TESLA INSPIRED HVAC REVOLUTION: Combining Modern Technologies to Revolutionize the World

Imagine being able to cool your entire home using the warmth of a sunny day? Imagine having a personal emergency water tank to use in case of emergencies? There are many ways to safeguard yourself, and your community, while also practicing renewable/clean utility sourcing all while saving on monthly expenses.

Utilizing modern alternating semiconductor technology submersed in a biodegradable naturally renewing dielectric fluid, solar energy power a pump across a closed loop system and filtering the condensation through a graphene filter to purify the water before it is put into a tank.


Updated Prototype Design with Alternating Peltier Modules:

Incorporating alternating thermoelectric modules (TEC1-12706) into your closed-loop cooling system will increase the cooling efficiency while ensuring that the system provides continuous cooling by alternating the modules.

Updated System Overview

  • Cooling Method: Alternating thermoelectric (Peltier) modules.
  • Dielectric Fluid: Vegetable oil.
  • Copper Piping & Heat Exchangers: Plate or finned tube type.
  • Energy Source: Solar and battery-based power supply.
  • Water Collection and Filtration: Graphene filter to convert condensation into drinkable water.
  • Control Circuit: Microcontroller or relay-based alternating circuit.

Key Components and Suppliers

1. Thermoelectric Modules

  • TEC1-12706:
    • Supplier: Amazon, eBay, AliExpress
    • Specifications:
      • Qmax: 60W
      • ΔTmax: 67°C
      • Imax: 6A
      • Vmax: 15.4V
    • Price: ~$3-$5 each (require 2 modules)

2. Copper Tubing & Heat Exchangers

  • Copper Tubing: 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) diameter, 20 feet.
  • Plate Heat Exchanger: Stainless steel, 20 plates.
  • Price: Tubing ~$20-$25; Plate exchanger ~$40-$60.

3. Pump

  • 12V Fluid Pump: 8-12 L/min capacity.
  • Supplier: Amazon, eBay
  • Price: ~$20-$30.

4. Power Supply and Control Circuit

  • Solar PV Panel: 200W monocrystalline (expandable).
  • Charge Controller: MPPT type, 12V/24V.
  • Battery Pack: 24V, 40Ah Lithium-ion.
  • Inverter: 120V AC output, 500W continuous.
  • Microcontroller or Relay Circuit:
    • Arduino or Raspberry Pi for microcontroller option.
    • 12V relay for switching circuit.
  • Price: ~$100-$120 (battery pack), ~$80-$100 (solar PV), ~$20-$40 (charge controller), ~$5-$15 (relays).

5. Graphene Water Filter

  • Portable Water Filtration Unit: Includes graphene filter.
  • Supplier: Direct from manufacturers or online retailers.
  • Price: ~$50-$80.

6. Housing and Miscellaneous

  • Cooler-like Housing: Plastic cooler-style enclosure with wheels and handle.
  • Wiring, Connectors, Fasteners, Thermal Compound.

Estimated Rough Cost Breakdown

  • Thermoelectric Modules: 2 x $5 = $10
  • Copper Tubing & Heat Exchanger: $70
  • Pump: $25
  • Power Supply & Control Circuit:
    • Solar Panel: $80
    • Battery Pack: $120
    • Inverter & Charge Controller: $60
  • Graphene Water Filter: $70
  • Housing & Miscellaneous: $100

Total Estimated Cost: ~$535

Fabrication Process

Step 1: Fabricate the Cooling Circuit

  1. Copper Tubing:
    • Cut and bend copper tubing to form a closed-loop circuit.
    • Connect the tubing to the plate heat exchangers.
    • Install an inline filter in the circuit.
  2. Pump Installation:
    • Connect the pump to the copper tubing circuit.
    • Ensure proper mounting to prevent vibration.
  3. Thermoelectric Module Mounting:
    • Apply thermal compound to the cold side of each TEC1-12706 module.
    • Mount each TEC1-12706 module between the copper tubing and aluminum heat sinks.
    • Secure modules tightly using thermal adhesive or brackets.

Step 2: Electrical Assembly

  1. Solar PV System:
    • Mount the solar panels and connect them to the MPPT charge controller.
    • Connect the charge controller to the 24V battery pack.
  2. Control Circuit Assembly:
    • Connect the TEC1-12706 modules to the microcontroller/relay circuit.
    • Configure the control circuit to alternate between the modules for cooling.
    • Connect the inverter to the battery pack for AC power.

Step 3: Water Collection and Filtration

  1. Condensation Collection Tray:
    • Install the tray below the heat sinks to collect condensation.
    • Direct the collected water to the graphene filter.
  2. Graphene Water Filter Installation:
    • Install the graphene filter unit in the housing.
    • Connect the filter output to a storage tank.

