Thermoelectric heat pump

Abstract

The present disclosure is related to an apparatus for transporting heat using a thermoelectric converter. The apparatus may include a thermoelectric converter, such as a thin-film. The apparatus may include a heating loop in thermal communication with a hot side of the thermoelectric converter and a cooling loop in thermal communication with a cold side of the thermoelectric converter. The thermoelectric converter may include a stack of alternating thermoelement and constricted contact layers. The thermoelectric converter may have a counter-flow fluid loop that moves a fluid against the temperature gradient of the thermoelectric converter. The apparatus may be configured to provide heating or cooling of a fluid, such as air or water. The apparatus may include a thermal storage medium configured as a thermal battery.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A thermo electric heat pump apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a thermoelectric converter having a hot side and a cold side, the thermoelectric converter comprising:   a thermoelectric stack of thermoelement layers, wherein each thermoelement layer comprises at least one thermoelement; and   a first fluid loop in thermal communication with the thermoelectric stack and configured to deliver a first fluid to the thermoelectric stack in a positive temperature gradient flow direction of the thermoelectric stack.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric stack further comprises:
 a plurality of constricted contacts layers, wherein each of the constricted contact layers comprises at least one constricted contact and wherein the constricted contact layers alternate with thermoelement layers.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric stack further comprises:
 a plurality of metal sheets, wherein the metal sheets alternate with the thermoelectric layers, and wherein the metal sheets are in thermal communication with the first fluid.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 at least one fin in thermal communication with the first fluid and at least one of the plurality of metal sheets.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one thermoelement comprises at least one of: i) Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 Te 3 , ii) Zn 4 Sb 3 , iii) CeFe 3.5 Co 0.5 Sb 12 , iv) Yb 14 MnSb 11 , v) MnSi 1.73 , vi) NaCo 2 O 4 , vii) B-doped Si, viii) B-doped Si 0.8 Ge 0.2 , ix) Bi 2 Te 2.8 Se 0.2 , x) PbTe, xi) AgPb 18 SbTe 20 , xii) PbTe/SrTe—Na, xiii) Ba 0.08 Yb 0.09 Co 4 Sb 12 , xiv) Mg 2 Si 0.4 Sn 0.6 , xv) TiNiSn, xvi) SrTiO 3 , xvii) P-doped Si, xviii) P-doped Si 0.8 Ge 0.2 , xix) La 3 Te 4 , xx) CoSb 3 , xxi) Yb-doped CoSb 3 , xxii) Mg 2 Si, xxiii) CePd 3 , and xxiv) YbAl 3 . 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the at least one thermoelement comprises at least one of: i) B-doped Si, ii) P-doped Si, iii) CoSb 3 , iv) Yb-doped CoSb 3 , v) Mg 2 Si, vi) CePd 3 , and vii) YbAl 3 . 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermoelement comprises at least one of: an n-type thermoelement and a p-type thermoelement. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermoelement comprises an n-type thermoelement and a p-type thermoelement. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid comprises at least one of: i) water, ii) steam, iii) mineral oil, iv) terphenyl, and v) a liquid metal. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric stack is an n-type thermoelectric stack, and further comprising:
 a p-type thermoelectric stack, wherein the p-type thermoelectric stack is in thermal communication with the first fluid loop and configured to deliver the fluid to the p-type thermoelectric stack in a positive temperature gradient flow direction of the p-type thermoelectric stack.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric stack is an n-type thermoelectric stack and further comprising:
 a p-type thermoelectric stack; and   a second fluid loop in thermal communication with the p-type thermoelectric stack and configured to deliver a second fluid to the p-type thermoelectric stack in a positive temperature gradient flow direction of the p-type thermoelectric stack.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hot side fluid loop in thermal communication with the hot side; and   a cold side fluid loop in thermal communication with the cold side.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 at least one heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first fluid loop and at least one of: the hot side fluid loop and the cold side fluid loop.