Heat Exchanger Having a Plurality of Thermoelectric Modules Connected in Series

Abstract

A thermoelectric heat exchanger includes a tube, a fin, and a thermoelectric assembly. The tube is configured to contain coolant flowing therethrough and thermally couple the coolant to a surface of the tube. The fin is configured to transfer heat from the fin to air passing across the fin. The thermoelectric assembly is thermally coupled to the tube and the fin. The assembly is configured to heat the fin relative to the tube in response to a voltage source applied to the assembly. The assembly includes a plurality of thermoelectric modules. Each of the thermoelectric modules is electrically interconnected into a group of series connected modules. The number of modules in each group that are electrically connected in series is determined based on a voltage value of the voltage source and a local temperature difference between the tube and the fin proximate to the group.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a tube configured to contain coolant flowing therethrough and thermally couple the coolant to a surface of the tube;   a fin configured to transfer heat from the fin to air passing across the fin; and   a thermoelectric assembly thermally coupled to the tube and the fin, said assembly configured to heat the fin relative to the tube in response to a voltage source applied to the assembly, wherein said assembly includes   a plurality of thermoelectric modules, wherein each of the thermoelectric modules is electrically interconnected into a group of series connected modules, wherein the number of modules in each group that are electrically connected in series is determined based on a voltage value of the voltage source and a local temperature difference between the tube and the fin proximate to the group.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a first group of series connected modules is formed of a first number of modules and a second group of series connected modules is formed of a second number of modules, wherein the second number is different from the first number. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the tube is configured to be an electrical contact for the thermoelectric assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a first dielectric plate formed of thermally conductive material and interposed between
 the plurality of thermoelectric modules and the fin.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a second dielectric plate formed of thermally conductive material and interposed
 between the plurality of thermoelectric modules and the tube.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the first dielectric plate includes a conductive layer configured to define a power contact to electrically connect each of the plurality of thermoelectric modules to the voltage source. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the first dielectric plate includes a conductive layer configured to define a plurality of intermediate contacts to electrically connect in series the modules in each group.