System and method for climate control within a passenger compartment of a vehicle

• US 9,366,461 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Bell, Lon E., LaGrandeur, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bauer, Cassey D
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSWALD, KIRSTIN U
• Application Number:
  US12/614,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20100052374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,412 Days
• Field of Search: 62/32, 62/36.1, 62/33
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00271 HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00285 for vehicle seats vehicle seats with heating or ventilation means independent from the HVAC system of the vehicle B60N2/56
• 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 1/00492 comprising regenerative heating or cooling means, e.g. heat accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00885 Controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps B60H1/00899 takes precedence; constructions of valves B60H1/00485
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/034 from the cooling liquid of the propulsion plant and from an electric heating device
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00942 comprising a plurality of heat exchangers, e.g. for multi zone heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00949 comprising additional heating/cooling sources, e.g. second evaporator
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5614 by liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0251 by a gas
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0252 by liquids or two-phase fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/24 Storage receiver heat

Abstract

A climate control system and method controls climate at selected regions within a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The thermoelectric system includes a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies. The system includes at least one fluid conduit configured to allow a liquid to flow in the at least one fluid conduit. The system further includes a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies. At least two thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies are in thermal communication with the liquid and each of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies has a corresponding region within the passenger compartment. The at least two thermoelectric assemblies are selectively operable to transfer heat between the corresponding region and the liquid, wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are each operable independently from one another.

Claims

1. A seat system for a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the seat system comprising:

at least one fluid conduit loop configured to allow a liquid to flow in the at least one fluid conduit loop;

one or more seat portions; and

a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies located in the one or more seat portions,

wherein at least two thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies each have a first side and a second side and are configured to transfer thermal energy between the first side and the second side,

wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies are in selective fluid communication with the liquid via a corresponding fluid flow controller of each of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies, the corresponding fluid flow controller configured to stop fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side or to allow fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side to place the first side in thermal communication with the liquid flowing through the at least one fluid conduit loop,

wherein when the corresponding fluid flow controller allows the liquid to flow relative to the first side, the liquid thermally connects the first side to a heat source or a heat sink,

wherein each of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies has a region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly,

wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are selectively operable to heat the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by the thermoelectric assembly transferring heat from the liquid via the first side to the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly via the second side,

wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are each operable independently from one another, and

wherein the second side is in thermal communication with the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly and is configured to control the temperature of the region.

2. The seat system of claim 1, wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are each in thermal communication with air within the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly.

3. The seat system of claim 1, wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies each comprises a plurality of thermoelectric elements, a liquid heat exchanger in thermal communication with the plurality of thermoelectric elements and configured to allow the liquid to flow through the liquid heat exchanger, and an air heat exchanger in thermal communication with the plurality of thermoelectric elements, the air heat exchanger configured to allow air to flow through the air heat exchanger.

4. The seat system of claim 1, wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are selectively operable either to heat the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the liquid to the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly or to cool the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly to the liquid.

5. The seat system of claim 4, wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are configured to deliver heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling to one or more occupants within the passenger compartment.

6. The seat system of claim 5, wherein each of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies operates in heating mode by pumping heat from the liquid to the air, and operates in cooling mode by pumping heat from the air to the liquid.

7. The seat system of claim 5, comprising at least one seat, wherein the one or more occupants are sitting in the at least one seat or behind the at least one seat.

8. The seat system of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises water.

9. The seat system of claim 8, wherein the liquid further comprises ethylene glycol.

10. The seat system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises an engine and the liquid comprises engine coolant.

11. The seat system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle further comprises a radiator, and the engine coolant flows through the radiator, the engine, and the at least one fluid conduit.

12. The seat system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle further comprises an auxiliary radiator, and the engine coolant flows through the radiator, the engine, the auxiliary radiator, and the at least one fluid conduit.

13. The seat system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a powertrain, and the liquid comprises a powertrain coolant.

14. The seat system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a battery and a heat exchanger attached to the battery, the liquid in thermal communication with the heat exchanger.

15. The seat system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a fuel tank and a heat exchanger attached to or encased within the fuel tank, the liquid in thermal communication with the heat exchanger.

