U.S. patent application number 12/775251 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-17 for heat exchanger having thermoelectric element.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hyundai Motor Company. Invention is credited to Wook Jeong, Duck Chae Jun, Man Ju Oh, Jang Su Park.
Application Number | 20110061400 12/775251 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43729139 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110061400 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park; Jang Su ; et
al. |
March 17, 2011 |
HEAT EXCHANGER HAVING THERMOELECTRIC ELEMENT
Abstract
A heat exchanger may include a housing including an intake port
through which air is introduced into the housing from outside, a
seat inlet supplying air to a vehicle seat, and an exhaust port
through which a portion of the air introduced from outside is
exhausted from the housing to outside, a blower unit mounted inside
the housing and operated by a first motor to supply the air
introduced into the housing through the intake port, out of the
housing through the seat inlet, and a thermoelectric element
disposed between the intake port and the seat inlet and
heat-controlling the air introduced into the housing through the
intake port.
Inventors: |
Park; Jang Su; (Busan,
KR) ; Oh; Man Ju; (Ulsan, KR) ; Jun; Duck
Chae; (Seongnam-si, KR) ; Jeong; Wook;
(Cheonan-si, KR) |
Assignee: |
Hyundai Motor Company
Seoul
KR
Modine Korea, LLC.
Asan-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
43729139 |
Appl. No.: |
12/775251 |
Filed: |
May 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.2 ;
165/104.34; 165/185 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/5657 20130101;
B60N 2/5692 20130101; F25B 21/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/3.2 ;
165/104.34; 165/185 |
International
Class: |
F25B 21/02 20060101
F25B021/02; F28F 13/12 20060101 F28F013/12; F28F 7/00 20060101
F28F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 17, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0088214 |
Claims
1. A heat exchanger comprising: a housing including an intake port
through which air is introduced into the housing from outside, a
seat inlet supplying air to a vehicle seat, and an exhaust port
through which a portion of the air introduced from outside is
exhausted from the housing to outside; a blower unit mounted inside
the housing and operated by a first motor to supply the air
introduced into the housing through the intake port, out of the
housing through the seat inlet; and a thermoelectric element
disposed between the intake port and the seat inlet and
heat-controlling the air introduced into the housing through the
intake port.
2. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
thermoelectric element separates the intake port into an upper flow
passage and a lower flow passage and wherein the blower unit is
disposed in the upper flow passage and the exhaust port is formed
to the lower flow passage.
3. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 2, further
comprising first heat dissipation fins attached to an upper surface
of the thermoelectric element and disposed in the upper flow
passage, and second heat dissipation fins attached to a lower
surface of the thermoelectric element and disposed in the lower
flow passage, such that the first heat dissipation fins communicate
with the intake port and the seat inlet and the second heat
dissipation fins communicate with the intake port and the exhaust
port.
4. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 2, further
comprising a fan unit provided in the exhaust port, wherein the fan
unit exhausts air, heat-controlled by the second heat dissipation
fins of the thermoelectric element, out of the housing through the
exhaust port.
5. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 4, wherein the fan
unit is driven by a rotary shaft of the first motor that drives the
blower unit, and wherein the thermoelectric element has a hole
through which the rotary shaft extends and is connected to the fan
unit.
6. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 4, wherein the fan
unit provided in the exhaust port is driven by a second motor.
7. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 3, wherein the
housing includes upper, middle and lower housings, wherein the
upper and middle housings are coupled with each other to define a
first space, inside of which the blower unit is mounted, and the
seat inlet, wherein the middle and lower housings are coupled with
each other to define a second space, inside of which the
thermoelectric element is mounted, and the intake port, wherein the
exhaust port is formed in the lower housing under the
thermoelectric element.
8. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 7, further
comprising a first separator film disposed between the middle and
lower housings to define an upper hole to form the upper flow
passage and a lower hole to form the lower flow passage
respectively, wherein the first separator film prevents air,
introduced into the second space through the upper hole of the
intake port and heat-controlled by the first heat dissipation fins
of the thermoelectric element, and air, introduced into the second
space through the lower hole of the intake port and heat-controlled
by the second heat dissipation fins of the thermoelectric element,
from mixing with each other.
9. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 8, wherein the
thermoelectric element unit includes a thermoelectric element and
the first separator film extends from the thermoelectric element to
form the upper and lower holes.
10. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 8, further
comprising a second separator film to divide the second space into
an upper output port and a lower output port, wherein the upper
output port receives air heat-controlled by the first dissipation
fins and the lower output port receives air heat-controlled by the
second dissipation fins.
11. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 10, wherein the
second separator film extends from the thermoelectric element to
form the upper and lower output ports.
12. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 1, further
comprising a fan unit provided in the exhaust port, wherein the fan
unit exhausts air, heat-controlled by the thermoelectric element,
out of the housing.
13. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 12, wherein the fan
unit is driven by a rotary shaft of the first motor that drives the
blower unit, and wherein the thermoelectric element has a hole
through which the rotary shaft extends and is coupled to the fan
unit.
14. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 13, wherein the
blower unit comprises a Sirocco fan, and the fan unit provided in
the exhaust port comprises an axial fan.
15. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 14, wherein the
seat inlet includes at least two seat inlets and extending in the
tangential direction of the circumference of the housing.
16. A heat exchanger comprising: an upper housing; a middle
housing, wherein the upper and middle housings are coupled with
each other to define a first space, inside of which a blower unit
is mounted, and a seat inlet; a lower housing, wherein the middle
and lower housings are coupled with each other to define a second
space, inside of which a thermoelectric element is mounted, and an
intake port, and wherein the lower housing defines, therein, an
exhaust port in which a fan is mounted; and a separator film
provided between the middle and lower housings to divide the intake
port into upper and lower holes, wherein the separator film
prevents air, introduced into the second space and heat-controlled
by the thermoelectric element, and air, introduced into the second
space and heat-controlled by the thermoelectric element, from
mixing with each other, whereby air introduced through the upper
hole is supplied to a vehicle seat through the seat inlet after
heat exchange with the thermoelectric element, and whereby air
introduced through the exhaust port is exhausted to outside through
the lower hole after heat exchange with the thermoelectric element.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application Number 10-2009-0088214 filed on Sep. 17, 2009, the
entire contents of which application is incorporated herein for all
purposes by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger having a
thermoelectric element, and more particularly, to one in which a
thermoelectric element unit enabling heat exchange is integrally
provided with a blower.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In general, a vehicle is equipped with an air-conditioning
system including a cooler and a heater. The air-conditioning system
serves to control the temperature inside the vehicle.
[0006] However, the air-conditioning system does not have a
function of controlling the temperature of a vehicle seat. In the
summer, even if an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat lowers the
temperature inside the vehicle by operating the cooler, the seat is
relatively slowly cooled down. In addition, the occupant may have
heat rash at the buttocks and the back, which are apt to sweat due
to body heat.
[0007] In the winter, even if the occupant sitting on the vehicle
seat raises the temperature inside the vehicle by operating the
heater, the seat stays cold for a long time before the heater warms
up the air. Thus, the occupant may feel chilly or cold at the
buttocks or back.
[0008] Accordingly, these days, a seat-dedicated heating and
cooling system is additionally provided, which is designed to
control the temperature of the seat. An example of such a vehicle
seat heating and cooling system will be illustrated with reference
to FIG. 1.
[0009] The vehicle seat heating and cooling system is mounted below
a vehicle seat, which includes a back and a sitting part. The
heating and cooling system includes a first duct 2 communicating
with the back, a second duct 4 communicating with the sitting part,
and a blower 1 blowing air into the ducts 2 and 4. Thermoelectric
element housings 3 and 5 are coupled to the front ends of the ducts
2 and 4, respectively, and thermoelectric element units (not shown)
are mounted inside the thermoelectric element housings 3 and 5,
respectively.
[0010] The thermoelectric element housing 3 has two air outlets 3a
and 3b. The air outlet 3a serves to supply air, heated or cooled by
the thermoelectric element unit, to the seat, and the air outlet 3b
serves to exhaust air from the vehicle. The thermoelectric element
housing 5 also has two air outlets 5a and 5b, which function
substantially the same as those of the thermoelectric element
housing 3.
[0011] When a thermoelectric element is used for heating air to be
supplied to the seat, air is heated at one side of the
thermoelectric element but is cooled at the other side of the
thermoelectric element. Thus, it is required to exhaust cooled air
from the vehicle. For this purpose, the thermoelectric element
housing is provided with both the air outlet 3a or 5a for supplying
air to the seat and the outlets 3b and 5b for exhausting air from
the vehicle. In addition, the outlet 5b is connected to an exhaust
duct 6, which leads to the outside of the vehicle.
