Dual Use Cooling Systems

Abstract

Cooling systems and methods of use are disclosed. A particular method includes routing at least a first portion of a coolant stream from a first heat exchanger to a second heat exchanger to receive heat from a hot side of a thermoelectric cooling device. The method also includes cooling one or more electronic devices using a cold side of the thermoelectric cooling device. The method also includes routing at least a second portion of the coolant stream to an engine.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an engine having an engine coolant inlet and an engine coolant outlet;   a first heat exchanger having a first heat exchanger inlet and a first heat exchanger outlet;   a second heat exchanger having a second heat exchanger inlet and a second heat exchanger outlet;   a thermoelectric cooling device in thermal communication with the second heat exchanger; and   one or more conduits to transport coolant;   wherein a first portion of a coolant flow from the first heat exchanger outlet is routed to the second heat exchanger inlet to receive heat output from one or more devices in thermal communication with the thermoelectric cooling device, and wherein a second portion of the coolant flow from the first heat exchanger outlet is routed to the engine coolant inlet to receive heat output by the engine.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system coupled to the thermoelectric cooling device, wherein the control system adjusts power input to the thermoelectric cooling device to control a temperature of the one or more devices in thermal communication with the thermoelectric cooling device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the engine includes an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger includes a radiator. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a temperature of the one or more devices in thermal communication with the thermoelectric cooling device is less than a temperature of the first portion of the coolant. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermoelectric generator in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger, wherein the thermoelectric generator generates power based on a temperature differential between the coolant received at the first heat exchanger inlet and a temperature of a cold side of the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of power used by the thermoelectric cooling device is generated by the thermoelectric generator. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more devices in thermal communication with the thermoelectric cooling device include a power electronics module. 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle, comprising:
 an engine;   a thermoelectric cooling device to cool one or more components of the vehicle;   a first heat exchanger to receive heat from a hot side of the thermoelectric cooling device; and   a second heat exchanger to remove heat from a coolant, wherein the coolant is supplied from the second heat exchanger to the engine and to the first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , further comprising a thermoelectric generator to generate at least a portion of power used by the thermoelectric cooling device based on a temperature differential at the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , further comprising a control system to control a temperature of the one or more components by adjusting power supplied to the thermoelectric cooling device. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , further comprising one or more electric motors, wherein the engine generates at least a portion of power used by the one or more electric motors to move the vehicle, and wherein the one or more components include a power conditioning system that conditions power supplied to the one or more electric motors. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the thermoelectric cooling device comprises a solid-state Peltier effect heat pump. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 routing at least a first portion of a coolant in a cooling system from a first heat exchanger to a second heat exchanger to receive heat from a hot side of a thermoelectric cooling device;   cooling one or more electronic devices using a cold side of the thermoelectric cooling device; and   routing at least a second portion of the coolant in the cooling system to an engine.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a coolant outlet of the second heat exchanger is coupled to a coolant inlet of the engine, and wherein the first portion of the coolant is the same portion of the coolant as the second portion of the coolant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a coolant inlet of the second heat exchanger is coupled to the first heat exchanger and a coolant inlet of the engine is coupled to the first heat exchanger, and wherein the first portion of the coolant is different than the second portion of the coolant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a temperature of the first portion of the coolant is higher than an operating temperature of the one or more electronic devices. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising controlling a temperature of the one or more electronic devices by controlling power supplied to the thermoelectric cooling device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising generating at least a portion of the power supplied to the thermoelectric cooling device using a temperature gradient at the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a temperature of the first portion of the coolant when the first portion is received at the second heat exchanger is substantially equal to a temperature of the second portion of the coolant when the second portion is received at the engine.