Step 4: Cooler-like Housing Assembly

  1. Housing Preparation:
    • Cut holes for the heat sinks, piping, and electrical connections.
    • Mount all components within the housing.
  2. Final Assembly:
    • Secure all components in place.
    • Seal all electrical and fluid connections.
    • Attach wheels and handle for portability.

Step 5: Testing and Optimization

  1. Cooling System Testing:
    • Test the fluid circuit for leaks.
    • Check the performance of alternating Peltier modules.
  2. Electrical System Testing:
    • Test the solar and battery system for adequate power supply.
    • Verify proper operation of the alternating control circuit.
  3. Water Filtration Testing:
    • Test the graphene filter’s ability to purify collected water.

Control Circuit Design (Alternating Peltier Modules)

Circuit Components:

  • Arduino/Raspberry Pi: Microcontroller to control relay switching.
  • 12V Relays: Switches the Peltier modules on and off.

Circuit Diagram Overview:

Programming the Microcontroller (Arduino Example)

cppCopy codeconst int peltier1 = 8; // Relay 1 for Peltier module 1
const int peltier2 = 9; // Relay 2 for Peltier module 2

void setup() {
  pinMode(peltier1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(peltier2, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(peltier1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(peltier2, LOW);
}

void loop() {
  // Activate Peltier module 1
  digitalWrite(peltier1, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(peltier2, LOW);
  delay(30000); // Run for 30 seconds

  // Switch to Peltier module 2
  digitalWrite(peltier1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(peltier2, HIGH);
  delay(30000); // Run for 30 seconds
}

Final Thoughts

  1. Maintenance:
    • Regularly clean the heat sinks and replace the oil filter.
    • Replace the graphene filter as needed.
  2. Optimization:
    • Experiment with the alternation timing to improve efficiency.
    • Adjust the pump speed and heat sink arrangement for better cooling.
  3. Scalability:
    • Increase the number of Peltier modules or solar panels as needed.

Below is a secondary prototype for home cooling and drinkable water supply.

Key Requirements

  1. Cooling Capacity: Adequate to cool 1,000 square feet.
  2. Water Purification: Condensation converted to drinkable water via a graphene filter.
  3. Portability: Cooler-like unit that can sit in a corner of a room.
  4. Energy Source: Solar and semiconductor technologies for sustainable power.

Design and Component Selection

  1. Cooling System
    • Dielectric Fluid: Vegetable oil
    • Cooling Capacity: ~18,000 BTU/hr (1.5 tons) suitable for 1,000 sq. ft.
    • Copper Tubing & Heat Exchangers
      • Copper Tubing: 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) diameter for optimal flow.
      • Heat Exchanger Design: Plate or finned tube heat exchangers.
    • Fluid Pump: Flow rate of 8-12 L/min.
    • Thermoelectric Modules (Peltier Elements): Seebeck effect modules for power generation and cooling.
    • Graphene Filter: Converts condensation into drinkable water.
    • Water Tank: Collects and stores the filtered water.
  2. Energy System
    • Solar PV Panels: 200 W (expandable for more power)
    • Charge Controller: MPPT type
    • Battery Pack: 24V, 40Ah
    • Inverter: 120V AC output, 500W continuous

System Design Outline

  1. Cooling Circuit
    • Closed-loop Fluid Circuit:
      • Circulates vegetable oil through copper tubing and heat exchangers.
      • Copper piping transfers heat efficiently between heat exchangers and thermoelectric modules.
    • Pump & Filtration:
      • Pump ensures steady circulation of vegetable oil.
      • Inline oil filter to maintain purity.
  2. Thermoelectric Module Integration
    • Hot Side: Thermoelectric modules are mounted between the copper piping and heat exchangers.
    • Cold Side: Modules are connected to aluminum heat sinks to cool the room air.
    • Electrical Output: Connected to the battery pack through the charge controller.
  3. Condensation Collection and Filtration
    • Condensation Collection Tray: Collects condensation from the cold side of thermoelectric modules.
    • Graphene Filter: Filters condensation water to produce drinkable water.
    • Water Tank: Stores filtered water.