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein one of the hot side fluid loop and the cold side fluid loop is in thermal communication with ambient air and the other is in thermal communication with a heat/cold receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the heat/cold receiver comprises a third fluid in a fluid tank 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the heat/cold receiver comprises a third fluid in an interior of a compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing configured to store a third fluid;   a first heat transfer device in thermal communication with the third fluid and in thermal communication with one of: i) the hot side and ii) the cold side; and   a second heat transfer device in thermal communication with other of: i) the hot side and ii) the cold side, and wherein the second heat transfer device is in thermal communication with ambient air.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the housing is thermally insulated. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the heat transfer devices comprises a thermal diode. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the heat transfer devices comprises a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a resistance heater in thermal communication with the third fluid.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a forced air source in thermal communication with the second heat transfer device. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the forced air source comprises a fan. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein a path of thermal communication between the second heat transfer device and the ambient air comprises:
 a thermal storage medium, wherein the second heat transfer device is in thermal communication with the thermal storage medium;   a third heat transfer device in thermal communication with the thermal storage medium; and   a second thermoelectric converter with a second hot side and a second cold side, wherein the third heat transfer device is configured to transmit heat between the second hot side and the thermal storage medium.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising at least one fin in thermal communication with the second cold side. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising a forced air source in thermal communication with the second cold side. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the force air source comprises a fan. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the thermal storage medium comprises at least one of: i) water, ii) paraffin, iii) a molten salt and iv) a reversible exothermic hydration material. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the third fluid comprises at least one of: water and air. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a baffle disposed in the housing and configured to partially separate the third fluid into a first portion and a second portion;   a second thermoelectric converter with a second hot side and a second cold side;   a third heat transfer device in thermal communication with the third fluid and in thermal communication with one of: i) the second hot side and ii) the second cold side; and   a fourth heat transfer device in thermal communication with other of: i) the second hot side and ii) the second cold side, wherein the fourth heat transfer device is in thermal communication with ambient air, and wherein the first heat transfer device and the third heat transfer device vertically separated from one another within the column.   
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for transferring heat to a first fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing configured to store the first fluid;   a first heat transfer device configured to be in thermal communication with the first fluid;   a first thermoelectric converter with a first hot side and a first cold side, wherein the first hot side is in thermal communication with the first heat transfer device, and wherein the first heat transfer device is configured to transmit heat from the first hot side to the first fluid; and   a second heat transfer device in thermal communication with the first cold side, and wherein the second heat transfer device is in thermal communication with ambient air and configured to transmit the cold from the first cold side to the ambient air.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the housing is thermally insulated. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the heat transfer devices comprises a thermal diode. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the heat transfer devices comprises a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a resistance heater in thermal communication with the first fluid.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising a forced air source in thermal communication with the second heat transfer device. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the forced air source comprises a fan. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein a path of thermal communication between the second heat transfer device and the ambient air comprises:
