Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The increasing demand for sustainable refrigeration systems has encouraged the development of environmentally friendly cooling technologies powered by renewable energy sources. This paper presents the design and development of an IoT-based Folding Solar Refrigerator using thermoelectric Peltier modules. The proposed system utilizes solar photovoltaic energy as the primary power source, which is stored in a rechargeable battery through a charge controller to ensure continuous operation during low solar irradiance. The refrigeration unit is built using four TEC1-12706 thermoelectric modules, aluminium heat sinks, and DC cooling fans to achieve effective heat transfer without employing conventional compressors or refrigerants. A foldable insulated cooling chamber improves portability and makes the system suitable for rural healthcare, camping, disaster relief, vaccine transportation, and food preservation applications. An ESP32 microcontroller integrated with a DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor enables real-time monitoring of temperature, humidity, and battery status through an IoT-based web dashboard. This feature enhances user convenience by allowing continuous remote monitoring of the refrigeration system. The developed prototype demonstrates reliable cooling performance while operating entirely on renewable solar energy. The proposed system offers a compact, portable, low-maintenance, and eco-friendly alternative to conventional refrigeration technology. The project validates the practical feasibility of combining thermoelectric cooling, solar power, and IoT technology for next-generation portable refrigeration systems.
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7165837838