Thermoelectric cooling system for a food and beverage compartment
US8839631B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 6, 2012 |
| Grant date | Sep 23, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 2, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B2700/2107
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A thermoelectric cooling system includes a thermoelectric device that transfers heat from a cold side to a hot side via a Peltier effect, an air heat exchanger that transfers heat from air to the cold side, and a heat sink that transfers heat from the hot side to a fluid coolant. The system also includes a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of air, and a controller that controls a flow of electrical power to the thermoelectric device according to a temperature measurement. The system also transfers heat from the air heat exchanger to the heat sink via the thermoelectric device according to a heat conduction effect due to a temperature difference between the air heat exchanger and the fluid coolant. The controller may reduce an effective voltage across the thermoelectric device to reduce power consumption of the thermoelectric device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.