CN116242083A

CN116242083A - Refrigerating apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN116242083A
Application number: CN202310239542.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 韩延龙; 王栋; 翁健伟
Original assignee: Hefei Hualing Co Ltd; Midea Group Co Ltd; Hefei Midea Refrigerator Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hefei Hualing Co Ltd; Midea Group Co Ltd; Hefei Midea Refrigerator Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-03-08
Filing date: 2023-03-08
Publication date: 2023-06-09

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of household appliance refrigeration, and provides refrigeration equipment which comprises a refrigeration system, a thermoelectric generation device and a phase change energy storage module. The refrigerating system comprises a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser and a circulating pipeline, and the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator are connected through the circulating pipeline in sequence; the thermoelectric generation device comprises a hot end heat exchanger, a cold end heat exchanger and thermoelectric generation sheets, wherein the thermoelectric generation sheets are clamped between the hot end heat exchanger and the cold end heat exchanger, the hot end heat exchanger is connected between the compressor and the condenser, and the cold end heat exchanger is arranged between the compressor and the evaporator; the phase change energy storage module is connected to the hot side heat exchanger and/or the cold side heat exchanger and used for storing heat or cold of the hot side heat exchanger and/or the cold side heat exchanger. The temperature difference formed by residual heat of the evaporator and the residual heat of the compressor in the refrigerating system is utilized to be converted into usable electric energy, and the temperature difference fluctuation of the cold side and the hot side of the thermoelectric generation sheet when the compressor is stopped is reduced, so that stable and continuous generated energy is provided.

Description

Refrigerating apparatus

Technical Field

The invention belongs to the technical field of household appliance refrigeration, and particularly relates to refrigeration equipment.

Background

The temperature difference power generation technology is a novel clean power generation technology and is characterized in that the temperature difference can be directly converted into electric energy so as to realize the effective utilization of waste heat resources. The device has the characteristics of no region limitation, simple structure, firmness and durability, no moving parts, no noise, no pollution, long service life and the like, and is widely applied to special application fields such as military batteries, remote space detectors, remote communication and navigation, microelectronics and the like.

The refrigeration unit includes a refrigeration system for "transporting" the "heat" within the refrigeration unit to the outside of the refrigeration unit, thereby generating a degree of "waste heat". The thermoelectric generation technology can utilize the waste heat to convert the waste heat into electric energy. Because the thermoelectric power generation utilizes the waste heat in the refrigerating system to generate power, and the waste heat in the refrigerating system is derived from the compressor, most of the compressors in the refrigerating system work intermittently, so that the thermoelectric power generation is influenced by the start-stop of the compressors, and the generated energy of the thermoelectric power generation is unstable.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to solving at least one of the technical problems existing in the related art. Therefore, the invention provides the refrigeration equipment, which converts the temperature difference formed by the residual heat of the evaporator and the residual heat of the compressor in the refrigeration system into usable electric energy, reduces the temperature difference fluctuation of the cold side and the hot side of the thermoelectric generation piece when the compressor is stopped, and provides stable and continuous generated energy.

An embodiment of a refrigeration apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes:

the refrigeration system comprises a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser and a circulation pipeline, wherein the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator are connected through the circulation pipeline in sequence;

the thermoelectric generation device comprises a hot end heat exchanger, a cold end heat exchanger and a thermoelectric generation sheet, wherein the thermoelectric generation sheet is clamped between the hot end heat exchanger and the cold end heat exchanger, the hot end heat exchanger is connected between the compressor and the condenser, and the cold end heat exchanger is arranged between the compressor and the evaporator; and

the phase change energy storage module is connected to the hot end heat exchanger and/or the cold end heat exchanger so as to store heat or cold of the hot end heat exchanger and/or the cold end heat exchanger.

According to the refrigeration equipment provided by the embodiment of the invention, the hot-end heat exchanger of the thermoelectric power generation device is coupled between the compressor and the condenser, and the cold-end heat exchanger is coupled between the compressor and the evaporator, so that the temperature difference formed by the residual heat of the evaporator and the waste heat of the compressor in the refrigeration system is converted into usable electric energy, and meanwhile, the phase change energy storage module is coupled on the hot-end heat exchanger and/or the cold-end heat exchanger, so that enough heat and cold energy are stored for the hot-end heat exchanger and/or the cold-end heat exchanger when the compressor works, so that enough energy can still be provided for two sides of the thermoelectric power generation sheet when the compressor is stopped, the temperature rise of the cold-end heat exchanger and the temperature drop of the hot-end heat exchanger are prevented when the compressor is started and stopped, the temperature difference fluctuation of the thermoelectric power generation sheet side when the compressor is stopped is reduced, and stable and continuous generated energy is further provided.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the phase change energy storage module comprises a low-temperature energy storage module and a high-temperature energy storage module, wherein the low-temperature energy storage module is coupled with the cold-end heat exchanger, and the high-temperature energy storage module is coupled with the hot-end heat exchanger.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the high-temperature energy storage module is coupled to one side of the hot-end heat exchanger, which is away from the thermoelectric generation sheets, and the high-temperature energy storage module and the hot-end heat exchanger are stacked along the thickness direction of the thermoelectric generation sheets.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the low-temperature energy storage module is coupled to one side of the cold-end heat exchanger, which is away from the thermoelectric generation sheet, and the low-temperature energy storage module and the cold-end heat exchanger are stacked along the thickness direction of the thermoelectric generation sheet.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the refrigeration device further comprises a capillary tube connected between the condenser and the evaporator.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a flow line connected between the cold side heat exchanger and the compressor is coupled to the capillary tube.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the refrigeration device further comprises an output circuit and a load, wherein the load is electrically connected with the thermoelectric generation sheet through the output circuit.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the refrigeration device further includes a voltage regulator connected in the output circuit and located between the thermoelectric generation sheet and the load.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the load includes any one or two or more of a temperature sensor, an internet of things sensor, and an electric storage device.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the thermoelectric generation sheet is provided with a cold end and a hot end, the hot end heat exchanger comprises a hot end substrate, the cold end heat exchanger comprises a cold end substrate, the hot end substrate is tightly attached to the hot end of the thermoelectric generation sheet, and the cold end substrate is tightly attached to the cold end of the thermoelectric generation sheet.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the thermoelectric generation device comprises at least one thermoelectric generation sheet.

