Fluid heat exchanger assembly

An apparatus adapted to be mated with a vehicle fluid system comprising:

• a) a first heat transfer material block adapted to be in thermal communication with a contained vehicle fluid;
• b) a heat sink;
• and
• c) at least one ceramic wafered thermoelectric device, having at least a first and second surface, such that the first surface is in thermal communication with the first heat transfer material block and the second surface is in thermal communication with the heat sink.

A method of cooling a contained vehicle fluid comprising the steps of:

• a) providing at least one thermoelectric device having at least a first surface that changes temperature in a first direction upon activation of the thermoelectric device and a second surface opposing the first surface that changes temperature in an opposite direction upon activation of the thermoelectric device;
• b) positioning the thermoelectric device such that the first surface is in thermal communication with a contained vehicle fluid;
• and
• c) activating the thermoelectric device to develop a thermal gradient between the contained vehicle fluid and the first surface.

A vehicle fuel cooling system comprising:

• a) a heat sink;
• b) a first heat transfer material block having a fuel path extending therethrough;
• and
• c) at least one ceramic wafered thermoelectric device, having a cooling wafer and a heating wafer, sandwiched between the first heat transfer material block and the heat sink such that the cooling wafer contacts the first heat transfer material block and such that the heating wafer contacts the heat sink.

A vehicle fuel cooling system comprising:

• a) a first heat transfer material block having a fuel conduit extending therethrough;
• b) a finned heat transfer material block;
• and
• c) a power source to supply electricity to a ceramic wafered thermoelectric device;
• d) at least one ceramic wafered thermoelectric device, having a cooling surface and an opposed heating surface, being sandwiched between the first heat transfer material block and the finned heat transfer material block such that the cooling surface faces the first heat transfer material block and such that the opposed heating surface faces the finned heat transfer material block.

A vehicle fuel heating system comprising:

• a) a heat sink;
• b) a first heat transfer material block having a fuel path extending therethrough;
• and
• c) at least one ceramic wafered thermoelectric device, having a cooling wafer and a heating wafer, sandwiched between the first heat transfer material block and the heat sink such that the heating wafer contacts the first heat transfer material block and such that the cooling wafer contacts the heat sink.

A vehicle fuel heating system comprising:

• a) a first heat transfer material block having a fuel conduit extending therethrough;
• b) a finned heat transfer material block;
• and
• c) a power source to supply electricity to the ceramic wafered thermoelectric device;
• d) at least one ceramic wafered thermoelectric device, having a cooling surface and an opposed heating surface, being sandwiched between the first heat transfer material block and the finned heat transfer material block such that the heating surface faces the first heat transfer material block and such that the cooling surface faces the finned heat transfer material block.

A vehicle lubricant cooling system comprising:

• a) a heat sink;
• b) a first heat transfer material block having a heat transfer appendage extending therefrom and into a vehicle lubricant accumulation vessel;
• and
• c) at least one ceramic wafered thermoelectric device having a cooling wafer and a heating wafer, sandwiched between the first heat transfer material block and the heat sink such that the cooling wafer contacts the first heat transfer material block and such that the heating wafer contacts the heat sink.

A vehicle lubricant cooling system comprising:

• a) an accumulation vessel having a vehicle lubricant inlet and a vehicle lubricant outlet;
• b) a first heat transfer material block having a heat transfer appendage extending therefrom and into the accumulation vessel;
• c) a heat sink;
• d) at least one ceramic wafered thermoelectric device having a cooling surface and an opposed heating surface sandwiched between the first heat transfer material block and the heat sink such that the cooling surface faces the first heat transfer material block and such that the opposed heating surface faces the heat sink.
• e) a power source operatively coupled to the ceramic wafered thermoelectric device.

A vehicle lubricant heating system comprising:

• a) a heat sink;
• b) a first heat transfer material block having a heat transfer appendage extending therefrom and into a vehicle lubricant accumulation vessel;
• and
• c) at least one ceramic wafered thermoelectric device having a cooling wafer and a heating wafer, sandwiched between the first heat transfer material block and the heat sink such that the heating wafer contacts the first heat transfer material block and such that the cooling wafer contacts the heat sink.

A vehicle lubricant heating system comprising:

• a) an accumulation vessel having a vehicle lubricant inlet and a vehicle lubricant outlet;
• b) a first heat transfer material block having a heat transfer appendage extending therefrom and into the accumulation vessel;
• c) a heat sink;
• d) at least one ceramic wafered thermoelectric device having a cooling surface and an opposed heating surface sandwiched between the first heat transfer material block and the heat sink such that the opposed heating surface faces the first heat transfer material block and such that the cooling surface faces the heat sink;
• and
• e) a power source operatively coupled to the ceramic wafered thermoelectric device.

A method for pre-heating a vehicle lubricant comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a vessel, installed onto a vehicle, for storing a vehicle lubricant;
• b) extending an appendage of heat transfer material into the vehicle lubricant stored in the vessel;
• and
• c) heating the appendage of heat transfer material by activating a ceramic wafered thermoelectric device having a cooling surface and an opposed heating surface, wherein the heating surface is operatively coupled to the appendage of heat transfer material.