College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 4
College of Engineering
Department - Author 4
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 4
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Date
6-2025
Primary Advisor
Lauren Rueda, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department
Abstract/Summary
This senior project explored the use of thermoelectric cooling for atmospheric water capture. The system was designed to cool aluminum condensing surfaces below the dew point using Peltier modules, with forced convection heat sinks on the hot side. The purpose of this system was to gather reliable amounts of water for various water-scarce areas around the world to help meet the UN's sixth Sustainable Development Goal.
The final design of this project consisted of a 1.5 x 1.5 x 2 foot frame made of acrylic panels and insulation. Within the frame, the thermoelectric system was constructed using Peltier modules with heat sinks on one side to dissipate the heat produced in the system and condensing arrays on the other side for water to condense on. Fans were also installed in the system to cool the hot side of the Peltier devices and to bring air into the system. The system runs on grid power.
While early designs prioritized large cold-side fin arrays for surface area, thermal analysis revealed that excessive thermal mass prevented surfaces from cooling quickly enough for condensation. A detailed energy model, supported by experimental testing, showed that most of the Peltier devices' cooling capacity was spent lowering the block temperature, not extracting moisture. On the hot side, fan-driven convection was evaluated using Reynolds and Nusselt-based modeling. Although theoretically adequate, real-world inefficiencies limited performance. The project provides key design insights for improving thermoelectric water capture systems.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/mesp/832