HEAT PUMP FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20110041516A1
• Filed: 08/20/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International Inc (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International Inc (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Converse, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,015,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.3
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/50 for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/12 operating at high temperature, e.g. with stabilised ZrO2 electrolyte
• 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: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A component has an outer wall defining an interior chamber to be cooled. Electronic equipment is mounted within the outer wall in the chamber. A thermoelectric cooler has a cool node positioned to be within the chamber, and a hot node positioned outwardly of the outer wall. A fuel cell provides electricity to the thermoelectric cooler. The fuel cell is mounted outwardly of the outer wall.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an outer wall defining an interior chamber to be cooled;

electronic equipment mounted within said outer wall;

a thermoelectric cooler, said thermoelectric cooler having a cool node positioned within said outer wall, and a hot node to be positioned outwardly of said outer wall; and

a fuel cell providing electricity to said thermoelectric cooler, and said fuel cell being mounted outwardly of said outer wall.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fuel cell is a solid oxide fuel cell.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein a fuel source for said fuel cell are mounted within said outer wall.

4. The system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said fuel source includes both a hydrogen and an oxygen fuel source.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hot node of said thermoelectric cooler connects to a heat rejection device to transmit heat outwardly into the environment.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a fan pulls air over said electronic equipment, and passes the air to said cool node of said thermoelectric cooler.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein a solid component having good heat transfer characteristics connects said electronic equipment to said cool node.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said system is utilized as a probe for outer space application.

9. A system comprising:

an outer wall defining an interior chamber to be cooled;

electronic equipment mounted within said outer wall;

a thermoelectric cooler, said thermoelectric cooler having a cool node positioned within said outer wall, and a hot node to be positioned outwardly of said outer wall; and

a fuel cell providing electricity to said thermoelectric cooler, and said fuel cell being mounted outwardly of said outer wall, said fuel cell being a solid oxide fuel cell;

fuel sources for said fuel cell include both a hydrogen and an oxygen fuel source mounted within said outer wall;

wherein said hot node of said thermoelectric cooler connects to a heat rejection device to transmit heat outwardly into the environment.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein a fan pulls air over said electronic equipment, and passes the air to said cool node of said thermoelectric cooler

11. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein a solid component having good heat transfer characteristics connects said electronic equipment to said cool node

12. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said system is utilized as a probe for outer space application