HEAT EXCHANGER HAVING THERMOELECTRIC ELEMENT

Abstract

A heat exchanger may include a housing including an intake port through which air is introduced into the housing from outside, a seat inlet supplying air to a vehicle seat, and an exhaust port through which a portion of the air introduced from outside is exhausted from the housing to outside, a blower unit mounted inside the housing and operated by a first motor to supply the air introduced into the housing through the intake port, out of the housing through the seat inlet, and a thermoelectric element disposed between the intake port and the seat inlet and heat-controlling the air introduced into the housing through the intake port.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application Number 10-2009-0088214 filed on Sep. 17, 2009, the entire contents of which application is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger having a thermoelectric element, and more particularly, to one in which a thermoelectric element unit enabling heat exchange is integrally provided with a blower.

2. Description of Related Art

In general, a vehicle is equipped with an air-conditioning system including a cooler and a heater. The air-conditioning system serves to control the temperature inside the vehicle.

However, the air-conditioning system does not have a function of controlling the temperature of a vehicle seat. In the summer, even if an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat lowers the temperature inside the vehicle by operating the cooler, the seat is relatively slowly cooled down. In addition, the occupant may have heat rash at the buttocks and the back, which are apt to sweat due to body heat.

In the winter, even if the occupant sitting on the vehicle seat raises the temperature inside the vehicle by operating the heater, the seat stays cold for a long time before the heater warms up the air. Thus, the occupant may feel chilly or cold at the buttocks or back.

Accordingly, these days, a seat-dedicated heating and cooling system is additionally provided, which is designed to control the temperature of the seat. An example of such a vehicle seat heating and cooling system will be illustrated with reference to FIG. 1.

The vehicle seat heating and cooling system is mounted below a vehicle seat, which includes a back and a sitting part. The heating and cooling system includes a first duct 2 communicating with the back, a second duct 4 communicating with the sitting part, and a blower 1 blowing air into the ducts 2 and 4. Thermoelectric element housings 3 and 5 are coupled to the front ends of the ducts 2 and 4, respectively, and thermoelectric element units (not shown) are mounted inside the thermoelectric element housings 3 and 5, respectively.

The thermoelectric element housing 3 has two air outlets 3a and 3b. The air outlet 3a serves to supply air, heated or cooled by the thermoelectric element unit, to the seat, and the air outlet 3b serves to exhaust air from the vehicle. The thermoelectric element housing 5 also has two air outlets 5a and 5b, which function substantially the same as those of the thermoelectric element housing 3.

When a thermoelectric element is used for heating air to be supplied to the seat, air is heated at one side of the thermoelectric element but is cooled at the other side of the thermoelectric element. Thus, it is required to exhaust cooled air from the vehicle. For this purpose, the thermoelectric element housing is provided with both the air outlet 3a or 5a for supplying air to the seat and the outlets 3b and 5b for exhausting air from the vehicle. In addition, the outlet 5b is connected to an exhaust duct 6, which leads to the outside of the vehicle.

However, since the thermoelectric elements that cool or heat air are separately located on the front end of the respective duct, more thermoelectric elements are needed in the above-described vehicle seat heating and cooling system of the related art. As such, the expensive thermoelectric elements, located in multiple positions of the seat heating and cooling system, increase the price of the system while making it difficult to assemble the system.

In addition, a supply voltage is required in order to operate the thermoelectric elements. In the seat heating and cooling system of the related art, this complicates power supply lines for the thermoelectric elements and lowers the degree of freedom of design.

The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to provide a heat exchanger having a thermoelectric element, which is integrally mounted with a blower instead of being separately mounted on a respective duct leading to a vehicle seat, whereby manufacturing costs can be reduced, the structure of the duct can be simplified, and a seat heating and cooling system can be easily assembled.

In an aspect of the present invention, the heat exchanger may include a housing including an intake port through which air is introduced into the housing from outside, a seat inlet supplying air to a vehicle seat, and an exhaust port through which a portion of the air introduced from outside is exhausted from the housing to outside, a blower unit mounted inside the housing and operated by a first motor to supply the air introduced into the housing through the intake port, out of the housing through the seat inlet, and a thermoelectric element disposed between the intake port and the seat inlet and heat-controlling the air introduced into the housing through the intake port.

The thermoelectric element may separate the intake port into an upper flow passage and a lower flow passage and wherein the blower unit is disposed in the upper flow passage and the exhaust port is formed to the lower flow passage.

