Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion unit includes first and second cases including first and second recesses that define first and second flow passages and have openings, first and second substrates, a plurality of thermoelectric devices in contact with inner surfaces of the first and second substrates, a connector for joining the first and second cases, first and second fins protruding from the first and second substrates in the first and second flow passages. The first and second cases include first and second opposed portions opposed to the first and second substrates outside the first and second recess, respectively. A spacer for setting distance between the first opposed portion and the second opposed portion is provided. The spacer sets the distance between the first and second opposed portions to be longer than distance between the outer surface of the first substrate and the outer surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device includes a thermoelectric element module arranged such that the vertically upper side is the cooling side and the vertically lower side is the heating side. On the cooling side of the thermoelectric element module, a DC-DC converter, a cooler, and a heat-transfer grease layer are arranged in this order from the vertically upper side.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module includes a plurality of first substrates and a plurality of second substrates disposed to face each other, a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements, a base plate, first fins and second fins. Each inner surface of the first substrate faces the respective inner surface of the second substrate. The first electrode is joined to the respective inner surface of the first substrate and the second electrode is joined to the respective inner surface of the second substrate. The thermoelectric conversion elements are electrically connected to each other through the first and the second electrodes. The base plate is thermally joined to the outer surfaces of the first substrates. Each first fin is thermally joined to the outer surface of the base plate. Each second fin is thermally and directly joined to the respective outer surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention includes a thermoelectric conversion unit having a case in which a flow path of an open structure is molded, a first substrate covering an open portion of the flow path, a second substrate arranged opposite the first substrate, and a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate. At a bottom surface of the flow path of the case, an introduction pipe and a discharge pipe are formed integrally with the case, and each of the introduction and discharge pipes extend in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes a thermoelectric conversion module, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first air-conditioning heat exchanger, a second air-conditioning heat exchanger, a radiator, a first circuit connecting the first heat exchanger and the first air-conditioning heat exchanger and a second circuit connecting the second heat exchanger, the second air-conditioning heat exchanger and the radiator. The second circuit includes a bypass passage that bypasses the second air-conditioning heat exchanger and a first switching device switching selectively between a first position where heat exchange medium flows through the bypass passage without allowing the heat exchange medium to flow through the second air-conditioning heat exchanger and a second position where the heat exchange medium flows through the second air-conditioning heat exchanger.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion unit includes first and second cases including first and second recesses that define first and second flow passages and have openings, first and second substrates, a plurality of thermoelectric devices in contact with the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates, a connector for joining the first and second cases, first and second fins protruding from the first and second substrates in the first and second flow passages. The first and second cases include first and second opposed portions opposed to the first and second substrates outside the first and second recess, respectively. A spacer for setting distance between the first opposed portion and the second opposed portion is provided. The spacer sets the distance between the first and second opposed portions to be longer than distance between the outer surface of the first substrate and the outer surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention may include a heat pump system having a Peltier unit in an outdoor space and an outdoor heat exchange unit in the outdoor space. The Peltier unit has a Peltier element with a heat-absorbing portion and a heat-radiating portion, a first substrate in contact with the heat-absorbing portion, a second substrate in contact with the heat-radiating portion, a metal case and a resin case. The metal case covers the first substrate and forms a first flow path between itself and the first substrate. The first flow path is connected in a loop-like fashion to the outdoor heat exchange unit by an outdoor piping. The resin case covers the second substrate and forms a second flow path between itself and the second substrate. The second flow path is connected in a loop-like fashion to the indoor heat exchange unit by an indoor piping.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus includes an air conditioning unit, center outlet ports, and side outlet ports. The center outlet ports and side outlet ports are provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle and blow out conditioned air transferred from the air conditioning unit to the inside of a passenger compartment. The vehicle air conditioning unit blows conditioned air from the center outlet ports and the side outlet ports. When cooling operation is performed in a face mode, the airflow rate from the side outlet ports is set greater than the airflow rate from the center outlet ports.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a housing, a guide member, a return member and a discharge member. The housing includes a plurality of parallel flow passages. The housing includes a first end face and a second end face each having openings. The guide member, the return member and the discharge member are fixed to the first end face or the second end face. The plurality of flow passages are connected by the return member into a single flow passage. The guide member and the discharge member are provided in the opening on a most upstream side and a most downstream of the single flow passage, respectively. At least one of the guide member, the return member and the discharge member integrally includes an attachment portion attached to the housing; and a protruding portion protruding more than the attachment portion toward the housing and including an inclined surface.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner for a passenger compartment includes a power source, a radiator provided outside the passenger compartment, a heat medium passage through which heat medium is circulated between the power source and the radiator, a first peltier module having a first peltier device and a first heat exchanger, and a second peltier module having a second peltier device and a second heat exchanger. The first and second peltier devices each has a first surface and a second surface, one of the first surface and the second surface serves to release heat, the other of the first surface and the second surface serves to absorb heat. The first heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the first surface. The second heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the first surface. The heat medium passage is thermally coupled to the second surfaces of the first and second peltier devices.

Abstract: The air-conditioning core includes a plurality of first Peltier devices, a plurality of first fins and a tube. Each of the first Peltier devices has a first surface and a second surface. The first fins are located on the first surfaces of the first Peltier devices. The tube is located adjacent to the second surfaces of the first Peltier devices. The tube has a main portion extending around the second surfaces of the first Peltier devices and also around the first fins for holding the first Peltier devices, an inlet portion connected to the main portion for allowing heat exchange medium of liquid to flow into the main portion, and an outlet portion connected to the main portion for allowing the heat exchange medium of liquid to flow out of the main portion. The outlet portion is located adjacent to the inlet portion.

