Thermoelectric based heating and cooling system for a hybrid-electric vehicle

• US 20070033951A1
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Crane, Douglas, Bell, Lon, Goenka, Lakhi
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.700
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/004 for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles
• 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: B60H 1/00492 comprising regenerative heating or cooling means, e.g. heat accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/025 Removal of heat
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/24 Storage receiver heat
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 25/005 using primary and secondary systems

Abstract

A heating and cooling system including a first and second thermoelectric module each has a first surface and a second surface. In thermal communication with the first and second surfaces of the thermoelectric modules are separate heat exchangers. A thermal storage device is in thermal communication with the first surface of the second thermoelectric module. The thermal storage device is configured to store thermal energy generated by the second surface of the second thermoelectric module.

Claims

1. A heating and cooling system for a vehicle, the heating and cooling system comprising:

a first thermoelectric module configured to receive a regenerative pulse, the first thermoelectric module having a first surface in thermal communication with a first heat exchanger; and

at least one thermal storage device in thermal communication with the first surface of the first thermoelectric module, whereby the thermal storage device is configured to store at least a portion of the thermal energy generated by the first surface of the first thermoelectric module.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second thermoelectric module configured to receive a current, the second thermoelectric module having a first surface in thermal communication with a third heat exchanger and a second surface in thermal communication with a fourth heat exchanger;

and

the first thermoelectric module having a second surface in communication with a second heat exchanger.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising an energy storage device and a logic device configured to provide the regenerative pulse to one of the first thermoelectric module and the at least one energy storage device.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a first fluid circuit having a first pump for circulating a first medium therethrough, the first fluid circuit being in thermal communication with the second and fourth heat exchangers.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a first fluid circuit heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first medium.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising a blower configured to move air across and through at least one heat exchanger.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second fluid circuit having a second pump for circulating a second medium therethrough, the second fluid circuit being in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a second fluid circuit heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second medium.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a blower configured to move air through the second circuit heat exchanger.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the thermal storage device is in thermal communication with the second medium.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second fluid circuit further comprises an at least one bypass line and an at least one valve configured to selectively prevent the second medium from being in thermal communication with the thermal storage device.

12. The system of claim 2, further comprising a third fluid circuit having a third pump for circulating a third medium therethrough, the third circuit being in thermal communication with the fourth heat exchanger.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one thermal storage device is in thermal communication with the third medium.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal storage device includes an at least one liquid reservoir.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal storage device includes at least phase change material.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the phase change material further comprises a high temperature phase change material and low temperature phase change material.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first thermoelectric module is at least one thermoelectric module.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the second thermoelectric module is at least one thermoelectric module.