[0012] However, since the thermoelectric elements that cool or heat
air are separately located on the front end of the respective duct,
more thermoelectric elements are needed in the above-described
vehicle seat heating and cooling system of the related art. As
such, the expensive thermoelectric elements, located in multiple
positions of the seat heating and cooling system, increase the
price of the system while making it difficult to assemble the
system.
[0013] In addition, a supply voltage is required in order to
operate the thermoelectric elements. In the seat heating and
cooling system of the related art, this complicates power supply
lines for the thermoelectric elements and lowers the degree of
freedom of design.
[0014] The information disclosed in this Background of the
Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the
general background of the invention and should not be taken as an
acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information
forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the
art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to
provide a heat exchanger having a thermoelectric element, which is
integrally mounted with a blower instead of being separately
mounted on a respective duct leading to a vehicle seat, whereby
manufacturing costs can be reduced, the structure of the duct can
be simplified, and a seat heating and cooling system can be easily
assembled.
[0016] In an aspect of the present invention, the heat exchanger
may include a housing including an intake port through which air is
introduced into the housing from outside, a seat inlet supplying
air to a vehicle seat, and an exhaust port through which a portion
of the air introduced from outside is exhausted from the housing to
outside, a blower unit mounted inside the housing and operated by a
first motor to supply the air introduced into the housing through
the intake port, out of the housing through the seat inlet, and a
thermoelectric element disposed between the intake port and the
seat inlet and heat-controlling the air introduced into the housing
through the intake port.
[0017] The thermoelectric element may separate the intake port into
an upper flow passage and a lower flow passage and wherein the
blower unit is disposed in the upper flow passage and the exhaust
port is formed to the lower flow passage.
[0018] The heat exchanger may further include first heat
dissipation fins attached to an upper surface of the thermoelectric
element and disposed in the upper flow passage, and second heat
dissipation fins attached to a lower surface of the thermoelectric
element and disposed in the lower flow passage, such that the first
heat dissipation fins communicate with the intake port and the seat
inlet and the second heat dissipation fins communicate with the
intake port and the exhaust port.
[0019] The heat exchanger may further include a fan unit provided
in the exhaust port, wherein the fan unit exhausts air,
heat-controlled by the second heat dissipation fins of the
thermoelectric element, out of the housing through the exhaust
port, wherein the fan unit is driven by a rotary shaft of the first
motor that drives the blower unit, and wherein the thermoelectric
element has a hole through which the rotary shaft extends and is
connected to the fan unit.
[0020] The fan unit provided in the exhaust port may be driven by a
second motor.
[0021] The housing may include upper, middle and lower housings,
wherein the upper and middle housings are coupled with each other
to define a first space, inside of which the blower unit is
mounted, and the seat inlet, wherein the middle and lower housings
are coupled with each other to define a second space, inside of
which the thermoelectric element is mounted, and the intake port,
and wherein the exhaust port is formed in the lower housing under
the thermoelectric element.
[0022] The heat exchanger may further include a first separator
film disposed between the middle and lower housings to define an
upper hole to form the upper flow passage and a lower hole to form
the lower flow passage respectively, wherein the first separator
film prevents air, introduced into the second space through the
upper hole of the intake port and heat-controlled by the first heat
dissipation fins of the thermoelectric element, and air, introduced
into the second space through the lower hole of the intake port and
heat-controlled by the second heat dissipation fins of the
thermoelectric element, from mixing with each other.
[0023] The thermoelectric element unit includes a thermoelectric
element and the first separator film extends from the
thermoelectric element to form the upper and lower holes.
[0024] The heat exchanger may further include a second separator
film to divide the second space into an upper output port and a
lower output port, wherein the upper output port receives air
heat-controlled by the first dissipation fins and the lower output
port receives air heat-controlled by the second dissipation
fins.
[0025] The second separator film may extend from the thermoelectric
element to form the upper and lower output ports.
[0026] The blower unit may include a Sirocco fan, and the fan unit
provided in the exhaust port comprises an axial fan, wherein the
seat inlet includes at least two seat inlets and extending in the
tangential direction of the circumference of the housing.
[0027] In another aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger
may include an upper housing, a middle housing, wherein the upper
and middle housings are coupled with each other to define a first
space, inside of which a blower unit is mounted, and a seat inlet,
a lower housing, wherein the middle and lower housings are coupled
with each other to define a second space, inside of which a
thermoelectric element is mounted, and an intake port, and wherein
the lower housing defines, therein, an exhaust port in which a fan
is mounted, and a separator film provided between the middle and
lower housings to divide the intake port into upper and lower
holes, wherein the separator film prevents air, introduced into the
second space and heat-controlled by the thermoelectric element, and
air, introduced into the second space and heat-controlled by the
thermoelectric element, from mixing with each other, whereby air
introduced through the upper hole is supplied to a vehicle seat
through the seat inlet after heat exchange with the thermoelectric
element, and whereby air introduced through the exhaust port is
exhausted to outside through the lower hole after heat exchange
with the thermoelectric element.
