Design and Development of a Thermoelectric Beverage Cooler

Design and Development of a Thermoelectric Beverage Cooler By: Brandon Carpenter Andrew Johnston Tim Taylor Faculty Advisor: Dr. Quamrul Mazumder University of Michigan - Flint

Objective • Refrigerator designed for cooling large multiple items • Inefficient if only a single item is to be cooled • Due to size is non-portable • Technology requires coolant, compressor, and cumbersome tubing

Objective • Apply concept of refrigerator to a small scale device • Solid-state, eliminate need for coolants • Portability; can be taken wherever needed • Concentrate cooling onto single object to be cooled, eliminate energy waste in cooling empty space

Objective Turn This Into This

Engineering Approach • Use Peltier thermo cooler to provide cooling • Use tight fitting aluminum sleeve to enhance conductivity • Machine base to match contour of can bottom • Use fans with heat sink to remove heat • Power with drill battery

Preliminary Calculations •

Further Calculations •

Main Components • Peltier Cooler Model TEC 1 -12709 Rated for 90 W/ 139 W Max

Notes on Cooler • While a cooler with a higher rated wattage would theoretically be able to remove more heat, it creates more heat due to resistance and requires a much larger heat sink. • In order to remain portable a smaller cooler was needed, affecting cooling time.

Main Components • Sleeve 6061 Aluminum Cut to appropriate length 2. 62” Inner Diameter 0. 065” Wall Thickness

Main Components • Machined Base 6061 Aluminum Designed to accommodate various cans, as dimensions can differ

Manufacturing / Assembly • Aluminum tubing was cut into appropriate • lengths to make sections 1. 2. 3. 4. Beverage Compartment Fan Housing (which was not used) Wiring Compartment Battery Compartment

Manufacturing / Assembly • Discs were made to serve as plates between sections and for mounting purposes

Manufacturing / Assembly • Components were assembled using machine screws and adhesives

Manufacturing / Assembly • Insulation was placed around beverage compartment • Thermal paste was applied between thermo cooler, heat sink, top disc, base, and sleeve

Testing Procedure

Testing Procedure • A 12 oz. pop can is filled with water and placed in the beverage compartment • Initial temperature of the water is recorded • Cooler is turned on, and temperature is recorded in two minute intervals • Additionally, the ambient air temperature, starting battery voltage, and final battery voltage are recorded to check for any correlation

Testing Procedure • For each test, the data is entered into an Excel spreadsheet For comparison purposes, a similar test was conducted using a refrigerator Time (minutes) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Cooling Module Test #1 Temperature (⁰F) d. T/dt (⁰F / min) 82. 2 79. 7 1. 25 77. 7 1 75. 7 1 73. 9 0. 9 72. 3 0. 8 70. 5 0. 9 d. T/dt min 0. 8 d. T/dt max 1. 25 d. T/dt ave 0. 975 Ambient Air: 65. 5(⁰F) Starting Voltage: 12. 45 V Final Voltage: 9. 14 V

Results Data in graph form

Discussion •

Conclusion • With available technology idea is not yet practical • Current Peltier coolers are not very efficient, require large heat sinks which hinder portability • Also battery power/size ratio insufficient for portability