TEC-Driven Mini Refrigerators: Recent Applications With Performance Characteristics

Abstract

Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC) technology has become a remarkable alternative in mini refrigerator applications in recent years, thanks to its lack of moving parts, silent operation, compact structure and environmentally friendly features. This study aims to examine the current usage areas, performance characteristics, and engineering challenges of TEC systems in mini refrigerator applications with a holistic approach. Experimental and theoretical studies in the literature were evaluated, and the solutions provided by TEC technology in different application scenarios were comparatively evaluated. Within the scope of the study, examples for different areas such as food transportation, individual use, medical cooling, and solar energy-supported systems were examined. Performance parameters such as COP (Coefficient of Performance), temperature difference, energy consumption, and system stability were comparatively addressed. In addition, the contributions of phase change materials (PCM), nanofluid-supported coolers, and smart systems integrated with microcontrollers to TEC performance were also evaluated. The results show that TEC-based mini refrigerators offer significant advantages in terms of sustainability, portability, and low energy consumption (typically 30–90 W, about 40–60% of that of comparable compressor-based systems); however, some aspects need to be improved in terms of thermal efficiency and sensitivity to environmental conditions. This review reveals that TEC-based mini-refrigerators offer significant advantages in terms of sustainability, portability, and low energy consumption, but still have room for improvement in thermal efficiency and sensitivity to environmental conditions. In this context, the study guides both academic research and industrial applications.