Radial thermoelectric device assembly

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a heat exchange device includes a housing, having at least one inlet, at least one first outlet and at least one second outlet. The device further includes an impeller positioned within the housing and configured to receive fluid from the at least one inlet and transfer it to at least one of the first outlet and the second outlet. In addition, the device comprises one or more heat exchange modules configured to receive a volume of fluid and selectively thermally condition it before said fluid exits through the first outlet or the second outlet. In one embodiment, the heat exchange module is partially or completely positioned within the housing.

1 . A heat exchange device comprising:
 a housing, having at least one inlet, at least one first outlet and at least one second outlet;   an impeller positioned within the housing, the impeller configured to receive fluid from the at least one inlet and transfer it to at least one of the first outlet and the second outlet; and   at least one heat exchange module configured to receive a volume of fluid and selectively thermally condition said fluid before said fluid exits through the first outlet or the second outlet;   wherein the heat exchange module is positioned within the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange module comprises a thermoelectric device. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a Peltier circuit 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchange module further comprises heat exchangers, the heat exchangers being in thermal communication with the thermoelectric device, wherein at least a portion of the volume of fluid is directed through or near such heat exchangers. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the heat exchangers are in thermal communication with a substrate, the substrate comprising a thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive material. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange module is positioned along an outer perimeter portion of the interior of the housing. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the heat exchange module extends along substantially the entire perimeter portion of the housing. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises at least two separate heat exchange modules. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the heat exchange modules are substantially equally spaced apart within the interior of the housing. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the heat exchange modules are electrically connected to each other. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchange modules are electrically connected to each other using end couplings, said end coupling comprising extensions of a substrate of a thermoelectric device. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the heat exchange module comprises a set of upper heat exchangers in fluid communication with an upper side of the thermoelectric device and a set of lower heat exchangers in fluid communication with a lower side of the thermoelectric device, wherein the at least one first outlet is in fluid communication with the set of upper heat exchangers and the at least one second outlet is in fluid communication with the set of lower heat exchangers. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least first outlet is located along a sidewall portion of the housing and wherein the at least second outlet is located along a bottom portion of the housing. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the impeller is configured to substantially deliver an equal volume of fluid to the at least first outlet and the at least second outlet. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the heat exchangers are oriented along a direction that generally coincides with a fluid flow direction approaching said heat exchangers. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to supply thermally conditioned fluid to a seat assembly. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange module is configured to accommodate thermal stresses when in use. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein a substrate of the heat exchange module comprises at least one expansion joint. 
   
   
       19 . A climate controlled seat assembly comprising:
 a seat bottom portion;   a seat back portion;   a heat exchange device comprising:
 a housing, having at least one inlet, at least one first outlet and at least one second outlet; 
 an impeller positioned within the housing, the impeller configured to receive fluid from the at least one inlet and transfer it to at least one of the first outlet and the second outlet; and 
 at least one heat exchange module configured to receive a volume of fluid and selectively thermally condition said fluid before said fluid exits through the first outlet or the second outlet; 
 wherein the heat exchange module is positioned within the housing; 
   wherein thermally conditioned fluid exiting the first outlet or the second outlet of the heat exchange device is configured to be delivered within an opening of at least of the seat bottom portion and the seat back portion; and   wherein the thermally conditioned fluid is configured to be transferred toward a occupant of the seat assembly.   
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the heat exchange device is mounted to a surface of the seat back portion or the seat bottom portion. 
   
   
       21 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first outlet and the second outlet is configured to generally align with and be in fluid communication with the opening of the seat bottom portion or the seat back portion. 
   
   
       22 . A method of thermally conditioning a fluid comprising
 positioning at least one heat exchange module within a housing of a blower;   wherein the at least one heat exchange module configured to receive a volume of fluid and selectively thermally condition said fluid before said fluid exits through an outlet of the housing; and   selectively heating or cooling said fluid by electrically energizing said heat exchange module and activating an impeller of the blower;   wherein the heat exchange module comprises a thermoelectric device.