Design And Experimental Analysis of a Portable Solar-Powered Thermoelectric Refrigeration System for Insulin Cold-Chain Management.
Rishikesh P. Kathoye¹, Arnav G. Shimpi², Rutvik M. Shrirao³, Priyanshu S. Kadu⁴, Prof. A.V. Kadu
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Ram Meghe Institute of technology & research, Amravati-444607, Maharashtra, India
2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Ram Meghe Institute of technology & research, Amravati-444607, Maharashtra, India
3Department of Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Ram Meghe Institute technology & research, Amravati-444607, Maharashtra, India
4Department of Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Ram Meghe Institute of technology & research, Amravati-444607, Maharashtra, India
ABSTRACT
The Preservation of Temperature-Sensitive Pharmaceuticals Such As Insulin Requires Strict Cold-Chain Maintenance Between 2°C And 8°C To Prevent Degradation of Biochemical Stability. In Developing Regions, Unreliable Electricity Supply And Inadequate Infrastructure Frequently Result In Cold-Chain Interruptions, Compromising Drug Efficacy And Patient Safety. This Research Presents The Comprehensive Design, Mathematical Modeling, Fabrication, And Experimental Evaluation of A Portable Solar-Powered Thermoelectric Refrigeration System Intended For Rural Healthcare Applications.
The System Integrates A TEC1-12706 Thermoelectric Module Powered By A 20W Photovoltaic Panel With Lithium-Ion Battery Storage And Closed-Loop Temperature Control. Detailed Thermal Load Calculations, Energy Balance Modeling, Coefficient of Performance Analysis, And Transient Cooling Behavior Are Investigated. Experimental Results Indicate Cooling From 29°C To 4.8°C Within 58 Minutes Under No-Load Conditions And Stable Maintenance Within WHo-Recommended Range For 4.5 Hours on Battery Backup.
The Proposed System offers A Compact, Environmentally Sustainable, And Maintenance-Free Alternative To Vapor Compression Refrigeration For Decentralized Medical Cold Storage.
Keywords: Thermoelectric Refrigeration, Peltier Cooling, Solar Energy Integration, Medical Cold-Chain, Insulin Storage, Renewable Energy Refrigeration.
