Integration of distributed thermoelectric heating and cooling

Abstract

A thermoelectric device including a panel, formed of a thermally insulating material, and having a plurality of thermoelectric elements including compacted conductors inside the insulating material and expanded conductors outside the insulating material wherein the thermoelectric elements run substantially parallel to or at an acute angle relative to the long dimension of the panel. The thermoelectric device may be integrated into a variety of surfaces or enclosures needing heating or cooling with controls and configurations to optimize the application.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A thermoelectric system, comprising:
 an insulating panel;   a plurality of thermoelectric junctions disposed within said insulating panel, wherein a thermoelectric junction of said plurality of said thermoelectric junctions is disposed within said insulating panel at an acute angle with respect to a surface of said insulating panel, and wherein said thermoelectric junction of said plurality of thermoelectric junctions comprises a first thermoelectric element and a second thermoelectric element; and   a plurality of conductors comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, wherein said first conductor electrically couples said first thermoelectric element to said second thermoelectric element of said thermoelectric junction, wherein said second conductor of said plurality of conductors electrically couples said thermoelectric junction with at least one other thermoelectric junction, and wherein said second conductor projects from a surface of said insulating panel towards said thermoelectric junction at an acute angle to said surface.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of said first conductor or said second conductor is disposed external to said insulating panel. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said first conductor comprises a loop extending from a surface of said insulating panel. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of said second conductor is disposed parallel to said surface of said insulating panel. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said at least said portion of said second conductor is external to said insulating panel. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said first conductor extends from a first side of said insulating panel and said second conductor extends from a second side of said insulating panel such that said first side provides heating and said second side provides cooling or said first side provides cooling and said second side provides heating. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said first thermoelectric element is a p-type thermoelectric element and said second thermoelectric element is an n-type thermoelectric element. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said thermoelectric junction comprises a strain-relieving material, and wherein said first thermoelectric element or said second thermoelectric element is mounted to or encapsulated by said strain-relieving material. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said strain-relieving material comprises a composite material, a polymeric material, glass, or combination thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one switch connected to a controller and configured to provide flow of electrical energy to or prevent flow of electrical energy to said plurality of thermoelectric junctions. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein said at least one switch is selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, a pressure sensor, and a motion detector. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said plurality of thermoelectric junctions are configured to rotate in said insulating panel to a substantially parallel position relative to said surface of said insulating panel when a compressive force is applied to said insulating panel. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a fluid flow cavity adjacent to said surface of said insulating panel, wherein said fluid flow cavity is configured to remove heat from said surface of said insulating panel. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein a portion of said plurality of conductors extends into said fluid flow cavity. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said fluid flow cavity comprises a mesh configured to permit fluid to flow adjacent to said surface of said insulating panel. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising a thermally conductive cover disposed adjacent to said surface of said insulating panel. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said thermoelectric junctions are encapsulated by said insulating panel.