[0028] In the heating and cooling system of the related art, the
thermoelectric element housings are provided in the front ends of
the ducts, and the thermoelectric elements are separately provided
inside the housings. In contrast, according to exemplary
embodiments of the invention, the heat exchanger having a
thermoelectric element has an advantage of a simple structure, in
which the thermoelectric element for heating and cooling air, which
will be supplied to the heating and cooling system for a vehicle
seat, is integrally provided with the blower. Also, in the related
art, the respective ducts are separately provided in order to
exhaust air, which is not supplied from the ducts to the seat, out
of the vehicle. In contrast, according to various aspects of the
invention, the heat exchanger having a thermoelectric element
requires only one duct for exhausting air, which is not supplied to
the seat. This, as a result, facilitates assembly of the system and
reduces manufacturing costs.
[0029] Furthermore, according to various aspects of the invention,
the heat exchanger can improve the degree of freedom of design
inside the vehicle seat since electric lines for supplying a
voltage to the thermoelectric element are simplified.
[0030] The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have
other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are
set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are
incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description of the
Invention, which together serve to explain certain principles of
the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat heating
and cooling system of the related art.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an exemplary heat
exchanger having a thermoelectric element according to the present
invention.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective of the exemplary heat exchanger of
FIG. 2, viewed from a different angle.
[0034] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger
of FIG. 3.
[0035] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in
FIG. 3.
[0036] It should be understood that the appended drawings are not
necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified
representation of various features illustrative of the basic
principles of the invention. The specific design features of the
present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example,
specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be
determined in part by the particular intended application and use
environment.
[0037] In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or
equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several
figures of the drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments
of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and described below. While the
invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary
embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not
intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments.
On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only
the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives,
modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be
included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by
the appended claims.
[0039] Above all, reference should be made to the drawings, in
which the same reference numerals and signs are used throughout the
different drawings to designate the same or similar components. In
the following description of the present invention, a detailed
description of known functions and components incorporated herein
will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present
invention rather unclear.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment
of a heat exchanger having a thermoelectric element according to
the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective of the heat
exchanger of FIG. 2, viewed from a different angle, FIG. 4 is an
exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 3, and FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the heat exchanger using a
thermoelectric element according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention includes a housing 10, a blower unit 20, and a
thermoelectric element unit 30. The housing 10 includes intake
ports 15 through which air is introduced into the housing 10 from
the outside, seat inlets 16 connected to a duct that leads to a
vehicle seat, and an exhaust port 17 through which a portion of
air, taken in from the outside and remaining after being blown into
the seat inlets 16, is exhausted from the housing 10 to the
outside. The blower unit 20 is provided inside the housing 10, and
serves to blow air, introduced into the housing 10, out of the
housing 10 through the seat inlets 16. The thermoelectric element
30 cools and heats air introduced into the housing 10 through the
intake ports 15.
[0042] The housing 10 includes upper, middle, and lower housings
11, 12, and 13. The upper and middle housings 11 and 12 are coupled
with each other, thereby defining a first space 50. The middle and
lower housings 12 and 13 are coupled with each other, thereby
defining a second space 52.
[0043] The blower unit 20 includes a motor 24 fixedly installed
inside the housing 11 and blades 22 rotatably installed inside the
first space 50. The blades 22 are driven by the motor 24. The
blower unit 20 is a Sirocco fan that is a centrifugal blower having
a number of blades. In the blower unit 20, air axially enters from
the bottom of the blades 22 and then radially flows over the fan
blades 22.
[0044] The thermoelectric element unit 30 is fixedly installed in
the second space 52 defined by the middle housing 12 and the lower
housing 13. The thermoelectric element unit 30 includes a
thermoelectric element 32, which is cooled down or heated when a
voltage is applied, and first and second heat dissipation fins 34
and 36 provided on both surfaces of the thermoelectric element 32.
The first and second heat dissipation fins 34 and 36 are in contact
with the thermoelectric element 32, thereby forming a heat
conductive structure.
[0045] As described above, the thermoelectric element 32 is a
Peltier element, in which one side is heated and the other side is
cooled when a current is passed around the thermoelectric element
32. The side to be heated is changed according to the direction of
the current that is applied. Accordingly, in an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, when a voltage is supplied to
the thermoelectric element 32, one side of the thermoelectric
element 32 to be heated and the heat dissipation fins 34 in contact
with one side serve as a heater, and the other side of the
thermoelectric element 32 to be cooled and the heat dissipation
fins 36 in contact with the other side serve as a cooler.
[0046] The first and second heat dissipation fins 34 and 36 are a
structure for maximizing the contact area in which air flowing
through the second space 52 performs heat exchange with the
thermoelectric element 32. Although the heat dissipation fins 34
and 36 are shaped as corrugated plates, they can be modified into
fin shapes. The heat dissipation fins 34 and 36 can have any shape
that allows air to come into contact with the heat dissipation fins
34 and 36 while flowing in the second space 52.
[0047] In this embodiment, the middle housing 12 is interposed
between the blower unit 20 and the thermoelectric element unit 30.
This is to reliably partition the first space 50 from the second
space 52 as well as to prevent the rotating blades 22 from
interfering with the thermoelectric element unit 30. Accordingly,
the middle housing 12 is not an essential component in this
embodiment. As an alternative, the middle housing 12 can be
excluded. In this case, the blower unit 20 and the thermoelectric
element 32 are mounted inside a space defined by coupling between
the first and second housings 11 and 13.
[0048] The intake ports 15 outwardly protrude from the portion of
the housing 10 where the thermoelectric element unit 30 is mounted,
the seat inlets 16 outwardly protrude from the portion of the
housing 10 where the blower unit 20 is mounted, and the exhaust
ports 17 are formed on the outer wall of the lower housing 13,
opposite the surface of the housing 10 on which the thermoelectric
element unit 30 faces the blower unit 20.
[0049] With this configuration, when air is introduced into the
second space 52 inside the housing 10 through the intake ports 15,
it comes into contact with the thermoelectric element 30 while
flowing through the second space 52, and the blower unit 20 blows a
portion of introduced air into the first space 50 so as to be
exhausted from the housing 10 through the seat inlets 16, i.e., to
the duct leading to the seat. The other portion of introduced air,
except for the portion of air exhausted through the seat inlets 16,
is exhausted from the housing 10 through the exhaust ports 17 of
the lower housing 13.
[0050] In order to maximize the efficiency of the blower unit 20,
the seat inlets 16 can be expanded in the tangential direction of
the circumference of the housing 10. When two seat inlets 16 are
provided in one housing 10, the seat inlets 16 can preferably be
arranged at an angle 180.degree. with each other. However, the
angle between the seat inlets 16 is not limited to 180.degree., but
can be set to a variety of other angles, in which the seat inlets
16 are connected to the ducts leading into the seat.
[0051] In addition, the configurations of the intake ports 15, the
seat inlets 16, and the exhaust ports 17 are not limited to those
shown in this embodiment, but can be modified into several other
forms. For example, although the two intake ports 15 are provided
in this embodiment, the number of the intake ports 15 can be
changed when necessary. In addition, although the exhaust port 17
is provided in the bottom of the housing 10, it can be provided to
protrude from the side of the housing 10 like the intake ports 15
or the seat inlets 16.
[0052] In addition, a separator film 14 is provided inside the
housing 10, extending from the thermoelectric element 32 along a
reference line B in the center of the second space 52.
[0053] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
another separator film 21 may be provided inside the housing 10 to
divide the second space 52 into an upper output port 57 and a lower
output port 58, wherein the upper output port 57 receives air
heat-controlled by the first dissipation fins 34 and the lower
output port 58 receives air heat-controlled by the second
dissipation fins 36.
[0054] The thermoelectric element 32 is heated at one side but
cooled at the other side according to its characteristics. In the
case of attempting to supply cold air to the seat, it is required
to supply air, cooled by the thermoelectric element 30 in the
second space 52, to the seat through the seat inlet 16. However, if
air inside the second space 52 can freely flow from the heater side
to the cooler side of the thermoelectric element 30 and vice versa,
cooled air can mix with heated air, thereby lowering the efficiency
of the heat exchanger.
[0055] Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the second space 52 is completed
divided into first and second sections 54 and 56 by providing the
separator film 14 along the reference line B, defined by the center
line of the thermoelectric element 32 in the thickness direction.
