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US 8,418,477 B2Granted
Solar-thermoelectric air-conditioning in vehicles
AssigneeQuixotic Systems, Inc.
InventorsRichard Klein, Bhagavathi P. Natarajan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for providing air-conditioning to a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a solar photovoltaic panel positioned in a window or windshield to provide direct current to power a thermoelectric assembly to pump excess heat out of the interior of the car. The car is air-conditioned in a parked state and pre-air-conditioned before use.
Claims29
An apparatus for cooling an interior of a vehicle comprising:
- a solar photo-voltaic panel removably positioned on an inside of a window or a windshield of the vehicle to block at least a portion of sun rays from entering the vehicle and configured to convert energy from the sun rays to generate a DC voltage;
- and a thermoelectric cooling assembly powered by the DC voltage;
- wherein the thermoelectric cooling assembly comprises a casing having a thermoelectric module having a cold side exposed to air in the interior of the vehicle and a hot side exposed by a narrow opening in the casing to air exterior of the vehicle, the thermoelectric module adapted to transfer heat from the air in the interior of the vehicle to the air exterior of the vehicle;
- wherein there is substantially no flow of air through the thermoelectric cooling assembly from the interior to the exterior of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the narrow opening in the casing is adapted to be positioned in a narrow opening between a top of a vehicle window and a frame of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the apparatus further comprises a sealing grommet adapted to be positioned in the narrow opening between the top of the vehicle window and the frame of the vehicle.
5 more elements
A method for an interior of a vehicle comprising:
- positioning a solar photo-voltaic panel on an inside of a window or a windshield of the vehicle, converting at least a portion of the energy from sun rays with the solar photo-voltaic panel to generate a DC voltage;
- and powering at least a portion of a thermoelectric cooling assembly with the DC voltage,
- wherein the thermoelectric cooling assembly comprises a casing having a narrow opening and a thermoelectric module having a cold side and a hot side;
- and
- wherein the method further comprises:
- positioning a sealing grommet in a narrow opening between the top of a vehicle window and a frame of the vehicle;
- and
- positioning the narrow opening of the casing in a narrow opening between the top of a vehicle window and a frame of the vehicle in contact with the sealing grommet;
- exposing the hot side of the thermoelectric module through the narrow opening in the casing to air exterior of the vehicle;
- exposing the air in the interior of the vehicle to the cold side of the thermoelectric module to cool the air in the interior;
- and
- transferring heat from the air in the interior of the vehicle to the air exterior of the vehicle through the thermoelectric module;
- wherein while the method is practiced there is substantially no flow of air through the thermoelectric cooling assembly from the interior to the exterior of the vehicle.
10 more elements
A method for cooling an interior of a vehicle comprising:
- removably positioning a solar photo-voltaic panel on the inside of a window or windshield of the vehicle;
- thermoelectrically cooling the interior of the vehicle using a thermoelectric cooling assembly powered by a DC voltage from the removably positioned solar photo-voltaic panel, the thermoelectric cooling assembly including, a thermoelectric module having a cold side and a hot side, an internal heat sink in thermal contact with the cold side and in thermal contact with air in the interior of the vehicle;
- an external heat sink in thermal contact with the hot side and in thermal contact with an exterior of the vehicle;
- using the cold side of the thermoelectric cooler to remove heat from the interior of the vehicle;
- transferring the heat from the interior of the vehicle to the hot side of the thermoelectric module;
- and using the external heat sink to remove heat from the hot side of the thermoelectric module to the exterior of the vehicle;
- wherein the thermoelectric cooling assembly further comprises a casing having a narrow opening;
- and
- wherein the method further comprises:
- positioning the narrow opening of the casing in a narrow opening between a top of a vehicle window and a frame of the vehicle;
- positioning a sealing grommet in the narrow opening between the top of the vehicle window and the frame of the vehicle;
- exposing the external heat sink of the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling assembly through the narrow opening in the casing to air from the exterior of the vehicle;
- exposing the internal heat sink of the cold side of the thermoelectric cooler assembly to air in the interior of the vehicle to cool the air in the interior;
- and
- transferring heat from the air in the interior of the vehicle to the air exterior of the vehicle through the thermoelectric module;
- wherein while the method is practiced there is substantially no flow of air through the thermoelectric cooling assembly from the interior to the exterior of the vehicle.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.