Refrigeration systems and methods for connection with a vehicle's liquid cooling system

• US 9,238,398 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Lu, Qiao, Godecker, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROJOHN III, CLAIRE E
• Application Number:
  US12/566,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20100071384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,308 Days
• Field of Search: 62/36.1, 62/36, 62/79, 621/75, 623/35, 62/32, 622/44, 623/32, 622/386, 621/81, 621/83, 622/24, 165/104.14, 165/13, 361/700
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00592 Add-on devices, e.g. heat/cooling boxes, compartment dividers, upgrade sets
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/04 Galleys
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0629 with subsystems for cooling food, catering or special loads
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0212 of electric power, current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/025 Removal of heat
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0252 by liquids or two-phase fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 7/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with cascade operation, i.e. with two or more circuits, the heat from the condenser of one circuit being absorbed by the evaporator of the next circuit F25B9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 15/00 Devices not covered by group F25D11/00 or F25D13/00, e.g. non-self-contained movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/06 by forced circulation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature

Abstract

An exemplary refrigeration system for cooling food or beverages may use a liquid cooling system of a vehicle. The refrigeration system may include a compartment in which the food or beverages may be placed and removed, a chilled liquid coolant system having a connection through which liquid coolant is received from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle, and a heat exchanger operationally coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system and the compartment to transfer heat from the compartment into the liquid coolant. The refrigeration system may also include a second chilled coolant system through which a second coolant flows and a second heat exchanger operationally coupled with the second chilled coolant system and the compartment to transfer heat from the compartment. The chilled liquid coolant system and the second chilled coolant system may operate together as a cascade cooling system.

Claims

1. A refrigeration system for cooling a removable object using a liquid cooling system of a vehicle, the refrigeration system comprising:

a compartment in which an object may be placed and removed;

a chilled liquid coolant system having a connection through which liquid coolant is received from a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle, the chilled liquid coolant system not including a vapor compressor and the liquid coolant not undergoing a vapor-compression cycle;

a first heat exchanger having a connection with the chilled liquid coolant system through which the liquid coolant is received and a thermal connection with the compartment that transfers heat from the compartment into the liquid coolant;

a vapor cycle cooling system including a compressor and refrigerant that flows through the compressor and undergoes a vapor-compression cycle;

a second heat exchanger having a connection with the vapor cycle cooling system through which the refrigerant is received and a thermal connection with the compartment that transfers heat from the compartment into the refrigerant;

a liquid-cooled condenser that is connected with both the vapor cycle cooling system and the chilled liquid coolant system, the liquid-cooled condenser receiving the refrigerant from the vapor cycle cooling system and the liquid coolant from the chilled liquid coolant system, and the liquid-cooled condenser including a thermal connection between the chilled liquid coolant system and the vapor cycle cooling system that transfers heat between the refrigerant and the liquid coolant;

a sensor having a sensor data output, the sensor positioned to measure a temperature of air from the compartment and output sensor data representative thereof;

a first coolant control valve having a first control input, the first coolant control valve coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system along a coolant flow path between the liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the first heat exchanger and operable to control a flow of liquid coolant into the first heat exchanger from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle according to the first control input;

a second coolant control valve having a second control input, the second coolant control valve coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system along a coolant flow path between the liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the liquid-cooled condenser and operable to control a flow of coolant into the liquid-cooled condenser from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle according to the second control input; and

a controller coupled with the sensor data output of the sensor, the first control input of the first coolant control valve, and the second control input of the second coolant control valve, the controller configured to control a temperature of the compartment according to the sensor data by transmitting a first control signal to the first control input of the first coolant control valve and a second control signal to the second control input of the second coolant control valve;

wherein the liquid cooled condenser is connected to both the first heat exchanger and the second coolant control valve to receive liquid coolant from either one or both of the first heat exchanger and the second coolant control valve according to the first control signal and the second control signal.

2. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger includes a liquid-to-air heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant.

3. The refrigeration system of claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger includes an evaporator configured to transfer heat from air from the compartment into the refrigerant.

