Design and manufacture of a solar-powered portable refrigerator that uses Peltier cells for mobile equipment in remote areas

Abstract

The design and manufacture of a portable refrigerator for mobile equipment using renewable energy addresses the challenge of maintaining the cold chain (2-8°C) for vaccines in rural areas of Peru with limited access to electricity. Using Peltier cells (TEC1-12706 at 12V), a 50W solar panel, a 12V-3.2Ah battery, and a charge controller, the prototype achieves a COP of 0.74 and consumption of 52.2W, maintaining temperatures of 4-6°C in an insulated polypropylene box. The methodology included thermal load calculation, stress simulation (Autodesk Inventor), component selection, and experimental testing, validating autonomy for transport in common vehicles. Results show thermal stability under vibrations and adverse conditions, with total costs of S/1,324, overcoming previous limitations such as heavy batteries (e.g., 300Ah in De La Cruz and Solís, 2019) through a direct solar approach.This ecological and scalable system reduces losses of medical supplies, aligning with MINSA regulations (NTS 136-MINSA/2017) and promoting sustainability in emergencies. Conclusions highlight its viability for rural public health, recommending optimizations in Peltier efficiency.