US 2012/0266608 A1 · THERMOELECTRIC HEAT EXCHANGER CAPABLE OF PROVIDING TWO DIFFERENT DISCHARGE TEMPERATURES

Abstract

A thermoelectric heat exchanger and a thermoelectric heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) configured to provide a cooled fluid or air stream and a heated fluid or air stream. The thermoelectric heat exchanger may include a plurality thermoelectric devices (TEDs), also known as thermoelectric coolers (TECs) or Peltier coolers, in thermal communication. The thermoelectric devices may be arranged in a three dimensional array to provide compact packaging for the thermoelectric heat exchanger assembly. The thermoelectric heat exchanger may be configured to transfer thermal energy between a first thermoelectric device and a second thermoelectric device via evaporation and condensation of a working fluid or refrigerant contained within the thermoelectric heat exchanger.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A cross flow heat exchanger assembly configured to heat a first portion of a fluid flowing through said assembly and cool a second portion of the fluid flowing through said assembly, wherein the first portion is segregated from the second portion, said assembly comprising:

a first thermoelectric device configured to heat said first portion of the fluid;
a second thermoelectric device configured to cool said second portion of the fluid;
and
a heat pipe configured to transfer thermal energy between the first thermoelectric device and the second thermoelectric device via evaporation and condensation of a working fluid contained within the heat pipe.

1 more element

A cross-flow heat exchanger assembly configured to heat a first portion of a fluid flowing through said assembly and cool a second portion of the fluid flowing through said assembly, wherein the first portion is segregated from the second portion, said assembly comprising:

a first thermoelectric device configured to heat said first portion of the fluid;
a second thermoelectric device configured to cool said second portion of the fluid;
a first tube in thermal communication with the first thermoelectric device and configured to contain a working fluid;
a second tube in thermal communication with the second thermoelectric device and configured to contain the working fluid;
a first shell defining a first cavity oriented to contain the working fluid in a substantially liquid phase;
a second shell defining a second cavity oriented to contain the working fluid in a substantially vapor phase, wherein the first tube and the second tube is sealably coupled to the first shell and the second shell, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are in fluidic communication through the first tube and the second tube, wherein said assembly is configured to transfer thermal energy between the first thermoelectric device and the second thermoelectric device through evaporation and condensation of the working fluid.

3 more elements

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured to heat a first portion of an air stream flowing through said system and cool a second portion of the air stream flowing through said system, wherein the first portion is segregated from the second portion, said system comprising:

a heat exchanger assembly configured to change the temperature of said air stream flowing through said system;
a first plenum configured to segregate said air stream into said first portion of the air stream;
a second plenum configured to segregate said air stream into said second portion of the air stream;
a first thermoelectric device configured to heat said first portion of the air stream and cool said second portion of the air stream.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thermoelectric heat exchanger capable of providing two different discharge temperatures

Life of this patent

Thermoelectric heat exchanger capable of providing two different discharge temperatures

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18