Tassou SA, Lewis JS, Ge YT, Hadawey A, Chaer I. A review of emerging technologies for food refrigeration
applications. Appl Therm Eng 2010;30:263–76.

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