Thermoelectric thermal management system for the energy storage system in a regenerative elevator

• US 8,220,590 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Chen, Lei, Yamanis, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US12/523,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20100065380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,014 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187/289, 187/290, 187/293, 187/296, 187/297, 187391-393
• US Class Current: 187/290
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/302 for energy saving
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/00 Arrangements for cooling or ventilating channels or ducts in parts of the magnetic circuit H02K1/20, H02K1/32; channels or ducts in or between conductors H02K3/22, H02K3/24

Abstract

A regenerative elevator system operates in three modes: motoring, idle and regeneration. During the regeneration mode, the elevator motor operates as a generator, and electrical energy is stored in an energy storage system for later use. The energy storage system may be located in a machine room or hoistway where temperature can vary widely. A thermoelectric thermal management system provides thermoelectric cooling or heating to maintain the energy storage system within a desired operating temperature range.

Claims

1. An elevator system comprising:

an elevator;

a drive system for driving the elevator during a motoring mode and producing electrical energy during a regenerative mode;

an electrical energy storage system for storing electrical energy produced by the drive system during the regenerative mode; and

a thermoelectric thermal management system for controlling an ambient condition of the electrical energy storage system by selectively heating and cooling to maintain the energy storage system in a desired operating temperature range.

2. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the thermoelectric thermal management system is selectively powered by electrical energy from the drive system.

3. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the thermoelectric thermal management system includes a thermoelectric device positioned to condition an air stream directed to the electrical energy storage system.

4. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the thermoelectric thermal management system includes a thermoelectric device having a working surface in contact with the electrical energy storage system.

5. The elevator of claim 1 wherein the electrical energy storage system is located in a hoistway of the elevator.

6. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the electrical energy storage system is located in a machine room of the elevator.

7. The elevator system of claim 1 wherein the thermoelectric thermal management system controls a temperature of the electrical energy storage system as a function of at least one sensed parameter.

8. The elevator system of claim 7, wherein the sensed parameter comprises a temperature of the electrical energy storage system.

9. The elevator system of claim 7, wherein the sensed parameter comprises a state of charge of the electrical energy storage system.

10. The elevator system of claim 7, wherein the sensed parameter comprises ambient temperature.

11. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric thermal management system comprises:

a thermoelectric heater/cooler;

at least one temperature sensor for providing a temperature signal;

a state of charge monitor for providing a state of charge signal indicative of state of charge of the electrical energy storage system; and

a controller for controlling operation of the thermoelectric heater/cooler as a function of both the temperature signal and the state of charge signal to selectively heat and cool the energy storage system to maintain the energy storage system in a desired operating temperature range.

12. The elevator system of claim 11, wherein the controller also controls charging of the electrical energy storage system by regenerative power as a function of the temperature signal and the state of charge.

13. The elevator system of claim 12, wherein the controller selects whether regenerative power is used to operate the thermoelectric heater/cooler.

14. A method of thermally managing an electrical energy storage system of a regenerative elevator system, the method comprising:

sensing temperature of the electrical energy storage system;

monitoring state of charge of the electrical energy storage system; and

controlling operation of a thermoelectric heater/cooler as a function of both sensed temperature and state of charge to selectively heat and cool the energy storage system to maintain the electrical energy storage system in a desired operating temperature range.

15. The method of claim 14 and further comprising:

controlling charging and discharging of the electrical energy storage system as a function of sensed temperature and state of charge.

16. The method of claim 14 and further comprising:

selectively operating the thermoelectric heater/cooler using regenerative power produced by the regenerative elevator system.

17. A regenerative elevator system comprising:

a hoist motor;

an electric storage device;

a regenerative charging circuit for delivering electrical energy from the hoist motor to the electric storage device when the hoist motor is operating as a generator;

a thermoelectric heater/cooler selectively heating and cooling the electric storage device to maintain the energy storage device in a desired operating temperature range.

18. The regenerative elevator system of claim 17 and further comprising:

a controller for controlling the thermoelectric heater/cooler as a function of both temperature and state of charge of the electric storage device.

19. The regenerative elevator system of claim 18, wherein the controller selectively causes the thermoelectric heater/cooler to use electrical energy from the regenerative charging circuit.

20. The regenerative elevator system of claim 18, wherein the controller controls charging and discharging of the electric storage device as a function of temperature and state of charge of the electric storage device.

21. An elevator system comprising:

an elevator;

a drive system for driving the elevator during a motoring mode and producing electrical energy during a regenerative mode;

an electrical energy storage system for storing electrical energy produced by the drive system during the regenerative mode; and

a thermoelectric thermal management system for controlling an ambient condition of the electrical energy storage system, wherein the thermoelectric thermal management system comprises;

a thermoelectric heater/cooler;

at least one temperature sensor for providing a temperature signal;

a state of charge monitor for providing a state of charge signal indicative of state of charge of the electrical energy storage system; and

a controller for controlling operation of the thermoelectric heater/cooler as a function of the temperature signal and the state of charge signal, wherein the controller also controls charging of the electrical energy storage system by regenerative power as a function of the temperature signal and the state of charge signal.

22. The elevator system of claim 21, wherein the controller selects whether regenerative power is used to operate the thermoelectric heater/cooler.

23. A regenerative elevator system comprising:

a hoist motor;

an electric storage device;

a regenerative charging circuit for delivering electrical energy from the hoist motor to the electric storage device when the hoist motor is operating as a generator;

a thermoelectric heater/cooler for controlling temperature of the electric storage device; and

a controller for controlling the thermoelectric heater/cooler as a function of temperature and state of charge of the electric storage device;

wherein the controller selectively causes the thermoelectric heater/cooler to use electrical energy from the regenerative charging circuit; and

wherein the controller controls charging and discharging of the electric storage device as a function of temperature and state of charge of the electric storage device.