Refrigeration system including thermoelectric heat recovery and actuation

Abstract

A vapor-compression circuit may be used to meet the temperature/load demands for conditioning one or more spaces. Excess heat generated in the vapor-compression circuit may be utilized to generate an electric current that may power other components of the vapor-compression circuit. A thermoelectric device may be placed in heat-transferring contact with the excess heat and generate the electrical current. The electric current generated may be used to power another thermoelectric device to provide further cooling or heating of a fluid in heat-transferring relation therewith to supplement the vapor-compression circuit and the conditioning of the space.

1 . A system including a vapor-compression circuit including a source of waste heat and a thermoelectric device positioned in heat-transferring relation to said source of waste heat and that generates an electric current from said source of waste heat.  
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said vapor compression circuit includes a compressor that compresses a working fluid.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said compressor includes a member separating high-pressure working fluid from low-pressure working fluid and said thermoelectric device is disposed in heat-transferring relation between said high-pressure working fluid and said low-pressure working fluid.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said member is a scroll member and said thermoelectric device is positioned adjacent said scroll member.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said scroll member is one of an orbiting scroll member and a nonorbiting scroll member and said thermoelectric device is positioned adjacent said orbiting scroll member.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said member is a partition and said thermoelectric device is positioned adjacent said partition.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said member is a compression member and said thermoelectric device is positioned adjacent said compression member.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said compressor includes a motor and said source of waste heat includes said motor.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said compressor uses a lubricant, said motor includes a rotor, and said thermoelectric device is disposed in heat-transferring relation between said rotor and at least one of said lubricant and said working fluid within said compressor.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said compressor uses a lubricant, said motor includes a stator, and said thermoelectric device is disposed in heat-transferring relation between said stator and at least one of said lubricant and said working fluid within said compressor.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said vapor compression circuit further includes an evaporator that evaporates said working fluid and a condenser that condenses said working fluid.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising another thermoelectric device that is powered by said electric current and transfers heat from said working fluid to an ambient environment.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said another thermoelectric device subcools said working fluid downstream of said condenser in said vapor-compression circuit.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said compressor includes a shell and said thermoelectric device is disposed adjacent said shell.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said compressor includes a discharge chamber containing working fluid at discharge pressure and separated from an ambient environment by said shell and said thermoelectric device is disposed in heat-transferring relation to said working fluid and said ambient environment.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said thermoelectric device is in heat-transferring relation to a component of said compressor.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said compressor includes a shell and a sump including lubricant and said thermoelectric device is disposed in heat-transferring relation to said lubricant and said ambient environment.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said compressor includes a discharge passage for compressed working fluid and wherein said thermoelectric device is disposed in heat-transferring relation to said compressed working fluid and an ambient environment.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said compressor discharges compressed working fluid through a muffler external to said compressor, and said thermoelectric device is disposed in heat-transferring relation to said compressed working fluid within said muffler and an ambient environment.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said electric current generated by said thermoelectric device is operable to power a load.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said load is another thermoelectric device.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said another thermoelectric device transfers heat from said working fluid to an ambient environment.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said vapor-compression circuit includes a compressor that compresses a working fluid and said load is internal to said compressor.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a load and wherein said electric current generated by said thermoelectric device is operable to power said load.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said load is another thermoelectric device.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said another thermoelectric device transfers heat from a working fluid in said vapor-compression circuit to an ambient environment.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said load is a system power supply and said thermoelectric device at least supplements said power supply.  
     
     
         28 . A refrigeration system including the system of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         29 . An air conditioning system including the system of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         30 . A refrigerator including the system of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         31 - 79 . (canceled)