U.S. patent application number 12/968583 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-16 for cooling device for a vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to MANN+HUMMEL GMBH. Invention is credited to Sascha BAUER, Markus BEYLICH.
Application Number | 20110139398 12/968583 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43992896 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110139398 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BAUER; Sascha ; et
al. |
June 16, 2011 |
Cooling Device for a Vehicle
Abstract
A cooling device for an internal combustion engine of a motor
vehicle has a current-generating component that is embodied as a
thermoelectric generator and has a side facing a cooling stream
passing through the cooling device. The cooling stream dissipates
heat generated by an operating unit of the motor vehicle. The
cooling device is embodied as a vehicle radiator. The
current-generating component is integrated into the vehicle
radiator. The current-generating component and a cooling web of the
vehicle radiator form a common assembly.
Inventors: |
BAUER; Sascha; (Auenwald,
DE) ; BEYLICH; Markus; (Ludwigsburg, DE) |
Assignee: |
MANN+HUMMEL GMBH
Ludwigsburg
DE
|
Family ID: |
43992896 |
Appl. No.: |
12/968583 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/51 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01P 9/00 20130101; F28D
1/05366 20130101; F28F 1/126 20130101; H01L 35/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/51 |
International
Class: |
F01P 9/00 20060101
F01P009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 15, 2009 |
DE |
102009058156.1-13 |
Claims
1. A cooling device for an internal combustion engine of a motor
vehicle, comprising: a current-generating component that is
embodied as a thermoelectric generator and has a side facing a
cooling stream passing through the cooling device, wherein the
cooling stream dissipates heat generated by an operating unit of
the motor vehicle; wherein the cooling device comprises a vehicle
radiator; wherein said current-generating component is integrated
into said vehicle radiator; wherein said current-generating
component and a cooling web of said vehicle radiator form a common
assembly.
2. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein said cooling
web forms said current-generating component.
3. The cooling device according to claim 2, wherein said cooling
web is of a two-layer configuration comprising a first layer and a
second layer, wherein said first layer is comprised of a light
metal and said second layer is comprised of a thermoelectric
material.
4. The cooling device according to claim 2, wherein said cooling
web is of a three-layer configuration comprising an inner layer and
two outer layers between which said inner layer is arranged,
wherein said two outer layers are comprised of a light metal and
said inner layer is comprised of a thermoelectric material.
5. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein said
current-generating component is a separate component that is
contacting an exterior wall of said cooling web.
6. The cooling device according to claim 5, wherein said
current-generating component is applied as a laminate onto said
exterior wall of said cooling web.
7. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein said
current-generating component has a mirror-symmetrical
configuration.
8. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle
radiator comprises cooling stream conduits in which said cooling
stream flows, wherein said current-generating component is arranged
between two neighboring ones of said cooling stream conduits.
9. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein said cooling
web is undulated.
10. A motor vehicle comprising a cooling device according to claim
1.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Federal Republic of
Germany patent application no. 102009058156.1-13, filed Dec. 15,
2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention concerns a cooling device for an internal
combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising a
current-generating component embodied as a thermoelectric generator
having one side facing a cooling stream passing through the cooling
device wherein the cooling stream of the cooling device dissipates
heat from an operative unit of the vehicle.
[0003] DE 10 2007 011 954 A1 discloses a radiator of a motor
vehicle that dissipates the operating heat of the internal
combustion engine of the vehicle. A so-called Seebeck element that
is a thermoelectric component that produces an electric potential
when a temperature differential exists is arranged on the radiator.
The radiator disclosed in DE 10 2007 011 954 A1 is operated with a
cooling medium whose heat is not directly passed into the
surrounding ambient air but is passed to the Seebeck element for
generating an electric potential. The Seebeck element is thus a
thermoelectric generator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
improve the efficiency of motor vehicles.
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, this is achieved
in that the cooling device is embodied as a vehicle radiator and
the current-generating component is integrated into the vehicle
radiator wherein the current-generating component and a cooling web
of the vehicle radiator together form a common assembly.
[0006] The cooling device according to the invention is used, for
example, as a radiator for internal combustion engines, in
particular as a radiator of a motor vehicle, and serves for cooling
one or several operating units or auxiliary units of motor
vehicles, for example, for cooling an internal combustion engine,
for cooling the transmission or for cooling (air conditioning) the
passenger compartment. A current-generating component is integrated
into the vehicle radiator and is embodied as a thermoelectric
generator that generates, based on the Seebeck effect, an electric
potential when a temperature differential exists. The
current-generating component is a part of the vehicle radiator;
this, on the one hand, has the advantage that the vehicle radiator,
as a modular assembly together with the current-generating
component, can be installed in the vehicle as a pre-manufactured
part. On the other hand, in this way by means of the Seebeck effect
an electric potential can be generated independent of the heat
source in the vehicle because the vehicle radiator can be used for
cooling various operating units or auxiliary units of the vehicle.
Therefore, an arrangement of the current-generating component
directly on the device that produces heat is not required.
[0007] In one example of a current generating component using the
Seebeck effect, an electric potential (voltage or thermo-electric
EMF) is generated at the junction of two dissimilar metal or
semiconductor components, where the electric potential generated in
generally related to the temperature differential existing between
the two dissimilar metal or semiconductor components. A portion of
the current generating components may be electrically
interconnected in series such the generated voltages are additive
to provide a larger generated voltage. A portion of the current
generating components may be electrically connected in parallel
such the available generated current is additive.
[0008] The temperature differential between the cooling stream of
the vehicle radiator that dissipates the heat of the operating unit
or auxiliary unit of the vehicle and of the surrounding medium,
particularly the ambient air, to which the heat is dissipated, is
utilized for generating the Seebeck effect. The current-generating
component that functions as a thermoelectric generator is arranged
on a cooling web of the vehicle radiator and forms together with it
a common assembly. The cooling web has a large surface area and
ensures in this way improved heat dissipation from the cooling
stream to the environmental. The current-generating component is
preferably positioned between the cooling stream or a cooling
stream conduit and the cooling web so that the temperature
differential between the cooling stream and the surrounding medium
is effective in an optimal way also in the current-generating
component so that the latter can thus develop its best-possible
efficiency.
[0009] The current that is generated at the current-generating
component is preferably supplied to a battery of the motor vehicle;
in this context, principally an immediate operation of an electric
component within the vehicle is also conceivable, for example, a
heat generating component that is based on the Peltier effect and
that, for example, is utilized for heating temperature-sensitive
components of the vehicle or for heating the passenger compartment
of the vehicle.
[0010] The current-generating component and at least one cooling
web in the radiator form together a common assembly; this can be
realized in various ways. For example, it is possible to
manufacture the cooling webs and the current-generating component
each as separate individual parts that are to be joined to each
other; in this case, the current-generating component expediently
is located at the exterior wall of the cooling web. In case of such
a separate configuration, the current-generating component, for
example, is a laminate or a film that is applied to the exterior
side of the cooling web. The laminate or film can be applied over a
large surface area of the cooling web so that the temperature
differential between the cooling stream and the cooling web can be
utilized accordingly across a large surface area.
[0011] Basically, it is also possible to join the
current-generating component and the cooling web to form a unitary
component. In this case, the current-generating component and the
cooling web are embodied as a one-part unit, for example, in such a
way that the wall of the cooling web is formed as a
current-generating component. This can be realized, for example, in
such a way that the cooling web is of a three-layer configuration
wherein the two outer layers are comprised of a light metal and the
inner layer is comprised of a thermoelectric material. The outer
layers in the electric sense constitute ground or the negative
terminal while the inner thermoelectric layer constitutes the
electric potential or the positive terminal whose voltage is tapped
and either supplied to the battery or used for operating a motor
vehicle component.
[0012] The three-layer configuration has moreover the advantage
that the temperature differential between each one of the two outer
layers and the inner layer, respectively, can be utilized for
generating a potential so that the temperature differential is
effective in opposite directions. This is conceivable particularly
in embodiments in which a cooling web is arranged between two
cooling streams or cooling stream conduits so that at both external
sides of the cooling web higher temperatures and at the inner side
a lower temperature exist. This temperature gradient is effective
relative to the current-generating component in both directions so
that the efficiency is further improved.
[0013] In principle, it is also possible to have a configuration of
the wall of the cooling web with two layers wherein preferably one
layer is made of light metal and a further layer is made of a
thermoelectric material. In this embodiment, the temperature
gradient in one direction can be utilized for generating electric
potential, namely based on the hot cooling stream dissipating heat
through the cooling web to the surrounding medium at lower
temperature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0014] Further advantages and expedient embodiments are disclosed
in the claims, the figure description, and the drawings.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a section of a vehicle radiator with a
plurality of cooling webs wherein the cooling webs are arranged
between two cooling stream conduits, respectively, wherein on the
cooling webs current-generating components are disposed that are
embodied as thermoelectric generators for generating an electric
potential as a result of a temperature differential in the
current-generating components.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a detail view of the vehicle radiator in the area
of several current-generating components connected to one another
by a bus rail.
[0017] FIG. 2a is an embodiment variant in which a cooling web is
embodied simultaneously as a current-generating component.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle with a
vehicle radiator arranged at the front end and embodied with
current-generating components.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a detail view of a current-generating component
that is embodied as a laminate applied onto a support body.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cooling web in an undulated shape with a
current-generating component that is located at the base of a
U-shaped wave of the cooling web.
[0021] FIG. 6 shows that the current-generating components
themselves are embodied as cooling webs and are applied in an
undulated shape onto the cooling stream conduits.
[0022] In the Figures same components are identified with same
reference numerals.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The vehicle radiator 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is in
particular a radiator of a motor vehicle that is arranged in the
front area of the motor vehicle. The vehicle radiator 1 comprises a
plurality of parallel-positioned cooling webs 2 between which a
cooling medium conduit 3 extends, respectively, that conducts the
medium to be cooled. i.e., the cooling stream. The cooling medium
is guided, coming from each operating unit or auxiliary unit within
the vehicle, to a collector 4 of the vehicle radiator 1 and from
here the cooling stream branches off into each cooling stream
conduit 3 between the cooling webs 2. The cooling stream conduits 3
are in particular embodied as flat aluminum channels.
