Design and control of Peltier cell-based climate chamber for precise reproduction of environmental conditions

Abstract

Food waste in the supply chain is a global problem that requires innovative solutions to reduce the social, economic and environmental impacts. This research presents the design, construction and validation of a portable controlled climate chamber based on Peltier cells (thermoelectric modules) capable of dynamically reproducing real temperature curves to which products in the supply chain are exposed. It employs a cascade control system with two-degree-of-freedom PID, anti-wind-up method and Smith predictor to combat thermal inertia and time delays, allowing accurate tracking of rapidly changing temperature curves. In addition, the control utilizes hysteresis when switching between cooling and heating modes, making it more efficient. Experimental validation confirmed the system’s capability to accurately simulate supply chain conditions while keeping errors within reasonable margins. The chamber serves as a physical twin of the postharvest chain to, through predictive modeling, evaluate product shelf life and reduce their waste.