The above technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention have at least one of the following technical effects:

according to the method, the hot end heat exchanger of the thermoelectric power generation device is coupled between the compressor and the condenser, the cold end heat exchanger is coupled between the compressor and the evaporator, so that the temperature difference formed by residual heat of the evaporator and waste heat of the compressor in the refrigerating system is converted into usable electric energy, meanwhile, the phase change energy storage module is coupled to the hot end heat exchanger and/or the cold end heat exchanger, so that enough heat and cold energy are stored for the hot end heat exchanger and/or the cold end heat exchanger when the compressor works, enough energy can still be provided for two sides of the thermoelectric power generation sheet when the compressor is stopped, the temperature of the cold end heat exchanger is increased and the temperature of the hot end heat exchanger is reduced when the compressor is started and stopped, the temperature difference fluctuation of the cold and hot sides of the thermoelectric power generation sheet when the compressor is stopped is reduced, and stable and continuous generated energy is further provided.

Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the related art, the drawings that are required to be used in the embodiments or the related technical descriptions will be briefly described, and it is apparent that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and other drawings may be obtained according to the drawings without inventive effort for those skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 is a schematic connection diagram of a refrigeration system of a refrigeration apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a thermoelectric generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the thermoelectric generation device of FIG. 2 from another perspective;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view at A-A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the thermoelectric generation device of FIG. 2 from another perspective;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view at B-B in FIG. 5;

fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view at C-C in fig. 5.

Reference numerals:

100. a refrigeration device;

110. a refrigeration system; 111. a compressor; 112. an evaporator; 113. a condenser; 114. a flow line; 115. a capillary tube;

120. a thermoelectric power generation device; 121. a hot side heat exchanger; 1211. a hot-end substrate; 1211a, a heat exchange circuit; 1211b, hot side inlet; 1211c, hot side outlet; 1212. a hot end housing; 1213. a hot end fin; 1214. the hot end is filled with a cavity; 1215. a second lug; 122. a cold end heat exchanger; 1221. a cold end substrate; 1221a, a refrigeration circuit; 1221b, a refrigeration inlet; 1221c, a refrigeration outlet; 1222. a cold end housing; 1223. a cold end fin; 1224. the cold end is filled with a cavity; 1225. a first lug; 123. thermoelectric generation piece; 123a, hot end; 123b, cold end; 124. a thermal insulation layer; 1241. a mounting position;

130. a phase change energy storage module; 131. a low temperature energy storage module; 132. a high temperature energy storage module;

140. an output circuit;

150. a load;

160. a voltage stabilizer.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention are described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are illustrative of the invention but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings, are merely for convenience in describing the embodiments of the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the apparatus or elements referred to must have a specific orientation, be configured and operated in a specific orientation, and thus should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

In describing embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless explicitly stated and limited otherwise, the terms "coupled," "coupled," and "connected" should be construed broadly, and may be either a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral connection, for example; can be mechanically or electrically connected; can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. The specific meaning of the above terms in embodiments of the present invention will be understood in detail by those of ordinary skill in the art.

In embodiments of the invention, unless expressly specified and limited otherwise, a first feature "up" or "down" on a second feature may be that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact via an intervening medium. Moreover, a first feature being "above," "over" and "on" a second feature may be a first feature being directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicating that the first feature is level higher than the second feature. The first feature being "under", "below" and "beneath" the second feature may be the first feature being directly under or obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicating that the first feature is less level than the second feature.

In the description of the present specification, a description referring to terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples," etc., means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the embodiments of the present invention. In this specification, schematic representations of the above terms are not necessarily directed to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples may be combined and combined by those skilled in the art without contradiction.

The invention provides refrigeration equipment.