4. The refrigeration system of claim 1, further comprising a fan positioned to circulate air from the compartment through at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.

5. A method of operating a refrigeration system for cooling a refrigerated compartment in which an object may be placed and removed, using a liquid cooling system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving liquid coolant by a chilled liquid coolant system from a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle, the chilled liquid coolant system not including a vapor compressor and the liquid coolant not undergoing a vapor-compression cycle;

receiving the liquid coolant by a first heat exchanger through a connection with the chilled liquid coolant system;

transferring heat from the compartment into the liquid coolant by the first heat exchanger via a thermal connection with the compartment;

performing a vapor compression cycle of refrigerant that flows through a vapor cycle cooling system including a compressor;

receiving the refrigerant by a second heat exchanger through a connection with the vapor cycle cooling system;

transferring heat from the compartment into the refrigerant by the second heat exchanger via a thermal connection with the compartment;

receiving the refrigerant from the vapor cycle cooling system by a liquid-cooled condenser that is connected with both the vapor cycle cooling system and the chilled liquid coolant system;

receiving the liquid coolant from the chilled liquid coolant system by the liquid-cooled condenser;

transferring heat between the refrigerant and the liquid coolant by the liquid-cooled condenser via a thermal connection between the chilled liquid coolant system and the vapor cycle cooling system;

measuring a temperature of air from the compartment by a sensor having a sensor data output;

outputting sensor data representative of the measured temperature by the sensor via the sensor data output;

controlling a flow of liquid coolant into the first heat exchanger from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle by a first coolant control valve coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system along a coolant flow path between the liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the first heat exchanger according to a first control input from a controller;

controlling a flow of coolant into the liquid-cooled condenser from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle by a second coolant control valve coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system along a coolant flow path between the liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the liquid-cooled condenser according to a second control input from the controller;

receiving the sensor data output from the sensor by the controller; and

controlling a temperature of the compartment according to the sensor data by the controller transmitting a first control signal to the first control input of the first coolant control valve and a second control signal to the second control input of the second coolant control valve;

wherein the liquid-cooled condenser receives liquid coolant from either one or both of the first heat exchanger and the second coolant control valve according to the first control signal and the second control signal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

reducing a temperature of the refrigerated compartment to a desired temperature using the chilled liquid coolant system coupled with the centralized liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the vapor cycle cooling system together as a cascade cooling system; and

maintaining the temperature of the refrigerated compartment at approximately the desired temperature using the chilled liquid coolant system coupled with the centralized liquid cooling system of the vehicle without using the vapor cycle cooling system when the desired temperature is equal to or greater than approximately 3 degrees C.

17. The method of claim 6, further comprising maintaining the temperature of the refrigerated compartment at approximately the desired temperature using the chilled liquid coolant system coupled with the centralized liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the vapor cycle cooling system together as a cascade cooling system when the desired temperature is less than approximately 0 degrees C.

7. A refrigeration system for cooling a removable object using a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle, the refrigeration system comprising:

a compartment in which an object may be placed and removed;

a chilled liquid coolant system having a connection through which liquid coolant is received from a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle which distributes the liquid coolant to a plurality of refrigeration systems, the chilled liquid coolant system not including a vapor compressor and the liquid coolant not undergoing a vapor-compression cycle;

a first heat exchanger proximate the compartment, having a connection with the chilled liquid coolant system through which the liquid coolant is received, and having a thermal connection with the compartment that transfers heat from the compartment into the liquid coolant, the first heat exchanger including at least one heat exchanger selected from the group consisting of a cold wall conduction heat exchanger having a coolant circuit including closed channels through which the liquid coolant circulates and a conduction heat exchanger in thermally conductive contact with a liner of at least one wall of the compartment, and a liquid-to-air heat exchanger having a connection with the chilled liquid coolant system through which the liquid coolant is received and a thermal connection with the compartment that transfers heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant;

a vapor cycle cooling system including a compressor and refrigerant that flows through the compressor and undergoes a vapor-compression cycle;

