Desenvolvimento de geladeira fotovoltaica com estocagem de energia em água na forma de gelo e líquida

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic energy emerges as a viable solution for providing electricity in remote areas, where approximately 770 million people still lack access to power. The refrigeration of food and medicines is essential for food security and public health; however, conventional systems face high costs and technical complexity. This study proposes an off-grid photovoltaic system coupled with a household refrigerator, using ice as a thermal storage medium to maintain temperatures below 5 °C overnight. The main objective is to oversize solar panels, replacing batteries with thermal storage, thereby reducing costs and increasing efficiency. Methodologically, the project includes calculating energy demand, optimizing thermal insulation, conducting an economic feasibility analysis, and performing experimental validation. Given the natural intermittency of renewable sources such as solar energy, energy storage becomes fundamental to ensure continuous supply, especially during periods without sunlight. In this study, storage is innovatively achieved using water/ice to retain the energy accumulated during the day, allowing the system to support refrigeration loads overnight. This approach eliminates the need for batteries, which are a major cost factor in conventional photovoltaic systems. The expected results demonstrate that the system can be a sustainable alternative for locations without energy infrastructure, contributing to the reduction of food losses and the improvement of medicine preservation. It is concluded that the proposed approach is technically feasible, economically accessible, and environmentally sustainable, and can be applied to isolated communities or situations of energy instability.