US 6,401,462 B1Granted

Thermoelectric cooling system

OwnerGeorge Bielinskiinventor

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Abstract

A thermoelectric cooling system includes a control assembly and a direct current (“d.c.”) power source providing direct current to an interface that creates a thermal flow across a thermoelectric module having at least one heat sink and at least one heat source. The d.c. power source, the interface, the control assembly, and the thermoelectric module are connected to each other in series. The control assembly optionally includes a relay and a voltage generating thermocouple. When voltage from the thermocouple reaches a predetermined threshold, the relay trips and supplies sufficient voltage to the interface to prevent thermal reversal of the heat source and heat sink. To control moisture, a metal strap may be used to restrict heat flow. Alternatively or additionally, a moisture control pad may be used to absorb and re-evaporate moisture to substantially maintain a desired humidity range. In an optional embodiment, the load to be cooled may be placed below the heat source and cooled by convection.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A thermoelectric cooling system comprising:

a housing;
a thermoelectric module comprising at least one heat sink and at least one heat source, said heat source comprising a load and a first body spaced from said load such that the first body is insulated from direct thermal association with the load;
an interface intermediate the first body and the heat sink such that the first body, the interface, and the heat sink are mechanically connected in series, the first body absorbing heat from the air surrounding said load and the heat being transferred through the interface to the heat sink by the Peltier effect when direct current is applied to the interface;
and
a control assembly comprising a thermocouple generating voltage in proportion to the temperature of the first body and a relay, the control assembly and the thermoelectric module electrically connected to each other in series, the relay sensing the voltage from the thermocouple and providing at least a first voltage level to the interface to cool the load when a first thermocouple voltage is sensed and a second voltage level to the interface sufficient to substantially prevent reversal of the heat source and the heat sink when a second thermocouple voltage is sensed.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/947,787Filed 6 Sep 2001 · continuation in part
Priority: 16 Mar 2000
Granted: 11 Jun 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

H10N 10/10
Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects: operating with only the…
F24F 5/0042
Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00 , e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an…
F25B 21/02
Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects: using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
H10N 10/00
Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting seebeck