System Schematic and Layout

Below is an illustrated diagram to visualize the concept:

Portable Prototype Design Steps

  1. Mechanical Design
    • Cooling Circuit:
      • Design a compact layout of copper piping, heat exchangers, and thermoelectric modules.
      • Incorporate a pump for circulating vegetable oil and ensure proper filtration.
    • Heat Sink Assembly:
      • Attach heat sinks to the cold side of thermoelectric modules for efficient cooling.
    • Water Collection & Filtration:
      • Place condensation tray below heat sinks to collect water.
      • Design graphene filter unit to purify the collected water.
  2. Electrical Design
    • Solar PV System:
      • Connect solar panels to the MPPT charge controller.
      • Connect charge controller to the battery pack for energy storage.
    • Thermoelectric Modules:
      • Connect modules to the battery pack through the charge controller.
  3. Assembly and Testing
    • Mechanical Assembly:
      • Assemble the cooling circuit, pump, and thermoelectric modules.
    • Electrical Assembly:
      • Connect the solar PV system and thermoelectric modules to the battery pack.
    • Testing & Optimization:
      • Test cooling capacity and optimize thermoelectric module operation.
      • Test water collection and filtration efficiency.
  4. Housing and Portability
    • Cooler-like Housing:
      • Create a cooler-like casing to house all components.
    • Wheels and Handle:
      • Add wheels and a handle for easy transportation.

Additional Considerations

  1. Cooling Efficiency:
    • Optimize oil flow rate and thermoelectric module arrangement for maximum efficiency.
  2. Water Purity Testing:
    • Conduct water purity testing to ensure filtered water is safe for drinking.
  3. Maintenance:
    • Incorporate an easily replaceable oil filter and graphene filter unit.

Bill of Materials (BOM)

Here’s an initial list of components required:

ComponentSpecificationsQuantity
Copper Tubing3/8 inch diameter, 20 feet1
Plate Heat ExchangerStainless Steel, 20 plates1
Pump12V, 8-12 L/min1
Thermoelectric ModulesPeltier, 40×40 mm, 4-6 A10
Solar PV Panels100 W, Monocrystalline2
MPPT Charge Controller12/24V, 20 A1
Battery Pack24V, 40Ah Lithium-ion1
Graphene FilterPortable water filtration unit1
Water Tank2 Gallons1
Inverter120V AC output, 500W1
Cooler-like HousingPlastic, with wheels and handle1
MiscellaneousWires, connectors, fasteners

Submerged Semiconductor Cooling

Advantages:

  • Direct Cooling: Increased heat transfer due to direct contact with the dielectric fluid.
  • Compact Design: Efficient use of space and better cooling performance.

Challenges:

  • Fluid Compatibility: Ensure the dielectric fluid doesn’t degrade the semiconductor materials.
  • Thermal Management: Properly manage the heat distribution.

System Design Update

Submerged Semiconductor Assembly:

  1. Heat Sinks:
    • Submerged heat sinks in dielectric fluid directly connected to thermoelectric modules.
  2. Semiconductor Modules:
    • Use thermoelectric modules (Peltier modules) to convert temperature gradients into electricity.

Components and Suppliers

1. Thermoelectric Modules (Peltier Devices)

  • Where to Get Them:
    • TEC1-12706:
      • Supplier: Amazon, eBay, AliExpress
      • Specifications: 12V, 6A, 60W, 40mm x 40mm
    • Laird Technologies eTEC Series:
      • Supplier: DigiKey, Mouser
      • Specifications: 24V, 3A, 80W, 40mm x 40mm
    • Custom Thermoelectric:
      • Supplier: Custom Thermoelectric
      • Specifications: Can custom build modules as per specifications.

2. Heat Sinks

  • Aluminum/Copper Heat Sinks:
    • Directly submerge aluminum/copper heat sinks in vegetable oil.
    • Supplier: Amazon, eBay, AliExpress
  • Custom Heat Sinks:
    • Have custom copper heat sinks machined to fit around the semiconductor modules.

3. Graphene Filter

  • Supplier: Graphene Leaders Canada, Graphene Manufacturing Group
  • Where to Buy:
    • Online retailers or directly from manufacturers.

4. Vegetable Oil Dielectric Fluid

  • Transformer Oil Alternative:
    • Supplier: Cargill Envirotemp FR3 or Dow UCON
  • Cooking Oil Alternatives:
    • High-purity coconut or olive oil for non-industrial uses.

Assembly Instructions

  1. Submerged Semiconductor Cooling Unit:
    • Build a submerged heat sink assembly in a container filled with vegetable oil.
    • Mount thermoelectric modules between the copper heat sinks.
    • Use high-temperature thermal compound between modules and heat sinks.
  2. Integration:
    • Connect the thermoelectric modules to the charge controller and battery pack.
    • Ensure proper thermal insulation and sealing of the submerged unit.
  3. Testing and Optimization:
    • Measure the temperature gradient across the semiconductor modules.
    • Adjust the heat sink assembly to maximize efficiency.

Example Schematic (Updated)

Conclusion

Submersible semiconductors can increase efficiency by directly transferring heat. The components can be sourced from general suppliers like Amazon and specialty suppliers like DigiKey or Custom Thermoelectric.

Let me know if you need help with more detailed sourcing or designing!


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