Pengaruh Variasi Laju Aliran Fluida terhadap Kinerja Thermoelectric Cooler (Tec) sebagai Refrigerator

Abstract

Penelitian ini membahas pengaruh variasi laju aliran fluida pendingin (coolant) terhadap kinerja Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) sebagai sistem pendingin. TEC dipilih karena ramah lingkungan, tidak menggunakan refrigeran kimia, berdesain ringkas, dan minim perawatan, namun kinerjanya sangat dipengaruhi efektivitas pembuangan panas. Optimasi laju aliran fluida menjadi penting untuk meningkatkan efisiensi energi dan stabilitas sistem.Pengujian dilakukan secara eksperimen menggunakan modul TEC-12706, sistem water block, pompa, power supply, flowmeter, dan cooler box berinsulasi. Tiga variasi laju aliran diuji: 0,002 l/s (rendah), 0,005 l/s (sedang), dan 0,008 l/s (tinggi), dengan pengukuran suhu, konsumsi daya, energi per volume, dan Coefficient of Performance (COP) pada interval waktu 10, 30, dan 60 menit. Analisis menggunakan ANOVA menunjukkan pengaruh signifikan laju aliran terhadap kinerja TEC (p < 0,05).Hasil penelitian menunjukkan laju aliran rendah menghasilkan perbedaan suhu (ΔT) tertinggi 21,7 K, namun konsumsi energi lebih besar (0,01 kWh/l). Laju aliran tinggi memberikan COP tertinggi 0,337 dan konsumsi energi terendah 0,0025 kWh/l, menjadikannya konfigurasi paling efisien untuk penggunaan berkelanjutan.Kesimpulannya, laju aliran tinggi memberikan keseimbangan terbaik antara pendinginan, efisiensi energi, dan stabilitas sistem. Penelitian ini dapat menjadi acuan pengembangan sistem pendingin berbasis TEC yang hemat energi dan ramah lingkungan untuk aplikasi rumah tangga maupun industri. This study investigates the effect of coolant flow rate variations on the performance of a Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) used as a refrigeration system. TECs are chosen as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional vapor-compression systems because they operate without chemical refrigerants, are compact, and require minimal maintenance. However, their performance strongly depends on heat dissipation, making coolant flow rate optimization essential for energy efficiency and system stability.An experimental setup was developed using a TEC-12706 module, water block cooling system, pump, power supply, flowmeter, and insulated cooler box. Three coolant flow rates—0.002 l/s (low), 0.005 l/s (medium), and 0.008 l/s (high)—were tested over intervals of 10, 30, and 60 minutes. Key parameters measured included temperature difference (ΔT) between hot and cold sides, power consumption, energy per cooling volume, and Coefficient of Performance (COP). ANOVA analysis confirmed a significant effect of flow rate on TEC performance (p < 0.05).Results showed that the low flow rate achieved the highest ΔT of 21.7 K but consumed more energy (0.01 kWh/l), while the high flow rate provided the best balance with a COP of 0.337 and lowest energy consumption (0.0025 kWh/l).In conclusion, a higher coolant flow rate offers the most efficient and stable operation, making it suitable for sustainable TEC-based cooling systems. These findings serve as a reference for designing energy-efficient, eco-friendly refrigeration for household and industrial applications.