an evaporator proximate the compartment and having a connection with the vapor cycle cooling system through which the refrigerant is received and a thermal connection with the compartment that transfers heat from the compartment into the refrigerant;

a liquid cooled condenser including a condenser refrigerant circuit in fluid communication with the vapor cycle cooling system, a condenser secondary coolant circuit in fluid communication with the chilled liquid coolant system, and a thermal connection between the condenser refrigerant circuit and the condenser secondary coolant circuit that transfers heat from the refrigerant to the liquid coolant;

a sensor having a sensor data output, the sensor positioned to measure a temperature of air from the compartment and output sensor data representative thereof;

a first coolant control valve having a first control input, the first coolant control valve operationally coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system to control a flow of liquid coolant into the first heat exchanger according to the first control input;

a second coolant control valve having a second control input, the second coolant control valve operationally coupled with the vapor cycle cooling system to control a flow of refrigerant into the evaporator according to the second control input; and

a controller coupled with the sensor data output of the sensor, the first control input of the first coolant control valve, and the second control input of the second coolant control valve, the controller configured to control a temperature of the compartment according to the sensor data by transmitting a first control signal to the first control input of the first coolant control valve and a second control signal to the second control input of the second coolant control valve.

8. The refrigeration system of claim 7, wherein the first heat exchanger includes a liquid-to-air heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant.

9. The refrigeration system of claim 7, further comprising a fan positioned to circulate air from the compartment through at least one of the first heat exchanger and the evaporator.

10. A refrigeration system for cooling a removable object using a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle, the refrigeration system comprising:

a compartment in which an object may be placed and removed;

a chilled liquid coolant system having a connection through which liquid coolant is received from a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle which distributes the liquid coolant to a plurality of refrigeration systems, the chilled liquid coolant system not including a vapor compressor and the liquid coolant not undergoing a vapor-compression cycle;

a first heat exchanger proximate the compartment, having a connection through which the liquid coolant is received from the chilled liquid coolant system, and having a thermal connection with the compartment that transfers heat from the compartment into the liquid coolant, the first heat exchanger including at least one heat exchanger selected from the group consisting of a cold wall conduction heat exchanger having a coolant circuit including closed channels through which the liquid coolant circulates and a conduction heat exchanger in thermally conductive contact with a liner of at least one wall of the compartment, and a liquid-to-air heat exchanger having a connection with the chilled liquid coolant system through which the liquid coolant is received and a thermal connection with the compartment that transfers heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant;

a thermoelectric device coupled with a liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink and a thermoelectric cold side heat exchanger, the thermoelectric cold side heat exchanger thermally coupled with the compartment, and the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system and configured to transfer heat from the compartment via the thermoelectric cold side heat exchanger using the liquid coolant;

a sensor having a sensor data output, the sensor positioned to measure a temperature of air from the compartment and output sensor data representative thereof;

a controller configured to couple with the sensor data output of the sensor, the chilled liquid coolant system, and the thermoelectric device, the controller configured to control a temperature of the compartment according to the sensor data by transmitting a control signal to the chilled liquid coolant system and the thermoelectric device;

a first coolant control valve having a first control input, the first coolant control valve coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system along a coolant flow path between the liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the first heat exchanger and operable to control a flow of liquid coolant into the first heat exchanger from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle according to the first control input; and

a second coolant control valve having a second control input, the second coolant control valve coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system along a coolant flow path between the liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink and operable to control a flow of coolant into the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle according to the second control input;

wherein the controller is coupled with the first control input of the first coolant control valve and the second control input of the second coolant control valve, the controller configured to control a temperature of the compartment according to the sensor data by transmitting a first control signal to the first control input of the first coolant control valve and a second control signal to the second control input of the second coolant control valve.

11. The refrigeration system of claim 10, wherein the thermoelectric cold side heat exchanger includes a cold side air heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from air from the compartment to the thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric device transferring the heat to the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink which subsequently transfers the heat into the liquid coolant.

12. The refrigeration system of claim 10, wherein the first heat exchanger includes a liquid-to-air heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant.

