Thermoelectric cooling devices, systems and methods

Abstract

The present disclosure provides thermoelectric cooling devices, systems and methods. A thermoelectric system of the present disclosure may comprise a chamber configured to hold the beverage container; at least one actuator configured to rotate the beverage container within the chamber; a source of a thermal coupling medium in fluid communication with the chamber, wherein the thermal coupling medium is configured to thermally couple the beverage container to one or more walls of the chamber; a heat sink; and a plurality of thermoelectric cooling elements surrounding the chamber, wherein the plurality of thermoelectric cooling elements is configured to transfer heat from the beverage container to the heat sink upon application of power to the plurality of thermoelectric cooling elements, thereby cooling the beverage container.

1 . A system for cooling a beverage container, comprising:
 a chamber configured to hold said beverage container;   at least one actuator configured to rotate said beverage container within said chamber;   a source of a thermal coupling medium in fluid communication with said chamber, wherein said thermal coupling medium is configured to thermally couple said beverage container to one or more walls of said chamber;   a heat sink; and   a plurality of thermoelectric cooling elements surrounding said chamber, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric cooling elements is configured to transfer heat from said beverage container to said heat sink upon application of power to said plurality of thermoelectric cooling elements, thereby cooling said beverage container.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said chamber is substantially cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said chamber is sized to hold at most a single beverage container. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said chamber comprises a drain for draining said thermal coupling medium from said chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat sink comprises a thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat sink is an air-cooled heat sink comprising one or more fans. (Original) The system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat sink is a liquid-cooled heat sink. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of thermoelectric elements comprises an n-type semiconductor element. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of thermoelectric elements comprises a p-type semiconductor element. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of thermoelectric elements comprises an n-type semiconductor element in series with a p-type semiconductor element. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a direct current (DC) source. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said DC source is a battery. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said DC source is an adapter or power supply. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said thermoelectric cooling device is configured to use at most 20 kilowatt-minutes of electric power to cool a 12-ounce beverage in said beverage container from about 20 degrees Celsius to about 4 degrees Celsius in approximately 1 minute or less. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said thermoelectric cooling device is configured to use at most 25 kilowatt-minutes of electric power to cool a 20-ounce beverage in said beverage container from about 20 degrees Celsius to about 4 degrees Celsius in approximately 1 minute or less. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said rotating facilitates cooling of said beverage container at a uniformity that deviates by at most 10 degrees Celsius between any two points on a surface of said container. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic display configured to display a current beverage container temperature and a remaining cooling time of said beverage container. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said electronic display is a user interface, and wherein said user interface is configured to enable a user to select a beverage temperature and a cooling cycle time. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said electronic display is a capacitive touchscreen. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said chamber comprises a removable cap, and wherein said removable cap is transparent. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said thermoelectric cooling elements are arranged in a radial direction with respect to said chamber. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drink vending machine comprising a dispensing slot, wherein said chamber is disposed in said dispensing slot, and wherein said dispensing slot is configured to dispense said beverage container subsequent to cooling. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said drink vending machine does not have a refrigeration unit. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said source of said thermal coupling medium comprises a reservoir, wherein said system comprises a pump, and wherein said pump is configured to pump said thermal coupling medium from said reservoir to said chamber upon activation of said system. 
     
     
         25 . A method for cooling a beverage container, comprising:
 (a) activating a cooling system comprising (i) a chamber configured to hold said beverage container; (ii) at least one actuator configured to rotate said beverage container within said chamber; (iii) a source of a thermal coupling medium in fluid communication with said chamber, wherein said thermal coupling medium is configured to thermally couple said beverage container to one or more walls of said chamber; (iv) a heat sink; and (v) a plurality of thermoelectric cooling elements surrounding said chamber, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric cooling elements is configured to transfer heat from said beverage container to said heat sink upon application of power to said plurality of thermoelectric cooling elements, wherein upon activation, said chamber comprises said thermal coupling medium from said source; and   (b) with said beverage container in said chamber, cooling said beverage container.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein (a) comprises cooling said thermal coupling medium to a temperature of at least 10 degrees Celsius below ambient temperature. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising receiving said beverage container in said chamber subsequent to (a). 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising activating said motor. 
     
     
         29 . A thermoelectric cooling device, comprising:
 a chamber configured to hold a liquid, wherein said chamber comprises a plurality of sides, wherein a first side and a second side of said plurality of sides each have an area that is at least double the area of any other side of said plurality of sides;   heat sinks disposed adjacent to said first side and said second side; and   thermoelectric cooling elements disposed between each of said heat sinks and said chamber, wherein said thermoelectric cooling elements are configured to transfer heat from said liquid to said heat sinks upon application of power to said thermoelectric cooling elements.   
     
     
         30 . The thermoelectric cooling device of  claim 29 , wherein said chamber comprises a plurality of bores, wherein each of the plurality of bores is physically separate.