Refrigeration system using a thermoelectric assembly for a chiller

Abstract

A thermoelectric assembly for use with a chiller system includes a reservoir for liquid coolant and a pump to circulate the liquid coolant through the thermoelectric assembly. The thermoelectric assembly includes a thermally conductive block surrounded by a housing and configured to exchange heat with the liquid coolant. Fluid passageways extend between first and second ends of the block with first and second endplates coupled to the respective first and second ends. The first and second endplates enclose respective terminal ends of the fluid passageways to interconnect the fluid passageways at the first and second ends to define a fluid flow loop within the block, with an inlet and an outlet each in fluid communication with the fluid flow loop. A heat sink is thermally coupled to the block and a thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the block and the heat sink.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermoelectric assembly for use with a chiller system having a reservoir containing a quantity of liquid coolant and a pump to circulate the liquid coolant through the thermoelectric assembly to control a temperature of the liquid coolant, comprising:
 a housing;   a thermally conductive block surrounded by the housing and configured to exchange heat with the liquid coolant that flows therethrough, the block comprising:
 a first end and a second end located at opposite longitudinal ends of the block between which a plurality of fluid passageways extend, and a first endplate coupled to the first end and a second endplate coupled to the second end such that the first and second endplates enclose respective terminal ends of the plurality of fluid passageways to interconnect the plurality of fluid passageways at the first and second ends to define a fluid flow loop within the block, and an inlet and an outlet each in fluid communication with the fluid flow loop; 
 a heat sink thermally coupled to at least one side of the block; and 
 at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled between the side of the block and the heat sink so as to be in thermal communication with the block and the heat sink; and 
   a first fan coupled to the housing proximate one of the first end or second end of the block.   
     
     
         2 . The thermoelectric assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a heating element positioned in the block, wherein the block includes a centrally disposed and axially extending bore. 
     
     
         3 . The thermoelectric assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the bore extends between the first end and the second end of the block. 
     
     
         4 . The thermoelectric assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fluid passageways are circumferentially spaced about the bore so as to be positioned between the bore and an outer surface of the block. 
     
     
         5 . The thermoelectric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat sink includes a plurality of fins that extend axially along the block. 
     
     
         6 . The thermoelectric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluid passageways are cylindrical tubes arranged in parallel. 
     
     
         7 . The thermoelectric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fluid passageways is lined with either a protective coating or a protective liner. 
     
     
         8 . The thermoelectric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second endplates includes channels formed in the first and second endplates, with each channel being configured to direct flow of the liquid coolant between two corresponding fluid passageways of the fluid loop. 
     
     
         9 . The thermoelectric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first end and the second end of the block each include channels formed in the first and second ends, with each channel extending between two corresponding fluid passageways at the first and second ends thereof such that the channels define part of the fluid flow loop when the first and second end plates are coupled to the first and second ends of the block. 
     
     
         10 . The thermoelectric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first fan is configured to move air through the housing in a direction from one of the first or second end toward the other of the first or second ends. 
     
     
         11 . The thermoelectric assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a second fan configured to move air through the housing in a direction from the same one of the first or second end toward the other of the first or second ends. 
     
     
         12 . A method of adjusting a temperature of a liquid coolant using a thermoelectric assembly having a thermally conductive block configured to exchange heat with the liquid coolant that flows therethrough, the block comprising a plurality of fluid passageways extending axially between a first end and a second end of the block, a first endplate coupled to the first end and a second endplate coupled to the second end such that the first and second endplates enclose respective terminal ends of the plurality of fluid passageways to interconnect the plurality of fluid passageways so as to define a fluid flow loop within the block, an inlet and an outlet each in fluid communication with the fluid flow loop, a heat sink thermally coupled to at least one side of the block and at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled between the side of the block and the heat sink so as to be in thermal communication with the block and the heat, the method comprising:
 receiving the liquid coolant having a first temperature into the fluid flow loop through the inlet opening in the block; 
 circulating the liquid coolant through the fluid flow loop; 
 transferring energy between the liquid coolant and the block to adjust the temperature of the liquid coolant to an adjusted second temperature by operating the at least one thermoelectric device as follows:
 applying a current to the at least one thermoelectric device to transfer heat energy between the block and the heat sink to lower the temperature of the liquid coolant; and 
 
 discharging the liquid coolant from the block at the adjusted second temperature. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of transferring energy between the liquid coolant and the block to adjust the temperature of the liquid coolant further comprises:
 reversing the current to the at least one thermoelectric device to transfer heat energy between the heat sink and the block to raise the temperature of the liquid coolant.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the block further includes at least one heating element positioned in a centrally disposed and axially extending bore in the block, the method further comprising:
 applying a current to the at least one heating element to transfer heat energy between the at least one heating element and the block to raise the temperature of the liquid coolant.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining whether current is being applied to the at least one heating element; and   if current is being applied to the at least one heating element, reversing the current to the at least one thermoelectric device.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein if current is being applied to the at least one heating element, delaying the step of reversing the current to the at least one thermoelectric device for a period of time. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the thermoelectric assembly further includes a housing surrounding the block with a first fan coupled to the housing proximate one of the first end or second end of the block, the method further comprising:
 operating the first fan to flow air through the housing in a direction from one of the first or second end toward the other of the first or second ends.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the thermoelectric assembly further includes a second fan coupled to the housing proximate to the other one of the first or second end of the block, the method further comprising:
 operating the second fan to flow air through the housing in a direction from one of the first or second end toward the other of the first or second ends.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of circulating the liquid coolant through the fluid flow loop comprises moving the liquid coolant between the first end and the second end of the block. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fluid passageways are cylindrical tubes arranged in parallel. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the block includes at least one thermoelectric device and heat sink thermally coupled to at least one side of the block. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second endplates includes channels formed in the first and second endplates, with each channel being configured to direct flow of the liquid coolant between two corresponding fluid passageways of the fluid loop. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the first end and the second end of the block each include channels formed in the first and second ends, with each channel extending between two corresponding fluid passageways at the first and second ends thereof such that the channels define part of the fluid flow loop when the first and second end plates are coupled to the first and second ends of the block. 
     
     
         24 . A thermoelectric assembly for use with a chiller system having a reservoir containing a quantity of liquid coolant and a pump to circulate the liquid coolant through the thermoelectric assembly to control a temperature of the liquid coolant, comprising:
 a housing;   a thermally conductive block surrounded by the housing and configured to exchange heat with the liquid coolant that flows therethrough, the block comprising:
 a first end and a second end located at opposite longitudinal ends of the block between which a plurality of fluid passageways extend, and a first endplate coupled to the first end and a second endplate coupled to the second end such that the first and second endplates enclose respective terminal ends of the plurality of fluid passageways to interconnect the plurality of fluid passageways at the first and second ends to define a fluid flow loop within the block, and an inlet and an outlet each in fluid communication with the fluid flow loop, wherein each of the first and second endplates includes channels formed in the first and second endplates, with each channel being configured to direct flow of the liquid coolant between two corresponding fluid passageways of the fluid loop; 
 a heat sink thermally coupled to at least one side of the block; and 
 at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled between the side of the block and the heat sink so as to be in thermal communication with the block and the heat sink; and 
   a first fan coupled to the housing proximate one of the first end or second end of the block.