SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTED THERMOELECTRIC HEATING AND COOLING

• US 20090000310A1
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: LaGrandeur, John, Bell, Lon E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.700
• 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 thermoelectric system and method provides distributed localized heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling. The thermoelectric system includes a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies. Each thermoelectric assembly comprises a plurality of thermoelectric elements, and each thermoelectric assembly is in thermal communication with a first working fluid and in thermal communication with a region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly. Each thermoelectric assembly is selectively operable either to heat the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the first working fluid 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 first working fluid. Each thermoelectric assembly is operable independently from operation of other thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies.

Claims

1. A thermoelectric system for distributed localized heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling, the thermoelectric system comprising:

at least one fluid conduit configured to allow a first working fluid to flow therein; and

a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly comprising a plurality of thermoelectric elements, each thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the first working fluid and in thermal communication with a region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly, wherein each thermoelectric assembly is selectively operable either to heat the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the first working fluid 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 first working fluid, wherein each thermoelectric assembly is operable independently from operation of other thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies.

2. The thermoelectric system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first working fluid flows through the at least one fluid conduit such that the at least a portion of the first working fluid is sequentially in thermal communication with two or more thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies.

3. The thermoelectric system of claim 2, wherein the at least a portion of the first working fluid is heated by at least one of the thermoelectric assemblies and is cooled by at least one of the thermoelectric assemblies.

4. The thermoelectric system of claim 2, wherein the first working fluid flows repeatedly through the at least one fluid conduit.

5. The thermoelectric system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first working fluid flows through the at least one fluid conduit such that the at least a portion of the first working fluid is not in thermal communication with two or more thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies.

6. The thermoelectric system of claim 1, wherein each thermoelectric assembly comprises a first side and a second side and is configured to transfer heat between the first side and the second side, the first side in thermal communication with the first working fluid, the second side in thermal communication with a second working fluid.

7. The thermoelectric system of claim 6, wherein the second working fluid is the same as the first working fluid.

8. The thermoelectric system of claim 6, wherein the second working fluid is different from the first working fluid.

9. The thermoelectric system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first working fluid and the second working fluid is a liquid.

10. The thermoelectric system of claim 6, wherein the first working fluid is water and the second working fluid is air.

11. The thermoelectric system of claim 6, wherein the first side is in thermal communication with a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first working fluid and the second side is in thermal communication with a second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second working fluid.

12. The thermoelectric system of claim 6, wherein the second working fluid flows from the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly to a volume to be cooled or heated.

13. The thermoelectric system of claim 12, wherein the second working fluid comprises a gas and the thermoelectric system further comprises one or more fans which drive the second working fluid from the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly to the volume.

14. The thermoelectric system of claim 6, wherein each thermoelectric assembly comprises a plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements and a plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements, each thermoelectric assembly further comprising a plurality of electrically conductive and thermally conductive connectors, each connector in electrical communication and thermal communication with at least one of the plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements and with at least one of the plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements and in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger.

15. The thermoelectric system of claim 14, wherein each connector has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger, the second portion sandwiched between at least one of the plurality of N-type thermoelectric elements and at least one of the plurality of P-type thermoelectric elements.

16. The thermoelectric system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger comprises a plurality of fins.

17. The thermoelectric system of claim 1, further comprising one or more valves which are adjustable to control flow of the first working fluid in the at least one fluid conduit.

18. The thermoelectric system of claim 17, wherein the one or more valves are adjustable to place one or more selected thermoelectric assemblies in thermal communication with the first working fluid.

19. The thermoelectric system of claim 1, further comprising a thermal storage reservoir fluidically coupled to the at least one fluid conduit, the thermal storage reservoir configured to receive the first working fluid.

20. The thermoelectric system of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first working fluid.

21. A network of distributed thermoelectric assemblies, the network comprising:

a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly having a first side and a second side, each thermoelectric assembly selectively operable either to heat a region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from a first working fluid 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 first working fluid, wherein each thermoelectric assembly is operable independently from operation of other thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly comprising;

a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication with the first side and with the second side of the thermoelectric assembly;

a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first side of the thermoelectric assembly, the first heat exchanger configured to be in thermal communication with the first working fluid; and

a second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second side of the thermoelectric assembly and with the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly; and

one or more conduits fluidically coupled to the first heat exchangers of each thermoelectric assembly of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, the one or more conduits providing a flowpath through which the first working fluid flows to and from each of the first heat exchangers.