In an embodiment of the present invention, referring to fig. 1, a refrigeration apparatus 100 includes a refrigeration system 110, a thermoelectric generation device 120, and a phase change energy storage module 130. The refrigeration system 110 includes a compressor 111, an evaporator 112, a condenser 113, and a circulation line 114, the compressor 111, the condenser 113, and the evaporator 112 being connected in sequence by the circulation line 114; the thermoelectric generation device 120 comprises a hot-end heat exchanger 121, a cold-end heat exchanger 122 and a thermoelectric generation sheet 123, wherein the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 is clamped between the hot-end heat exchanger 121 and the cold-end heat exchanger 122, the hot-end heat exchanger 121 is connected between the compressor 111 and the condenser 113, and the cold-end heat exchanger 122 is arranged between the compressor 111 and the evaporator 112; the phase change energy storage module 130 is connected to the hot side heat exchanger 121 and/or the cold side heat exchanger 122 for storing heat or cold of the hot side heat exchanger 121 and/or the cold side heat exchanger 122.

Specifically, in an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigeration apparatus 100 includes a refrigeration system 110, and the refrigeration system 110 generally includes a compressor 111, a condenser 113, a capillary tube 115 (or expansion valve), and an evaporator 112. The compressor 111 compresses a refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure, and supplies the compressed refrigerant to the condenser 113. Then, the condenser 113 converts the compressed refrigerant into a liquid state of high temperature and high pressure by releasing heat of the refrigerant. The high temperature and high pressure liquid refrigerant is then converted to a low temperature and low pressure gas-liquid mixture as it passes through capillary tube 115. The low-temperature low-pressure gas-liquid mixture refrigerant is then introduced into the evaporator 112 to be evaporated, thereby lowering the temperature of the refrigerator compartment. Therefore, the refrigerant corresponds to a carrying worker in the refrigerator, carries the heat in the refrigerator to the outside of the refrigerator, and generates certain waste heat.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the refrigeration device 100 further includes a thermoelectric power generation device 120, the thermoelectric power generation device 120 includes a hot side heat exchanger 121, the hot side heat exchanger 121 is used for providing heat for the thermoelectric power generation device 120, the hot side heat exchanger 121 may be connected to an outlet of the compressor 111 of the refrigeration device 100, so that the waste heat of the refrigerant may exchange heat or store heat with the thermoelectric power generation device 120 through the hot side heat exchanger 121, the hot side heat exchanger 121 is disposed in a substantially flat plate, and a heat exchange circuit is disposed in the hot side heat exchanger 121, in this application, the heat exchange circuit is coupled between the outlet of the compressor 111 and the inlet of the condenser 113, and is used for exchanging heat and storing the waste heat of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 111, and then introducing the waste heat into the condenser 113, so as to improve the energy utilization rate.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the thermoelectric generation device 120 further includes a cold-end heat exchanger 122, where the cold-end heat exchanger 122 is used to provide cold energy for the thermoelectric generation device 120, and the cold-end heat exchanger 122 may be connected to an outlet of the evaporator 112 of the refrigeration device 100, so that the cold energy of the refrigerant may provide cold energy and cold energy storage for the thermoelectric generation device 120 through the cold-end heat exchanger 122, so that a temperature difference occurs between the cold end 123b and the hot end 123a of the thermoelectric generation device 120, and thus the cold energy is converted into electric energy. The cold-end heat exchanger 122 is arranged in a flat plate mode, the cold-end heat exchanger 122 is opposite to the hot-end heat exchanger 121 and is arranged at intervals, a refrigeration loop is arranged in the cold-end heat exchanger 122, and the refrigeration loop is coupled between the outlet of the evaporator 112 and the inlet of the compressor 111 in the application and is used for carrying out heat exchange and storage on the cold quantity of the refrigerant evaporated by the evaporator 112 and then introducing the refrigerant into the compressor 111 for reciprocating circulation, so that the cold quantity loss of the refrigeration equipment 100 can be reduced, and the effect of the cold quantity is maximized.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the thermoelectric generation device 120 further includes a thermoelectric generation sheet 123, where the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 includes a cold end 123b and a hot end 123a, the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 is sandwiched between gaps formed by the hot end heat exchanger 121 and the cold end heat exchanger 122, or the hot end heat exchanger 121 and the cold end heat exchanger 122 are oppositely disposed at two sides of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, the hot end heat exchanger 121 is oppositely disposed with the hot end 123a, and the cold end 123b is oppositely disposed with the cold end heat exchanger 122. In this way, the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 of the present application uses the cold energy of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator 112 in the vapor compression refrigeration system 110 in the refrigeration device 100 as the cold end 123b, and uses the heat of the refrigerant at the outlet of the compressor 111 as the hot end 123a to generate power, and the pipeline of the refrigeration system 110 is arranged in the hot end heat exchanger 121 and the cold end heat exchanger 122 through the refrigeration loop and the heat exchange loop, so as to form an integrated design, thereby reducing the contact thermal resistance between the pipeline of the refrigeration system 110 and the thermoelectric generation device 120, maximizing the heat and/or cold energy transfer, and improving the heat transfer efficiency.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the refrigeration device 100 further includes a phase-change energy storage module, and it is understood that the phase-change energy storage module 130 may be a single coupling connection to the hot side heat exchanger 121 or the cold side heat exchanger 122 of the thermoelectric power generation device 120 to store heat or cold, or the phase-change energy storage module 130 may be disposed on both the hot side heat exchanger 121 and the cold side heat exchanger 122 of the thermoelectric power generation device 120 to store heat of the hot side heat exchanger 121 and cold side heat exchanger 122. Therefore, when the compressor 111 works, enough heat and cold energy are stored for the hot-end heat exchanger 121 and/or the cold-end heat exchanger 122, so that when the compressor 111 is stopped, enough energy can still be provided for the two sides of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, so that the temperature rise of the cold-end heat exchanger 122 and/or the temperature drop of the hot-end heat exchanger 121 when the compressor 111 is started and stopped can be prevented, the temperature difference fluctuation of the cold-and-hot sides of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 when the compressor 111 is stopped can be reduced, and stable and continuous generated energy can be further provided.

