Termohigrometric microenvironmental control for laboratory animals through thermoelectric technology: experimental study for laboratory animals

Abstract

An air conditioner for animal facilities was mounted with thermoelectric modules of Peltier effect. For heat exchange, a water dissipation system was employed.The air temperature difference (Δt) was 21 ºC, the performance was 46.02% and the power consumption was 524 W/h. The mathematical simulation of operation, with mixture of no conditioned air showed that the system can serve approximately 137 standard mouse microisolators, with water dissipation system. The thermoelectric system also showed an accuracy of ± 0.1 ºC at the experimental temperatures, which is impossible in a system of Freon Gas. We tested the following temperatures: 22º, 24º, 26º, 28º and 30 ºC, always getting stability and accuracy at any outside temperature.