 a thermal storage medium, wherein the second heat transfer device is in thermal communication with the thermal storage medium;   a third heat transfer device in thermal communication with the thermal storage medium; and   a second thermoelectric converter with second hot side and a second cold side, wherein the third heat transfer device is configured to transmit heat from the second hot side into the thermal storage medium.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising at least one fin in thermal communication with the second cold side. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising a forced air source in thermal communication with the second cold side. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the force air source comprises a fan. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the thermal storage medium comprises at least one of: i) water, ii) paraffin, iii) a molten salt and iv) a reversible exothermic hydration material. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the first fluid comprises at least one of water and air. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a baffle disposed in the housing and configured to partially separate the third fluid into a first portion and a second portion;   a second thermoelectric converter with a second hot side and a second cold side;   a third heat transfer device in thermal communication with the third fluid and in thermal communication with one of: i) the second hot side and ii) the second cold side; and   a fourth heat transfer device in thermal communication with other of: i) the second hot side and ii) the second cold side, wherein the fourth heat transfer device is in thermal communication with ambient air, and wherein the first heat transfer device and the third heat transfer device vertically separated from one another within the column.   
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the first thermoelectric converter is a thin-film thermoelectric converter. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the first thermoelectric converter comprises:
 a thermoelectric stack of thermoelement layers, wherein each thermoelement layer comprises at least one thermoelement; and   a first fluid loop in thermal communication with the thermoelectric stack and configured to deliver a second fluid to the thermoelectric stack in a positive temperature gradient flow direction of the thermoelectric stack.   
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the thermoelectric stack further comprises:
 a plurality of constricted contacts layers, wherein each of the constricted contact layers comprises at least one constricted contact and wherein the constricted contact layers alternate with thermoelement layers.   
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the thermoelectric stack further comprises:
 a plurality of metal sheets, wherein the metal sheets alternate with the thermoelectric layers, and wherein the metal sheets are in thermal communication with the second fluid.   
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 at least one fin in thermal communication with the second fluid and at least one of the plurality of metal sheets.   
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein each of the at least one thermoelement comprises at least one of: i) Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 Te 3 , ii) Zn 4 Sb 3 , iii) CeFe 3.5 Co 0.5 Sb 12 , iv) Yb 14 MnSb 11 , v) MnSi 1.73 , vi) NaCo 2 O 4 , vii) B-doped Si, viii) B-doped Si 0.8 Ge 0.2 , ix) Bi 2 Te 2.8 Se 0.2 , x) PbTe, xi) AgPb 18 SbTe 20 , xii) PbTe/SrTe—Na, xiii) Ba 0.08 Yb 0.09 Co 4 Sb 12 , xiv) Mg 2 Si 0.4 Sn 0.6 , xv) TiNiSn, xvi) SrTiO 3 , xvii) P-doped Si, xviii) P-doped Si 0.8 Ge 0.2 , xix) La 3 Te 4 , xx) CoSb 3 , xxi) Yb-doped CoSb 3 , xxii) Mg 2 Si, xxiii) CePd 3 , and xxiv) YbAl 3 . 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein at least one of the at least one thermoelement comprises at least one of: i) B-doped Si, ii) P-doped Si, iii) CoSb 3 , iv) Yb-doped CoSb 3 , v) Mg 2 Si, vi) CePd 3 , and vii) YbAl 3 . 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the at least one thermoelement comprises at least one of: an n-type thermoelement and a p-type thermoelement. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the at least one thermoelement comprises an n-type thermoelement and a p-type thermoelement. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the second fluid comprises at least one of: i) water, ii) steam, iii) mineral oil, iv) terphenyl, and v) a liquid metal. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the thermoelectric stack is an n-type thermoelectric stack, and further comprising:
 a p-type thermoelectric stack, wherein the p-type thermoelectric stack is in thermal communication with the first fluid loop and configured to deliver the second fluid to the p-type thermoelectric stack in a positive temperature gradient flow direction of the p-type thermoelectric stack.   
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the thermoelectric stack is an n-type thermoelectric stack and further comprising:
 a p-type thermoelectric stack; and   a second fluid loop in thermal communication with the p-type thermoelectric stack and configured to deliver a third fluid to the p-type thermoelectric stack in a positive temperature gradient flow direction of the p-type thermoelectric stack.   
     
