Cooling Performance of Solar Cell-Driven, Thermoelectric Cooling Prototype Headgear

Cooling performance of solar cell driven, thermoelectric cooling prototype headgear was examined experimentally. Three types of prototype headgear were made and examined. They were cooled by thermoelectric elements and driven by solar cells. Conventional cooling caps driven by solar cells only blow ambient air to the face with an electric fan. A thermoelectric element was set at the front of a headgear to cool a forehead. Solar cells were mounted on the top and the brim of the headgear to work the thermoelectric element. Three prototypes of headgear with solar cells and a thermoelectric element were made and tested. Refrigeration capacity and thermal comfort were examined by subjects in case of sitting, walking and bicycling. The temperature difference between ambient and cooling temperature was required to be 4 to 5 degree Celsius for thermal comfort.