Thermoelectric cooling system

A method to transfer heat using a cooling medium, comprising:

• providing a first plate with first and second thermal regions;
• flowing the cooling medium through a first fluid flow path in thermal communication with the first thermal region;
• flowing the cooling medium through a second fluid flow path from the first fluid flow path and in thermal communication with the second thermal region,
• wherein the first and second thermal regions are arranged along a first longitudinal axis of the first plate, which extends in parallel with a long edge of the first plate, with the first thermal region concentrated proximate to a first short edge of the first plate and with the second thermal region being:
• positioned at a distance from the first thermal region along a length of a single straight fluid flow line, which is connected at opposite ends thereof to the first and second fluid flow paths, respectively, such that the single straight fluid flow line is fluidly interposed between the first and second fluid flow paths, and
• distributed from a central portion of the first plate toward a second short edge of the first plate, which is opposite the first short edge, the central portion of the first plate being defined between the first and second short edges, and
• wherein the first fluid flow path is contained within a space defined within the first thermal region and extends tortuously along a second axis, which is transversely oriented relative to the first longitudinal axis, and the second fluid flow path is contained within the second thermal region and comprises parallel lines, which are arranged in a side-by-side formation along the first longitudinal axis and which extend along the second axis;
• disposing one side of a thermoelectric heat exchanger in abutment with only the first thermal region of the first plate so as to be in direct thermal communication with only the first region;
• and
• transferring heat from the first thermal region of the first plate to the thermoelectric heat exchanger.

A system to transfer heat using a cooling medium, comprising:

• a first plate, including:
• a first fluid flow path in thermal communication with a first thermal region of the first plate;
• and
• a second fluid flow path in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path and in thermal communication with a second thermal region of the first plate,
• wherein the first and second thermal regions are arranged along a first longitudinal axis of the first plate, which extends in parallel with a long edge of the first plate, with the first thermal region concentrated proximate to a first short edge of the first plate and with the second thermal region being:
• positioned at a distance from the first thermal region along a length of a single straight fluid flow line, which is connected at opposite ends thereof to the first and second flow paths, respectively, such that the single straight fluid flow line is fluidly interposed between the first and second fluid flow paths, and
• distributed from a central portion of the first plate toward a second short edge of the first plate, which is opposite the first short edge, the central portion of the first plate being defined between the first and second short edges, and
• wherein the first fluid flow path is contained within a space defined within the first thermal region and extends tortuously along a second axis, which is transversely oriented relative to the first longitudinal axis, and the second fluid flow path is contained within the second thermal region and comprises parallel lines, which are arranged in a side-by-side formation along the first longitudinal axis and which extend along the second axis;
• a thermoelectric heat exchanger having one side in thermal communication with only the first thermal region of the first plate;
• and
• a first component in thermal communication with only the second thermal region of the first plate.