16. The seat system of claim 1, wherein the one or more seat portions comprises one or more seat cushions.

17. The seat system of claim 1, wherein the one or more seat portions comprises one or more seat backs.

18. The seat system of claim 1,

wherein the fluid conduit loop comprises a plurality of fluid conduits, each thermoelectric assembly in fluid communication with a fluid conduit corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly, each fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fluid conduit loop, each fluid conduit comprising an inlet side and an outlet side, the inlet side directing at least a portion of the liquid from the fluid conduit loop toward the thermoelectric assembly to flow through the thermoelectric assembly, the outlet side directing the portion of liquid away from the thermoelectric assembly into the fluid conduit loop,

wherein the portion of the liquid flows out of the fluid conduit loop into an inlet side of a first fluid conduit corresponding to a first thermoelectric assembly of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, through the first thermoelectric assembly, and through an outlet side of the first fluid conduit back into the fluid conduit loop when the seat system is operating, and

wherein, after flowing through the outlet side of the first fluid conduit back into the fluid conduit loop, at least a part of the portion of the liquid sequentially flows out of the fluid conduit loop into an inlet side of a second fluid conduit corresponding to a second thermoelectric assembly of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, through the second thermoelectric assembly, and through an outlet side of the second fluid conduit back into the fluid conduit loop when the seat system is operating.

19. The seat system of claim 18, wherein the fluid flow controller is positioned on the inlet side of each fluid conduit.

20. The seat system of claim 18, wherein at least another portion of the liquid flows through the fluid conduit loop while the portion of the liquid flows through the first conduit.

21. The seat system of claim 18, wherein the outlet side of the first fluid conduit corresponding to the first thermoelectric assembly is connected to the inlet side of the second fluid conduit corresponding to the second thermoelectric assembly via a continuous wall of the fluid conduit loop without other inlet or outlet sides connected to the continuous wall.

22. A climate control system for a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the climate control system comprising:

at least one fluid conduit loop configured to allow a liquid to flow in the at least one fluid conduit loop; and

a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, wherein at least two thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies each have a first side and a second side and are configured to transfer thermal energy between the first side and the second side,

wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies are in selective fluid communication with the liquid via a corresponding fluid flow controller of each of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies, the corresponding fluid flow controller configured to stop fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side or to allow fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side to place the first side in thermal communication with the liquid flowing through the at least one fluid conduit loop,

wherein each of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies has a corresponding region within the passenger compartment,

wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are selectively operable to heat the corresponding region by the thermoelectric assembly transferring heat from the liquid via the first side to the corresponding region via the second side,

wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are each operable independently from one another,

wherein the at least one fluid conduit loop is configured to selectively connect to a heat source or to a heat sink,

wherein when the climate control system operates in a first heating mode, the fluid conduit loop is connected to the heat source with a first thermoelectric assembly of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies in thermal communication with the liquid via the corresponding fluid flow controller allowing fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side of the first thermoelectric assembly and with a second thermoelectric assembly of the at least thermoelectric assemblies not in thermal communication with the liquid via the corresponding valve stopping fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side of the second thermoelectric assembly, and

wherein when the climate control system operates in a first cooling mode, the fluid conduit loop is connected to the heat sink with the first thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the liquid via the corresponding fluid flow controller allowing fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side of the first thermoelectric assembly and with the second thermoelectric assembly not in thermal communication with the liquid via the corresponding valve stopping fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side of the second thermoelectric assembly.

23. The climate control system of claim 22, wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are selectively operable either to heat the corresponding region by transferring heat from the liquid to the corresponding region or to cool the corresponding region by transferring heat from the corresponding region to the liquid.

24. The climate control system of claim 22, wherein the vehicle comprises a headliner and at least one thermoelectric assembly of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies is located in the headliner.

25. The climate control system of claim 22, wherein the vehicle comprises one or more pillars and at least one thermoelectric assembly of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies is located in the one or more pillars.

26. The climate control system of claim 22, wherein the vehicle comprises a steering wheel and at least one thermoelectric assembly of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies is located in the steering wheel.

27. The climate control system of claim 22, wherein the vehicle comprises one or more seat cushions and at least one thermoelectric assembly of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies is located in the one or more seat cushions.

28. The climate control system of claim 22, wherein the vehicle comprises one or more seat backs and at least one thermoelectric assembly of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies is located in the one or more seat backs.

29. The climate control system of claim 22, wherein the at least one fluid conduit loop comprises at least one flow control element configured to connect the fluid conduit loop to the heat sink when the climate control system operates in the first heating mode and disconnect the fluid conduit loop from the heat source when the climate control system operates in the first cooling mode.

30. The climate control system of claim 22, wherein when the climate control system operates in a second heating mode, the fluid conduit loop is connected to the heat source with the first thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the liquid via the corresponding fluid flow controller allowing fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side of the first thermoelectric assembly and with the second thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the liquid via the corresponding valve allowing fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side of the second thermoelectric assembly.

