Thermoelectric solar cooling systems

Solar cooling systems are divided into two types. Cooling systems that consume solar thermal energy are based on sorption principles and have many implementations depending on the temperature potential of the heat transfer medium, which in turn depends on the type of solar collector. The highest temperature potential is provided by concentrating collectors which are the most expensive. They allow to realize efficient two- and three-stage absorption cooling cycles in lithium bromide and water-ammonia plants. Cooling systems based on electric energy from solar panels utilize electrically driven refrigeration machines. These are vapor-compression systems and direct energy conversion systems: thermoelectric and on caloric effects (electrocaloric, magnetocaloric, and piezocaloric). Specifically, it is necessary to emphasize thermoelectric systems on the Peltier effect, because they consume DC energy which is produced by solar panels and does not require conversion to AC. In the article a review of scientific literature in the field of solar-driven thermoelectric cooling is performed. The schematic solutions and technical characteristics of two groups of these systems are given: devices for cooling of external objects and devices for cooling of solar panels themselves to improve their performance.