The refrigeration device 100 of the present invention includes a refrigeration system 110, a thermoelectric generation device 120, and a phase change energy storage module 130. The refrigeration system 110 includes a compressor 111, an evaporator 112, a condenser 113, and a circulation line 114, the compressor 111, the condenser 113, and the evaporator 112 being connected in sequence by the circulation line 114; the thermoelectric generation device 120 comprises a hot-end heat exchanger 121, a cold-end heat exchanger 122 and a thermoelectric generation sheet 123, wherein the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 is clamped between the hot-end heat exchanger 121 and the cold-end heat exchanger 122, the hot-end heat exchanger 121 is connected between the compressor 111 and the condenser 113, and the cold-end heat exchanger 122 is arranged between the compressor 111 and the evaporator 112; the phase change energy storage module 130 is connected to the hot side heat exchanger 121 and/or the cold side heat exchanger 122 for storing heat or cold of the hot side heat exchanger 121 and/or the cold side heat exchanger 122. According to the thermoelectric power generation device, the hot end heat exchanger 121 of the thermoelectric power generation device 120 is coupled between the compressor 111 and the condenser 113, the cold end heat exchanger 122 is coupled between the compressor 111 and the evaporator 112, so that the temperature difference formed by residual heat of the evaporator 112 and waste heat of the compressor 111 in the refrigerating system 110 is utilized to be converted into usable electric energy, meanwhile, the phase change energy storage module 130 is coupled to the hot end heat exchanger 121 and/or the cold end heat exchanger 122, so that enough heat and cold energy are stored for the hot end heat exchanger 121 and/or the cold end heat exchanger 122 when the compressor 111 works, enough energy can be provided for two sides of the thermoelectric power generation piece 123 when the compressor 111 is stopped, the temperature of the cold end heat exchanger 122 is prevented from rising, the temperature of the hot end heat exchanger 121 is reduced, the temperature difference fluctuation of the thermoelectric power generation piece 123 when the compressor 111 is stopped is reduced, and stable and continuous power generation capacity is further provided.

Referring to fig. 1, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the phase change energy storage module 130 includes a low temperature energy storage module 131 and a high temperature energy storage module 132, the low temperature energy storage module 131 is coupled with the cold side heat exchanger 122, and the high temperature energy storage module 132 is coupled with the hot side heat exchanger 121. In this embodiment, the phase change energy storage module 130 is disposed on the hot side heat exchanger 121 or the cold side heat exchanger 122 of the thermoelectric power device 120, and other embodiments may refer to this embodiment, where the phase change energy storage module 130 includes a low temperature energy storage module 131 and a high temperature energy storage module 132, and the low temperature energy storage module 131 and the high temperature energy storage module 132 are respectively coupled to the cold side heat exchanger 122 and the hot side heat exchanger 121, so that when the compressor 111 works, the heat provided by the compressor 111 for the hot side heat exchanger 121 and the cold provided by the evaporator 112 for the cold side 123b store part of the heat and the cold, and prevent the heat and the cold from diffusing and losing to the external environment, thereby improving the utilization rate of energy.

Further, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the high-temperature energy storage module 132 is coupled to a side of the hot side heat exchanger 121 facing away from the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, and the high-temperature energy storage module 132 and the hot side heat exchanger 121 are stacked along a thickness direction of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123. The low-temperature energy storage module 131 is coupled to one side of the cold-end heat exchanger 122, which is away from the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, and the low-temperature energy storage module 131 and the cold-end heat exchanger 122 are stacked along the thickness direction of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123. It can be appreciated that, because the cold side heat exchanger 122 and the hot side heat exchanger 121 transfer energy through thermal diffusion, the heat and cold energy are consumed by the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, and meanwhile, some energy is diffused to the periphery of the cold side heat exchanger 122 and the hot side heat exchanger 121, the high temperature energy storage module 132 is coupled to one side of the hot side heat exchanger 121 away from the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, and the low temperature energy storage module 131 is coupled to one side of the cold side heat exchanger 122 away from the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, so as to prevent the heat and cold energy from diffusing to the outside, and store the heat and the cold energy at the same time, and then when the compressor 111 does not work, the heat or the cold energy is provided to the hot side heat exchanger 121 or the cold side heat exchanger 122 to support the temperature difference at two ends of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, so as to ensure the generated energy of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123.