31. The climate control system of claim 22, wherein when the climate control system operates in a second cooling mode, the fluid conduit loop is connected to the heat sink with the first thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the liquid via the corresponding fluid flow controller allowing fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side of the first thermoelectric assembly and with the second thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the liquid via the corresponding valve allowing fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side of the second thermoelectric assembly.

32. A climate control system for a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the climate control system comprising:

at least one fluid conduit loop configured to allow a liquid to flow in the at least one fluid conduit loop; and

a plurality of localized temperature control assemblies selectively connectable to the at least one fluid conduit loop, each of the plurality of localized temperature control assemblies comprising a thermoelectric assembly and a flow control element, the thermoelectric assembly comprising a first side and a second side and configured to transfer thermal energy between the first side and the second side,

wherein at least two of the plurality of localized temperature control assemblies are in selective thermal communication with the liquid via the flow control elements of each of the at least two localized temperature control assemblies being positioned along the fluid conduit loop, and the flow control elements configured to selectively connect each of the at least two localized temperature control assemblies to the fluid conduit loop by allowing fluid flow relative to the first sides of the thermoelectric assemblies of the at least two localized temperature control assemblies or disconnect each of the at least two localized temperature control assemblies from the fluid conduit loop by stopping fluid flow relative to the first sides of the thermoelectric assemblies of the at least two localized temperature control assemblies,

wherein each of the at least two localized temperature control assemblies has a corresponding region within the passenger compartment,

wherein each of the at least two localized temperature control assemblies are selectively operable to cool the corresponding region by the thermoelectric assembly transferring heat from the corresponding region via the second side to the liquid via the first side, and

wherein each of the at least two localized temperature control assemblies are each operable independently from one another.

33. The climate control system of claim 32, wherein the vehicle comprises a headliner and at least one thermoelectric assembly of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies is located in the headliner.

34. The climate control system of claim 32, wherein the vehicle comprises one or more pillars and at least one thermoelectric assembly of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies is located in the one or more pillars.

35. The climate control system of claim 32, wherein the vehicle comprises a steering wheel and at least one thermoelectric assembly of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies is located in the steering wheel.

36. The climate control system of claim 32, wherein the vehicle comprises one or more seat cushions and at least one thermoelectric assembly of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies is located in the one or more seat cushions.

37. The climate control system of claim 32, wherein the vehicle comprises one or more seat backs and at least one thermoelectric assembly of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies is located in the one or more seat backs.

38. A method for controlling climate at selected regions within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a climate control system comprising;

at least one fluid conduit loop configured to allow a liquid to flow in the at least one fluid conduit loop; and

a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies,

wherein at least two thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies each have a first side and a second side and are configured to transfer thermal energy between the first side and the second side,

wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies are in selective thermal communication with the liquid via a corresponding fluid flow controller of each of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies, the corresponding fluid flow controller configured to stop fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side or to allow fluid flow of the liquid relative to the first side to place the first side in thermal communication with the liquid flowing through the at least one fluid conduit loop,

wherein when the corresponding fluid flow controller allows the liquid to flow relative to the first side, the liquid thermally connects the first side to a heat source or a heat sink,

wherein each of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies has a corresponding region within the passenger compartment,

wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are selectively operable to heat the corresponding region by the thermoelectric assembly transferring heat from the liquid via the first side to the corresponding region via the second side,

wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are each operable independently from one another, and

wherein the second side is in thermal communication with the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly and is configured to control the temperature of the region; and

operating the at least two thermoelectric assemblies independently from one another to selectively control climate at the regions corresponding to the at least two thermoelectric assemblies.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are selectively operable either to heat the corresponding region by transferring heat from the liquid to the corresponding region or to cool the corresponding region by transferring heat from the corresponding region to the liquid, and operating the at least two thermoelectric assemblies independently from one another comprises selectively heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling the regions corresponding to the at least two thermoelectric assemblies.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the vehicle comprises one or more seat portions and at least one thermoelectric assembly of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies is located in the one or more seat portions.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are each in thermal communication with air within the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies each comprises a plurality of thermoelectric elements, a liquid heat exchanger in thermal communication with the plurality of thermoelectric elements, and an air heat exchanger in thermal communication with the plurality of thermoelectric elements, the method further comprising flowing the liquid through the liquid heat exchanger and flowing air through the air heat exchanger.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the liquid comprises water.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the liquid further comprises ethylene glycol.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the vehicle comprises an engine and the liquid comprises engine coolant.