13. The refrigeration system of claim 10, further comprising a fan positioned to circulate air from the compartment through both the first heat exchanger and the thermoelectric cold side heat exchanger.

14. A refrigeration system for cooling a removable object using a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle, the refrigeration system comprising:

a compartment in which an object may be placed and removed;

a chilled liquid coolant system having a connection through which liquid coolant is received from a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle which distributes the liquid coolant to a plurality of refrigeration systems, the chilled liquid coolant system not including a vapor compressor and the liquid coolant not undergoing a vapor-compression cycle;

a thermoelectric device coupled with a liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink and a thermoelectric cold side liquid heat exchanger, the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink and the thermoelectric cold side liquid heat exchanger both coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system in parallel to receive the liquid coolant from the centralized liquid cooling system of the vehicle and configured to transfer heat from the liquid coolant that flows through the thermoelectric cold side liquid heat exchanger via the thermoelectric device into the liquid coolant that flows through the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink before the liquid coolant from the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink returns to the liquid cooling system of the vehicle;

a compartment liquid heat exchanger proximate the compartment, having a connection through which the liquid coolant is received from the thermoelectric cold side liquid heat exchanger, and having a thermal connection with the compartment that transfers heat from the compartment into the liquid coolant, the compartment liquid heat exchanger including at least one heat exchanger selected from the group consisting of a cold wall conduction heat exchanger having a coolant circuit including closed channels through which the liquid coolant circulates and a conduction heat exchanger in thermally conductive contact with a liner of at least one wall of the compartment, and a liquid-to-air heat exchanger having a connection with the chilled liquid coolant system through which the liquid coolant is received and a thermal connection with the compartment that transfers heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant;

a first coolant control valve having a first control input, the first coolant control valve coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system along a coolant flow path between the liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink and operable to control a flow of liquid coolant into the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle according to the first control input;

a second coolant control valve having a second control input, the second coolant control valve coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system along a coolant flow path between the liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the thermoelectric cold side liquid heat exchanger and operable to control a flow of coolant into the thermoelectric cold side liquid heat exchanger from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle according to the second control input;

a sensor having a sensor data output, the sensor positioned to measure a temperature of air from the compartment and output sensor data representative thereof; and

a controller configured to couple with the sensor data output of the sensor, the first control input of the first coolant control valve, the second control input of the second coolant control valve, and the thermoelectric device, the controller configured to control a temperature of the compartment according to the sensor data by transmitting a first control signal to the first control input of the first coolant control valve, a second control signal to the second control input of the second coolant control valve, and a third control signal to the thermoelectric device.

15. The refrigeration system of claim 14, wherein the first heat exchanger includes a liquid-to-air heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant.

16. The refrigeration system of claim 14, further comprising a fan positioned to circulate air from the compartment through the compartment liquid heat exchanger.

18. A method of operating a refrigeration system for cooling a refrigerated compartment in which an object may be placed and removed, using a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving liquid coolant by a chilled liquid coolant system from a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle that distributes the liquid coolant to a plurality of refrigeration systems, the chilled liquid coolant system not including a vapor compressor and the liquid coolant not undergoing a vapor-compression cycle;

receiving the liquid coolant by a first heat exchanger proximate the compartment through a connection with the chilled liquid coolant system, the first heat exchanger including at least one heat exchanger selected from group consisting of a cold wall conduction heat exchanger having a coolant circuit including closed channels through which the liquid coolant circulates and a conduction heat exchanger in thermally conductive contact with a liner of at least one wall of the compartment, and a liquid-to-air heat exchanger having a connection with the chilled liquid coolant system through which the liquid coolant is received and a thermal connection with the compartment that transfers heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant;

transferring heat from the compartment into the liquid coolant by the first heat exchanger, wherein when the first heat exchanger includes the conduction heat exchanger, the transferring includes conducting heat from the liner of the at least one wall of the compartment and the conduction heat exchanger via the thermally conductive contact, and when the first heat exchanger includes the liquid-to-air heat exchanger, the transferring includes transferring heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant via the liquid-to-air heat exchanger'"'"'s thermal connection with the compartment;

