Thermoelectric-based heating and cooling system

• US 8,408,012 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BSST LLC (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Goenka, Lakhi N., Crane, Douglas T., Bell, Lon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US12/825,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20100313575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 62/32, 62/33, 62/36.1, 62/37
• US Class Current: 62/3.3
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/26 heat exchangers or the like making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02
• 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 1/2221 arrangements of electric heaters for heating an intermediate liquid B60H1/034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2275 Thermoelectric converters for generating electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0252 by liquids or two-phase fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/02 using waste heat, e.g. from internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/274 using waste energy, e.g. from internal combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Disclosed is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for a vehicle that operates in a heating mode, a cooling mode or a demisting mode. In some embodiments, the system includes a first circuit having first pump for circulating a first medium therein, a second circuit having a second pump for circulating a second medium therein and a thermoelectric module having a first surface in thermal contact with the first medium and a second surface in thermal contact with the second medium.

Claims

1. A method for heating or cooling an area using a heating and cooling system, the method comprising:

circulating a first medium through a first circuit;

circulating a second medium through a second circuit;

transferring thermal energy between a first heat exchanger and the first medium;

transferring thermal energy between a second heat exchanger and the second medium;

providing at least one thermoelectric module having a first surface in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger and a second surface in thermal communication with the second heat exchanger;

providing at least one bypass line in the first circuit, wherein when the first medium is circulated through the at least one bypass line, the first medium is prevented from being in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger;

selectively operating the system in a heating mode or a cooling mode;

directing current in a first direction through the at least one thermoelectric module such that the first surface cools the first heat exchanger and the second surface heats the second heat exchanger when the heating mode is selected; and

directing current in a second direction through the at least one thermoelectric module such that the first surface warms the first heat exchanger and the second surface cools the second heat exchanger when the cooling mode is selected.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising operatively engaging an engine with the first circuit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring thermal energy between a third heat exchanger and the first medium.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising moving air through the third heat exchanger with a blower.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring thermal energy between a fourth heat exchanger and the second medium.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising moving air through the fourth heat exchanger with a blower.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising operatively engaging a fifth heat exchanger with the first circuit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the fifth heat exchanger is a radiator.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first circuit comprises at least one bypass line and at least one valve configured to direct the first medium through one of the at least one bypass line and the fifth heat exchanger.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing the first medium through one of the at least one bypass line and the first circuit in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger using at least one double switching valve.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising circulating the first medium through a third circuit connected to the first circuit, wherein the third circuit comprises a valve and a sixth heat exchanger.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising operatively engaging a cold generating system with the third circuit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the third circuit further comprises at least one bypass line and at least one valve configured to direct the first medium through one of the at least one bypass line and the cold generating system.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the cold generating system is a thermoelectric device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the cold generating system is a cold storage system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the cold storage system is a phase change material.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second circuit comprises a demisting heat exchanger and at least one valve, whereby the at one least valve directs the second medium through one of the fourth heat exchanger and the demisting heat exchanger.

18. A method for heating or cooling an area using a heating and cooling system, the method comprising:

circulating a first medium through a first circuit;

circulating a second medium through a second circuit;

transferring thermal energy between a first heat exchanger and the first medium;

transferring thermal energy between a second heat exchanger and the second medium;

providing at least one thermoelectric module having a first surface in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger and a second surface in thermal communication with the second heat exchanger;

operatively engaging a heat generating system with the first circuit, wherein the heat generating system is separate from the at least one thermoelectric module;

selectively operating the system in a heating mode or a cooling mode;

directing current in a first direction through the at least one thermoelectric module such that the first surface cools the first heat exchanger and the second surface heats the second heat exchanger when the heating mode is selected; and

directing current in a second direction through the at least one thermoelectric module such that the first surface warms the first heat exchanger and the second surface cools the second heat exchanger when the cooling mode is selected.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the heat generating system comprises a battery.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the heat generating system comprises an electronic device.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the heat generating system comprises an internal combustion engine.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the heat generating system comprises positive temperature coefficient device.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the heat generating system comprises an exhaust of the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the heat generating system comprises a fuel cell.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the heat generating system comprises a thermoelectric device.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the heat generating system comprises a heat storage system.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the heat storage system comprises a phase change material.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the first circuit further comprises at least one bypass line and at least one valve configured to direct the first medium through one of the at least one bypass line and the heat generating system.