THERMAL ELECTRIC HVAC MODULE

Abstract

A heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system includes: a fan blower; and a cross-flow heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fan blower. The cross-flow heat exchanger includes a first set of conduits which define a first communication path, a second set of conduits which define a second communication path and a thermoelectric device therebetween.

Description

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/915,700, filed 3 May 2007.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a Thermal electric apparatus, and more particularly to a thermal electric HVAC module 10 which provides a compact package adaptable to a vehicle heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system.

Thermal electric apparatus based on peltier effect thermal electric elements are well known. Thermal electric apparatus can either cool or warm a desired area. The thermal electric apparatus is typically coupled to a power supply such that reverse of polarity causes the thermal electric apparatus to change between a cooling mode and a heating mode.

Typically, the cold side of a thermal electric element communicates with a first heat exchanger, and the hot side communicates with a second heat exchanger. When a thermal electric element is activated, some of the electromagnetic energy supplied to the unit is “lost” (converted into heat). The additional heat is channeled to the hot side of the thermal electric element and to the second heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger typically exchanges more heat than the first heat exchanger such that the second heat exchanger is typically larger than the first heat exchanger such as those manufactured by Tellurex Corporation of Traverse City, Mich. USA.

Although effective, conventional thermal electric apparatus utilized in air conditioning systems may not provide the compact packaging desired for vehicle installations.

SUMMARY

A heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes: a fan blower; and a cross-flow heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fan blower.

The cross-flow heat exchanger according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a first set of conduits which define a first communication path, a second set of conduits which define a second communication path and a thermoelectric device therebetween.

A method of heating ventilation and cooling according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes: applying a DC voltage to a thermoelectric device between a first set of conduits which define a first communication path and a second set of conduits which defines a second communication path; and communicating an airflow from a fan blower through the first communication path.

A method of heating ventilation and cooling according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes: locating a thermoelectric device between a first set of conduits which define a first communication path and a second set of conduits which defines a second communication path; communicating a relatively cold airflow through the first communication path; communicating a relatively hot airflow through the second communication path; communicating an airflow from a fan blower through the first communication path; and generating a DC voltage from the thermoelectric device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a general perspective partial phantom view of one exemplary of a heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the HVAC system of FIG. 1 illustrating a first flow path;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the HVAC system of FIG. 1 illustrating a second flow path transverse to said first flow path;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an insulation housing which may surround a cross-flow heat exchanger;

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of a cross-flow heat exchanger; and

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view of a thermoelectric module of the thermoelectric device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a general partial phantom view of a thermal electric HVAC module 10 which provides a compact package adaptable to a vehicle heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system. The module 10 generally includes a housing 12, a fan blower 14, and a cross-flow heat exchanger 16. The module 10 facilitates use of a single fan blower 14 to transfer the treated fluid to a vehicle cabin as well as exhaust waste heat while minimizing plumbing to thereby provide a compact package ideal for auxiliary HVAC modules.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cross-flow heat exchanger 16 is constructed such that cooling flow C is directed generally transverse to heating flow H. The fluids of differing temperatures may be insulated from each other to ensure maximum efficiency from the heat exchanger 16 through an insulation housing 18 (FIG. 4) which may be manufactured from a non-metallic plastic or foam material.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cross-flow heat exchanger 16 generally includes thermal electric devices 20 (FIG. 6), such as those manufactured by Tellurex Corporation of Traverse City, Mich., USA sandwiched between the first and second flow structures 22, 24 which include a multitude of transversely directed first extruded tubes 22T and second extruded tubes 24T. It should be understood that the first and second structures 22, 24 include a multiple of modules. Each of the first flow structures 22 respectively defines a multiple of first communication paths H while each of the second flow structures 24 respectively defines a multiple of second communication paths C. Fins F or other features may alternatively or additionally be utilized within the flow paths H, C to further facilitate thermal transfer.

