Temperature control systems with thermoelectric devices

Abstract

Temperature control systems and methods can be designed for controlling the interior climate of a vehicle or other the climate of another desired region. The temperature control system for a vehicle can have a thermoelectric system providing heating and/or cooling, including supplemental heating and/or cooling. The thermoelectric system can transfer thermal energy between a working fluid, such as liquid coolant, and comfort air upon application of electric current of a selected polarity. The thermoelectric system can supplement or replace the heat provided from an internal combustion engine or other primary heat source. The thermoelectric system can also supplement or replace cold energy provided from a compressor-based refrigeration system or other primary cold energy source.

1 - 90 . (canceled) 
     
     
         91 . A comfort air system for conditioning air during startup of an internal combustion engine, the comfort air system comprising:
 an engine cooling circuit configured to remove heat from the internal combustion engine;   a heater core disposed in a comfort air channel configured to supply conditioned air to a cabin, the heater core in thermal communication with the engine cooling circuit;   an evaporator core of a powered refrigeration system disposed in the comfort air channel;   a heating and cooling device in thermal communication with the conditioned air and in thermal communication with a heat source or a heat sink;   a supplemental heat exchanger disposed in the comfort air channel downstream from the heater core with respect to a direction of conditioned air flow, the supplemental heat exchanger in thermal communication with the heating and cooling device; and   a controller configured to operate the comfort air system in a plurality of modes of operation, and wherein the plurality of modes of operation comprises:
 a startup heating mode wherein the heating and cooling device is configured to heat the conditioned air to a temperature greater than a temperature of the heater core; 
 a heating mode wherein the internal combustion engine is configured to heat the conditioned air while power is not supplied to the heating and cooling device and while the internal combustion engine is running; and 
 a startup demisting mode wherein the evaporator core is configured to cool the conditioned air and the heating and cooling device is configured to heat the conditioned air, 
   wherein, in the startup demisting mode, the heating and cooling device provides heat to the conditioned air while the internal combustion engine is not able to heat the conditioned air to a specified comfortable temperature without the heat provided by the heating and cooling device.   
     
     
         92 . The comfort air system of  claim 91 , wherein the heating and cooling device comprises a thermoelectric device comprising a waste surface and a main surface, wherein the waste surface is in thermal communication with the heat source or heat sink, and wherein the main surface is in thermal communication with the supplemental heat exchanger. 
     
     
         93 . The comfort air system of  claim 91 , further comprising a thermal storage device disposed in the comfort air channel, the thermal storage device configured to store thermal energy and at least one of transfer thermal energy to the conditioned air or absorb thermal energy from the conditioned air. 
     
     
         94 . The comfort air system of  claim 93 , wherein the thermal storage device is thermal communication with the evaporator core, and wherein the thermal storage device is configured to store cooling capacity during at least one of a cooling mode or a demisting mode. 
     
     
         95 . The comfort air system of  claim 91 , wherein the heat source is at least one of a battery, an electronic device, a burner, or an exhaust of a vehicle. 
     
     
         96 . The comfort air system of  claim 91 , wherein the heating and cooling device is in fluid communication with a fluid circuit containing a liquid phase working fluid, and wherein the liquid phase working fluid is in fluid communication with the heat source or the heat sink. 
     
     
         97 . The comfort air system of  claim 96 , wherein the fluid circuit includes a first conduit configured to convey coolant in the first conduit and a first bypass conduit configured to convey coolant in the first bypass conduit, the first conduit in fluid communication with the heater core, the first bypass conduit configured to bypass flow of the coolant around the first conduit, and wherein the startup heating mode includes restricting flow of the coolant through the first conduit and directing flow of the coolant through the first bypass conduit. 
     
     
         98 . The comfort air system of  claim 97 , wherein the heating mode includes directing flow of the coolant through the first conduit and restricting flow of the coolant through the first bypass conduit. 
     
     
         99 . The comfort air system of  claim 97 , wherein the fluid circuit includes a second conduit configured to convey coolant in the second conduit and a second bypass conduit configured to convey coolant in the second bypass conduit, the second conduit in thermal communication with the heating and cooling device, the second bypass conduit configured to bypass flow of the coolant around the second conduit, and wherein the startup heating mode includes directing flow of the coolant through the second conduit and restricting flow of the coolant through the second bypass conduit. 
     
