SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTED THERMOELECTRIC HEATING AND COOLING
First Claim
1. A thermoelectric system for distributed localized heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling, the thermoelectric system comprising:
- at least one fluid conduit configured to allow a first working fluid to flow therein; and
a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly comprising a plurality of thermoelectric elements, each thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the first working fluid and in thermal communication with a region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly, wherein each thermoelectric assembly is selectively operable either to heat the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the first working fluid to the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly or to cool the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly to the first working fluid, wherein each thermoelectric assembly is operable independently from operation of other thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermoelectric system and method provides distributed localized heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling. The thermoelectric system includes a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies. Each thermoelectric assembly comprises a plurality of thermoelectric elements, and each thermoelectric assembly is in thermal communication with a first working fluid and in thermal communication with a region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly. Each thermoelectric assembly is selectively operable either to heat the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the first working fluid to the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly or to cool the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly to the first working fluid. Each thermoelectric assembly is operable independently from operation of other thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A thermoelectric system for distributed localized heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling, the thermoelectric system comprising:
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at least one fluid conduit configured to allow a first working fluid to flow therein; and a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly comprising a plurality of thermoelectric elements, each thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the first working fluid and in thermal communication with a region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly, wherein each thermoelectric assembly is selectively operable either to heat the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the first working fluid to the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly or to cool the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly to the first working fluid, wherein each thermoelectric assembly is operable independently from operation of other thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A network of distributed thermoelectric assemblies, the network comprising:
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a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly having a first side and a second side, each thermoelectric assembly selectively operable either to heat a region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from a first working fluid to the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly or to cool the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly to the first working fluid, wherein each thermoelectric assembly is operable independently from operation of other thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly comprising; a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the first side and with the second side of the thermoelectric assembly; a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first side of the thermoelectric assembly, the first heat exchanger configured to be in thermal communication with the first working fluid; and a second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second side of the thermoelectric assembly and with the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly; and one or more conduits fluidically coupled to the first heat exchangers of each thermoelectric assembly of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, the one or more conduits providing a flowpath through which the first working fluid flows to and from each of the first heat exchangers. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling localized portions of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a thermoelectric system comprising at least one fluid conduit configured to allow a first working fluid to flow therein and a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly comprising a plurality of thermoelectric elements, each thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the first working fluid and in thermal communication with a region of the vehicle corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly, wherein each thermoelectric assembly is selectively operable either to heat the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the first working fluid to the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly or to cool the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly to the first working fluid, wherein each thermoelectric assembly is operable independently from operation of other thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies; and preconditioning at least one region of the vehicle by operating at least one thermoelectric assembly of the thermoelectric system. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification