Temperature control units and associated systems components, assemblies, and methods

Abstract

A temperature control unit includes a first fan on a conditioned air side of the temperature control unit. The temperature control unit also includes a second fan on a plenum air side of the temperature control unit. The temperature control unit further includes a duct wall between the first fan and the second fan and a thermoelectric element positioned on the duct wall between the first fan and the second fan. The thermoelectric element is configured to transfer heat between the conditioned air side of the temperature control unit and the plenum air side of the temperature control unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature control unit comprising:
 a first fan on a conditioned air side of the temperature control unit;   a second fan on a plenum air side of the temperature control unit;   a duct wall between the first fan and the second fan; and   a thermoelectric element positioned on the duct wall between the first fan and the second fan, the thermoelectric element configured to transfer heat between the conditioned air side of the temperature control unit and the plenum air side of the temperature control unit.   
     
     
         2 . The temperature control unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet positioned radially over a center portion of the first fan. 
     
     
         3 . The temperature control unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an outlet positioned radially outward of the first fan. 
     
     
         4 . The temperature control unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger secured to the thermoelectric element and configured to transfer heat between the thermoelectric element and air passing through the conditioned air side of the temperature control unit. 
     
     
         5 . The temperature control unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger secured to the thermoelectric element and configured to transfer heat between the thermoelectric element and air passing through the plenum air side of the temperature control unit. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature control unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet positioned radially outward of the first fan and an outlet positioned radially over a center portion of the first fan. 
     
     
         7 . The temperature control unit of  claim 6 , wherein the thermoelectric element is positioned on the duct wall along the inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The temperature control unit of  claim 7 , further comprising a heat exchanger positioned within the inlet configured to transfer heat between the thermoelectric element and air passing through the inlet. 
     
     
         9 . The temperature control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric element comprises an array of thermoelectric elements. 
     
     
         10 . A temperature control system comprising:
 an air conditioning system configured to supply conditioned air to a conditioned space and draw air from a plenum; and   a supplemental temperature control unit comprising:
 a first fan on a conditioned side of the temperature control unit; 
 a second fan on a plenum side of the temperature control unit; and 
 a thermoelectric element positioned between the first fan and the second fan, the thermoelectric element configured to transfer heat between the conditioned space and the plenum. 
   
     
     
         11 . The temperature control system of  claim 10 , wherein the supplemental temperature control unit further comprises a heat exchanger attached to the thermoelectric element on the conditioned side of the temperature control unit. 
     
     
         12 . The temperature control unit of  claim 11 , wherein the supplemental temperature control unit further comprises a first inlet positioned radially outward of the first fan, wherein the heat exchanger is positioned in the first inlet. 
     
     
         13 . The temperature control unit of  claim 12 , wherein the supplemental temperature control unit further comprises a second inlet positioned radially outward of the first fan on an opposite lateral side of the first fan from the first inlet, wherein a second heat exchanger attached to a second thermoelectric element is positioned in the second inlet. 
     
     
         14 . The temperature control system of  claim 10 , wherein the supplemental temperature control unit further comprises a duct wall separating the conditioned side of the temperature control unit and the plenum side of the temperature control unit. 
     
     
         15 . A method of conditioning air in a space, the method comprising:
 drawing conditioned air from the space at a conditioned inlet;   drawing plenum air from a plenum at a plenum inlet;   passing the conditioned air from the space over a first side of a thermoelectric element;   passing the plenum air from the plenum over a second side of the thermoelectric element opposite the first side of the thermoelectric element;   transferring heat between the conditioned air and the plenum air through the thermoelectric element.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein transferring heat between the conditioned air and the plenum air through the thermoelectric element comprises:
 applying a first voltage to the thermoelectric element at a first polarity causing the thermoelectric element to transfer heat from the plenum air to the conditioned air; and   applying a second voltage to the thermoelectric element at a second polarity opposite the first polarity, causing the thermoelectric element to transfer heat from the conditioned air to the plenum air.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein passing the conditioned air from the space over the first side of the thermoelectric element comprises passing the conditioned air from the space over a heat exchanger operatively coupled to the first side of the thermoelectric element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising separating the plenum air from the conditioned air with a duct wall. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein drawing the conditioned air from the space comprises drawing the conditioned air from the space with a first fan positioned over the inlet. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein drawing the conditioned air from the space comprises drawing the conditioned air from the space with a first fan where the inlet is positioned radially outward of the first fan.