TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEMS WITH THERMOELECTRIC DEVICES

摘要

Temperature control systems and methods can be designed for controlling the interior climate of a vehicle or other the climate of another desired region. The temperature control system for a vehicle can have a thermoelectric system providing heating and/or cooling, including supplemental heating and/or cooling. The thermoelectric system can transfer thermal energy between a working fluid, such as liquid coolant, and comfort air upon application of electric current of a selected polarity. The thermoelectric system can supplement or replace the heat provided from an internal combustion engine or other primary heat source. The thermoelectric system can also supplement or replace cold energy provided from a compressor-based refrigeration system or other primary cold energy source.

主权项

1. A method for controlling temperature of an occupant compartment of a vehicle during a stop of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, the method comprising:
directing an airflow through a comfort air channel; directing a coolant through an engine coolant circuit, the engine coolant circuit including an engine block coolant conduit in thermal communication with the internal combustion engine of the vehicle; directing the airflow through a heater core disposed in the comfort air channel and in thermal communication with the engine block coolant conduit; directing the airflow through a supplemental heat exchanger in thermal communication with a thermoelectric device, and wherein the thermoelectric device has a main surface and a waste surface, the main surface in thermal communication with the supplemental heat exchanger, the waste surface connected to a waste heat exchanger, wherein the waste heat exchanger is connected to a fluid circuit containing a liquid phase working fluid, and wherein the liquid phase working fluid is in fluid communication with the engine block coolant conduit or a heat sink; and supplying, in a stop cold heating mode, electric current in a first polarity to the thermoelectric device for the thermoelectric device to heat the airflow by transferring thermal energy from the waste surface to the main surface while the internal combustion engine is stopped; and wherein, in the stop cold heating mode, the thermoelectric device provides heat to the airflow while the internal combustion engine is not able to heat the airflow to a specified comfortable temperature without the heat provided by the thermoelectric device.