Referring to fig. 1, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the refrigeration apparatus 100 further includes a capillary tube 115, the capillary tube 115 being connected between the condenser 113 and the evaporator 112. It is understood that capillary tube 115 is a throttling and depressurization component of refrigeration appliance 100. The high pressure refrigerant liquid is throttled down from condensing pressure to evaporating pressure. On the one hand, the flow rate of the refrigerant is limited, and enough high pressure is ensured in the condenser 113 to promote the condensation and liquefaction of high-pressure refrigerant steam in the condenser 113; on the other hand, the refrigerant is throttled in capillary tube 115 to reduce pressure, so that the refrigerant enters evaporator 112 to have proper evaporation pressure, and the refrigerant is boiled and vaporized in evaporator 112. Also, the capillary tube 115 may act as a pressure equalization after the refrigeration unit 100 is shut down. The pressure of high and low pressure tends to be balanced, so that the next starting is convenient.

Further, according to some embodiments of the present invention, a flow line 114 connected between cold side heat exchanger 122 and compressor 111 is coupled to capillary tube 115. The heat generated by changing the refrigerant into low-temperature low-pressure wet steam through the throttling action of the capillary tube 115 is applied to the circulation pipeline 114 connected between the cold-end heat exchanger 122 and the compressor 111 to perform energy replacement, so that the utilization rate of energy is improved.

Referring to fig. 1, the refrigeration apparatus 100 further includes an output circuit 140 and a load 150, the load 150 being electrically connected to the thermoelectric generation chip 123 through the output circuit 140, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The refrigeration device 100 further includes a voltage regulator 160, where the voltage regulator 160 is connected to the output circuit 140 and is located between the thermoelectric generation chip 123 and the load 150. It can be appreciated that, in order to enable the thermoelectric generation chip 123 to generate electricity for the actual load 150, the thermoelectric generation chip 123 needs to be connected to the corresponding voltage stabilizer 160 and the output circuit 140, the processed electric signal can be used for the load 150 with small power consumption, and the voltage stabilizer 160 is configured to reduce the influence of the fluctuation of the generated electricity on the load 150, so as to improve the service life of the load 150.

Specifically, the load 150 includes any one or two or more of a temperature sensor, an internet of things sensor, and an electrical storage device. The setting may be performed according to actual needs, and is not particularly limited herein. Of course, in other embodiments, the load 150 may be a lighting lamp or a key indicator of the refrigeration device 100, which is not limited thereto.

Referring to fig. 1, according to some embodiments of the present invention, a thermoelectric generation sheet 123 has a cold end 123b and a hot end 123a, a hot end heat exchanger 121 includes a hot end substrate 1211, a cold end heat exchanger 122 includes a cold end substrate 1221, the hot end substrate 1211 is disposed in close proximity to the hot end 123a of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, and the cold end substrate 1221 is disposed in close proximity to the cold end 123b of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123. In this embodiment, the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 includes a cold end 123b and a hot end 123a, the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 is sandwiched between gaps formed by the hot end substrate 1211 and the cold end substrate 1221, or the hot end substrate 1211 and the cold end substrate 1221 are oppositely disposed at two sides of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, the hot end 123a and the hot end substrate 1211 are oppositely and tightly adhered, and the cold end 123b and the cold end substrate 1221 are oppositely and tightly adhered. To increase the contact area between the cold and

hot sides

123b and 123a and the hot and

cold sides

121 and 122, maximize heat and/or cold transfer, and improve heat transfer efficiency.

In some embodiments of the invention, thermoelectric generation device 120 includes at least one thermoelectric generation sheet 123. Alternatively, the thermoelectric generation device 120 may include a plurality of thermoelectric generation pieces 123, and the number of thermoelectric generation pieces 123 may be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. More than two thermoelectric generation sheets 123 may be tiled between the cold side heat exchanger 122 and the hot side heat exchanger 121, thereby improving the power generation capacity of the thermoelectric generation device 120.

Specifically, in some embodiments, referring to fig. 2 to 7, the thermoelectric generation device 120 includes a hot side heat exchanger 121, the hot side heat exchanger 121 is configured to provide heat for the thermoelectric generation device 120, the hot side heat exchanger 121 may be connected to a compressor outlet of a refrigeration device, so that waste heat of a refrigerant may be subjected to heat exchange or heat storage with the thermoelectric generation device 120 through the hot side heat exchanger 121, the hot side heat exchanger 121 includes a hot side substrate 1211, the hot side substrate 1211 is disposed in a substantially flat plate, and a heat exchange circuit 1211a is disposed in the hot side substrate 1211, where in the present application, the heat exchange circuit 1211a is coupled between the compressor outlet and the condenser inlet, and is configured to exchange and store the waste heat of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, and then, to pass the waste heat into the condenser, thereby improving energy utilization rate.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the thermoelectric generation device 120 includes a cold-end heat exchanger 121, where the cold-end heat exchanger 121 is used to provide cold energy for the thermoelectric generation device 120, and the cold-end heat exchanger 121 may be connected to an evaporator outlet of the refrigeration device, so that cold energy of the refrigerant may provide cold energy and cold energy storage for the thermoelectric generation device 120 through the cold-end heat exchanger 121, so that a temperature difference occurs between the cold end and the hot end of the thermoelectric generation device 120, and thus the cold energy is converted into electric energy. The cold-end heat exchanger 121 includes a cold-end substrate 1221, the cold-end substrate 1221 is disposed in a substantially flat plate manner, the cold-end substrate 1221 is disposed opposite to the hot-end substrate 1211 at intervals, a refrigeration circuit 1221a is disposed in the cold-end substrate 1221, in this application, the refrigeration circuit 1221a is coupled between an evaporator outlet and a compressor inlet, and is used for performing heat exchange and storage on the cold energy of the refrigerant evaporated by the evaporator, and then the refrigerant is introduced into the compressor for reciprocating circulation, so that the loss of the cold energy to the refrigerating device can be reduced, and the effect of the cold energy is maximized.