[0024] Each cooling web 2 has correlated therewith a
current-generating component 5 that functions as a thermoelectric
generator and is comprised of a material that generates, based on
the so-called Seebeck effect, an electric potential when a
temperature differential is present. The temperature differential
exists between the hot cooling stream within the cooling stream
conduit 3 and the cooling webs 2. In this direction, a temperature
drop exists which is effective in the current-generating component
5 that is positioned between the cooling stream conduits 3 and the
cooling webs 2. Based on the thermoelectric effect within the
current-generating component 5 an electric potential is generated
that is tapped and either supplied to a battery for storage as
electric energy or is used for driving or for generating
temperature in an electric component within the motor vehicle.
[0025] In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, there is a plurality
of current-generating components 5 that each are formed flat or
plate-shaped and are disposed on both faces of each cooling web 2,
respectively. Viewed in the direction of the length of the cooling
web 2, on each face several individual current-generating
components 5 are arranged and two immediately adjacently positioned
current-generating components 5 are electrically connected to each
other, respectively, by an electric contact bridge 6. As a result
of this serial connection, a higher electric potential is achieved
that is available for storage or for operating an electric
component.
[0026] The cooling webs 2 are of a wave shape or undulated shape
wherein the plate-shaped current-generating components 5 each are
contacting the oppositely positioned peaks or valleys of the
cooling webs 2, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1. In a further
embodiment, indicated in FIG. 1 in dashed lines, the
current-generating component 5 is embodied as a laminate and is
applied immediately onto the wall of the cooling web 2. This has
the advantage that the current-generating component 5 covers a
larger surface area that basically corresponds to the surface area
occupied by the wave-shaped cooling web.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the vehicle radiator 1 with a bus
rail 7 that serves for electrically connecting parallel-arranged
individual current-generating components 5. The electric contact 8
represents the negative terminal (electric ground), the electric
contact 9 the positive terminal which, relative to electric ground,
represents the electric potential that is tapped at the bus rail 7
and is utilized for storage in the battery or for operating an
electric component.
[0028] FIG. 2a shows an embodiment variant of a cooling web 2 that
forms simultaneously a current-generating component 5. The cooling
web 2 is wave-shaped with a U-shaped profile and is comprised of
three layers 10, 11, 12 wherein the two outer layers 10, 11
expediently are made of light metal such as aluminum and the
central layer or inner layer 12 is comprised of a thermoelectric
material. The outer layers 10, 11 ensure stability, on the one
hand, while they also provide excellent heat dissipation, on the
other hand; moreover, the thermoelectric inner layer 12 is
protected by the two outer layers 10, 11. A cooling web 2 that is
embodied in this way as a one-part component together with the
current-generating component 5 no longer requires a separate
current-generating component.
[0029] The three-layer embodiment of the cooling web 2 or of the
current-generating component 5 has moreover the additional
advantage that a temperature gradient of two outer layers 10 and 11
relative to the inner layer 12 can be utilized for current
generation. In this way it is possible to utilize the heat that is
contained in the cooling stream on the first face as well as the
opposite second face of the cooling web for current generation so
that efficiency is increased.
[0030] FIG. 3 shows in a schematic illustration a motor vehicle 13
that in the front area is provided with the vehicle radiator 1
comprised of several individual cooling elements 14 to 17. The
individual cooling elements 14 to 17 serve for cooling a cooling
medium that is correlated with one component or operating unit of
the vehicle, respectively. For example, the vehicle radiator 1
comprises a servo oil cooling element 14, an air-conditioning
cooling element 15, a charge air cooling element 16 as well as a
cooling water element 17. These individual cooling elements are
combined and integrated into the vehicle radiator 1.
[0031] Expediently, each one of the individual cooling elements 14
to 17 has at least one current-generating element correlated
therewith that utilizes the temperature differential between the
cooling medium in each individual cooling element and the ambient
air for current generation. The electric potential (positive
terminal) generated in total is stored in a battery 18 in the motor
vehicle or can be used, for example, in assisting the drive action
of an electric motor 19 that is used for driving the rear
wheels.
[0032] In FIG. 4 a further embodiment of a current-generating
component 5 is illustrated which is embodied as a laminate and is
applied onto the exterior wall of the cooling web 2. As a result of
the flexibility of a laminate (optionally also a film or foil can
be used in this application), the current-generating component 5
can be applied onto the exterior wall of the cooling web 2 before
shaping the cooling web 2 and can then be shaped together with the
cooling web 2.
[0033] In the embodiment according to FIG. 5 the cooling web 2 and
the current-generating component 5 are embodied as separate
components. The current-generating component 5 is located at the
base of a U-shaped wave of the undulated cooling web 2.
[0034] In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the
current-generating components 5 themselves are embodied as cooling
webs and are applied in a wave shape onto the cooling stream
conduits 3. In this case, the valley and peaks of oppositely
positioned cooling webs engage each other as shown.
[0035] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it
will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise
without departing from such principles.
* * * * *