The heat exchanger may further include first heat dissipation fins attached to an upper surface of the thermoelectric element and disposed in the upper flow passage, and second heat dissipation fins attached to a lower surface of the thermoelectric element and disposed in the lower flow passage, such that the first heat dissipation fins communicate with the intake port and the seat inlet and the second heat dissipation fins communicate with the intake port and the exhaust port.

The heat exchanger may further include a fan unit provided in the exhaust port, wherein the fan unit exhausts air, heat-controlled by the second heat dissipation fins of the thermoelectric element, out of the housing through the exhaust port, wherein the fan unit is driven by a rotary shaft of the first motor that drives the blower unit, and wherein the thermoelectric element has a hole through which the rotary shaft extends and is connected to the fan unit.

The fan unit provided in the exhaust port may be driven by a second motor.

The housing may include upper, middle and lower housings, wherein the upper and middle housings are coupled with each other to define a first space, inside of which the blower unit is mounted, and the seat inlet, wherein the middle and lower housings are coupled with each other to define a second space, inside of which the thermoelectric element is mounted, and the intake port, and wherein the exhaust port is formed in the lower housing under the thermoelectric element.

The heat exchanger may further include a first separator film disposed between the middle and lower housings to define an upper hole to form the upper flow passage and a lower hole to form the lower flow passage respectively, wherein the first separator film prevents air, introduced into the second space through the upper hole of the intake port and heat-controlled by the first heat dissipation fins of the thermoelectric element, and air, introduced into the second space through the lower hole of the intake port and heat-controlled by the second heat dissipation fins of the thermoelectric element, from mixing with each other.

The thermoelectric element unit includes a thermoelectric element and the first separator film extends from the thermoelectric element to form the upper and lower holes.

The heat exchanger may further include a second separator film to divide the second space into an upper output port and a lower output port, wherein the upper output port receives air heat-controlled by the first dissipation fins and the lower output port receives air heat-controlled by the second dissipation fins.

The second separator film may extend from the thermoelectric element to form the upper and lower output ports.

The blower unit may include a Sirocco fan, and the fan unit provided in the exhaust port comprises an axial fan, wherein the seat inlet includes at least two seat inlets and extending in the tangential direction of the circumference of the housing.

In another aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger may include an upper housing, a middle housing, wherein the upper and middle housings are coupled with each other to define a first space, inside of which a blower unit is mounted, and a seat inlet, a lower housing, wherein the middle and lower housings are coupled with each other to define a second space, inside of which a thermoelectric element is mounted, and an intake port, and wherein the lower housing defines, therein, an exhaust port in which a fan is mounted, and a separator film provided between the middle and lower housings to divide the intake port into upper and lower holes, wherein the separator film prevents air, introduced into the second space and heat-controlled by the thermoelectric element, and air, introduced into the second space and heat-controlled by the thermoelectric element, from mixing with each other, whereby air introduced through the upper hole is supplied to a vehicle seat through the seat inlet after heat exchange with the thermoelectric element, and whereby air introduced through the exhaust port is exhausted to outside through the lower hole after heat exchange with the thermoelectric element.

In the heating and cooling system of the related art, the thermoelectric element housings are provided in the front ends of the ducts, and the thermoelectric elements are separately provided inside the housings. In contrast, according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the heat exchanger having a thermoelectric element has an advantage of a simple structure, in which the thermoelectric element for heating and cooling air, which will be supplied to the heating and cooling system for a vehicle seat, is integrally provided with the blower. Also, in the related art, the respective ducts are separately provided in order to exhaust air, which is not supplied from the ducts to the seat, out of the vehicle. In contrast, according to various aspects of the invention, the heat exchanger having a thermoelectric element requires only one duct for exhausting air, which is not supplied to the seat. This, as a result, facilitates assembly of the system and reduces manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, according to various aspects of the invention, the heat exchanger can improve the degree of freedom of design inside the vehicle seat since electric lines for supplying a voltage to the thermoelectric element are simplified.

The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description of the Invention, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat heating and cooling system of the related art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an exemplary heat exchanger having a thermoelectric element according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective of the exemplary heat exchanger of FIG. 2, viewed from a different angle.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Above all, reference should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals and signs are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and components incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger having a thermoelectric element according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective of the heat exchanger of FIG. 2, viewed from a different angle, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the heat exchanger using a thermoelectric element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 10, a blower unit 20, and a thermoelectric element unit 30. The housing 10 includes intake ports 15 through which air is introduced into the housing 10 from the outside, seat inlets 16 connected to a duct that leads to a vehicle seat, and an exhaust port 17 through which a portion of air, taken in from the outside and remaining after being blown into the seat inlets 16, is exhausted from the housing 10 to the outside. The blower unit 20 is provided inside the housing 10, and serves to blow air, introduced into the housing 10, out of the housing 10 through the seat inlets 16. The thermoelectric element 30 cools and heats air introduced into the housing 10 through the intake ports 15.