In the embodiment of the invention, the thermoelectric generation device 120 includes a thermoelectric generation sheet 123, the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 includes a cold end 123b and a hot end 123a, the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 is sandwiched between a gap formed by the hot end substrate 1211 and the cold end substrate 1221, or the hot end substrate 1211 and the cold end substrate 1221 are oppositely disposed at two sides of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, the hot end 123a is oppositely disposed with the hot end substrate 1211, and the cold end 123b is oppositely disposed with the cold end substrate 1221. In this way, the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 of the present application uses the cold energy of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator as the cold end and the heat energy of the refrigerant at the outlet of the compressor as the hot end in the vapor compression refrigeration system of the refrigeration device, so as to generate electricity, and the refrigeration system pipeline is arranged in the hot end substrate 1211 and the cold end substrate 1221 through the refrigeration circuit 1221a and the heat exchange circuit 1211a, so as to form an integrated design, thereby reducing the contact thermal resistance between the refrigeration system pipeline and the thermoelectric generation device 120, maximizing the heat and/or cold energy transfer, and improving the heat transfer efficiency.

Referring to fig. 2 to 4, the hot side heat exchanger 121 further includes a hot side housing 1212, the hot side housing 1212 covers a side of the hot side substrate 1211 away from the thermoelectric generation chip 123, a hot side filling cavity 1214 is formed between the hot side housing 1212 and the hot side substrate 1211, and the high temperature energy storage module 132 is filled in the hot side filling cavity 1214. It can be appreciated that, since only one side of the hot end substrate 1211 contacts the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, and heat is transferred to other sides, in this embodiment, in order to improve the utilization rate and storage capacity of the waste heat, when the compressor is started and stopped, the temperature difference between the two sides of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 cannot be maintained due to intermittent generation of the waste heat, and the temperature difference is unstable, and then a hot end filling cavity 1214 is formed between the hot end housing 1212 and the hot end substrate 1211, and the hot end filling cavity 1214 is filled with the high-temperature energy storage module 132, so that the heat conductivity of the high-temperature energy storage module 132 is low to collect the low-grade waste heat to reduce the expansion loss, so that the thermoelectric generation device 120 can maintain the temperature of the hot end 123a of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 when the compressor is stopped, thereby reducing the temperature difference fluctuation and improving the power generation stability of the thermoelectric generation device 120.

Referring to fig. 4, in some embodiments of the present invention, the hot side heat exchanger 121 further includes a plurality of hot side fins 1213, wherein the plurality of hot side fins 1213 are disposed in the hot side filling cavity 1214 and are immersed in the high temperature energy storage module 132, and one ends of the plurality of hot side fins 1213 are connected to the hot side substrate 1211, and the other ends extend from the hot side substrate 1211 toward the hot side filling cavity 1214. In this embodiment, the plurality of hot end fins 1213 may be arranged on the side of the hot end substrate 1211 away from the thermoelectric generation chip 123 along the length direction or the width direction of the hot end substrate 1211, and the hot end fins 1213 may be integrally arranged with the hot end substrate 1211 or separately connected to each other, which is not limited thereto. The present embodiment enhances the heat transfer effect by providing the hot side fins 1213 to enhance the contact area of the hot side substrate 1211 with the high temperature energy storage material and the high temperature energy storage material with each other.

Of course, in other embodiments, the thermal end substrate 1211 may also increase the contact area with the high temperature energy storage module 132 by providing a metal foam within the hot end fill cavity 1214 to enhance the heat transfer effect.

Referring to fig. 2 to 4, in some embodiments of the present invention, the cold-side heat exchanger 121 further includes a cold-side housing 1222, the cold-side housing 1222 covers a side of the cold-side substrate 1221 away from the thermoelectric generation chip 123, a cold-side filling cavity 1224 is formed between the cold-side housing 1222 and the cold-side substrate 1221, and the cold-side filling cavity 1224 is filled with the low-temperature energy storage module 131. It can be appreciated that, since only one side of the cold-end substrate 1221 contacts with the thermoelectric generation chip 123, heat transfer is lost from other sides, in this embodiment, in order to improve the utilization rate and storage capacity of the cold energy, when the compressor is started and stopped, the two sides of the thermoelectric generation chip 123 cannot keep temperature difference, and the temperature difference is unstable, and a cold-end filling cavity 1224 is formed between the cold-end housing 1222 and the cold-end substrate 1221, and the cold-end filling cavity 1224 is filled with the low-temperature energy storage module 131, so that the low-temperature energy storage module 131 can collect the cold energy due to low heat conductivity, thereby reducing expansion loss, so that the thermoelectric generation device 120 can maintain the temperature of the cold end 123b of the thermoelectric generation chip 123 when the thermoelectric compressor is intermittently operated, further reducing temperature difference fluctuation, and improving the power generation stability of the thermoelectric generation device 120.

