Thermoelectric-based thermal management of electrical devices
AssigneeGentherm Incorporated
InventorsDmitri Kossakovski, Alfred Piggott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed embodiments include thermoelectric-based thermal management systems and methods configured to heat and/or cool an electrical device. Thermal management systems can include at least one electrical conductor in electrical and thermal communication with a temperature-sensitive region of the electrical device and at least one thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the at least one electrical conductor. Electric power can be directed to the thermoelectric device by the same electrical conductor or an external power supply, causing the thermoelectric device to provide controlled heating and/or cooling to the electrical device via the at least one electrical conductor.
Claims21
1-26. (canceled)
A method for thermally managing an electrical device, the method comprising:
- operating a thermoelectric device in substantial thermal communication with an electrical conductor that is in thermal and electrical communication with a temperature-sensitive region of an electrical device;
- monitoring an input from a temperature sensor in thermal communication with the temperature-sensitive region of the electrical device and electrical communication with a controller that comprises a control algorithm configured to monitor the input, wherein the input comprises a thermal gradient created during operation of the electrical device across the temperature-sensitive region;
- and
- adjusting current directed in or out of the thermoelectric device in response to the input to reduce or eliminate the thermal gradient created during operation of the electrical device across the temperature-sensitive region.
A method of manufacturing a thermal management system for thermally managing an electrical device, the method comprising:
- connecting a thermoelectric device to an electrical conductor that is in thermal and electrical communication with a temperature-sensitive region of an electrical device;
- positioning a sensor on the electrical device such that the sensor is capable of measuring an input comprising a thermal gradient of the temperature-sensitive region of the electrical device;
- and
- connecting the sensor to a control system comprising a control algorithm configured to adjust electric power delivered to the thermoelectric device in response to the input from the sensor such that thermal energy transferred to or away from the temperature-sensitive region of the electrical device reduces or eliminates a thermal gradient created during operation of the electrical device across the temperature-sensitive region.
A method for thermally managing a battery cell, the method comprising:
- operating a thermoelectric device to transfer thermal energy between a main surface and a waste surface, the thermoelectric device in thermal communication with a battery cell;
- monitoring an input from a temperature sensor in thermal communication with the battery cell and electrical communication with a controller that comprises a control algorithm configured to monitor the input, wherein the input comprises a thermal gradient created during operation of the battery cell across the battery cell;
- and
- adjusting current directed in or out of the thermoelectric device in response to the input to reduce or eliminate the thermal gradient created during operation of the battery cell across the battery cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.