performing a vapor compression cycle of refrigerant that flows through a vapor cycle cooling system including a compressor;

receiving the refrigerant by an evaporator proximate the compartment through a connection with the vapor cycle cooling system;

transferring heat from the compartment into the refrigerant by the evaporator via a thermal connection with the compartment;

receiving the refrigerant from the vapor cycle cooling system by a liquid-cooled condenser that is connected with both the vapor cycle cooling system and the chilled liquid coolant system;

receiving the liquid coolant from the chilled liquid coolant system by the liquid-cooled condenser;

transferring heat between the refrigerant and the liquid coolant by the liquid-cooled condenser via a thermal connection between a condenser secondary coolant circuit in fluid communication with the chilled liquid coolant system and a condenser refrigerant circuit in fluid communication with the vapor cycle cooling system;

measuring a temperature of air from the compartment by a sensor having a sensor data output;

outputting sensor data representative of the measured temperature by the sensor via the sensor data output;

controlling a flow of liquid coolant into the first heat exchanger from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle by a first coolant control valve operationally coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system according to a first control input from a controller;

controlling a flow of refrigerant into the evaporator by a second coolant control valve operationally coupled with the vapor cycle cooling system according to a second control input from the controller;

receiving the sensor data output from the sensor by the controller; and

controlling a temperature of the compartment according to the sensor data by the controller transmitting a first control signal to the first control input of the first coolant control valve and a second control signal to the second control input of the second coolant control valve.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

reducing a temperature of the refrigerated compartment to a desired temperature using the chilled liquid coolant system coupled with the centralized liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the vapor cycle cooling system together as a cascade cooling system; and

maintaining the temperature of the refrigerated compartment at approximately the desired temperature using the chilled liquid coolant system coupled with the centralized liquid cooling system of the vehicle without using the vapor cycle cooling system when the desired temperature is equal to or greater than approximately 3 degrees C.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising maintaining the temperature of the refrigerated compartment at approximately the desired temperature using the chilled liquid coolant system coupled with the centralized liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the vapor cycle cooling system together as a cascade cooling system when the desired temperature is less than approximately 0 degrees C.

21. A method of operating a refrigeration system for cooling a refrigerated compartment in which an object may be placed and removed, using a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving liquid coolant by a chilled liquid coolant system from a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle that distributes the liquid coolant to a plurality of refrigeration systems, the chilled liquid coolant system not including a vapor compressor and the liquid coolant not undergoing a vapor-compression cycle;

receiving the liquid coolant by a first heat exchanger proximate the compartment through a connection with the chilled liquid coolant system, the first heat exchanger including at least one heat exchanger selected from group consisting of a cold wall conduction heat exchanger having a coolant circuit including closed channels through which the liquid coolant circulates and a conduction heat exchanger in thermally conductive contact with a liner of at least one wall of the compartment, and a liquid-to-air heat exchanger having a connection with the chilled liquid coolant system through which the liquid coolant is received and a thermal connection with the compartment that transfers heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant;

transferring heat from the compartment into the liquid coolant by the first heat exchanger, wherein when the first heat exchanger includes the conduction heat exchanger, the transferring includes conducting heat from the liner of the at least one wall of the compartment and the conduction heat exchanger via the thermally conductive contact, and when the first heat exchanger includes the liquid-to-air heat exchanger, the transferring includes transferring heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant via the liquid-to-air heat exchanger'"'"'s thermal connection with the compartment;

receiving the liquid coolant from the chilled liquid coolant system by a liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink coupled with a first side of a thermoelectric device, a second side of the thermoelectric device coupled with a thermoelectric cold side heat exchanger that is thermally coupled with the compartment;

transferring heat from the compartment by the thermoelectric device via the thermoelectric cold side heat exchanger using the liquid coolant;

measuring a temperature of air from the compartment by a sensor having a sensor data output;