The laminated construction the cross-flow heat exchanger 16 provides airflow paths H, C which may be created/controlled through the interaction between the first and second flow structures 22, 24 and the thermoelectric device 20. That is, each module 26 of the cross-flow heat exchanger 16 includes the first flow structure 22, the second flow structure 24 and one of the thermoelectric devices 20 sandwiched therebetween. It should be understood that although the cross-flow heat exchanger 16 directs the flow of relatively hot fluids and relatively cold fluids in a generally perpendicular manner defined by the first and second flow structures 22, 24, other transverse or cross-flow communication paths which are non-perpendicular may alternatively or additionally be utilized. It should also be understood that the flow of the relatively hot fluids and relatively cold fluids may be swapped such that other transverse or cross-flow communication paths may alternatively or additionally be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 6, each thermoelectric device 20 typically has one or more thermoelectric modules 21 which include an array of Bismuth Telluride semiconductor pellets that have been “doped” so that one type of charge carrier—either positive or negative—carries the majority of current. The pairs of P/N pellets are configured so that they are connected electrically in series, but thermally in parallel. Metalized ceramic substrates provide the platform for the pellets and the small conductive tabs that connect them. The pellets, tabs and substrates thus form a layered configuration. The thermoelectric modules 21 can function singularly or in groups with either series, parallel, or series/parallel electrical connections. Some applications may alternatively or additionally utilize stacked multi-stage modules.

When DC voltage is applied to the thermoelectric devices 20, the positive and negative charge carriers in the pellet array absorb heat energy from one substrate surface and release it to the substrate at the opposite side. The surface where heat energy is absorbed becomes relatively cold; the opposite surface where heat energy is released, becomes relatively hot. Each thermoelectric device 20 may also deliver efficient solid state heat-pumping for both cooling and heating; many of these units can also be used to generate DC power in certain circumstances (e.g., conversion of waste heat).

The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The disclosed embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Claims

1. A heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system comprising:

a fan blower; and

a cross-flow heat exchanger in fluid communication with said fan blower.

2. The module as recited in claim 1, wherein said cross-flow heat exchanger comprises a thermal electric device sandwiched between a first flow structure and a second flow structure, said first flow structure generally transverse to said second flow structure.

3. The module as recited in claim 2, wherein said cross-flow heat exchanger is at least partially encapsulated within an insulation housing.

4. The module as recited in claim 4, wherein said fan blower and said cross-flow heat exchanger are mounted within a housing.

5. The module as recited in claim 1, wherein said cross-flow heat exchanger comprises a first set of conduits which define a first communication path, a second set of conduits which define a second communication path and a thermoelectric device therebetween.

6. The module as recited in claim 1, wherein said first set of conduits and said second set of conduits include a fin structure within said respective first communication path and said second communication path.

7. A heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system comprising:

a housing;

a fan blower within said housing; and

a cross-flow heat exchanger within said housing, said cross-flow heat exchanger comprising a first set of conduits which define a first communication path, a second set of conduits which define a second communication path and a thermoelectric device therebetween, said fan blower in fluid communication with said first communication path.

8. The module as recited in claim 7, wherein said first set of conduits are transverse to said second set of conduits.

9. The module as recited in claim 8, wherein said first set of conduits and said second set of conduits include a fin structure within said respective first communication path and said second communication path.

10. The module as recited in claim 7, further comprising a DC power source in communication with said thermoelectric device.

11. The module as recited in claim 7, wherein said cross-flow heat exchanger comprises a laminated construction of a multiple of modules, each of said multiple of modules comprises said first set of conduits, said second set of conduits and said thermoelectric device therebetween

12. A method of heating ventilation and cooling comprising:

applying a DC voltage to a thermoelectric device between a first set of conduits which define a first communication path and a second set of conduits which defines a second communication path; and

communicating an airflow from a fan blower through said first communication path.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising absorbing heat energy from a first substrate of the thermoelectric device adjacent to the first set of conduits; and releasing the heat energy to a second substrate of the thermoelectric device opposite the first substrate, the second substrate adjacent the second set of conduits.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising communicating a relatively hot fluid through said second communication path.

15. A method of heating ventilation and cooling comprising:

locating a thermoelectric device between a first set of conduits which define a first communication path and a second set of conduits which defines a second communication path;

communicating a relatively cold airflow through the first communication path;

communicating a relatively hot airflow through the second communication path;

communicating an airflow from a fan blower through said first communication path; and

generating a DC voltage from the thermoelectric device.