Counterflow thermoelectric configuration employing thermal transfer fluid in closed cycle
AssigneeNanoCoolers, Inc.
InventorUttam Ghoshal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Active cooling technologies such as thermoelectrics can be used to introduce thermal “gain” into a cooling system and, when employed in combination with forced flow liquid metal cooling loops, can provide an attractive solution for cooling high heat flux density devices and/or components. Total cooling power can be increased by employing multiple thermoelectric elements. Indeed, by employing modern semiconductor technologies, including e.g., thin-film technologies, thermoelectric elements may be cost-effectively employed and configured in large arrays.
Claims66
A thermoelectric system comprising:
- plural thermoelectric modules, each including at least one thermoelectric element and together defining a thermoelectric array, individual ones of the thermoelectric elements having respective first and second sides and exhibiting respective thermal differentials during operation;
- a first closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the first sides of the thermoelectric elements;
- and
- a second closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the second sides of the thermoelectric elements,
- wherein a counterflow topology of the first and second closed fluid loop pathway portions is structured to ensure that the respective thermal differentials are substantially uniform during operation with a thermal transfer fluid.
A thermoelectric array configuration that that motivates flow of a liquid metal thermal transfer fluid in a first closed fluid loop using a magnetofluiddynamic (MFD) pump, wherein the motivated flow is part of a counterflow topology structured to ensure that thermal differentials across modules of the thermoelectric array are substantially uniform during operation.
A method of operating a thermoelectric system that includes plural thermoelectric modules, each including at least one thermoelectric element and together defining a thermoelectric array, individual ones of the thermoelectric elements having respective first and second sides and exhibiting respective thermal differentials during operation, the method comprising:
- motivating flow of a first thermal transfer fluid through a first closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the first sides of the thermoelectric elements;
- and
- motivating flow of a second thermal transfer fluid through a second closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the second sides of the thermoelectric elements,
- wherein topologies of the motivated flows are selected to achieve substantially uniformity of the thermal differentials during operation of the thermoelectric system.
A method of making a thermoelectric system product, the method comprising:
- providing plural thermoelectric modules, each including at least one thermoelectric element and together defining a thermoelectric array, individual ones of the thermoelectric elements having respective first and second sides;
- configuring a first closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the first sides of the thermoelectric elements;
- configuring a second closed fluid loop pathway portion in thermal communication with the second sides of the thermoelectric elements;
- and
- coupling an electromagnetic pump to at least one of the first and second closed fluid loop pathway portions.
An apparatus comprising:
- plural thermoelectric modules, each including at least one thermoelectric element and together defining a thermoelectric array;
- means for motivating flow of an electrically-conductive thermal transfer fluid away from, or back to, the thermoelectric array;
- and
- means for defining a flow topology that ensures that respective thermal differentials across modules of the thermoelectric array are substantially uniform during operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.