Thermoelectric enhanced HVAC system and method

• US 20060150657A1
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Spurgeon, Daniel A., Taher, Mahmoud A.
• Application Number:
  US11/031,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20060150657A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/331
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00378 for tractor or load vehicle cabins
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00478 Air-conditioning devices using the Peltier effect for air-conditioning in general F24F5/0042; for refrigeration F25B21/02; electric devices exhibiting the Peltier effect H10N10/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/00 Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/17 characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device

Abstract

A heating and cooling system is provided for use on a work machine. The system may include one or more temperature sensors configured to collect environmental temperature information and a compressor-based HVAC unit having a compressor and providing in-cabin climate control based on circulation. The system may also include a thermoelectric HVAC unit to supplement the compressor-based HVAC unit. Further, the system may include a controller configured to control the thermoelectric HVAC unit and the compressor-based HVAC unit based on the environmental temperature information.

Claims

1. A heating and cooling system for use on a work machine, comprising:

one or more temperature sensors configured to collect environmental temperature information;

a compressor-based HVAC unit having a compressor and providing in-cabin climate control based on circulation;

a thermoelectric HVAC unit to supplement the compressor-based HVAC unit; and

a controller configured to control the thermoelectric HVAC unit and the compressor-based HVAC unit based on predetermined information.

2. The system according to claim 1, further including:

a plurality of air conduits in fluid communication with both the compressor-based HVAC unit and the thermoelectric HVAC unit.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information includes at least one of environmental information, sensor inputs, and operator inputs:

4. The system according to claim 1, further including:

a first thermoelectric device incorporated into an operator input device of the work machine;

one or more second thermoelectric devices incorporated into one or more seats of the work machine; and

one or more third thermoelectric devices incorporated into at least one area of the work machine floor.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the operator input device is a steering wheel.

6. The system according to claim 4, further including:

a thermoelectric HVAC unit associated with a sleeping compartment of the work machine.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric HVAC unit includes a low dimensional thermoelectric material.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the low dimensional thermoelectric material is a zero-dimensional quantum dots thermoelectric material.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the low dimensional thermoelectric material is a one-dimensional nano wire thermoelectric material.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the low dimensional thermoelectric material is a two-dimensional quantum well thermoelectric material.

11. A method for use in a thermoelectric enhanced heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system having a compressor-based HVAC unit and one or more thermoelectric modules on a work machine, comprising:

determining an operational mode for the thermoelectric enhanced HVAC system;

determining an operational status for the compressor-based HVAC unit; and

supplementing the compressor-based HVAC unit with the one or more thermoelectric modules based on the operational status of the compressor-based HVAC unit.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the determining an operational mode further includes:

obtaining environmental temperature information; and

determining the operational mode for the thermoelectric enhanced HVAC system based on the environmental temperature information;

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the determining an operational status further includes:

determining whether an engine coolant temperature of the work machine is above a predetermined heating temperature.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the determining an operational status further includes:

determining whether a refrigerant temperature of the compressor-based HVAC unit is below a predetermined cooling temperature.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the determining an operational status further includes:

determining whether a cabin of the work machine is closed or open to outside environment.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the determining an operational status further includes:

determining whether an engine is running idle or at cruise speed.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein determining further includes:

estimating a response time of the compressor-based HVAC unit to reach a desired in-cabin air temperature; and

comparing the response time with a predetermined threshold to determine whether to supplement the compressor-based HVAC unit.

18. The method according to claim 17, further including:

turning off the thermoelectric HVAC unit after the desired in-cabin air temperature is reached; and

continuing to operate the compressor-based HVAC unit to maintain the desired in-cabin air temperature.

19. The method according to claim 16, further including:

switching between the thermoelectric HVAC unit and the compressor-based HVAC unit according to engine operational status.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the one or more thermoelectric modules include:

a thermoelectric HVAC unit;

a steering wheel thermoelectric device;

one or more seat thermoelectric devices; and

one or more floor thermoelectric devices.

21. A method for operating at least one thermoelectric module within a thermoelectric enhanced HVAC system having a compressor-based HVAC unit, comprising:

obtaining environmental temperature information;

determining an operational mode for the at least one thermoelectric module based on the environmental temperature information;

determining a polarity and magnitude of a voltage to be applied to thermoelectric materials within the at least one thermoelectric module; and

applying the voltage having the determined polarity and magnitude to the thermoelectric materials within the at least one thermoelectric module.

22. The method according to claim 21, further including:

periodically checking an operational status of the compressor-based HVAC unit; and

selectively operating the at least one thermoelectric module and the compressor-based HVAC unit based on the operational status.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the at least one thermoelectric module includes thermoelectric materials with a figure of merit ZT between 0.5 and 10.

24. A control system of a work machine for use in a thermoelectric enhanced HVAC system, comprising:

a compressor-based HVAC unit;

at least one thermoelectric HVAC unit, and a controller configured to perform operations to;

obtain environmental temperature information from one or more sensors;

determine an operational mode for the thermoelectric enhanced HVAC system based on the environmental temperature information;

determine an operational status for the compressor-based HVAC unit; and

supplement, based on the operational status of the compressor-based HVAC unit, operation of the compressor-based HVAC unit by operating the at least one thermoelectric HVAC unit.

25. The control system according to claim 24, wherein the at least one thermoelectric HVAC unit includes:

a thermoelectric HVAC unit;

a steering wheel thermoelectric device;

one or more seat thermoelectric devices; and

one or more floor thermoelectric devices.

26. A work machine, comprising:

an operator cabin;

a compressor-based HVAC unit configured to provide conditioned air to the cabin;

at least one thermoelectric module configured to alter environmental conditions in the cabin; and

a controller configured to selectively operate the compressor-based HVAC unit and the at least one thermoelectric module.

27. The work machine according to claim 26, wherein the at least one thermoelectric module includes:

a thermoelectric HVAC unit;

a steering wheel thermoelectric device;

one or more seat thermoelectric devices; and

one or more floor thermoelectric devices.

28. The work machine according to claim 27, wherein the thermoelectric HVAC unit shares vents with the compressor-based HVAC unit.

29. The work machine according to claim 26, wherein the at least one thermoelectric module includes high efficiency thermoelectric materials.

30. The work machine according to claim 26, wherein the controller is configured to:

obtain environmental temperature information from one or more sensors;

determine an operational mode for the at least one thermoelectric module based on the environmental temperature information;

determine an operational status for the compressor-based HVAC unit; and

supplement, based on the operational status of the compressor-based HVAC unit, operation of the compressor-based HVAC unit by operating the at least one thermoelectric module.