Counterflow thermoelectric configuration employing thermal transfer fluid in closed cycle
First Claim
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1. A thermoelectric system comprising:
- plural thermoelectric modules, each including at least one thermoelectric element and together defining a thermoelectric array, individual ones of the thermoelectric elements having respective first and second sides and exhibiting respective thermal differentials during operation;
a first closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the first sides of the thermoelectric elements; and
a second closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the second sides of the thermoelectric elements, wherein a counterflow topology of the first and second closed fluid loop pathway portions is structured to ensure that the respective thermal differentials are substantially uniform during operation with a thermal transfer fluid.
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Abstract
Active cooling technologies such as thermoelectrics can be used to introduce thermal “gain” into a cooling system and, when employed in combination with forced flow liquid metal cooling loops, can provide an attractive solution for cooling high heat flux density devices and/or components. Total cooling power can be increased by employing multiple thermoelectric elements. Indeed, by employing modern semiconductor technologies, including e.g., thin-film technologies, thermoelectric elements may be cost-effectively employed and configured in large arrays.
101 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A thermoelectric system comprising:
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plural thermoelectric modules, each including at least one thermoelectric element and together defining a thermoelectric array, individual ones of the thermoelectric elements having respective first and second sides and exhibiting respective thermal differentials during operation;
a first closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the first sides of the thermoelectric elements; and
a second closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the second sides of the thermoelectric elements, wherein a counterflow topology of the first and second closed fluid loop pathway portions is structured to ensure that the respective thermal differentials are substantially uniform during operation with a thermal transfer fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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- 27. A thermoelectric array configuration that that motivates flow of a liquid metal thermal transfer fluid in a first closed fluid loop using a magnetofluiddynamic (MFD) pump, wherein the motivated flow is part of a counterflow topology structured to ensure that thermal differentials across modules of the thermoelectric array are substantially uniform during operation.
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39. A method of operating a thermoelectric system that includes plural thermoelectric modules, each including at least one thermoelectric element and together defining a thermoelectric array, individual ones of the thermoelectric elements having respective first and second sides and exhibiting respective thermal differentials during operation, the method comprising:
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motivating flow of a first thermal transfer fluid through a first closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the first sides of the thermoelectric elements; and
motivating flow of a second thermal transfer fluid through a second closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the second sides of the thermoelectric elements, wherein topologies of the motivated flows are selected to achieve substantially uniformity of the thermal differentials during operation of the thermoelectric system. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method of making a thermoelectric system product, the method comprising:
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providing plural thermoelectric modules, each including at least one thermoelectric element and together defining a thermoelectric array, individual ones of the thermoelectric elements having respective first and second sides;
configuring a first closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the first sides of the thermoelectric elements;
configuring a second closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the second sides of the thermoelectric elements; and
coupling an electromagnetic pump to at least one of the first and second closed fluid loop pathway portions. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. An apparatus comprising:
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plural thermoelectric modules, each including at least one thermoelectric element and together defining a thermoelectric array;
means for motivating flow of an electrically-conductive thermal transfer fluid away from, or back to, the thermoelectric array; and
means for defining a flow topology that ensures that respective thermal differentials across modules of the thermoelectric array are substantially uniform during operation. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66)
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Specification