U.S. patent application number 14/380937 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-05 for thermoelectric air conditioner.
This patent application is currently assigned to DOUBLE COOL LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is DOUBLE COOL LTD., David KLEIN. Invention is credited to Alexander Gurevich, Isaac Steiner.
Application Number | 20150033764 14/380937 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48289599 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150033764 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gurevich; Alexander ; et
al. |
February 5, 2015 |
THERMOELECTRIC AIR CONDITIONER
Abstract
A thermoelectric unit including thermoelectric modules, cold
side fins, a heat sink, a hot side heat absorption element, and an
electronic controller. The heat absorption element includes a metal
heat transfer structure, phase change material (PCM) and heat
exchange medium.
Inventors: |
Gurevich; Alexander; (Petah
Tikva, IL) ; Steiner; Isaac; (Tel Aviv, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KLEIN; David
DOUBLE COOL LTD. |
Rehovot
Bnei Brak |
|
IL
IL |
|
|
Assignee: |
DOUBLE COOL LTD.
Bnei Brak
IL
|
Family ID: |
48289599 |
Appl. No.: |
14/380937 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
February 26, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US13/27724 |
371 Date: |
August 26, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61603422 |
Feb 27, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/3.6 ;
165/104.11; 165/122 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 35/30 20130101;
F28D 20/023 20130101; F25B 2321/025 20130101; F25D 11/00 20130101;
F28D 20/02 20130101; F25B 2321/02 20130101; F25B 21/02 20130101;
F24F 5/0042 20130101; F25B 2400/24 20130101; F25D 11/006 20130101;
Y02E 60/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/3.6 ; 165/122;
165/104.11 |
International
Class: |
F25B 21/02 20060101
F25B021/02; F28D 20/02 20060101 F28D020/02; F25D 11/00 20060101
F25D011/00 |
Claims
1. Apparatus comprising: a thermoelectric unit comprising
thermoelectric modules , cold side cooling fins, a cold side heat
sink, a hot side heat absorption element, and an electronic
temperature controller, wherein said heat absorption element
comprises a metal heat transfer structure, a phase change material
(PCM) and a fluid heat exchange medium which is a liquid.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said PCM comprises
granules with length dimensions of 3-5 mm.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said PCM has a single
working temperature.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said PCM comprises a
mixture of materials with different working temperatures.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heat absorption
element comprises a thermal insulating portion to prevent heat
losses to surrounding space.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said thermal insulating
portion comprises a multiple layers with one or more layers of PCM
as middle layers.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cold heat sink
comprises a tank for condensed water collection.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising manifold
tubing for cold air distribution.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fluid heat exchange
medium comprises a nanofluid.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said nanofluid
comprises PCM nano-particles with the same working temperature as
the PCM.
11. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said nanofluid
comprises a mixture of nanoparticles with different working
temperatures.
12. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pump for
pumping said liquid.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to thermoelectric
air conditioning systems, particularly for temperature control of a
confined space.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Thermoelectric devices utilize the properties of certain
materials to develop a thermal gradient across the material in the
presence of current flow. For example, thermoelectric devices may
utilize P-type and N-type semiconductors as the thermoelectric
material within the device. These are physically and electrically
configured in such a manner that they provide cooling or
heating.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention seeks to provide a novel
thermoelectric air conditioner/dehumidifier (thermoelectric air
conditioner, for short) for operating inside a confined space (such
as, but not limited to, a protective suit, sealed enclosure, closed
room, and many others) without external power source, as is
described more in detail hereinbelow.
[0004] The thermoelectric unit comprises, without limitation,
thermoelectric modules, cold side fins, heat sink, with or without
fans, hot side heat absorption element, electronic controller and
battery.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The present invention will be understood and appreciated
more fully from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the drawings in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a thermoelectric air
conditioner, constructed and operative in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration of gas (e.g., air) used
as the heat exchange medium in the thermoelectric air conditioner,
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a simplified illustration of liquid (e.g., water
or nanofluid) used as the heat exchange medium in the
thermoelectric air conditioner, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a simplified illustration of a thermal insulating
portion made as a multilayer cover with one or more layers of PCM
as middle layers, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a simplified illustration of a thermal insulating
portion between cold and hot portions of the air conditioner, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a simplified illustration of the cold heat sink
containing a tank for condensed water collection, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a simplified illustration of the air conditioner
having a tube (tubes) for cold air distribution, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a simplified illustration of the tube (tubes)
filled with granular PCM, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a simplified illustration of PCM granules inserted
inside the cold side heat sink, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a
thermoelectric air conditioner (unit) 10, constructed and operative
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] The thermoelectric unit 10 includes, without limitation,
thermoelectric modules 12, cold side cooling fins 14, a cold side
heat sink 16 with or without a fan 18, hot side heat absorption
element 20, electronic temperature controller 22 and a power source
(e.g., battery) 24, all inside a confined space (referred to as a
sealed enclosure) 26.
