Start upgrading from the ice chamber and see how Pioneer Thermoelectric uses TEC technology to reshape smart home appliances!
Water dispensers are indispensable small appliances in homes and offices. The core component of water dispensers, the ice tank, directly determines the cooling performance of water dispensers. A high-quality ice tank can not only cool quickly, but also ensure long-term stable operation of the equipment. However, there are some problems with the traditional ice tank solutions currently available on the market, such as complex production processes and unstable refrigeration, which may cause the ice tank to have slow cooling speed, high energy consumption, and high maintenance costs. Semiconductor refrigeration (TEC) technology effectively solves these problems and also provides a more flexible and efficient cooling solution for the ice tank. Next, this article will introduce in detail the working principle, core advantages and future development trends of semiconductor refrigeration technology in ice tanks.
Traditional ice bladder: compressor refrigeration technology
1. Loud noise affects the experience
Traditional compressor refrigeration systems will generate continuous mechanical vibration and airflow noise during operation, with the noise reaching 50~60 decibels. If placed in an office, it will interfere with work and affect the user experience.
2. High energy consumption and increased costs
The average power consumption of compressor cooling is about 100~150W, and the standby power consumption is about 10~20W. In commercial scenarios, the annual power consumption of traditional ice bladders is about 2~3 times that of similar TEC cooling sheets. High energy consumption also increases the cost of use.
3. Low cooling efficiency and large water temperature fluctuations
The compressor relies on "starting and stopping" to maintain the temperature, causing the water temperature to fluctuate by more than ±2°C and the cooling response time to be as long as 10 to 15 minutes. This not only affects the user experience, but also causes the drinking water to clump and taste worse.
2. Next-generation solution: semiconductor refrigeration technology
In order to solve the above problems, a new type of refrigeration method, semiconductor refrigeration technology, was introduced. This technology is based on the Peltier effect, which drives semiconductor materials (such as Bi2Te2 alloy) through direct current to separate the hot and cold ends, thereby achieving the purpose of refrigeration.
1.Semiconductor refrigeration technology based on the Peltier effect
Semiconductor refrigeration chips drive semiconductor materials through direct current to produce temperature difference effect. Its cooling efficiency is determined by the current intensity, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity of semiconductor materials. FerroTec's commercial-grade TEC refrigeration chips have a performance figure of merit (ZT value) of 1.0~1.2, which has excellent practicality and energy efficiency and can be widely used in various temperature control scenarios.
2. Modular and highly integrated design
Semiconductor cooling chips (typical size 40×40×4mm) support embedded installation and are suitable for a variety of commercial/vehicle-mounted water dispensers. Since there are no moving parts, its structure is simple and compact. It is easy to integrate and reduces maintenance costs.
3. Intelligent temperature control and precise temperature adjustment
The semiconductor cooling chip adjusts the current in real time through the PID (proportional-integral-differential) algorithm, which can stably control the water temperature at 4±0.5℃. Laboratory tests show that after 24 hours of continuous operation, the water temperature deviation of the water dispenser does not exceed ±0.3℃.
Semiconductor Refrigeration VS Traditional Compressor Refrigeration
It is not difficult to find from the above table that semiconductor refrigeration chips are significantly superior to traditional compressors in terms of quietness, temperature control accuracy, and energy consumption management. It is also because of its low-noise operation, precise temperature control capabilities, flexible modular design, and intelligent control system that semiconductor refrigeration is gradually replacing compressor refrigeration and becoming the preferred solution for ice tank refrigeration.
With the continuous advancement of intelligent manufacturing and energy-saving and environmental protection concepts, the semiconductor temperature control devices independently developed and manufactured by FerroTec will play a more important role in consumer electronics and other fields. In the future, we will continue to promote technology upgrades and product innovations to provide global customers with comprehensive, efficient and sustainable temperature control solutions.