The housing 10 includes upper, middle, and lower housings 11, 12, and 13. The upper and middle housings 11 and 12 are coupled with each other, thereby defining a first space 50. The middle and lower housings 12 and 13 are coupled with each other, thereby defining a second space 52.

The blower unit 20 includes a motor 24 fixedly installed inside the housing 11 and blades 22 rotatably installed inside the first space 50. The blades 22 are driven by the motor 24. The blower unit 20 is a Sirocco fan that is a centrifugal blower having a number of blades. In the blower unit 20, air axially enters from the bottom of the blades 22 and then radially flows over the fan blades 22.

The thermoelectric element unit 30 is fixedly installed in the second space 52 defined by the middle housing 12 and the lower housing 13. The thermoelectric element unit 30 includes a thermoelectric element 32, which is cooled down or heated when a voltage is applied, and first and second heat dissipation fins 34 and 36 provided on both surfaces of the thermoelectric element 32. The first and second heat dissipation fins 34 and 36 are in contact with the thermoelectric element 32, thereby forming a heat conductive structure.

As described above, the thermoelectric element 32 is a Peltier element, in which one side is heated and the other side is cooled when a current is passed around the thermoelectric element 32. The side to be heated is changed according to the direction of the current that is applied. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when a voltage is supplied to the thermoelectric element 32, one side of the thermoelectric element 32 to be heated and the heat dissipation fins 34 in contact with one side serve as a heater, and the other side of the thermoelectric element 32 to be cooled and the heat dissipation fins 36 in contact with the other side serve as a cooler.

The first and second heat dissipation fins 34 and 36 are a structure for maximizing the contact area in which air flowing through the second space 52 performs heat exchange with the thermoelectric element 32. Although the heat dissipation fins 34 and 36 are shaped as corrugated plates, they can be modified into fin shapes. The heat dissipation fins 34 and 36 can have any shape that allows air to come into contact with the heat dissipation fins 34 and 36 while flowing in the second space 52.

In this embodiment, the middle housing 12 is interposed between the blower unit 20 and the thermoelectric element unit 30. This is to reliably partition the first space 50 from the second space 52 as well as to prevent the rotating blades 22 from interfering with the thermoelectric element unit 30. Accordingly, the middle housing 12 is not an essential component in this embodiment. As an alternative, the middle housing 12 can be excluded. In this case, the blower unit 20 and the thermoelectric element 32 are mounted inside a space defined by coupling between the first and second housings 11 and 13.

The intake ports 15 outwardly protrude from the portion of the housing 10 where the thermoelectric element unit 30 is mounted, the seat inlets 16 outwardly protrude from the portion of the housing 10 where the blower unit 20 is mounted, and the exhaust ports 17 are formed on the outer wall of the lower housing 13, opposite the surface of the housing 10 on which the thermoelectric element unit 30 faces the blower unit 20.

With this configuration, when air is introduced into the second space 52 inside the housing 10 through the intake ports 15, it comes into contact with the thermoelectric element 30 while flowing through the second space 52, and the blower unit 20 blows a portion of introduced air into the first space 50 so as to be exhausted from the housing 10 through the seat inlets 16, i.e., to the duct leading to the seat. The other portion of introduced air, except for the portion of air exhausted through the seat inlets 16, is exhausted from the housing 10 through the exhaust ports 17 of the lower housing 13.

In order to maximize the efficiency of the blower unit 20, the seat inlets 16 can be expanded in the tangential direction of the circumference of the housing 10. When two seat inlets 16 are provided in one housing 10, the seat inlets 16 can preferably be arranged at an angle 180° with each other. However, the angle between the seat inlets 16 is not limited to 180°, but can be set to a variety of other angles, in which the seat inlets 16 are connected to the ducts leading into the seat.

In addition, the configurations of the intake ports 15, the seat inlets 16, and the exhaust ports 17 are not limited to those shown in this embodiment, but can be modified into several other forms. For example, although the two intake ports 15 are provided in this embodiment, the number of the intake ports 15 can be changed when necessary. In addition, although the exhaust port 17 is provided in the bottom of the housing 10, it can be provided to protrude from the side of the housing 10 like the intake ports 15 or the seat inlets 16.

