The Optimal Design of Kilowatts Scale Thermoelectric Air-Conditioner for High-Speed Railway Locomotive

Compared to traditional air conditioning systems, thermoelectric cooling has several advantages, such as refrigerant-free operation, absence of moving parts, and rapid effect, so it is regarded as an environmentally friendly and reliable cooling method, with the potential to replace traditional air conditioning systems. This research investigates the feasibility of employing high-power thermoelectric cooling in high-speed train carriages. A high-power and high-efficiency thermoelectric air conditioning (TEAC) system, along with corresponding thermoelectric devices, was designed for cooling the driver’s cabin in high-speed trains, and the flow and temperature fields within the carriage were analyzed when using this TEAC system. A single thermoelectric cooler (TEC) provided a cooling capacity of 93.7 W, with a coefficient of performance (COP) of 1.179. The TEAC system comprising 14 TECs achieved a cooling capacity of 1218 W, with a COP of 1.072. The temperature field inside the carriage was uniform and exhibited a linear correlation with the supplied air temperature. This research demonstrates the utility of high-power TEAC in high-speed train carriages, providing valuable insights for the application of TEAC technology.