     
         100 . The comfort air system of  claim 97 , wherein, in the startup heating mode, the controller is configured to operate at least one fluid control device to restrict flow of the coolant through the first conduit and direct flow of the coolant through the first bypass conduit. 
     
     
         101 . The comfort air system of  claim 97 , wherein the fluid circuit includes a conduit configured to convey coolant in the conduit and a bypass conduit configured to convey coolant in the bypass conduit, the conduit in thermal communication with the heating and cooling device, the bypass conduit configured to bypass flow of the coolant around the conduit, and wherein the heating mode includes restricting flow of the coolant through the conduit and directing flow of the coolant through the bypass conduit. 
     
     
         102 . The comfort air system of  claim 101 , wherein the startup heating mode includes directing flow of the coolant through the conduit and restricting flow of the coolant through the bypass conduit. 
     
     
         103 . The comfort air system of  claim 91 , wherein at least a portion of the heating and cooling device is disposed in the comfort air channel. 
     
     
         104 . The comfort air system of  claim 91 , wherein, in the startup heating mode, the engine cooling circuit is in thermal communication with the heating and cooling device. 
     
     
         105 . A comfort air system for conditioning air during startup of an internal combustion engine, the comfort air system comprising:
 an engine cooling circuit configured to remove heat from the internal combustion engine;   a heater core disposed in a comfort air channel configured to supply conditioned air to a cabin, the heater core in thermal communication with the engine cooling circuit;   an evaporator core of a powered refrigeration system disposed in the comfort air channel;   a heating and cooling device in thermal communication with the conditioned air and in thermal communication with a heat source or a heat sink;   a supplemental heat exchanger disposed in the comfort air channel and in thermal communication with the heating and cooling device; and   a controller configured to operate the comfort air system in a plurality of modes of operation, and wherein the plurality of modes of operation comprises:
 a startup demisting mode wherein the evaporator core is configured to cool the conditioned air and the heating and cooling device is configured to heat the conditioned air, 
   wherein, in the startup demisting mode, the heating and cooling device provides heat to the conditioned air while the internal combustion engine does not generate enough heat to increase the temperature of the conditioned air to greater than or equal to a suitable threshold temperature without the heat provided by the heating and cooling device.   
     
     
         106 . The comfort air system of  claim 105 , wherein the startup demisting mode includes the internal combustion engine configured to heat the conditioned air while the heating and cooling device heats the conditioned air. 
     
     
         107 . The comfort air system of  claim 105 , wherein the plurality of modes of operation further comprises a demisting mode wherein the evaporator core is configured to cool the conditioned air while power is not supplied to the heating and cooling device. 
     
     
         108 . The comfort air system of  claim 105 , wherein the supplemental heat exchanger is downstream of the evaporator core in the comfort air channel with respect to a direction of conditioned air flow. 
     
     
         109 . The comfort air system of  claim 105 , wherein, in the startup demisting mode, the engine cooling circuit is in thermal communication with the heating and cooling device. 
     
     
         110 . A comfort air system for conditioning air during startup of an internal combustion engine, the comfort air system comprising:
 an engine cooling circuit configured to remove heat from the internal combustion engine;   a heater core disposed in a comfort air channel configured to supply conditioned air to a cabin, the heater core in thermal communication with the engine cooling circuit;   a heating and cooling device disposed in the comfort air channel, the heating and cooling device in thermal communication with the conditioned air and in thermal communication with a heat source or a heat sink; and   a controller configured to operate the comfort air system in a plurality of modes of operation, and wherein the plurality of modes of operation comprises:
 a startup demisting mode wherein the heating and cooling device is configured to heat the conditioned air that has been cooled, 
   wherein, in the startup demisting mode, the heating and cooling device provides heat to the conditioned air while the internal combustion engine does not generate enough heat to increase the temperature of the conditioned air to greater than or equal to a suitable threshold temperature without the heat provided by the heating and cooling device.