[0017] The heat absorption element 20 includes a metal heat
transfer structure 21, phase change material (PCM) 23 and a fluid
heat exchange medium 25. The PCM 23, without limitation, is in the
form of granules with length dimensions of 3-5 mm and content of
PCM inside the granule at least 70%. The invention is not limited
to these values.
[0018] The PCM 23 can have a single working temperature or can be
composed of a mixture of materials with different working
temperatures.
[0019] The heat transfer structure is preferably made from
materials with high thermal conductivity of at least 200 W/m/K,
such as some aluminum alloys.
[0020] Without limitation, the heat transfer structure 21 can be of
the following types: [0021] Plane fins with fins thickness of 0.5-3
mm and distance between the fins of (1-3)*D, where D size of PCM
granule [0022] Pin fins with pin thickness of 1-4 mm and distance
between the pins of [0023] Foam structure with relative porosity of
50-90% and cell dimension of (2-6)*D
[0024] The heat exchange medium 25 can be air, water, nanofluid and
others. The nanofluid can include PCM nano-particles with the same
working temperature as the PCM granule or a mixture of
nanoparticles with different working temperatures.
[0025] When air is used as the heat exchange medium 25, fans or
blowers 30 can be used to improve heat exchange between the PCM
granular and heat transfer structure, as seen in FIG. 2.
[0026] In order to ensure sufficient heat exchange rate at
appropriate power, the input power of the fans (blowers) air flow
rate inside the heat transfer structure 21 should be in the range
of 1-3 m/s.
[0027] When water or nanofluid or other liquid is used as heat
exchange medium 25, a pump 32 can be used to enhance heat exchange
(FIG. 3). To ensure sufficient level of heat transfer liquid at
appropriate pressure levels, the liquid flow rate should be in the
range of 1-101/min.
[0028] In FIG. 4, the heat absorption element 20 includes a thermal
insulating portion 34 to prevent heat losses to the surrounding
space. To ensure minimum thermal losses thermal insulating portion
34 is made as multilayer cover with one or more layers of PCM 23 as
middle layers.
[0029] The working temperature of the PCM layers should be an
average value of the working temperature of PCM (granular and
nanofluids) inside the heat absorption portion and enclosure air
temperature.
[0030] In FIG. 5, the thermal insulation 34 between cold and hot
portions of the air conditioner is made as multilayer material with
one or more middle layers of PCM 23. The working temperature of the
PCM layer(s) 23 should be chosen between the temperatures of the
hot and cold portions of the air conditioner.
[0031] In order to prolong operation of battery, the cold heat sink
can contain PCM with a temperature equal to or lower than the
enclosure air temperature.
[0032] Due to the fact that temperature of the cold side heat sink
surface is lower than the enclosure air temperature, the air
conditioner can operate as a dehumidifier.
[0033] The electronic temperature controller 22 maintains
temperature of the cold heat sink required to reach the specified
humidity inside the enclosure.
[0034] In FIG. 6, the cold heat sink 16 can include a tank 36 for
condensed water collection.
[0035] In FIG. 7, the cold portion of the air conditioner (with
fins 14) can contain manifold tubing 40 for cold air distribution
(FIG. 7). The manifold tubing 40 can be made from flexible plastic
material, allowing direction of cold air flow to desired points.
The tubing 40 can be made from rigid material with a permanent
shape to provide constant air flow distribution.
[0036] In order to prolong battery operation and to stabilize
output air temperature, the tubing 40 can be filled with granular
PCM 23 (FIG. 8).
[0037] The working temperature of PCM can be equal to or lower than
the air conditioner output temperature. The size of PCM granules
should be in the range: (0.2-0.8)*d, where d is the inside diameter
of the tubes.
[0038] PCM granules 23 can be also inserted inside the cold side
heat sink 16 or fins 14 (FIG. 9). After operating the air
conditioner, PCM parts should be reloaded. The electronic
controller provides the function of reloading by reverse operation
of the air conditioner. During reverse operation, the former hot
portion is cooled and the former cold portion is heated. Reloading
of the air conditioner is performed together with battery
recharging by connecting to the external power source.
* * * * *