Referring to fig. 4, in some embodiments of the invention, the cold-side heat exchanger 121 further comprises a plurality of cold-side fins 1223, wherein the plurality of cold-side fins 1223 are disposed in the cold-side filling cavity 1224 and immersed in the low-temperature energy storage module 131, and one end of the cold-side fins 1223 is connected to the cold-side base plate 1221, and the other end extends from the cold-side base plate 1221 toward the cold-side filling cavity 1224. In this embodiment, the plurality of cold-end fins 1223 may be arranged on one side of the cold-end base plate 1221 away from the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 along the length direction or the width direction of the cold-end base plate 1221, and the cold-end fins 1223 may be integrally disposed with the cold-end base plate 1221 or separately connected with the cold-end base plate 1221, which is not limited thereto. The present embodiment enhances the heat transfer effect by providing cold end fins 1223 to enhance the contact area of the cold end substrate 1221 with the low temperature energy storage material and the low temperature energy storage material with each other.

Of course, in other embodiments, cold end substrate 1221 may also be used to increase the contact area with cryogenic energy storage module 131 by providing a metal foam in cold end fill cavity 1224 to enhance heat transfer.

Referring to fig. 1 to 5, in some embodiments of the present invention, a thermal insulation layer 124 is disposed between a hot end substrate 1211 and a cold end substrate 1221, the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 further includes at least one thermoelectric generation sheet 123, a mounting location 1241 is disposed in the middle of the thermal insulation layer 124, and the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 is embedded in the mounting location 1241. It can be appreciated that in order to increase the effective contact area between the cold end 123b and the hot end 123a of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 and the hot end substrate 1211 and the cold end substrate 1221, reduce the uneven temperature of the outer peripheral edges of the cold end 123b and the hot end 123a of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, thereby affecting the power generation stability of the thermoelectric generation sheet 123, in this embodiment, the contact area between the hot end substrate 1211 and the cold end substrate 1221 is larger than that between the cold end 123b and the hot end 123a, and meanwhile, the waste heat and the cold energy of the hot end substrate 1211 and the cold end substrate 1221 are prevented from being consumed mutually, so that a thermal insulation layer 124 is arranged between the hot end substrate 1211 and the cold end substrate 1221, the thermal insulation layer 124 is provided with a mounting position 1241 penetrating through the end surface in the thickness direction, and the thermoelectric generation sheet 123 is embedded in the mounting position 1241, so as to ensure the relative insulation of the cold end substrate 1221 and the hot end substrate 1211, thereby preventing the loss of the waste heat and the cold energy, and improving the reliability of the thermoelectric generation device 120.

Referring to fig. 2 to 6, in some embodiments of the present invention, a hot side substrate 1211 has a hot side inlet 1211b and a hot side outlet 1211c, and a heat exchange circuit 1211a is connected to the hot side inlet 1211b and the hot side outlet 1211c, and the heat exchange circuit 1211a is disposed in a curved stack in the hot side substrate 1211. It is understood that the hot side inlet 1211b and the hot side outlet 1211c may be used interchangeably, and are not particularly limited. In order to facilitate the connection of the heat exchange circuit 1211a to the refrigeration system of the existing heat exchange device, thereby reducing the modification of the existing refrigeration system, the outer peripheral side of the hot side substrate 1211 in the present embodiment is convexly provided with at least one hot side inlet 1211b and at least one cold side inlet, so as to couple and connect the heat exchange circuit 1211a to the refrigeration system of the refrigeration device. In some embodiments, the heat exchange circuit 1211a may include one heat exchange inlet and a plurality of heat exchange outlets, thereby increasing the throughput of the heat exchange circuit 1211a and increasing the heat exchange efficiency.

Specifically, the heat exchange circuit 1211a is disposed in a curved stack in the heat exchange substrate, so as to increase the contact area between the refrigerant and the heat exchange substrate when passing through the heat exchange circuit 1211a, thereby achieving the purpose of increasing the heat exchange contact area in unit area, and improving the utilization rate of the waste heat in the refrigerant.

Referring to fig. 2-7, in some embodiments of the invention, a cold end baseplate 1221 has a cold end inlet and a cold end outlet, and a refrigeration circuit 1221a communicates the cold end inlet and the cold end outlet, the refrigeration circuit 1221a being disposed in a curved stack within the cold end baseplate 1221. It will be appreciated that the cold end inlet and cold end outlet may be used interchangeably and are not particularly limited. To facilitate the connection of the refrigeration circuit 1221a to the refrigeration system of an existing refrigeration apparatus, thereby reducing the need for mold modifications to the existing refrigeration system, the outer peripheral side of the cold-end baseplate 1221 in this embodiment is provided with at least one cold-end inlet and at least one cold-end inlet in a protruding manner, so as to couple the refrigeration circuit 1221a to the refrigeration system of the refrigeration device.

