Patents Assigned to DTP Thermoelectrics
  • Patent number: 11913687
    Abstract: Thermoelectric enhanced hybrid heat pump systems are provided herein. A compressor increases the pressure of refrigerant within tubing. A first heat exchanger is downstream of the compressor and changes enthalpy of first fluid flow through heat exchange with refrigerant. A second heat exchanger changes enthalpy of second fluid flow through heat exchange with refrigerant. A thermoelectric device is downstream of the first heat exchanger and reduces refrigerant temperature. Expansion valves are downstream of the thermoelectric device and first heat exchanger, respectively located on first and second sides of the thermoelectric device, and expand refrigerant and reduce refrigerant pressure while conserving refrigerant enthalpy. At least one valve reverses refrigerant flow within the tubing without changing compressor operation. A control system controls the thermoelectric device and at least one valve to switch the heat pump system from heating mode to cooling mode and from cooling mode to heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DTP THERMOELECTRICS LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Crane, Lon Bell
  • Patent number: 11903318
    Abstract: Provided herein is a thermoelectric element that includes a cold end, a hot end, and a p-type or n-type material having a length between the hot end and the cold end. The p-type or n-type material has an intrinsic Seebeck coefficient (S), an electrical resistivity (?), and a thermal conductivity (?). Each of two or more of S, ?, and ? generally increases along the length from the cold end to the hot end. The thermoelectric element may be provided in single-stage thermoelectric devices providing enhanced maximum temperature differences. The single-stage thermoelectric devices maybe combined with one another to provide multi-stage thermoelectric devices with even further enhanced maximum temperature differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: DTP Thermoelectrics LLC
    Inventors: Lon Bell, Douglas Crane
  • Publication number: 20240003598
    Abstract: Temperature controlled systems include at least one temperature controlled chamber or package for accommodating temperature-sensitive content. The system includes at least one solid state heat pump in thermal communication with the temperature controlled chamber or package. The system may include a thermal energy storage system in thermal communication with the solid state heat pump, an electrical energy source or an electrical storage system for providing electrical power to the at least one solid state heat pump, an electrical control/energy management system, and/or an input/output feature. The system maintains the temperature controlled chamber at a control temperature, and/or maintains different chambers at different control temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: DTP Thermoelectrics LLC
    Inventors: Lon Bell, Douglas Crane
  • Publication number: 20230120260
    Abstract: Provided herein is a thermoelectric element that includes a cold end, a hot end, and a p-type or n-type material having a length between the hot end and the cold end. The p-type or n-type material has an intrinsic Seebeck coefficient (S), an electrical resistivity (?), and a thermal conductivity (?). Each of two or more of S, ?, and ? generally increases along the length from the cold end to the hot end. The thermoelectric element may be provided in single-stage thermoelectric devices providing enhanced maximum temperature differences. The single-stage thermoelectric devices maybe combined with one another to provide multi-stage thermoelectric devices with even further enhanced maximum temperature differences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: DTP Thermoelectrics LLC
    Inventors: Lon Bell, Douglas Crane
  • Publication number: 20230113018
    Abstract: Thermoelectric enhanced hybrid heat pump systems are provided herein. A compressor increases the pressure of refrigerant within tubing. A first heat exchanger is downstream of the compressor and changes enthalpy of first fluid flow through heat exchange with refrigerant. A second heat exchanger changes enthalpy of second fluid flow through heat exchange with refrigerant. A thermoelectric device is downstream of the first heat exchanger and reduces refrigerant temperature. Expansion valves are downstream of the thermoelectric device and first heat exchanger, respectively located on first and second sides of the thermoelectric device, and expand refrigerant and reduce refrigerant pressure while conserving refrigerant enthalpy. At least one valve reverses refrigerant flow within the tubing without changing compressor operation. A control system controls the thermoelectric device and at least one valve to switch the heat pump system from heating mode to cooling mode and from cooling mode to heating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: DTP Thermoelectrics LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Crane, Lon Bell
  • Patent number: 11581467
    Abstract: Provided herein is a thermoelectric element that includes a cold end, a hot end, and a p-type or n-type material having a length between the hot end and the cold end. The p-type or n-type material has an intrinsic Seebeck coefficient (S), an electrical resistivity (?), and a thermal conductivity (?). Each of two or more of S, ?, and ? generally increases along the length from the cold end to the hot end. The thermoelectric element may be provided in single-stage thermoelectric devices providing enhanced maximum temperature differences. The single-stage thermoelectric devices maybe combined with one another to provide multi-stage thermoelectric devices with even further enhanced maximum temperature differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: DTP Thermoelectrics
    Inventors: Lon Bell, Douglas Crane
  • Patent number: 11421919
    Abstract: Thermoelectric systems employing distributed transport properties to increase cooling and heating performance are provided herein. In some examples, a thermoelectric heat pump is provided that includes a distributed transport properties (DTP) thermoelectric (TE) couple including at least one DTP TE element. The at least one DTP TE element includes a TE material with a Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, or electrical resistance varying within said DTP TE element such that when that DTP TE element is subjected to a fixed temperature differential and no current is flowing in a primary direction that produces heat pumping action, at least at one position within that DTP TE element there is a current that in steady state operation produces a lower temperature than the temperature at that position when no current is flowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DTP Thermoelectrics LLC
    Inventors: Lon Bell, Douglas Crane
  • Publication number: 20210376217
    Abstract: Provided herein is a thermoelectric element that includes a cold end, a hot end, and a p-type or n-type material having a length between the hot end and the cold end. The p-type or n-type material has an intrinsic Seebeck coefficient (S), an electrical resistivity (?), and a thermal conductivity (?). Each of two or more of S, ?, and ? generally increases along the length from the cold end to the hot end. The thermoelectric element may be provided in single-stage thermoelectric devices providing enhanced maximum temperature differences. The single-stage thermoelectric devices maybe combined with one another to provide multi-stage thermoelectric devices with even further enhanced maximum temperature differences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: DTP Thermoelectrics LLC
    Inventors: Lon Bell, Douglas Crane
  • Publication number: 20210302075
    Abstract: Thermoelectric systems employing distributed transport properties to increase cooling and heating performance are provided herein. In some examples, a thermoelectric heat pump is provided that includes a distributed transport properties (DTP) thermoelectric (TE) couple including at least one DTP TE element. The at least one DTP TE element includes a TE material with a Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, or electrical resistance varying within said DTP TE element such that when that DTP TE element is subjected to a fixed temperature differential and no current is flowing in a primary direction that produces heat pumping action, at least at one position within that DTP TE element there is a current that in steady state operation produces a lower temperature than the temperature at that position when no current is flowing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: DTP Thermoelectrics LLC
    Inventors: Lon Bell, Douglas Crane