22. The network of claim 21, wherein the network is configured to provide conditioned air to a portion of a building.

23. The network of claim 21, wherein the first working fluid comprises water.

24. The network of claim 21, wherein the first working fluid flows sequentially through the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies.

25. The network of claim 21, wherein the first working fluid flows in parallel through at least some thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies.

26. The network of claim 21, wherein the second heat exchanger is configured to be in thermal communication with a second working fluid.

27. The network of claim 26, wherein the volume comprises a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

28. The network of claim 27, wherein the first working fluid comprises a 50/50 mixture of ethylene glycol and water.

29. The network of claim 27, wherein each first heat exchanger comprises extruded aluminum tubes.

30. The network of claim 27, wherein each second heat exchanger comprises aluminum fins brazed between aluminum face sheets.

31. The network of claim 27, wherein the second working fluid comprises air and air from at least one of the second heat exchangers is outputted into the passenger compartment from at least one location selected from the group consisting of:

the headliner, one or more pillars, one or more seat cushions, one or more seat backs, and the steering column.

32. The network of claim 27, wherein at least one of the second heat exchangers is configured to provide temperature control of electronic equipment of the vehicle.

33. The network of claim 27, wherein at least one of the second heat exchangers is configured to provide temperature control of a vehicle battery.

34. The network of claim 27, wherein at least one of the second heat exchangers is configured to provide temperature control for an inner volume of a storage container of the vehicle.

35. The network of claim 27, further comprising at least one waste heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first working fluid, the at least one waste heat exchanger configured to direct heat from the first working fluid to a thermal mass outside the passenger compartment.

36. The network of claim 35, wherein the thermal mass is selected from the group consisting of:

a frame portion, a fuel tank, a battery, and a phase change thermal capacitor.

37. The network of claim 35, wherein the thermal mass comprises a fuel tank.

38. The network of claim 27, wherein the network is configured to be operable for a period of time during which a primary source of electrical power for the vehicle is off.

39. The network of claim 38, wherein the source of electrical power comprises an engine.

40. The network of claim 26, wherein the first working fluid has a first thermal capacity and the second working fluid has a second thermal capacity less than the first thermal capacity.

41. The network of claim 21, further comprising a central processing unit.

42. The network of claim 41, wherein flow of the first working fluid through the one or more conduits to each first heat exchanger is adjustable by at least one valve responsive to signals from the central processing unit.

43. The network of claim 41, further comprising at least one sensor in electrical communication with the central processing unit, the central processing unit configured to receive at least one signal from the at least one sensor, the at least one signal indicative of at least one condition within a volume to be locally heated or cooled.

44. The network of claim 43, wherein the at least one condition is selected from the group consisting of:

ambient temperature, local surface temperature, radiant loads, humidity, occupant number, occupant weight, occupant clothing thickness, and occupant location.

45. A method for heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling localized portions of a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a thermoelectric system comprising at least one fluid conduit configured to allow a first working fluid to flow therein and a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly comprising a plurality of thermoelectric elements, each thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the first working fluid and in thermal communication with a region of the vehicle corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly, wherein each thermoelectric assembly is selectively operable either to heat the region corresponding to the thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the first working fluid 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 first working fluid, wherein each thermoelectric assembly is operable independently from operation of other thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies; and

preconditioning at least one region of the vehicle by operating at least one thermoelectric assembly of the thermoelectric system.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein preconditioning the at least one region comprises cooling or heating at least a portion of a passenger compartment of the vehicle prior to a person entering the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein preconditioning the at least one region comprises cooling at least a portion of a passenger compartment of the vehicle below a condensation temperature so as to remove water vapor from the passenger compartment.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein preconditioning the at least one region comprises placing a battery of the vehicle at an optimum temperature.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein preconditioning the at least one region comprises placing a catalytic converter of the vehicle at an optimum temperature.