High Efficiency Hybrid Air Conditioning System

Abstract

A hybrid air conditioning system ( 45 ) having both a conventional air conditioning system ( 46 ) and thermoelectric modules ( 80, 85, 90, 95 ) to provide heating and cooling, the thermoelectric modules ( 80, 85, 90, 95 ) providing waste heat or waste cooling to offset the demand on the conventional air conditioning system ( 46 ) and thereby reducing energy consumption and enhancing efficiency of the overall system ( 45 ).

1 . A hybrid air conditioning system for conditioning a space containing several spaces comprising:
 a conventional air conditioning system for providing cooling and heating to said space, and   at least one thermoelectric module located within one of the several spaces separate from said space, said at least one thermoelectric module capable of providing heating in a heating mode and cooling in a cooling mode;   wherein said at least one thermoelectric module generates waste heat or cool that is transported to heat or cool the other of the several spaces, thereby increasing an efficiency of said conventional air conditioning system and by reducing electric demand.   
   
   
       2 . The hybrid air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said conventional air conditioning system can be set at a temperature T 1 , and said at least one thermoelectric module (can be set at temperature T 2 , different from T 1 . 
   
   
       3 . The hybrid air conditioning system of  claim 2 , wherein said conventional system is set at a temperature T 1 , and when said at least one thermoelectric module is set to a temperature T 2 , higher than T 1 , wherein waste cooling generated by said at least one thermoelectric module is capable of being used by said conventional system to achieve said set temperature T 1 . 
   
   
       4 . The hybrid air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein when said conventional system is set at a temperature T 1 , and wherein when said at least one thermoelectric module is set to a temperature T 2 , lower than T 1 , wherein waste heat generated by said at least one thermoelectric module is capable of being utilized by said conventional system to achieve set temperature T 1 . 
   
   
       5 . The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein said conventional air conditioning system further comprises a compressor, an evaporator, a linear diffuser and a thermostat. 
   
   
       6 . The hybrid system of  claim 1 , further comprises a temperature sensor in said air conditioned space, said temperature sensor capable of adjusting an amount of heating or cooling generated by said conventional system in response to waste heat generated by said at least one thermoelectric module. 
   
   
       7 . The hybrid air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one thermoelectric modules is a plurality of thermoelectric modules each located within a space separate from others of said plurality of modules. 
   
   
       8 . The hybrid air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of thermoelectric modules are each adjustable to a temperature. 
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . A hybrid air conditioning system for conditioning a space containing several spaces comprising:
 a conventional air conditioning system for providing cooling and heating to said space, and   a thermoelectric air conditioning system for providing localized cooling and or heating to a portion of said space separate from said space, said thermoelectric air conditioning system having at least one thermoelectric module in one of the several spaces that is capable of providing heating in a heating mode and cooling in a cooling mode;
 wherein said thermoelectric air conditioning system is capable of increasing an efficiency of said conventional air conditioning systems by transporting waste heat or cool from the at least one thermoelectric module to other of the several spaces, thereby utilizing the waste heat/cool generated by said hybrid air conditioning system and reducing electric demand on said conventional air conditioning system. 
   
   
   
       11 . The hybrid air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein said hybrid air conditioning system further comprises a plurality of thermoelectric modules. 
   
   
       12 . The hybrid air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of thermoelectric modules are located within said portion of said space separate from said space. 
   
   
       13 . The hybrid air conditioning system of  claim 11 , wherein said conventional air conditioning system can be set at a temperature T 1 , and said at least one of said plurality of thermoelectric modules can be set at temperature T 2 , different from T 1 . 
   
   
       14 . The hybrid air conditioning system of  claim 10 , wherein said conventional air conditioning system is set at a temperature T 1 , and when said at least one of said plurality of thermoelectric modules is set to a temperature T 2 , different than T 1 , wherein waste heat or cooling generated by said at least one of said plurality of thermoelectric modules is capable of being used by said conventional system to achieve said set temperature T 1 . 
   
   
       15 . The hybrid system of  claim 1 , wherein said conventional air conditioning system further comprises a compressor, an evaporator, a linear diffuser and a thermostat. 
   
   
       16 . The hybrid system of  claim 1 , further comprises a temperature sensor in said air conditioned space, said temperature sensor capable of adjusting an amount of heating or cooling generated by said conventional system in response to waste heat or cooling generated by said at least one of said plurality thermoelectric modules. 
   
   
       17 . (canceled)