outputting sensor data representative of the measured temperature by the sensor via the sensor data output;

controlling a flow of liquid coolant into the first heat exchanger from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle by a first coolant control valve coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system along a coolant flow path between the liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the first heat exchanger according to a first control input from a controller;

controlling a flow of liquid coolant into the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle by a second coolant control valve coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system along a coolant flow path between the liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink according to a second control input from the controller;

receiving the sensor data output from the sensor by the controller; and

controlling a temperature of the compartment according to the sensor data by the controller transmitting a first control signal to the first control input of the first coolant control valve, a second control signal to the second control input of the second coolant control valve, and a third control signal to the thermoelectric device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising maintaining the temperature of the refrigerated compartment at approximately the desired temperature using the thermoelectric device without using the chilled liquid coolant system coupled with the liquid cooling system of the vehicle when the desired temperature is less than approximately 0 degrees C.

23. A method of operating a refrigeration system for cooling a refrigerated compartment in which an object may be placed and removed, using a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving liquid coolant by a chilled liquid coolant system from a centralized liquid cooling system of a vehicle that distributes the liquid coolant to a plurality of refrigeration systems, the chilled liquid coolant system not including a vapor compressor and the liquid coolant not undergoing a vapor-compression cycle;

receiving the liquid coolant from the chilled liquid coolant system by a liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink coupled with a first side of a thermoelectric device;

receiving the liquid coolant from the chilled liquid coolant system by a thermoelectric cold side liquid heat exchanger coupled with a second side of the thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric cold side liquid heat exchanger and the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink receiving the liquid coolant in parallel with one another;

transferring heat from the liquid coolant that flows through the thermoelectric cold side liquid heat exchanger by the thermoelectric device into the liquid coolant that flows through the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink before the liquid coolant from the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink returns to the liquid cooling system of the vehicle;

receiving the liquid coolant by a compartment liquid heat exchanger proximate the compartment through a connection with the chilled liquid coolant system, the compartment liquid heat exchanger including at least one heat exchanger selected from group consisting of a cold wall conduction heat exchanger having a coolant circuit including closed channels through which the liquid coolant circulates and a conduction heat exchanger in thermally conductive contact with a liner of at least one wall of the compartment, and a liquid-to-air heat exchanger having a connection with the chilled liquid coolant system through which the liquid coolant is received and a thermal connection with the compartment that transfers heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant;

transferring heat from the compartment into the liquid coolant by the compartment liquid heat exchanger, wherein when the compartment liquid heat exchanger includes the conduction heat exchanger, the transferring includes conducting heat from the liner of the at least one wall of the compartment and the conduction heat exchanger via the thermally conductive contact, and when the compartment liquid heat exchanger includes the liquid-to-air heat exchanger, the transferring includes transferring heat from air from the compartment into the liquid coolant via the liquid-to-air heat exchanger'"'"'s thermal connection with the compartment;

controlling a flow of liquid coolant into the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat sink from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle by a first coolant control valve coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system along a coolant flow path between the liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the liquid cooled thermoelectric hot side heat according to a first control input from a controller;

controlling a flow of liquid coolant into the thermoelectric cold side liquid heat exchanger from the liquid cooling system of the vehicle by a second coolant control valve coupled with the chilled liquid coolant system along a coolant flow path between the liquid cooling system of the vehicle and the thermoelectric cold side liquid heat exchanger according to a second control input from the controller;

measuring a temperature of air from the compartment by a sensor having a sensor data output;

outputting sensor data representative of the measured temperature by the sensor via the sensor data output;

receiving the sensor data output from the sensor by the controller; and

controlling a temperature of the compartment according to the sensor data by the controller transmitting a first control signal to the first control input of the first coolant control valve, a second control signal to the second control input of the second coolant control valve, and a third control signal to the thermoelectric device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising maintaining the temperature of the refrigerated compartment at approximately the desired temperature using the thermoelectric device without using the chilled liquid coolant system coupled with the liquid cooling system of the vehicle when the desired temperature is less than approximately 0 degrees C.