Heat exchanger tube having integrated thermoelectric devices

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a vehicle is shown, wherein the heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes having integrated thermoelectric devices disposed thereon to facilitate heat transfer between the tubes and an atmosphere surrounding the tubes.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 at least one fluid channel;   a plurality of hollow tubes, each of the plurality of tubes having a wall, a first end, and a spaced apart second end, wherein a hollow interior portion of each of the plurality of tubes is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid channel;   a plurality of thermoelectric devices, each of the plurality of thermoelectric devices comprising a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface, wherein the first heat transfer surface of each of the plurality of thermoelectric devices is in thermal communication with at least a portion of the wall of at least one of the plurality of tubes; and   a plurality of heat exchanger fins, each of the plurality of heat exchanger fins in thermal communication with the second heat transfer surface of at least one of the plurality of thermoelectric devices, wherein the plurality of heat exchanger fins are configured to substantially increase a surface area of thermal communication between the plurality of thermoelectric devices and a working fluid flowing outside the plurality of hollow tubes beyond the surface area of thermal communication of the heat exchanger without the plurality of heat exchanger fins.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system in electrical communication with the plurality of thermoelectric devices, the control system configured to control a direction of electric current delivered to the plurality of thermoelectric devices. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the control system is configured to control a variable electric current delivered to the plurality of thermoelectric devices. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of thermoelectric devices is disposed around the wall of at least one of the tubes. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow interior portion of the plurality of tubes is configured to convey a first fluid, and the heat exchanger is configured to convey a second fluid outside the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the first fluid is a liquid, and the second fluid is a gas. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a flat tube heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a cross flow heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a shell and tube heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a counter flow heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to control the direction of the electric current delivered to the plurality of thermoelectric devices in order to select between a first mode, in which thermal energy is transferred from the wall to the plurality of heat exchanger fins, and a second mode, in which thermal energy is transferred from the plurality of heat exchanger fins to the wall. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of hollow tubes, each of the plurality of tubes having a wall, a first end, and a spaced apart second end, wherein a hollow interior portion of each of the plurality of tubes is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid channel;   providing a plurality of thermoelectric devices, each of the plurality of thermoelectric devices comprising a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface;   placing the first heat transfer surface of each of the plurality of thermoelectric devices is in thermal communication with at least a portion of the wall of at least one of the plurality of tubes; and   providing a plurality of heat exchanger fins;   placing each of the plurality of heat exchanger fins in thermal communication with the second heat transfer surface of at least one of the plurality of thermoelectric devices, wherein the plurality of heat exchanger fins are configured to substantially increase a surface area of thermal communication between the plurality of thermoelectric devices and a working fluid flowing outside the plurality of hollow tubes beyond the surface area of thermal communication of the heat exchanger without the plurality of heat exchanger fins.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising operatively connecting a control system to the plurality of thermoelectric devices, the control system configured to control a direction of electric current delivered to the plurality of thermoelectric devices. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the control system is configured to control a variable electric current delivered to the plurality of thermoelectric devices. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of thermoelectric devices is disposed around the walls of the tubes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of heat exchanger fins extend radially outwardly from outer surfaces of the thermoelectric devices. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the hollow interior portion of the plurality of tubes is configured to convey a first fluid, and the heat exchanger is configured to convey a second fluid outside the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first fluid is a liquid, and the second fluid is a gas. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger is one of a flat tube heat exchanger, a cross flow heat exchanger, a shell and tube heat exchanger, and a counter flow heat exchanger. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the control system is configured to control the magnitude of the electric current delivered to the at least one thermoelectric device in order to select a heating and cooling capacity of the at least one thermoelectric device.