Thermoelectric-based thermal management system

• US 8,915,091 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Goenka, Lakhi Nandlal
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US13/852,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20130213058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 62/33, 62/36.1, 62/37, 295/921, 165/42, 165/104.33
• 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 thermal management system in which a thermoelectric device is configured to remove heat from a heat generating system, the thermal management system comprising:

a thermoelectric device having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface;

a heat generating system separate from the thermoelectric device, wherein the heat generating system comprises a battery;

a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric device;

a first fluid circuit configured to convey a first coolant fluid therein, wherein the first fluid circuit is in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger and the battery;

a first fluid moving device configured to circulate the first coolant fluid through the first fluid circuit;

a second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric device;

a second fluid circuit configured to convey a second coolant fluid therein, wherein the second fluid circuit is in thermal communication with the second heat exchanger;

a second fluid moving device configured to circulate the second coolant fluid through the second fluid circuit; and

a third heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second fluid circuit and configured to transfer heat from the second fluid circuit to air;

wherein the thermoelectric device is configured to remove heat from the battery by transferring thermal energy from the first heat transfer surface to the second heat transfer surface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein thermal energy is transferred from the second heat transfer surface to the second heat exchanger, from the second heat exchanger to the second fluid circuit, from the second fluid circuit to the third heat exchanger, and from the third heat exchanger to the air when electric current is supplied in a first direction to the thermoelectric device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a blower configured to move the air.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second fluid moving device comprises a pump configured to circulate the second coolant fluid.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat generating system comprises an electronic device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat generating system comprises a fuel cell.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat generating system comprises another thermoelectric device.

5. A thermal management system in which a thermoelectric device is configured to remove heat from a heat generating system, the thermal management system comprising:

a thermoelectric device having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface;

a heat generating system separate from the thermoelectric device, wherein the heat generating system comprises a battery;

a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric device;

a first fluid circuit configured to convey a first fluid therein, wherein the first fluid circuit is in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger and the heat generating system;

a first fluid moving device configured to circulate the first fluid through the first fluid circuit;

a second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric device;

a second fluid in thermal communication with the second heat exchanger; and

a second fluid moving device configured to move the second fluid across the second heat exchanger;

wherein the thermoelectric device is configured to remove heat from the heat generating system by transferring thermal energy from the first heat transfer surface to the second heat transfer surface.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the heat generating system comprises an electronic device.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the heat generating system comprises a fuel cell.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the heat generating system comprises another thermoelectric device.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the second fluid is a gas.

18. The system of claim 5, wherein thermal energy is transferred from the second heat transfer surface to the second heat exchanger, and from the second heat exchanger to the second fluid when electric current is supplied in a first direction to the thermoelectric device.

10. A method of manufacturing a thermal management system in which a thermoelectric device is configured to remove heat from a heat generating system, the method comprising:

operatively connecting a thermoelectric device having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface to a first heat exchanger to establish thermal communication between the first heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric device and the first heat exchanger;

operatively connecting a first fluid circuit configured to convey a first fluid therein to the first heat exchanger to establish thermal communication between the first fluid circuit and the first heat exchanger;

operatively connecting a heat generating system separate from the thermoelectric device to the first fluid circuit to establish thermal communication between the first fluid circuit and the heat generating system, wherein the heat generating system comprises a battery;

positioning a first fluid moving device within the first fluid circuit, wherein the first fluid moving device is configured to circulate the first fluid through the first fluid circuit;

operatively connecting a second heat exchanger to establish thermal communication between the second heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric device and the second heat exchanger; and

positioning a second fluid moving device configured to move a second fluid across the second heat exchanger;

wherein the thermal management system is configured to remove heat from the heat generating system by transferring thermal energy from the first fluid to the second fluid.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the heat generating system comprises an electronic device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the heat generating system comprises a fuel cell.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the heat generating system comprises another thermoelectric device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the second fluid is a gas.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the thermal management system is configured to transfer thermal energy from the second heat transfer surface to the second heat exchanger, and from the second heat exchanger to the second fluid when electric current is supplied in a first direction to the thermoelectric device.