Thermotunneling refrigeration system

Abstract

A refrigeration system is provided. The refrigeration system includes at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device. The thermal blocking thermotunneling device comprises a first and a second surface separated by a nanoscale gap of less than about 20 nm, such that tunneling of electrons causes a unidirectional transfer of heat from the first surface to the second surface. Further, the at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device has a thermal back path of less than about 70 percent.

1 . A refrigeration system, comprising:
 at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device wherein the at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device comprises a first and a second surface separated by a nanoscale gap of less than about 20 nm, such that tunneling of electrons causes a unidirectional transfer of heat from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device has a thermal back path of less than about 70 percent.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second surface are separated by a nanoscale gap of about 4 nm to about 20 nm. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system has a cooling power per unit volume of greater than about 10 Watts/ft 3 . 
   
   
       4 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system has a total cooling power of greater than about 200 Watts. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal blocking thermotunneling device has a thermal back path of less than about 50 percent. 
   
   
       6 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , where the thermal blocking thermotunneling device has a thermal back path of less than about 15 percent. 
   
   
       7 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , where the thermal blocking thermotunneling device has a peak cooling power density of at least about 5 W/cm 2 . 
   
   
       8 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , where the thermal blocking thermotunneling device has a peak cooling power density of at least about 30 W/cm 2 . 
   
   
       9 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , where the cooling efficiency of the thermal blocking thermotunneling device is at least about 15 percent. 
   
   
       10 . The refrigeration system of  claim 1 , where the cooling efficiency of the thermal blocking thermotunneling device is at least about 40%. 
   
   
       11 . A refrigeration system, comprising:
 an enclosure;   a first and a second temperature control module disposed in a first and a second region respectively within the enclosure to regulate the temperatures of the first and second regions, wherein at least one of the first and second temperature control modules comprises at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device; and   a control system configured to control operation of the first and second temperature control modules.   
   
   
       12 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal blocking thermotunneling device comprises:
 a first and a second surface separated by a nanoscale gap of less than about 20 nm, such that tunneling of electrons causes a unidirectional transfer of heat from the first surface to the second surface.   
   
   
       13 . The refrigeration system of  claim 12 , where the device has a cooling power density of at least 30 W/cm2. 
   
   
       14 . The refrigeration system of  claim 12 , further comprising a temperature sensing device electrically coupled to the control system and configured to detect temperature in at least one of the first and second regions. 
   
   
       15 . The refrigeration system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first and second regions is positioned in a fresh food compartment. 
   
   
       16 . The refrigeration system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second temperature control modules is thermally coupled to a wall of the fresh food compartment. 
   
   
       17 . The refrigeration system of  claim 15 , wherein one or more additional temperature control modules are positioned so as to provide a zone in the fresh food compartment, which is maintained at a lower temperature than the remaining compartment. 
   
   
       18 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first and second regions is positioned in a freezer compartment. 
   
   
       19 . The refrigeration system of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first and second temperature control modules is thermally coupled to a wall of the freezer compartment. 
   
   
       20 . The refrigeration system of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first and second temperature control modules is thermally coupled to a wall of sub compartments inside the freezer compartment. 
   
   
       21 . The refrigeration system of  claim 11 , wherein one or more of the temperature control modules are thermally coupled to a surface of a bottle holding compartment. 
   
   
       22 . The refrigeration system of  claim 21 , wherein the bottle holding compartment is located along the door of a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator. 
   
   
       23 . A refrigeration system, comprising:
 at least one temperature control module, comprising at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device wherein the at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device comprises a first and a second surface separated by a nanoscale gap of less than about 20 nm, such that tunneling of electrons causes a unidirectional transfer of heat from the first surface to the second surface;   wherein at least one surface of the temperature control module has a non-planar profile.   
   
   
       24 . The refrigeration system of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one surface of the module is shaped to conform to a curvature of a surface of a bottle holding compartment. 
   
   
       25 . The refrigeration system of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one surface of the module is shaped to conform to a curvature of a surface of an egg holding compartment. 
   
   
       26 . The refrigeration system of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one surface of the module is shaped to conform to a curvature of a surface of an ice holding compartment. 
   
   
       27 . The refrigeration system of  claim 23 , further comprising a water dispensing system, wherein the at least one surface of the module is shaped to conform to a curvature of a conduit of a water dispensing system. 
   
   
       28 . A refrigeration system comprising:
 at least one temperature control module, comprising at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device, wherein the at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device comprises a first and a second surface separated by a nanoscale gap of less than about 20 nm, such that tunneling of electrons causes a unidirectional transfer of heat from the first surface to the second surface;   a structure to receive an object to be cooled; and   a thermal interface to facilitate conductive heat transfer between the at least one temperature control module and the object to be cooled.   
   
   
       29 . The refrigeration system of  claim 28  further comprising a solid heat exchanger. 
   
   
       30 . The refrigeration system of  claim 29  wherein the solid heat exchanger comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metals, alloys, graphite, filled epoxies and polymers. 
   
   
       31 . A refrigeration system comprising:
 at least one temperature control module, comprising at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device, wherein the at least one thermal blocking thermotunneling device comprises a first and a second surface separated by a nanoscale gap of less than about 20 nm, such that tunneling of electrons causes a unidirectional transfer of heat from the first surface to the second surface; and   at least one heat exchanger selected from the group comprising of fins, plates, and heat pipes in thermal communication with the at least one temperature control module.   
   
   
       32 . The refrigeration system of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger is positioned to transfer heat from an inside compartment of the refrigerator to the at least one temperature control module. 
   
   
       33 . The refrigeration system of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger is positioned to transfer heat to outside of the refrigerator.