Energy efficiency and transient-steady state performance comparison of a resistance infant incubator and an improved thermoelectric infant incubator

Abstract

The present study aims to contribute energy related research by comparing thermal hydraulic performance parameters including energy consumptions, set temperature precisions and noise levels of newly improved thermoelectric infant incubator having thermoelectric heat pump and existing resistance infant incubator. For that purpose, an experimental set-up has been established and equipped with necessary measuring instruments and control units which allow determination of the above-mentioned performance parameters in transient and steady state operation mode of both infant incubators. According to the experimental results, the thermoelectric system was able to control the mean temperature of the hood with a precision of 0.05 °C while precision of the resistance system was 0.1 °C. Since incubators are generally used in heating operation mode, the coefficient of performance (COPheating) value of the thermoelectric system in the steady state condition where the mean hood air temperature is 36 °C and the ambient temperature is 25 °C, which is around 1.4, was higher than the resistance system. Thanks to the cooling mode of the improved thermoelectric system, it was shown that transient period can be shortened for lower set temperatures without opening the hood and operate in high ambient temperature (30 °C and above) environments and in transport incubators. © 2021 Karabuk University