Thermoelectric device with a plurality of modules individually controlled

Abstract

A heating and cooling apparatus having a first gas conduit, a second gas conduit and at least one thermoelectric module. In a first embodiment, structure is provided to introduce moisture into the second gas conduit, upstream of that conduit's association with the thermoelectric module. The introduction of the moisture into the gas within the second gas conduit functions to decrease the temperature between the temperature of the gas in the first conduit and the temperature of the gas in the second conduit, thereby optimizing the operation of the thermoelectric module. In a second embodiment a plurality of thermoelectric modules are arranged in an array and positioned between the gas conduits and associated therewith. The power supplied to each of the thermoelectric modules is adjusted to correspond to an optimum power input calculated for each thermoelectric module respectively. This calculation utilizes a temperature differential between the temperature of the thermoelectric material at the junction of the thermoelectric module with the first gas conduit and the temperature of the thermoelectric material at the junction of the thermoelectric module with the second gas conduit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.