     
         57 . A thermoelectric heat pump apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of thermoelectric converters, each having a hot side and a cold side and comprising:   a stack of thermoelement layers, wherein each thermoelement layer comprises at least one thermoelement; and   a first fluid loop in thermal communication with the plurality of stacks and configured to deliver a first fluid to the stacks in a positive temperature gradient flow direction.   
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the plurality of thermoelectric converters comprises a first thermoelectric converter and a second thermoelectric converter, and the first fluid loop is configured to recirculate a first part of the fluid from the cold side of the first thermoelectric through the first thermoelectric converter and to circulate a second part of the fluid from the cold side of the first thermoelectric to the cold side of the second thermoelectric converter. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 at least one heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first fluid loop and a heat transfer device.   
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the heat transfer device is a second fluid loop. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the heat transfer device comprises a thermal diode. 
     
     
         62 . An apparatus for moving heat relative to a first fluid, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing configured to store the first fluid;   a first heat exchanger loop in thermal communication with the first fluid and configured to move a first heat transfer fluid;   a second heat exchanger loop in thermal communication with ambient air and configured to move a second heat transfer fluid; and   a thermoelectric converter with a hot side and a cold side, wherein the hot side is in thermal communication with one of the first heat exchanger loop and the second heat exchanger loop and the cold side is in thermal communication with the other of the first heat exchanger loop and the second heat exchanger loop.   
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the housing is thermally insulated. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein at least one of the heat exchanger loops is in thermal communication with a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , further comprising:
 a resistance heater in thermal communication with the first fluid.   
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , further comprising a forced air source in thermal communication with at least one of the heat exchanger loops. 
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 66 , wherein the forced air source comprises a fan. 
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , further comprising:
 a thermal storage medium, wherein the first heat exchanger loop is in thermal communication with the thermal storage medium.   
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein the thermal storage medium comprises at least one of: i) water, ii) paraffin, iii) a molten salt and iv) a reversible exothermic hydration material. 
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the first fluid comprises at least one of: water and air. 
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the thermoelectric converter is a thin-film thermoelectric converter. 
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the thermoelectric converter comprises:
 a thermoelectric stack of thermoelement layers, wherein each thermoelement layer comprises at least one thermoelement; and   a first counter-flow fluid loop in thermal communication with the thermoelectric stack and configured to deliver a first counter-flow fluid to the thermoelectric stack in a positive temperature gradient flow direction of the thermoelectric stack.   
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the thermoelectric stack further comprises:
 a plurality of constricted contacts layers, wherein each of the constricted contact layers comprises at least one constricted contact and wherein the constricted contact layers alternate with thermoelement layers.   
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the thermoelectric stack further comprises:
 a plurality of metal sheets, wherein the metal sheets alternate with the thermoelectric layers, and wherein the metal sheets are in thermal communication with the first counter-flow fluid.   
     
     
         75 . The apparatus of  claim 74 , further comprising:
 at least one fin in thermal communication with the first counter-flow fluid and at least one of the plurality of metal sheets.   
     
     
         76 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein each of the at least one thermoelement comprises at least one of: i) Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 Te 3 , ii) Zn 4 Sb 3 , iii) CeFe 3.5 Co 0.5 Sb 12 , iv) Yb 14 MnSb 11 , v) MnSi 1.73 , vi) NaCo 2 O 4 , vii) B-doped Si, viii) B-doped Si 0.8 Ge 0.2 , ix) Bi 2 Te 2.8 Se 0.2 , x) PbTe, xi) AgPb 18 SbTe 20 , xii) PbTe/SrTe—Na, xiii) Ba 0.08 Yb 0.09 Co 4 Sb 12 , xiv) Mg 2 Si 0.4 Sn 0.6 , xv) TiNiSn, xvi) SrTiO 3 , xvii) P-doped Si, xviii) P-doped Si 0.8 Ge 0.2 , xix) La 3 Te 4 , xx) CoSb 3 , xxi) Yb-doped CoSb 3 , xxii) Mg 2 Si, xxiii) CePd 3 , and xxiv) YbAl 3 . 
     
     
         77 . The apparatus of  claim 76 , wherein at least one of the at least one thermoelement comprises at least one of: i) B-doped Si, ii) P-doped Si, iii) CoSb 3 , iv) Yb-doped CoSb 3 , v) Mg 2 Si, vi) CePd 3 , and vii) YbAl 3 . 
     
     
         78 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the at least one thermoelement comprises at least one of: an n-type thermoelement and a p-type thermoelement. 
     
     
         79 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the at least one thermoelement comprises an n-type thermoelement and a p-type thermoelement. 
     
     
         80 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the first counter-flow fluid comprises at least one of: i) water, ii) steam, iii) mineral oil, iv) terphenyl, and v) a liquid metal. 
     
     
         81 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the thermoelectric stack is an n-type thermoelectric stack, and further comprising:
 a p-type thermoelectric stack, wherein the p-type thermoelectric stack is in thermal communication with the first counter-flow fluid loop and configured to deliver the first counter-flow fluid to the p-type thermoelectric stack in a positive temperature gradient flow direction of the p-type thermoelectric stack.   
     
     
         82 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the thermoelectric stack is an n-type thermoelectric stack and further comprising:
 a p-type thermoelectric stack; and   a second counter-flow fluid loop in thermal communication with the p-type thermoelectric stack and configured to deliver a second counter-flow fluid to the p-type thermoelectric stack in a positive temperature gradient flow direction of the p-type thermoelectric stack.