Abstract: The air conditioner includes an air-conditioning core, a first air-conditioning passage, a liquid passage and a second air-conditioning passage. The core includes a Peltier device having first and second surfaces, a first surface-side passage and a second surface-side passage. The second surface-side passage has a first passage and a second passage that transfer heat therebetween. The first air-conditioning passage is connected to the first surface-side passage for allowing first air-conditioning air in the first air-conditioning passage to flow through the first surface-side passage. The liquid passage is connected to the first passage for allowing liquid that serves as a heat transfer medium to flow through the first passage. The second air-conditioning passage is connected to the second passage for allowing second air-conditioning air in the second air-conditioning passage to flow through the second passage.

Abstract: The air-conditioning heat exchanger includes a plurality of Peltier devices, a plurality of first heat transfer members, a plurality of second heat transfer members, an air-conditioning passage and a heat exchange medium passage. The air-conditioning passage has therein the Peltier devices and the first heat transfer members. The air-conditioning passage allows air to be air-conditioned to flow therethrough. The air-conditioning passage has a plurality of divided passages at least at positions that are downstream of upstream ends of the first heat transfer members with respect to an air flowing direction in which the air flows through the air-conditioning passage. The Peltier device in each divided passage is controlled separately from the Peltier device in other divided passage. The heat exchange medium passage has therein the second heat transfer members and allows fluid to flow through the heat exchange medium passage.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes a first heat storage device having a first heat storage medium, a battery disposed under a floor of a compartment of a vehicle on a chassis side and a heat insulator covering the first heat storage device for insulating. The first heat storage device is disposed on and thermally connected to the battery.

Abstract: A heat recovery system includes an electric rotary device, a heat exchanger, a pipe and a reservoir. The electric rotary device has a stator core and a housing. The stator core is wounded with a coil. The heat exchanger provides heat exchanging between first and second heat medium. The first heat medium is in contact with the coil and absorbs heat from the coil. The pipe connects the electric rotary device to the heat exchanger and transfers the first heat medium. The reservoir is formed in the housing and stores the first heat medium. The electric rotary device has an insulative body. The insulative body prevents heat of the first heat medium from being dissipated outside of the housing.

Abstract: A heating and cooling system, which includes a refrigerant circulation circuit, first and second targets, first and second refrigerant circuits, a first switching section, and a control device, is disclosed. The first switching section is selectively switched between a first position at which a refrigerant discharged from a discharge area of a compressor is permitted to flow to the first target and a second position at which the refrigerant is not permitted to flow to the first target. The control device switches the first switching section to the first position so that the refrigerant circulation circuit functions as a first refrigerant circuit, thereby heating the first target and cooling the second target. The control device switches the first switching section to the second position so that the refrigerant circulation circuit functions as a second refrigerant circuit, thereby cooling only the second target.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes a first heat exchanger, wherein air around the first heat exchanger is supplied into a vehicle compartment, a heat storage unit, an in-vehicle circuit that connects between the first heat exchanger and the heat storage unit, a second heat exchanger, wherein air around the second heat exchanger is sent outside a vehicle, a vehicle system, wherein the vehicle system generates exhaust heat, an out-vehicle circuit, a connection circuit that connects between the in-vehicle and the out-vehicle circuits, a plurality of valves operating so that the in-vehicle circuit and the out-vehicle circuit are connected or disconnected from each other through the connection circuit and a control device for controlling states of the valves.

Abstract: A dehumidification system for a vehicle includes a duct and a desiccant dehumidifier. The duct includes inside and outside air inlets, an air passage, a flap, an air outlet communicating with the vehicle interior, a heat source and an outside air heat exchanger. The desiccant dehumidifier includes a desiccant rotor, a humidity conditioning air passage, a dehumidified air passage, a regeneration passage, a humidified air passage and a regeneration heater. The air from the heat source is introduced into the desiccant rotor through the humidity conditioning air passage and introduced to the air outlet through the dehumidified air passage. The air from the heat source is introduced into the desiccant rotor through the regeneration passage and flowed through the humidified air passage. The outside air heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger, an outside air passage, a heated outside air passage and a cooled humidified air passage.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes a heat storage unit having a heat storage medium, a first heat exchanger for heat exchange with air that is sent out of the vehicle, a second heat exchanger for heat exchange with air that is sent to the vehicle compartment, and a peltier device. The heat storage unit has a first inlet port and a first outlet port through which heat exchange medium flows in and out of the heat storage unit where heat is exchanged between the heat storage medium and the heat exchange medium. The peltier device is operable to provide one of positive heat and negative heat to the heat exchange medium flowing through the heat storage unit and also to provide the other of the positive heat and the negative heat directly or indirectly to the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: A thermal storage unit includes a thermal storage, a heat exchange path, a housing and a reservoir. The thermal storage is filled with a thermal storage medium. A heat exchange medium flows through the heat exchange path. The housing surrounds and thermally insulates the thermal storage from the outside. The housing has an inlet port and an outlet port for communicating with the heat exchange path and a conduit which is located outside the housing and connected to the inlet port and the outlet port. The reservoir is located in the housing for reserving the heat exchange medium. When the thermal storage unit is not in use, the reservoir collects the heat exchange medium flowing by weight thereof through the inlet port and the outlet port, thereby allowing air to be present at the inlet port and the outlet port.