# US 10,871,313 B2 · Thermo-electric heat pump systems

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- Number: US 10,871,313 B2
- Document ID: US10871313B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/222,150
- Filed: 2018-12-17
- Published: 2019-06-20
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-01-28
- Assignees: Ambassador Asset Management Limited Partnership
- Applicants: Ambassador Asset Management Limited Partnership
- Inventors: Alp Ilercil
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871313B2

## CPC

- F25B 21/04: reversible
- A01N 1/144: for temperature control, e.g. refrigerators or freeze-drying apparatus
- B65D 81/18: providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient (with thermal insulation B65D81/38)
- F25B 21/02: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
- F25D 11/003: {Transport containers}
- F25D 29/003: {for movable devices}
- F25B 2321/0212: of electric power, current or voltage
- F25B 2321/023: Mounting details thereof
- F25B 2321/0251: by a gas
- F25D 2201/14: using subatmospheric pressure
- F25D 2600/06: Controlling according to a predetermined profile
- Y10T 29/53: Means to assemble or disassemble
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The invention is directed to an energy efficient thermoelectric heat pump assembly. The thermoelectric heat pump assembly preferably comprises two to nine thermoelectric unit layers capable of active use of the Peltier effect; and at least one capacitance spacer block suitable for storing heat and providing a delayed thermal reaction time of the assembly. The capacitance spacer block is thermally connected between the thermoelectric unit layers. The present invention further relates to a thermoelectric transport and storage devices for transporting or storing temperature sensitive goods, for example, vaccines, chemicals, biologicals, and other temperature sensitive goods. Preferably the transport or storage devices are configured and provide on-board energy storage for sustaining, for multiple days, at a constant-temperature, with an acceptable temperature variation band.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thermal protection system, relating to thermally protecting temperature-sensitive goods, comprising:
a vessel configured to contain the temperature sensitive goods;
a stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers in thermal conduction with the vessel and capable of active use of the Peltier effect, each thermoelectric unit layer having a cold side and a hot side;
an energy source operably connected to each thermoelectric unit layer, wherein the energy source is suitable to provide a current, the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers being configured so that each individual thermoelectric unit layer has a ratio of input current to maximum available current (I/Imax) of 0.35 or less at a steady-state, when a change in temperature (ΔT) of the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers at opposing ends of the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers is about 40° C. and heat removal (Q) is about 0 Watts;
a heat sink thermally connected to the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers;
a microcontroller operatively associated with the energy source to direct current from the energy source to the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers; and
a plurality of relays configured to electrically connect the at least four thermoelectric unit layers according to at least a first and second mode, wherein at least two of the at least four thermoelectric unit layers are electrically connected in series in the first mode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The thermal protection system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensitive goods comprise: embryos, oocytes, cell cultures, tissue cultures, chondrocytes, nucleic acids, bodily fluids, bovine semen, organs, plant tissues, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and chemicals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The thermal protection system of claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises a capacity in a range of 35 to 45 Watts.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The thermal protection system of claim 1, wherein the heat sink and the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers are configured such that at steady-state the heat sink has a temperature that does not exceed 30% of a heat sink maximum temperature rating.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The thermal protection system of claim 1, wherein the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers is configured to minimize a temperature rise or drop on the heat sink at steady-state so that the temperature rise or drop on the heat sink does not exceed 3° C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The thermal protection system of claim 1, wherein each thermoelectric unit layer comprises substantially a same size and substantially a same heat pumping capability.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The thermal protection system of claim 1, wherein the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers is configured to operate when a temperature outside the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers is in a range of −30° C. to 60° C.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The thermal protection system of claim 2, wherein each thermoelectric unit layer comprises at least 127 coupled pairs of thermoelectric units.

### Claim 9

A thermal protection system, relating to thermally protecting temperature-sensitive goods, comprising:
a vessel configured to contain the temperature sensitive goods;
a stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers in thermal conduction with the vessel and capable of active use of the Peltier effect, each thermoelectric unit layer having a cold side and a hot side;
an energy source operably connected to each thermoelectric unit layer, wherein the energy source is suitable to provide a current, the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers being configured so that each individual thermoelectric unit layer has a ratio of input current to maximum available current (I/Imax) of 0.18 or less at a steady-state, when a change in temperature (ΔT) of the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers at opposing ends of the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers is about 20° C. and heat removal Q is about 0 Watts;
a heat sink thermally connected to the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers;
a microcontroller operatively associated with the energy source to direct current from the energy source to the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers; and
a plurality of relays configured to electrically connect the at least four thermoelectric unit layers according to at least a first and second mode, wherein at least two of the at least four thermoelectric unit layers are electrically connected in series in the first mode.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The thermal protection system of claim 9, wherein the temperature sensitive goods comprise: embryos, oocytes, cell cultures, tissue cultures, chondrocytes, nucleic acids, bodily fluids, bovine semen, organs, plant tissues, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and chemicals.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The thermal protection system of claim 9, wherein the heat sink comprises a capacity in a range of 35 to 45 Watts.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The thermal protection system of claim 9, wherein the heat sink and the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers are configured such that at steady-state the heat sink has a temperature that does not exceed 30% of a heat sink maximum temperature rating.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The thermal protection system of claim 9, wherein the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers is configured to minimize a temperature rise or drop on the heat sink at steady-state so that the temperature rise or drop on the heat sink does not exceed 3° C.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The thermal protection system of claim 9, wherein each thermoelectric unit layer comprises substantially a same size and substantially a same heat pumping capability.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The thermal protection system of claim 9, wherein each thermoelectric unit layer comprises at least 127 coupled pairs of thermoelectric units.

### Claim 16

A thermal protection system, relating to thermally protecting temperature-sensitive goods, comprising:
a vessel configured to contain the temperature sensitive goods;
a stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers in thermal conduction with the vessel and capable of active use of the Peltier effect, each thermoelectric unit layer having a cold side and a hot side;
an energy source operably connected to each thermoelectric unit layer, wherein the energy source is suitable to provide a current such that a ratio of input current to a maximum available current (I/Imax) of each individual thermoelectric unit layer is 0.35 or less at steady-state;
a microcontroller operatively associated with the energy source to direct current from the energy source to the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers; and
a plurality of relays configured to electrically connect the at least four thermoelectric unit layers according to at least a first and second mode, wherein at least two of the at least four thermoelectric unit layers are electrically connected in series in the first mode.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The thermal protection system of claim 16, wherein at least two of the at least four thermoelectric unit layers are electrically connected in parallel in the second mode.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The thermal protection system of claim 16, wherein each thermoelectric unit layer comprises substantially a same size and substantially a same heat pumping capability.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The thermal protection system of claim 16, wherein the energy source is suitable to provide the current such that when a change in temperature (ΔT) between opposing ends of the stack of at least four thermoelectric unit layers is less than or equal to about 40° C. at a steady-state, the heat removal (Q) is about 0 Watts.