Thermoelectric-based air conditioning system

• US 9,863,672 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2014
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• 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:
  US14/576,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20150176872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 62 33, 62 361, 62 37, 62115, 62239, 622592, 62430, 62 32, 165 42, 165 43, 165 59, 165 61, 165201, 165202
• 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 an air conditioning system that operates in a heating mode, a cooling mode or a demisting mode. In some embodiments, the system includes a first circuit for circulating a first medium therein, a second circuit for circulating the first medium or a second medium therein and a thermoelectric module having a first surface in thermal contact with the first medium.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first circuit configured to circulate a first medium therein, the first circuit in thermal communication with an internal combustion engine of the vehicle;

a second circuit configured to circulate the first medium therein, the second circuit in thermal communication with a heat generating system of the vehicle, the heat generating system separate from the internal combustion engine;

a heat sink separate from the heat generating system, the heat sink in thermal communication with the first medium;

a thermoelectric module separate from the heat generating system, the thermoelectric module comprising a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface, the first heat transfer surface in thermal communication with at least one of the first circuit or the second circuit, the second heat transfer surface adapted to be in thermal communication with an air flow; and

a first heat exchanger disposed in the air flow and in thermal communication with the first circuit,

wherein the first circuit, the second circuit, the thermoelectric module, and the first heat exchanger are configured to heat, cool, or demist the air flow, and

wherein the heat generating system comprises at least one of a battery, an electronic device, an exhaust of the vehicle, a heat storage system comprising a phase change material, or a positive temperature coefficient device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second heat exchanger disposed in the air flow, the second heat exchanger in thermal communication with a third circuit configured to convey a second fluid therein, wherein the second heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric module is in thermal communication with the third circuit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second heat exchanger is disposed in the air flow downstream of the first exchanger with respect to a direction of movement of the air flow.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a third heat exchanger disposed in the air flow, the third heat exchanger configured to selectively condition the air flow.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second heat exchanger disposed in the air flow, the second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a source of air is configured to supply the air flow to a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises a second heat exchanger.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second heat exchanger comprises a radiator.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a cold storage system comprises the heat sink.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the cold storage system comprises at least one of an other thermoelectric module or a cold storage system comprising a phase change material.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a third circuit configured to convey the first medium therein, the third circuit in thermal communication with the first heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric device and the cold storage system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first circuit comprises a bypass line configured to direct at least a portion of the first medium through the bypass line away from being in thermal communication with the first heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric module, the at least a portion of the first medium in thermal communication with the internal combustion engine when circulating through the bypass line.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the second circuit comprises a bypass line configured to direct at least a portion of the first medium through the bypass line away from being in thermal communication with the heat generating system.

14. A system for providing heating or cooling to a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first circuit configured to circulate a first fluid therein;

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

a heat sink in thermal communication with the first fluid;

a thermoelectric module having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface, the first heat transfer surface in thermal communication with the first circuit;

a first heat exchanger disposed in an air flow and in thermal communication with the first circuit, the first heat exchanger configured to selectively heat the air flow; and

a second heat exchanger disposed in the air flow downstream of the first heat exchanger and in thermal communication with the second heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric module, the second heat exchanger configured to selectively heat or cool the air flow,

wherein the heat sink comprises a third heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first fluid, and

wherein the heat source comprises at least one of a battery, an electronic device, an exhaust of a vehicle, a heat storage system comprising a phase change material, or a positive temperature coefficient device.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a third heat exchanger disposed in the air flow the and in thermal communication with a heat source, the third heat exchanger configured to selectively heat the air flow.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the heat source comprises the first circuit.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the first circuit is in thermal communication with a heat source.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the heat source is an internal combustion engine.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a second circuit configured to convey a second fluid therein, the second circuit providing the thermal communication between the second heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric module and the second heat exchanger.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the first circuit, the thermoelectric module, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger are configured to heat, cool, or demist the air flow.