Temperature adjustment apparatus and method of controlling Peltier element

• US 9,719,702 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2012
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuwahara, Kuniaki, Murata, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): KING, BRIAN M
• Application Number:
  US14/371,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20150007583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/06 using only one supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/02 using Peltier effects; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effects
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6572 Peltier elements or thermoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/66 Heat-exchange relationships between the cells and other systems, e.g. central heating systems or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A temperature adjustment apparatus has a Peltier element supplied with electric power to allow heat exchange between an electronic device mounted on a vehicle and a heat exchange portion of the vehicle, and a Peltier element control section that controls electric power supplied to the Peltier element. When the temperature difference between a first surface of the Peltier element serving as an exothermic surface and a second surface of the Peltier element serving as an endothermic surface becomes larger than a first predetermined value as a result of supply of electric power to the Peltier element, the Peltier element control section stops supply of electric power to the Peltier element.

Claims

1. A temperature adjustment apparatus comprising:

a Peltier element supplied with electric power to allow heat exchange between an electronic device mounted on a vehicle and a heat exchange portion of the vehicle;

a Peltier element temperature sensor that detects a temperature of a first surface of the Peltier element serving as an exothermic surface and a temperature of a second surface of the Peltier element serving as an endothermic surface;

an electronic control unit operatively connected to the Peltier element and the Peltier element temperatures sensor, the electronic control unit configured to;

control the electric power supplied to the Peltier element;

obtain information on a temperature of air outside the electronic device;

store drive condition information in which the temperature of air outside the electronic device, an electric power supplied to the Peltier element and a supply time period during which electric power is supplied are associated with each other;

determine the electric power continuously supplied to the Peltier element during a continuous energization based on the temperature of air outside the electronic device; and

determine the electric power and the supply time period during an intermittent energization based on the electric power during the continuous energization, the intermittent energization being a state in which a deenergizing state and an energizing state are alternately occurred, the deenergizing state being a state in which no electric power is supplied to the Peltier element, the energizing state being a state in which electric power is supplied to the Peltier element,

wherein the electronic control unit executes, according to a determination made by the electronic control unit, temperature maintenance control in which the deenergizing state is occurred when the temperature difference between the first surface of the Peltier element and the second surface of the Peltier element becomes larger than a first predetermined value as a result of supply of electric power to the Peltier element, and the energizing state is restarted when the temperature difference between the first and second surfaces is reduced to a second predetermined value smaller than the first predetermined value after supply of electric power to the Peltier element is stopped,

wherein the electronic control unit executes the continuous energization until the temperature of the electronic device reaches a target temperature and the electronic control unit executes the intermittent energization after the temperature of the electronic device reaches the target temperature.

2. The temperature adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the electronic device is repeatedly increased and reduced between the target temperature and a lower limit temperature lower than the target temperature in the temperature maintenance control, and

wherein a COP (coefficient of performance) of the Peltier element during the temperature maintenance control is higher than a COP (coefficient of performance) of the Peltier element when the temperature of the electronic device is maintained at a fixed temperature corresponding to an intermediate temperature between the target temperature and the lower limit temperature by continuously supplying constant electric power to the Peltier element.

3. The temperature adjustment apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a case in which the electronic device is housed,

wherein the information on the temperature of air outside the electronic device is acquired from a sensor provided on an external surface of the case;

the heat exchange portion includes part of the case and extends to a position inside a duct provided on the vehicle, air being passed through the duct; and

the Peltier element is in contact with the electronic device and with the heat exchange portion.

4. The temperature adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a case in which the electronic device is housed,

wherein the information on the temperature of air outside the electronic device is acquired from a sensor provided on an external surface of the case;

the heat exchange portion includes part of the case and extends to a position inside a duct provided on the vehicle, air being passed through the duct; and

the Peltier element is in contact with the electronic device and with the heat exchange portion.