Parallel thermoelectric heat exchange systems
First Claim
1. A thermoelectric refrigeration system comprising:
- a cooling chamber; and
a plurality of parallel thermoelectric heat exchange systems configured to extract heat from the cooling chamber and reject the heat to an external environment; and
wherein the plurality of parallel thermoelectric heat exchange systems comprises;
a first heat exchange system comprising;
a first thermoelectric heat exchanger comprising a hot side heat sink, a cold side heat sink, and a first plurality of thermoelectric coolers disposed between the hot heat sink and the cold side heat sink of the first thermoelectric heat exchanger, wherein each thermoelectric cooler of the first plurality of thermoelectric coolers is a module comprising a plurality of thermoelectric devices; and
a first reject loop that is coupled to the hot side heat sink of the first thermoelectric heat exchanger and in thermal contact with an exterior wall of the thermoelectric refrigeration system; and
a second heat exchange system comprising;
a second thermoelectric heat exchanger comprising a hot side heat sink, a cold side heat sink, and a second plurality of thermoelectric coolers disposed between the hot side heat sink and the cold side heat sink of the second thermoelectric heat exchanger, wherein each thermoelectric cooler of the second plurality of thermoelectric coolers is a module comprising a plurality of thermoelectric devices; and
a second reject loop that is coupled to the hot side heat sink of the second thermoelectric heat exchanger and in the thermal contact with the exterior wall of the thermoelectric refrigeration system;
wherein the first reject loop and the second reject loop are thermally in parallel and are not fluidly connected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to controlling multiple Thermoelectric Coolers (TECs) to maintain a set point temperature of a chamber. In one embodiment, a controller receives temperature data corresponding to a temperature of the chamber. Based on the temperature data, the controller selectively controls two or more subsets of the TECs to maintain the temperature of the chamber at a desired set point temperature. In this manner, the controller is enabled to control the TECs such that the TECs operate to efficiently maintain the temperature of the chamber at the set point temperature. In another embodiment, the controller selects one or more control schemes enabled by the controller based on temperature data and a desired performance profile. The controller then independently controls one or more subsets of the TECs according to the selected control scheme(s).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A thermoelectric refrigeration system comprising:
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a cooling chamber; and a plurality of parallel thermoelectric heat exchange systems configured to extract heat from the cooling chamber and reject the heat to an external environment; and wherein the plurality of parallel thermoelectric heat exchange systems comprises; a first heat exchange system comprising; a first thermoelectric heat exchanger comprising a hot side heat sink, a cold side heat sink, and a first plurality of thermoelectric coolers disposed between the hot heat sink and the cold side heat sink of the first thermoelectric heat exchanger, wherein each thermoelectric cooler of the first plurality of thermoelectric coolers is a module comprising a plurality of thermoelectric devices; and a first reject loop that is coupled to the hot side heat sink of the first thermoelectric heat exchanger and in thermal contact with an exterior wall of the thermoelectric refrigeration system; and a second heat exchange system comprising; a second thermoelectric heat exchanger comprising a hot side heat sink, a cold side heat sink, and a second plurality of thermoelectric coolers disposed between the hot side heat sink and the cold side heat sink of the second thermoelectric heat exchanger, wherein each thermoelectric cooler of the second plurality of thermoelectric coolers is a module comprising a plurality of thermoelectric devices; and a second reject loop that is coupled to the hot side heat sink of the second thermoelectric heat exchanger and in the thermal contact with the exterior wall of the thermoelectric refrigeration system; wherein the first reject loop and the second reject loop are thermally in parallel and are not fluidly connected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification