Thermoelectric heat exchanger capable of providing two different discharge temperatures

Abstract

A thermoelectric heat exchanger and a thermoelectric heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) configured to provide a cooled fluid or air stream and a heated fluid or air stream. The thermoelectric heat exchanger may include a plurality thermoelectric devices (TEDs), also known as thermoelectric coolers (TECs) or Peltier coolers, in thermal communication. The thermoelectric devices may be arranged in a three dimensional array to provide compact packaging for the thermoelectric heat exchanger assembly. The thermoelectric heat exchanger may be configured to transfer thermal energy between a first thermoelectric device and a second thermoelectric device via evaporation and condensation of a working fluid or refrigerant contained within the thermoelectric heat exchanger.

1 . A cross flow heat exchanger assembly configured to heat a first portion of a fluid flowing through said assembly and cool a second portion of the fluid flowing through said assembly, wherein the first portion is segregated from the second portion, said assembly comprising:
 a first thermoelectric device configured to heat said first portion of the fluid;   a second thermoelectric device configured to cool said second portion of the fluid; and   a heat pipe configured to transfer thermal energy between the first thermoelectric device and the second thermoelectric device via evaporation and condensation of a working fluid contained within the heat pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly further comprises:
 a first fin thermally coupled to the first thermoelectric device and disposed within said first portion of the fluid; and   a second fin thermally coupled to the second thermoelectric device and disposed within said second portion of the fluid.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the assembly further comprises:
 a bulkhead disposed between the first fin and the second fin configured to segregate said first portion and said second portion.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly further comprises:
 a first power supply electrically coupled to the first thermoelectric device; and   a second power supply electrically coupled to the second thermoelectric device, wherein a first voltage supplied by the first power supply is different from a second voltage supplied by the second power supply.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe further contains a wicking material configured to transfer condensed vapor contained in a first segment of the heat pipe proximate to the first thermoelectric device to a second segment of the heat pipe proximate to the second thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         6 . A cross-flow heat exchanger assembly configured to heat a first portion of a fluid flowing through said assembly and cool a second portion of the fluid flowing through said assembly, wherein the first portion is segregated from the second portion, said assembly comprising:
 a first thermoelectric device configured to heat said first portion of the fluid;   a second thermoelectric device configured to cool said second portion of the fluid;   a first tube in thermal communication with the first thermoelectric device and configured to contain a working fluid;   a second tube in thermal communication with the second thermoelectric device and configured to contain the working fluid;   a first shell defining a first cavity oriented to contain the working fluid in a substantially liquid phase;   a second shell defining a second cavity oriented to contain the working fluid in a substantially vapor phase, wherein the first tube and the second tube is sealably coupled to the first shell and the second shell, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are in fluidic communication through the first tube and the second tube, wherein said assembly is configured to transfer thermal energy between the first thermoelectric device and the second thermoelectric device through evaporation and condensation of the working fluid.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the assembly further comprises:
 a first fin thermally coupled to the first thermoelectric device and disposed within said first portion of the fluid; and   a second fin thermally coupled to the second thermoelectric device and disposed within said second portion of the fluid.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the assembly further comprises:
 a bulkhead disposed between the first fin and the second fin configured to segregate said first portion and said second portion.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the assembly further comprises:
 a first power supply electrically coupled to the first thermoelectric device; and   a second power supply electrically coupled to the second thermoelectric device, wherein a first voltage supplied by the first power supply is different from a second voltage supplied by the second power supply.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the second tube further contains a wicking material configured to transfer the working fluid contained in the first cavity to the first tube. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the working fluid circulates within the assembly via thermo-syphon action. 
     
     
         12 . A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system configured to heat a first portion of an air stream flowing through said system and cool a second portion of the air stream flowing through said system, wherein the first portion is segregated from the second portion, said system comprising:
 a heat exchanger assembly configured to change the temperature of said air stream flowing through said system;   a first plenum configured to segregate said air stream into said first portion of the air stream;   a second plenum configured to segregate said air stream into said second portion of the air stream;   a first thermoelectric device configured to heat said first portion of the air stream and cool said second portion of the air stream.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a first fin disposed within the first plenum;   a second fin disposed within the second plenum; and   a second thermoelectric device thermally coupled to the second fin and configured to cool said second portion of the air stream, wherein the first thermoelectric device is coupled to the first fin and is configured to only heat the first portion of the air stream, wherein the first thermoelectric device is thermally coupled to the second thermoelectric device.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a first plurality of fins disposed within the first plenum; and   a second plurality of fins disposed within the second plenum;   a first plurality of thermoelectric devices coupled to the first plurality of fins and configured to heat said first portion of the air stream; and   a second plurality of thermoelectric devices coupled to the second plurality of fins and configured to cool said second portion of the air stream, wherein the first plurality of thermoelectric devices are thermally coupled to the second plurality of thermoelectric devices.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a heat pipe configured to transfer thermal energy between the first thermoelectric device and the second thermoelectric device via evaporation and condensation of a working fluid contained within the heat pipe.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a first tube in thermal communication with the first thermoelectric device and configured to contain a working fluid;   a second tube in thermal communication with the second thermoelectric device and configured to contain the working fluid;   a first shell defining a first cavity configured to contain the working fluid substantially in a liquid phase;   a second shell defining a second cavity configured to contain the working fluid substantially in a vapor phase, wherein the first tube and the second tube are sealably coupled to the first shell and the second shell, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are in fluidic communication through the first tube and the second tube, wherein said system is configured to transfer thermal energy between the first thermoelectric device and the second thermoelectric device through evaporation and condensation of the working fluid.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the working fluid circulates within the system via thermo-syphon action. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises:
 a first power supply electrically coupled to the first thermoelectric device; and   a second power supply electrically coupled to the second thermoelectric device, wherein a first voltage supplied by the first power supply is different from a second voltage supplied by the second power supply.