Solar powered air cooling for idle parked cars: Architecture and implementation

This paper presents the design and implementation of a novel, low-cost solar powered car cooling system for idle parked cars. This system is targeted towards Gulf countries such as the United Arab Emirates as high ambient temperature changes may cause interior damage to the car and pose a significant burn threat for young, disabled or elderly passengers. The main objective of this system is to significantly reduce the temperature inside the parked vehicle without starting the engine and using vehicle's own A/C system. The proposed cooling prototype utilizes thermoelectric element to cool the air inside the car and mirco fan system to accelerate the heat exchange. The system is powered by the external battery and recharged by the top-mounted solar panels. The system's connectivity is leveraged by Wi-Fi technology operated via mobile phones that enable remote monitoring and control of the temperature inside the car. The initial tests carried out on the car model indicate modest cooling effects in the range of 4° C, but can be significantly boosted by the increased power and improved heat exchange.