The separator film 14 also divides a respective intake port 15 into
upper and lower holes 15a and 15b. In this manner, the passage
along which air, introduced through the upper hole 15a, can flow is
completely separated from the passage along which air, introduced
through the lower hole 15b, can flow. Air, introduced into the
first section 54 of the second space 52 through the upper hole 15a
of the intake port 15, is heated or cooled by contact with the
first heat dissipation fins 34 of the thermoelectric element 30.
After heat exchange with the first heat dissipation fins 34, air is
blown into the first space 50 by the blower unit 20 and is then
exhausted from the housing 10 through the seat inlet 16. In
contrast, air, introduced into the second section 56 of the second
space 52 through the lower hole 15b of the intake hole 15, is
cooled or heated by contact with the second heat dissipation fins
36 of the thermoelectric element 30. After heat exchange with the
second heat dissipation fins 36, air is then exhausted from the
housing through the exhaust port 17.
[0056] As such, the separator film 14, provided along the reference
line B of the thermoelectric element 32, prevents air heated by the
thermoelectric element 30 and air cooled by the thermoelectric
element 30 from mixing with each other when air is introduced into
the second space 52 through the intake ports 15.
[0057] In addition, the heat exchanger having a thermoelectric
element in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention
is configured such that an axial fan 40 is installed in the exhaust
port 17 of the lower housing 13. Even if the fan 40 is not
provided, air introduced into the housing 10 can be exhausted from
the housing 10 through the exhaust port 17 after heat exchange with
the thermoelectric element unit 30. However, the fan 40 can more
efficiently exhaust air out of the housing 10 through the exhaust
port 17, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the
thermoelectric element unit 30. This especially enhances the flow
rate of air, which performs heat exchange with the second heat
dissipation fins 36. When heat exchange is actively performed by
the heater, the cooling efficiency of the cooler is enhanced due to
the characteristics of the thermoelectric element 32. Accordingly,
it is possible to enhance the total efficiency of the heat
exchanger by adding the fan 40.
[0058] In addition, the fan 40, provided in the exhaust port 17,
can be driven by a separate drive motor. It is also possible to
drive the fan 40 using the motor 24 for driving the blower unit 20
in order to simplify the configuration of the system. In this case,
a rotary shaft 26 extending from the motor 24 can preferably be
used as a drive source for the fan 40. The rotary shaft 26,
extending from the rotary shaft of the motor 24 of the blower unit
20, rotates at the same speed as the rotary shaft of the motor 24
to drive the fan 40.
[0059] The thermoelectric element 32 has a hole 38 through which
the rotary shaft 26 can extend from the motor 24 to the fan 40. The
hole 38 is formed to penetrate through both sides of the
thermoelectric element 32, in a position corresponding to the
rotary shaft 26. The size of the hole 38 is slightly greater than
the diameter of the rotary shaft 26.
[0060] In the heat exchanger of this embodiment having the above
described configuration, air is introduced into the heat exchanger
through the upper and lower holes 15a and 15b of the intake ports
15, driven by the blower unit 20 and the fan 40. When air is
introduced through the upper hole 15a of the intake port 15, it is
heated or cooled by the thermoelectric element 32 and is supplied
to the seat through the first space 50 and the seat inlet 16. In
contrast, when air is introduced through the lower hole 15b of the
intake port 15, it is cooled or heated by the thermoelectric
element 32 and is exhausted to the outside through the exhaust port
17.
[0061] As an alternative, in the heat exchanger having a
thermoelectric element, the structure of the fan 40 provided in the
exhaust port 17 can be modified such that air is introduced into
the second space 52 through the exhaust port. Except for the
configuration that introduces air into the second space 52 through
the exhaust port 17 by driving the fan 40, other components are the
same as those in the above-described embodiment of the
invention.
[0062] According to this alternative embodiment, the heat exchanger
introduces air into the second space 52 through the upper holes 15a
of the intake ports 15 by driving the blower unit 20, so that air
performs heat exchange with the thermoelectric element 32 in the
second space 52 and is then supplied through the seat inlet 16 to
the seat. At the same time, the heat exchanger introduces air into
the second space 52 through the exhaust port 17 by driving the fan
40, so that air performs heat exchange with the thermoelectric
element 32 in the second space 52 and is then exhausted to the
outside through the lower holes 15b of the intake ports 15.
[0063] For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in
the appended claims, the terms "upper", "middle" and "lower" are
used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with
reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the
figures.
[0064] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments
of the present invention have been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments
were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of
the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable
others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary
embodiments of the present invention, as well as various
alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the
scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and
their equivalents.
* * * * *