Specifically, the refrigeration circuit 1221a is disposed in a curved stack in the refrigeration substrate, so as to increase the contact area between the refrigerant and the refrigeration substrate when the refrigerant passes through the refrigeration circuit 1221a, thereby achieving the purpose of increasing the heat exchange contact area in unit area, and improving the utilization rate of the cold quantity in the refrigerant.

Referring to fig. 2 and 3, in some embodiments of the present invention, a first lug 1225 is provided at a peripheral side of the cold-end substrate 1221 at a distance, a second lug 1215 is provided at a position opposite to the first lug 1225 at a peripheral side of the hot-end substrate 1211, and the first lug 1225 and the second lug 1215 are fixed by a fixing member to connect the cold-end substrate 1221 and the hot-end substrate 1211. It can be appreciated that, in order to fixedly connect the cold end substrate 1221 and the hot end substrate 1211 to opposite sides of the thermoelectric generation chip 123, at least one first lug 1225 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the cold end substrate 1221 in a protruding manner, at least one lug is also provided on the outer peripheral side of the corresponding hot end substrate 1211 in a protruding manner, and corresponding connecting holes are provided on the first lug 1225 and the second lug 1215, and the fixing member passes through the corresponding connecting holes, so that the cold end substrate 1221, the hot end substrate 1211 and the thermoelectric generation chip 123 are fixedly connected, and the connection stability of the thermoelectric generation device 120 is improved. Of course, in other embodiments, the cold end substrate 1221, the hot end substrate 1211, and the thermoelectric generation chip 123 may be fixed by a snap connection, adhesion, welding, or the like, which is not limited thereto.

Further, the cold end housing 1222 and the cold end substrate 1221 and the hot end substrate 1211 and the hot end housing 1212 may be integrally formed or may be separately formed, in this application, in order to facilitate the installation of the hot end fin 1213 and the cold end fin 1223, the cold end housing 1222 and the cold end substrate 1221 and the hot end substrate 1211 and the hot end housing 1212 are separately formed as an example, and other embodiments may be described with reference to implementation, in order to correspondingly connect the cold end substrate 1221 and the cold end housing 1222 and the hot end substrate 1211 and the hot end housing 1212 after the separate forming, a first lug 1225 may be disposed on the cold end housing 1222, a second lug 1215 may be disposed on the hot end housing 1212, and then a fixing member may be used to pass through a connection hole disposed on the first lug 1225 and the second lug 1215, thereby correspondingly fixedly connecting the cold end substrate 1221 and the cold end housing 1222 and the hot end substrate 1211 and the hot end housing 1212. Of course, in other embodiments, the cold end substrate 1221 and the cold end housing 1222 and the hot end substrate 1211 and the hot end housing 1212 are fixedly connected by welding or bonding, and the like, which is not limited thereto.

Finally, it should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention, and not limiting. While the invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various combinations, modifications, or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and it is intended to be covered by the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigeration appliance, comprising:

the phase change energy storage module is connected to the hot end heat exchanger and/or the cold end heat exchanger and used for storing heat or cold of the hot end heat exchanger and/or the cold end heat exchanger.

2. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1 wherein the phase change energy storage module comprises a low temperature energy storage module and a high temperature energy storage module, the low temperature energy storage module being coupled to the cold side heat exchanger and the high temperature energy storage module being coupled to the hot side heat exchanger.

3. The refrigeration device of claim 2, wherein the high-temperature energy storage module is coupled to a side of the hot side heat exchanger facing away from the thermoelectric generation sheet, and the high-temperature energy storage module and the hot side heat exchanger are stacked along a thickness direction of the thermoelectric generation sheet.

4. The refrigeration device of claim 2, wherein the low-temperature energy storage module is coupled to a side of the cold-end heat exchanger facing away from the thermoelectric generation sheet, and the low-temperature energy storage module and the cold-end heat exchanger are stacked along a thickness direction of the thermoelectric generation sheet.

5. The refrigeration unit as recited in any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprising a capillary tube connected between said condenser and said evaporator.

6. The refrigeration unit of claim 5 wherein a flow line connected between said cold side heat exchanger and said compressor is coupled to said capillary tube.

7. The refrigeration appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprising an output circuit and a load, said load being electrically connected to said thermoelectric generation sheet through said output circuit.

8. The refrigeration unit as recited in claim 7 further comprising a voltage regulator connected in said output circuit and located between said thermoelectric generation sheet and said load.

9. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 7, wherein the load includes any one or two or more of a temperature sensor, an internet of things sensor, and an electrical storage device.

10. The refrigeration appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said thermoelectric generation sheet has a cold end and a hot end, said hot end heat exchanger comprises a hot end substrate, said cold end heat exchanger comprises a cold end substrate, said hot end substrate is in close proximity to the hot end of said thermoelectric generation sheet, and said cold end substrate is in close proximity to the cold end of said thermoelectric generation sheet.

11. The refrigeration appliance of claim 10 wherein said thermoelectric generation means includes at least one of said thermoelectric generation sheets.