System and method for distributed thermoelectric heating and cooling

A thermoelectric system for heating or cooling regions of a vehicle, the thermoelectric system comprising:

• a fluid conduit loop configured to allow a liquid working fluid to flow in the fluid conduit loop, wherein the liquid working fluid comprises engine coolant, wherein the fluid conduit loop is configured to be in thermal communication with an engine of the vehicle;
• a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly comprising a plurality of thermoelectric elements;
• a first thermoelectric assembly of the thermoelectric assemblies positioned in a seat of the vehicle, the first thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the liquid working fluid and in thermal communication with a first region associated with the seat of the vehicle, wherein the first thermoelectric assembly is operable to heat the first region by transferring heat from the liquid working fluid to the first region or to cool the first region by transferring heat from the first region to the liquid working fluid;
• a second thermoelectric assembly of the thermoelectric assemblies positioned in a pillar of the vehicle or a headliner of the vehicle, the second thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the liquid working fluid and in thermal communication with a second region associated with the pillar of the vehicle or the headliner of the vehicle, wherein the second thermoelectric assembly is operable to heat the second region by transferring heat from the liquid working fluid to the second region or to cool the second region by transferring heat from the second region to the liquid working fluid;
• and
• a controller configured to independently operate the first thermoelectric assembly and the second thermoelectric assembly to heat or cool the first region or the second region.

A thermoelectric system for heating or cooling regions of a vehicle, the thermoelectric system comprising:

• a fluid conduit configured to allow a working fluid to flow therein;
• a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly comprising a plurality of thermoelectric elements;
• a first thermoelectric assembly of the thermoelectric assemblies positioned in a seat of the vehicle, the first thermoelectric assembly comprising a first side and a second side and configured to transfer thermal energy between the first side of the first thermoelectric assembly and the second side of the first thermoelectric assembly, the first side of the first thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the working fluid, the second side of the first thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with a first region associated with the seat of the vehicle, wherein the first thermoelectric assembly is operable to heat the first region by transferring heat from the working fluid to the first region or to cool the first region by transferring heat from the first region to the working fluid;
• a second thermoelectric assembly of the thermoelectric assemblies positioned in a pillar of the vehicle or a headliner of the vehicle, the second thermoelectric assembly comprising a first side and a second side and configured to transfer thermal energy between the first side of the second thermoelectric assembly and the second side of the second thermoelectric assembly, the first side of the second thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the working fluid, the second side of the second thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with a second region associated with the pillar of the vehicle or the headliner of the vehicle, wherein the second thermoelectric assembly is operable to heat the first region by transferring heat from the working fluid to the first region or to cool the first region by transferring heat from the first region to the working fluid;
• and
• a controller configured to independently operate the first thermoelectric assembly and the second thermoelectric assembly to heat or cool the first region or the second region.

A temperature control system for heating or cooling regions of a vehicle, the temperature control system comprising:

• a fluid conduit loop configured to allow a liquid working fluid to flow in the fluid conduit loop, wherein the liquid working fluid comprises engine coolant, wherein the fluid conduit loop is configured to be in thermal communication with an engine of the vehicle;
• a first temperature control assembly positioned in a seat of the vehicle, the first temperature control assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the liquid working fluid and in thermal communication with a first region associated with the seat of the vehicle, wherein the first temperature control assembly is configured to heat the first region by transferring heat from the liquid working fluid to the first region or to cool the first region by transferring heat from the first region to the liquid working fluid;
• and
• a second temperature control assembly positioned in a different location of the vehicle from a location of the first temperature control assembly, the second temperature control assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the liquid working fluid and in thermal communication with a second region associated with the different location of the vehicle, wherein the second temperature control assembly is configured to heat the second region by transferring heat from the liquid working fluid to the second region or to cool the first region by transferring heat from the second region to the liquid working fluid.