THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE CONTROLS AND METHODS

• US 20170284710A1
• Filed: 06/19/2017
• Published: 10/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Petrovski, Dusko, Zheng, Sihai, Maass, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,208,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0212 of electric power, current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/00 Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/01 Manufacture or treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a thermoelectric system includes a thermoelectric device having a first surface and a second surface and a power source configured to deliver a voltage across the thermoelectric device to selectively activate or deactivate the thermoelectric device, wherein the first surface is configured to heat and the second surface is configured to cool when the thermoelectric device is activated. The system further includes a processor configured to determine a potential between the first surface and the second surface when the thermoelectric device is deactivated, correlate the potential to a temperature of the first surface and adjust the correlated temperature of the first surface based on an ambient temperature.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A thermoelectric system comprising:

a thermoelectric device comprising a first surface and a second surface;

a power source configured to deliver a voltage across the thermoelectric device to selectively activate or deactivate the thermoelectric device;

wherein the first surface is configured to heat and the second surface is configured to cool with the delivery of the voltage across the thermoelectric device; and

a processor configured to;

determine a potential between the first surface and the second surface when the thermoelectric device is deactivated;

correlate the potential to a temperature of the first surface based at least in part on the voltage delivered across the thermoelectric device; and

adjust the correlated temperature of the first surface based on an ambient temperature.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the voltage is configured to be delivered to the thermoelectric device at a duty cycle, and wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the correlated temperature of the first surface based on the duty cycle.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to detect overheating thermoelectric device based on the correlated temperature of the first surface.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is further configured to:

compare the temperature of the first surface with a desired temperature; and

adjust the amount of power supplied to the thermoelectric device by the power source, thereby reducing an amount of error between the temperature of the first surface and the desired temperature.

27. The system of claim 22, further comprising a second thermoelectric device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a potential between a first surface and a second surface of the second thermoelectric device when the second thermoelectric device is deactivated;

correlate the potential between the first and second surfaces of the second thermoelectric device to a temperature of the first surface of the second thermoelectric device; and

compare the temperature of the first surface of the second thermoelectric device with the temperature of the first surface of the first thermoelectric device;

adjust an output to at least one of the first and second thermoelectric devices based on the comparison.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising a fluid conduit configured to convey fluid from a first end of the fluid conduit to a second end of the fluid conduit, wherein the first and second thermoelectric devices are positioned in the fluid conduit,

30. The system of claim 29, wherein second thermoelectric device is positioned in series with the first thermoelectric device relative to fluid flow through the fluid conduit.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the second thermoelectric device is positioned in parallel with the first thermoelectric device relative to the fluid flow through the fluid conduit.

32. The system of claim 22, wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a plurality of zones, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a potential between the first surface and the second surface in each of the zones when the thermoelectric device is deactivated; and

determine whether a malfunction of at least one of the zones has occurred based on the potential of each of the zones.

33. The system of claim 22, wherein the thermoelectric device is located in at least one of an automobile seat, a cup holder, a cool bin, a bed system, a medical application, or a battery thermal management or system.

34. A method of controlling a duty cycle or a power level of a thermoelectric device, the method comprising:

determining a potential between a first surface of a thermoelectric device and a second surface of the thermoelectric device when the thermoelectric device is electrically deactivated or depowered;

wherein the first surface is configured to heat and the second surface is configured to cool when the thermoelectric device is electrically activated or powered;

correlating the potential with a temperature of the first surface of the thermoelectric device at least partially based on a voltage delivered across the thermoelectric device when the thermoelectric device is electrically activated or powered; and

adjusting the duty cycle or the power level of the thermoelectric device based on a comparison of the temperature of the first surface of the thermoelectric device with a desired temperature.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising adjusting the temperature of first surface based on the duty cycle or power level of the thermoelectric device.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein correlating the potential with the temperature of first surface is accomplished using a lookup table or calculation.

37. A method of providing temperature control to a system, the method comprising:

powering a thermoelectric device from a power source, the thermoelectric device comprising a first surface and a second surface, said thermoelectric device being configured to be selectively activated or deactivated;

determining a potential between the first surface and the second surface when the thermoelectric device is deactivated;

correlating the potential with a temperature of the first side based at least in part on a voltage delivered across the thermoelectric device from the power source;

comparing the temperature of the first side with a desired temperature value; and

adjusting the power received by the thermoelectric device based on the comparison, thereby changing an amount of heat exchanged between a fluid and at least one of the first surface and the second surface, wherein the fluid is provided to the system.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the voltage is configured to be delivered to the thermoelectric device at a duty cycle, and wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the correlated temperature of the first surface based on the duty cycle.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the processor is configured to detect overheating thermoelectric device based on the correlated temperature of the first surface.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a plurality of zones, the method further comprising:

determining a potential between the first surface and the second surface in each of the zones when the thermoelectric device is deactivated or depowered; and

determining whether a malfunction of at least one of the zones has occurred based on the potential of each of the zones.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the system comprises at least one of a vehicle seat, a cup holder, a cool bin, a medical application, a bed system, a cooling tower, a cooling device, battery thermal management, or a thermoelectric generator.