In addition, a separator film 14 is provided inside the housing 10, extending from the thermoelectric element 32 along a reference line B in the center of the second space 52.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, another separator film 21 may be provided inside the housing 10 to divide the second space 52 into an upper output port 57 and a lower output port 58, wherein the upper output port 57 receives air heat-controlled by the first dissipation fins 34 and the lower output port 58 receives air heat-controlled by the second dissipation fins 36.

The thermoelectric element 32 is heated at one side but cooled at the other side according to its characteristics. In the case of attempting to supply cold air to the seat, it is required to supply air, cooled by the thermoelectric element 30 in the second space 52, to the seat through the seat inlet 16. However, if air inside the second space 52 can freely flow from the heater side to the cooler side of the thermoelectric element 30 and vice versa, cooled air can mix with heated air, thereby lowering the efficiency of the heat exchanger.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the second space 52 is completed divided into first and second sections 54 and 56 by providing the separator film 14 along the reference line B, defined by the center line of the thermoelectric element 32 in the thickness direction. The separator film 14 also divides a respective intake port 15 into upper and lower holes 15a and 15b. In this manner, the passage along which air, introduced through the upper hole 15a, can flow is completely separated from the passage along which air, introduced through the lower hole 15b, can flow. Air, introduced into the first section 54 of the second space 52 through the upper hole 15a of the intake port 15, is heated or cooled by contact with the first heat dissipation fins 34 of the thermoelectric element 30. After heat exchange with the first heat dissipation fins 34, air is blown into the first space 50 by the blower unit 20 and is then exhausted from the housing 10 through the seat inlet 16. In contrast, air, introduced into the second section 56 of the second space 52 through the lower hole 15b of the intake hole 15, is cooled or heated by contact with the second heat dissipation fins 36 of the thermoelectric element 30. After heat exchange with the second heat dissipation fins 36, air is then exhausted from the housing through the exhaust port 17.

As such, the separator film 14, provided along the reference line B of the thermoelectric element 32, prevents air heated by the thermoelectric element 30 and air cooled by the thermoelectric element 30 from mixing with each other when air is introduced into the second space 52 through the intake ports 15.

In addition, the heat exchanger having a thermoelectric element in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention is configured such that an axial fan 40 is installed in the exhaust port 17 of the lower housing 13. Even if the fan 40 is not provided, air introduced into the housing 10 can be exhausted from the housing 10 through the exhaust port 17 after heat exchange with the thermoelectric element unit 30. However, the fan 40 can more efficiently exhaust air out of the housing 10 through the exhaust port 17, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the thermoelectric element unit 30. This especially enhances the flow rate of air, which performs heat exchange with the second heat dissipation fins 36. When heat exchange is actively performed by the heater, the cooling efficiency of the cooler is enhanced due to the characteristics of the thermoelectric element 32. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the total efficiency of the heat exchanger by adding the fan 40.

In addition, the fan 40, provided in the exhaust port 17, can be driven by a separate drive motor. It is also possible to drive the fan 40 using the motor 24 for driving the blower unit 20 in order to simplify the configuration of the system. In this case, a rotary shaft 26 extending from the motor 24 can preferably be used as a drive source for the fan 40. The rotary shaft 26, extending from the rotary shaft of the motor 24 of the blower unit 20, rotates at the same speed as the rotary shaft of the motor 24 to drive the fan 40.

The thermoelectric element 32 has a hole 38 through which the rotary shaft 26 can extend from the motor 24 to the fan 40. The hole 38 is formed to penetrate through both sides of the thermoelectric element 32, in a position corresponding to the rotary shaft 26. The size of the hole 38 is slightly greater than the diameter of the rotary shaft 26.

In the heat exchanger of this embodiment having the above described configuration, air is introduced into the heat exchanger through the upper and lower holes 15a and 15b of the intake ports 15, driven by the blower unit 20 and the fan 40. When air is introduced through the upper hole 15a of the intake port 15, it is heated or cooled by the thermoelectric element 32 and is supplied to the seat through the first space 50 and the seat inlet 16. In contrast, when air is introduced through the lower hole 15b of the intake port 15, it is cooled or heated by the thermoelectric element 32 and is exhausted to the outside through the exhaust port 17.

As an alternative, in the heat exchanger having a thermoelectric element, the structure of the fan 40 provided in the exhaust port 17 can be modified such that air is introduced into the second space 52 through the exhaust port. Except for the configuration that introduces air into the second space 52 through the exhaust port 17 by driving the fan 40, other components are the same as those in the above-described embodiment of the invention.

