Fluid cooling apparatus for a combustion system

An apparatus for transferring thermal energy in relation to a gas traveling through a gas intake conduit of an engine, the apparatus comprising:

• a first bank of thermoelectric devices having opposed cooling surfaces and heating surfaces, the cooling surfaces absorbing thermal energy while the heating surfaces are concurrently dissipating thermal energy;
• a first interface block of heat transfer material adapted to be mounted in thermal communication with an inner surface of the gas intake conduit, the interface block having a surface receiving the cooling surfaces of the first bank of thermoelectric devices;
• and
• a first heat sink mounted in thermal communication with the heating surfaces of the first bank of thermoelectric devices.

A method for transferring thermal energy in relation to a gas traveling through a gas intake to an engine, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one thermoelectric device having at least two surfaces, concurrently dissipating thermal energy on a warmer surface and absorbing thermal energy on a cooler surface when powered;
• positioning the thermoelectric device to be in thermal communication with a gas intake conduit for the engine;
• and
• providing power to the thermoelectric device to establish a thermal gradient between a gas within the gas intake conduit and the cooler surface of east the one thermoelectric device.

A method for transferring thermal energy in relation to a gas traveling through a gas intake of an engine, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a gas intake conduit for gas flowing to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine;
• providing at least one thermoelectric device having at least two surfaces, concurrently dissipating thermal energy on a warmer surface and absorbing thermal energy on a cooler surface when powered;
• mounting the thermoelectric device such that the cooler surface is in thermal communication with the gas intake conduit;
• providing a heat sink to be in thermal communication with at least the warmer surface of the thermoelectric device;
• supplying a flowing fluid in proximity to the heat sink;
• and
• providing power to at least the one thermoelectric device to establish a thermal gradient between a gas within the gas intake conduit and the cooler surface of at least the one thermoelectric device.

A method for transferring thermal energy from a gas traveling downstream from a turbocharger of a combustion system, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one thermoelectric device having at least two surfaces, concurrently dissipating thermal energy on a warmer surface and absorbing thermal energy on a cooler surface when powered;
• positioning the thermoelectric device to be in thermal communication with a gas intake conduit section downstream from the turbocharger of the combustion system;
• and
• providing power to at least the one thermoelectric device to establish a thermal gradient between a gas within the downstream section of the gas intake conduit and the cooler surface of at least the one thermoelectric device.

A method for transferring thermal energy from a gas traveling upstream from a combustion section of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one thermoelectric device having at least two surfaces, concurrently dissipating thermal energy on a warmer surface and absorbing thermal energy on a cooler surface when powered;
• positioning the thermoelectric device to be in thermal communication with a gas intake conduit section upstream from the combustion section of the internal combustion engine;
• and
• providing power to thee thermoelectric device to establish a thermal gradient between a gas within the upstream section of the gas intake conduit and the cooler surface of the thermoelectric device.

A method for transferring thermal energy from a gas traveling upstream from a combustion section of a vehicle combustion system, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a gas intake conduit upstream from a combustion system of a vehicle combustion system for directing a gas into the combustion section;
• providing at least two thermoelectric devices, each having at least two surfaces, concurrently dissipating thermal energy on a warmer surface and absorbing thermal energy on a cooler surface when powered;
• mounting the thermoelectric devices such that the cooler surfaces are in thermal communication with the gas intake conduit;
• providing at least a first heat sink to be in thermal communication with the warmer surface of at least one of the thermoelectric devices;
• supplying a flowing fluid in proximity to the heat sink;
• and
• providing power to the thermoelectric devices to establish a thermal gradient between the gas within the gas intake conduit and the cooler surface of the thermoelectric device.