Prototype validation study demonstrates bidirectional water heating and cooling via a rotatable solar thermoelectric cap, indicating improved portable thermal regulation off-grid.
Key Points
To design and validate a portable, solar-powered thermoelectric bottle cap featuring a mechanical Peltier side-switching mechanism for efficient bidirectional water heating and cooling.
Integrated two thermoelectric Peltier modules, a flexible photovoltaic film, a rechargeable battery, an aluminum heat-transfer plate, and an intelligent control system into a compact cap prototype.
Implemented a manual rotary knob with precision locking detents to physically rotate the Peltier module assembly 180° between heating and cooling modes to reduce thermal resistance.
The system actively heats and cools up to 1 L of water within a 16°C temperature range in 10–15 minutes.
The 180° mechanical side-switching mechanism ensures precise alignment and contact with the aluminum plate, eliminating static polarity-switching conduction losses.