Temperature control system with thermal capacitor

The improvement as set forth in claim 21 wherein said thermal capacitor comprises:

• a second liquid heat exchanger comprising a housing having a conduit for passing temperature control fluid therethrough;
• thermal storage material filling the space between the housing and the conduit and in thermal communication with said conduit;
• and
• valve means connected in fluid communication to the conduit of the second liquid heat exchanger, the external thermal load and the thermoelectric temperature control system and structured to be positioned in either a first position or a second position to allow fluid flow of said temperature control fluid through said conduit, said valve means and said thermoelectric temperature control system when positioned in the first position and to allow fluid flow of said temperature control fluid through said conduit, said valve means, said external thermal load and said thermoelectric temperature control system when positioned in the second position.

An "add-on unit" apparatus to be connected between the exit conduit and the inlet conduit for temperature control fluid of a thermoelectric temperature control system for selectively heating or cooling the temperature control fluid to be provided to an external thermal load, said apparatus comprising:

• a thermal capacitor connected for fluid communication with said external thermal load and said thermoelectric temperature control system to provide thermal wattage to said external thermal load via the temperature control fluid in addition to the thermal Wattage provided to said external thermal load by said thermoelectric temperature control system via the temperature control fluid during the real-time use of said thermoelectric temperature control system, and
• wherein said thermal capacitor includes
• a thermal storage tank for storing temperature control fluid;
• and
• valve means connected in fluid communication to the thermal storage tank, the external thermal load and the thermoelectric temperature control system and structured to be positioned in either a first position or a second position to allow fluid flow of said temperature control fluid through said thermal storage tank, said valve means and said thermoelectric temperature control system when positioned in the first position and to allow fluid flow of said temperature control fluid through said thermal storage tank, said valve means, said external thermal load and said thermoelectric temperature control system when positioned in the second position.

A thermoelectric temperature control system for selectively heating or cooling a temperature control fluid to be provided through a liquid outlet to an external thermal load and returned to the system through a liquid inlet, said thermoelectric temperature control system comprising:

• a first liquid heat exchanger;
• a second liquid heat exchanger;
• a thermoelectric module in thermal conductivity with both the first and second liquid heat exchangers;
• a pump having a first head and a second head;
• a first reservoir;
• first conduit means connecting said first liquid heat exchanger, said first head of the pump and said first reservoir in fluid communication with the external thermal load to create flow of the temperature control fluid therebetween;
• a second reservoir;
• a radiator;
• second conduit means connecting said second liquid heat exchanger, said second head of the pump, said second reservoir and the radiator in fluid communication to create fluid flow therebetween;
• a thermal capacitor connected for fluid communication with said external thermal load and said thermoelectric temperature control system to provide thermal wattage to said external thermal load via the temperature control fluid in addition to the thermal wattage provided to said external thermal load by said thermoelectric temperature control system via the temperature control fluid during the real-time use of said thermoelectric temperature control system;
• and
• includes:
• a thermal storage tank for storing temperature control fluid;
• and
• valve means connected in fluid communication to the thermal storage tank, the external thermal load and the thermoelectric temperature control system and structured to be positioned in either a first position or a second position to allow fluid flow of said temperature control fluid through said thermal storage tank, said valve means and said thermoelectric temperature control system when positioned in the first position and to allow fluid flow of said temperature control fluid through said thermal storage tank, said valve means, said external thermal load and said thermoelectric temperature control system when positioned in the second position.

A thermoelectric temperature control system for selectively heating or cooling a temperature control fluid to be provided through a liquid outlet to an external thermal load and returned to the system through a liquid inlet, said thermoelectric temperature control system comprising:

• a first liquid heat exchanger;
• a second liquid heat exchanger:
• a thermoelectric module in thermal conductivity with both the first and second liquid heat exchangers;
• a pump
• a reservoir;
• first conduit means connecting said first liquid heat exchanger, said pump and said reservoir in fluid communication with the external thermal load to create flow of the temperature control fluid therebetween;
• an external source of water;
• means to carry the water away from said thermoelectric temperature control system;
• second conduit means connecting said second liquid heat exchanger, said external source of water and said means to carry the water away from said thermoelectric temperature control system in fluid communication to create fluid flow therebetween;
• and
• further comprising a thermal capacitor connected for fluid communication with said external thermal load and said thermoelectric temperature control system to provide thermal wattage to said external thermal load via the temperature control fluid in addition to the thermal wattage provided to said external thermal load by said thermoelectric temperature control system via the temperature control fluid during the real-time use of said thermoelectric temperature control system.

A thermoelectric temperature control system for selectively heating or cooling a temperature control fluid to be provided through a liquid outlet to an external thermal load and returned to the system through a liquid inlet, said thermoelectric temperature control system comprising:

• a first liquid heat exchanger;
• a second liquid heat exchanger;
• a thermoelectric module in thermal conductivity with both the first and second liquid heat exchangers;
• a pump having a first head and a second head;
• a first reservoir;
• a second reservoir;
• a first valve structured to be positioned in either a first position or a second position;
• a second valve structured to be positioned in either a first position or a second position;
• first conduit means connecting said first valve, said first liquid heat exchanger, said first head of the pump, said first reservoir and said second valve in fluid communication with the external thermal load to create flow of the temperature control fluid therebetween when said first valve is in said first position and said second valve is in said first position;
• second conduit means connecting said first valve, said first liquid heat exchanger, said first head of the pump, said second reservoir and said second valve in fluid communication with the external thermal load to create flow of the temperature control fluid therebetween when said first valve is in said first position and said second valve is in said second position;
• third conduit means connecting said first valve, said first liquid heat exchanger, said first head of the pump, said first reservoir and said second valve in fluid communication to create flow of the temperature control fluid therebetween when said first valve is in said second position and said second valve is in said first position;
• fourth conduit means connecting said first valve, said first liquid heat exchanger, said first head of the pump, said second reservoir and said second valve in fluid communication to create flow of the temperature control fluid therebetween when said first valve is in said second position and said second valve is in said second position;
• a third reservoir;
• a radiator;
• and
• fifth conduit means connecting said second liquid heat exchanger, said second head of the pump, said third reservoir and the radiator in fluid communication to create fluid flow there between.