TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE

• US 20100287952A1
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Goenka, Lakhi Nandlal
• Granted Patent: US 9,038,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/00 Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation connecting metal parts or objects by metal-working procedures B21J, B23K; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes hand tools in general B25
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0005 the air being firstly cooled and subsequently heated or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00057 the air being heated and cooled simultaneously, e.g. using parallel heat exchangers
• 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 1/00885 Controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps B60H1/00899 takes precedence; constructions of valves B60H1/00485
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/034 from the cooling liquid of the propulsion plant and from an electric heating device
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2218 controlling the operation of electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/32 Cooling devices B60H1/00478, B60H1/005 take precedence; vehicles adapted to transport refrigerated goods B60P3/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00171 Valves on heaters for modulated liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0042 characterised by the application of thermo-electric units or the Peltier effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Certain disclosed embodiments pertain to controlling temperature in a passenger compartment of a vehicle. For example, a temperature control system (TCS) can include an air channel configured to deliver airflow to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The TCS can include a one thermal energy source and a heat transfer device connected to the air channel. A first fluid circuit can circulate coolant to the thermal energy source and a thermoelectric device (TED). A second fluid circuit can circulate coolant to the TED and the heat transfer device. A bypass circuit can connect the thermal energy source to the heat transfer device. An actuator can cause coolant to circulate selectively in either the bypass circuit or the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit. A control device can operate the actuator when it is determined that the thermal energy source is ready to provide heat to the airflow.

Claims

1. A system for controlling temperature in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one passenger air channel configured to deliver a passenger airflow to the passenger compartment of the vehicle,

at least one thermal energy source,

at least one heat transfer device connected to the passenger air channel,

at least one thermoelectric device (TED),

a first fluid circuit configured to circulate coolant to the thermal energy source and the TED,

a second fluid circuit separate from the first fluid circuit, the second fluid circuit configured to circulate coolant to the TED and the heat transfer device,

at least one bypass circuit configured to connect the thermal energy source to the heat transfer device,

at least one actuator configured to cause coolant to circulate in the bypass circuit instead of the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit, and

at least one control system configured to operate the at least one actuator when it is determined that the thermal energy source is ready to provide heat to the passenger airflow, thereby causing coolant to circulate in the bypass circuit instead of in the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second fluid circuit comprises at least one pump configured to circulate coolant in the second fluid circuit.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one evaporator operatively connected to the passenger air channel.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one blend door operatively connected in the passenger air channel and configured to route the passenger airflow across the heat transfer device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one passenger air channel comprises a first air channel and a second air channel in at least partial parallel arrangement with respect to the first air channel, wherein the at least one blend door is configured to selectively divert the passenger airflow such that it flows through the first air channel, through the second air channel, or through both the first air channel and the second air channel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal energy source comprises a vehicle engine.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third fluid circuit configured to connect the TED to at least one low temperature core, the at least one low temperature core configured to dissipate thermal energy to ambient air.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one low temperature core comprises a radiator configured to dissipate heat.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the third fluid circuit comprises at least one pump to circulate fluid in the third fluid circuit.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one control system is further configured to:

determine whether the system is operating in a heating mode or a cooling mode; and

operate the at least one actuator to cause coolant to circulate in the third fluid circuit when it is determined that the system is operating in the cooling mode.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal energy source is ready to provide heat to the passenger airflow when the thermal energy source reaches a threshold temperature.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermal energy source is ready to provide heat to the passenger airflow when the coolant circulating through the at least one thermal energy source reaches a threshold temperature.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a fluid control device, a valve, a regulator, or a combination of structures.

14. A method of controlling temperature in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising:

moving a passenger airflow across at least one heat transfer device operatively connected within a passenger air channel of the vehicle;

operating a temperature control system of the vehicle in a first mode of operation, in which at least one thermoelectric device (TED) transfers thermal energy between a first fluid circuit connected to the at least one heat transfer device and a second fluid circuit connected to at least one thermal energy source; and

switching the temperature control system to a second mode of operation after the temperature control system has been operated in the first mode of operation;

wherein, in the second mode of operation, the temperature control system opens a bypass circuit connected to the at least one heat transfer device and to the at least one thermal energy source; and

wherein the bypass circuit is configured to transfer thermal energy between the at least one heat transfer device and the at least one thermal energy source without the use of the at least one TED.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein switching the temperature control system to the second mode occurs when at least one of the at least one thermal energy source has reached a threshold temperature.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one thermal energy source comprises an automobile engine.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein switching the temperature control system to the second mode occurs after a threshold time period has elapsed since the automobile engine was last started.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein switching the temperature control system to the second mode occurs when the temperature of the fluid within the second fluid circuit reaches a threshold temperature.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein switching the temperature control system to a second mode occurs when the temperature of the passenger airflow reaches a threshold temperature.

20. A method of manufacturing an apparatus for controlling temperature in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing at least one passenger air channel configured to deliver a passenger airflow to the passenger compartment of the vehicle,

operatively connecting at least one heat transfer device to the passenger air channel,

providing at least one thermal energy source,

providing at least one thermoelectric device (TED),

operatively connecting a first fluid circuit to the at least one thermal energy source and to the at least one TED,

operatively connecting a second fluid circuit to the at least one TED and to the at least one heat transfer device,

operatively connecting a bypass circuit to the at least one thermal energy source and to the at least one heat transfer device,

providing at least one actuator configured to cause fluid to circulate in the first fluid circuit and in the second fluid circuit in a first mode of operation and to cause fluid to circulate in the bypass circuit in a second mode of operation, and

providing at least one control device configured to operate the apparatus in the first mode of operation before it is determined that the at least one thermal energy source is ready to provide heat to the passenger airflow and to operate the apparatus in the second mode of operation after it is determined that the at least one thermal energy source is ready to provide heat to the passenger airflow.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein providing at least one passenger air channel comprises providing a first air channel and a second air channel.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising operatively connecting at least one blend door to the passenger air channel configured to selectively divert airflow to the first air channel, to the second air channel, or to both the first air channel and the second air channel.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein operatively connecting the at least one heat transfer device comprises disposing the at least one heat transfer device in only one of the first air channel and the second air channel.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising operatively connecting an evaporator to the passenger air channel.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

providing at least one low temperature core configured to transfer thermal energy from a fluid flowing within the low temperature core to ambient air;

operatively connecting a third fluid circuit to the at least one low temperature core and to the at least one TED; and

providing at least one actuator configured to cause fluid to circulate in the third fluid circuit in a third mode of operation;

wherein the at least one control device is configured to operate the apparatus in the third mode of operation when it is determined that cooling is desired in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.