Optimization and Experimental Validation of a Modular Thermoelectric Heat Pump System for a Premature Baby Incubator

In this paper, a modular thermoelectric heat pump system (MTEHPS)-driven premature baby incubator is optimized, constructed and tested. The input parameters used in the optimization were experimentally determined from a commercial resistance incubator. In the theoretical part, mathematical modeling of the MTEHPS including a thermoelectric cooler module, heatsinks and fans for premature infant incubators has been created by using the basic laws of physics. Then, in order to improve the MTEHPS, two-step limited optimization was performed using the volume obtained by removing the control unit and heating element of the commercial incubator. In the first optimization step, the optimum geometric configurations of the heatsinks were determined based on the fin thickness and spacing to maximize the heat transfer rate for the limited volume. In the second step, using the optimum heatsink parameters as input, the total MTEHPS was optimized for the maximum coefficient of performance (COPheating) around the maximum heating power by using dimensional analysis method with developed MATLAB (R) software, and optimum parameters of the system were determined. For the experimental part of the study, the MTEHPS was manufactured based on thermal and hydraulic parameters obtained as a result of the optimization and tested for thermal and electrical output parameters during steady-state operation of the incubator for a hood temperature of 36 degrees C and ambient temperature of 25 degrees C. It is found that the output parameters obtained from the optimization are in good agreement with the experimentally measured values. With an optimized MTEHPS, a COPheating of around 1.4 is reached, and the proposed system is economically feasible.