According to this alternative embodiment, the heat exchanger introduces air into the second space 52 through the upper holes 15a of the intake ports 15 by driving the blower unit 20, so that air performs heat exchange with the thermoelectric element 32 in the second space 52 and is then supplied through the seat inlet 16 to the seat. At the same time, the heat exchanger introduces air into the second space 52 through the exhaust port 17 by driving the fan 40, so that air performs heat exchange with the thermoelectric element 32 in the second space 52 and is then exhausted to the outside through the lower holes 15b of the intake ports 15.

For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “middle” and “lower” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures.

The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising:

a housing including an intake port through which air is introduced into the housing from outside, a seat inlet supplying air to a vehicle seat, and an exhaust port through which a portion of the air introduced from outside is exhausted from the housing to outside;

a blower unit mounted inside the housing and operated by a first motor to supply the air introduced into the housing through the intake port, out of the housing through the seat inlet; and

a thermoelectric element disposed between the intake port and the seat inlet and heat-controlling the air introduced into the housing through the intake port.

2. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric element separates the intake port into an upper flow passage and a lower flow passage and wherein the blower unit is disposed in the upper flow passage and the exhaust port is formed to the lower flow passage.

3. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 2, further comprising first heat dissipation fins attached to an upper surface of the thermoelectric element and disposed in the upper flow passage, and second heat dissipation fins attached to a lower surface of the thermoelectric element and disposed in the lower flow passage, such that the first heat dissipation fins communicate with the intake port and the seat inlet and the second heat dissipation fins communicate with the intake port and the exhaust port.

4. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a fan unit provided in the exhaust port, wherein the fan unit exhausts air, heat-controlled by the second heat dissipation fins of the thermoelectric element, out of the housing through the exhaust port.

5. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 4,

wherein the fan unit is driven by a rotary shaft of the first motor that drives the blower unit, and

wherein the thermoelectric element has a hole through which the rotary shaft extends and is connected to the fan unit.

6. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 4, wherein the fan unit provided in the exhaust port is driven by a second motor.

7. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 3,

wherein the housing includes upper, middle and lower housings,

wherein the upper and middle housings are coupled with each other to define a first space, inside of which the blower unit is mounted, and the seat inlet,

wherein the middle and lower housings are coupled with each other to define a second space, inside of which the thermoelectric element is mounted, and the intake port,

wherein the exhaust port is formed in the lower housing under the thermoelectric element.

8. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a first separator film disposed between the middle and lower housings to define an upper hole to form the upper flow passage and a lower hole to form the lower flow passage respectively,

wherein the first separator film prevents air, introduced into the second space through the upper hole of the intake port and heat-controlled by the first heat dissipation fins of the thermoelectric element, and air, introduced into the second space through the lower hole of the intake port and heat-controlled by the second heat dissipation fins of the thermoelectric element, from mixing with each other.

9. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 8, wherein the thermoelectric element unit includes a thermoelectric element and the first separator film extends from the thermoelectric element to form the upper and lower holes.

10. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a second separator film to divide the second space into an upper output port and a lower output port, wherein the upper output port receives air heat-controlled by the first dissipation fins and the lower output port receives air heat-controlled by the second dissipation fins.

11. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 10, wherein the second separator film extends from the thermoelectric element to form the upper and lower output ports.

12. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a fan unit provided in the exhaust port, wherein the fan unit exhausts air, heat-controlled by the thermoelectric element, out of the housing.

13. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 12,

wherein the fan unit is driven by a rotary shaft of the first motor that drives the blower unit, and

wherein the thermoelectric element has a hole through which the rotary shaft extends and is coupled to the fan unit.

14. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 13, wherein the blower unit comprises a Sirocco fan, and the fan unit provided in the exhaust port comprises an axial fan.

15. The heat exchanger in accordance with claim 14, wherein the seat inlet includes at least two seat inlets and extending in the tangential direction of the circumference of the housing.

16. A heat exchanger comprising:

an upper housing;

a middle housing, wherein the upper and middle housings are coupled with each other to define a first space, inside of which a blower unit is mounted, and a seat inlet;

a lower housing, wherein the middle and lower housings are coupled with each other to define a second space, inside of which a thermoelectric element is mounted, and an intake port, and wherein the lower housing defines, therein, an exhaust port in which a fan is mounted; and

a separator film provided between the middle and lower housings to divide the intake port into upper and lower holes, wherein the separator film prevents air, introduced into the second space and heat-controlled by the thermoelectric element, and air, introduced into the second space and heat-controlled by the thermoelectric element, from mixing with each other,

whereby air introduced through the upper hole is supplied to a vehicle seat through the seat inlet after heat exchange with the thermoelectric element, and

whereby air introduced through the exhaust port is exhausted to outside through the lower hole after heat exchange with the thermoelectric element.