Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10N—ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10N10/00—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects
  • H10N10/10—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects
  • H10N10/13—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
  • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
  • B60H1/22—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices the heat being derived otherwise than from the propulsion plant
  • B60H2001/2268—Constructional features
  • B60H2001/2275—Thermoelectric converters for generating electrical energy
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
  • F28F1/10—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses
  • F28F1/12—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element
  • F28F1/126—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element consisting of zig-zag shaped fins
  • F28F1/128—Fins with openings, e.g. louvered fins

Definitions

• Thermoelectric module and heat exchanger comprising such a module.
• the present invention relates to a thermoelectric module, in particular intended to be part of a heat exchanger.
• thermo modules using so-called electric thermo elements, for generating an electric current in the presence of a temperature gradient between two of their opposite faces according to the phenomenon known as the Seebeck effect.
• These modules comprise a beam formed of a stack of first tubes, intended for the circulation of the exhaust gases of an engine, and second tubes, intended for the circulation of a heat transfer fluid of a cooling circuit.
• the electrical thermo elements are sandwiched between the tubes so as to be subjected to a temperature gradient from the temperature difference between the hot exhaust gases and the cold cooling fluid.
• Such modules are particularly interesting because they make it possible to produce electricity from a conversion of the heat coming from the exhaust gases of the engine. They thus offer the possibility of reducing the fuel consumption of the vehicle by replacing, at least partially, the alternator usually provided therein to generate electricity from a belt driven by the engine crankshaft. .
• thermo modules are not adapted to these fluids, in particular to capture frigories coming from the air. The invention therefore aims to improve the situation.
• thermoelectric module particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising electric thermo elements for generating an electric current in the presence of a temperature gradient and a device heat exchanger for traversing a fluid, said device comprising a first face, in heat exchange relation with a first series of said thermoelectric elements, a second face, in heat exchange relation with a second series of said electric thermoelectric elements, and means for heat exchange with the fluid, in heat exchange relation with said first and second faces.
• the invention thus makes it possible, in a limited space requirement, to optimize the contact between the electric thermoelectric elements and one of the sources, hot or cold, defined by said fluid. In this way, it is possible to obtain a temperature gradient that is as large as possible, or as constant as possible.
• said heat exchange means comprises a zone intended to be in contact with the surface fluid much greater than that of said first face and / or said second face.
• said heat exchange device comprises a first fin having said first face, and / or a second fin comprising said second face.
• the first and / or second fins comprise a part in heat exchange relation with the heat exchange means on one side and with the thermoelectric elements on a second side opposite to the first side.
• said first and second fins are parallel to each other.
• said heat exchange means is attached between said first fin and said second fin.
• Said exchange means is, in particular, soldered to said first fin and said second fin.
• said heat exchange means is intended to disturb the flow of the fluid. The disturbance of the fluid improves the heat exchange, in particular, the capture of frigories.
• said heat exchange means comprises an interlayer.
• the spacer has, in particular, a surface intended to be in contact with the fluid much greater than the surface of the fins in contact with the thermoelectric elements.
• the interlayer comprises corrugations.
• the interlayer comprises means for disturbing the flow of the fluid.
• said means for disturbing the flow of the fluid comprise louvers.
• said heat exchange means is in the form of a disruptor, called “offset".
• it comprises corrugated material strips, arranged parallel to each other in a direction of extension of the disrupter, said strips being offset relative to each other in said direction so as to provide passages for said fluid a ripple of one of the bands to a ripple of a neighboring band.
• the corrugations are thus offset with respect to each other, which disturbs the flow of the fluid in order to improve the heat exchange.
• said module comprises hot tubes and hot fins in heat exchange relation with said hot tubes and an active face of said electric thermo elements.
• said heat exchange devices are configured to make a heat shield protecting said hot fins.
• said first and / or second fins which are configured to make a heat shield protecting said hot fins.
• the first and / or second faces have a direction of longitudinal extension and are traversed by the hot tubes, said module comprising separate heat exchange means between two of said hot tubes remote one of the other in the direction of longitudinal extension and two other said hot tubes, distant from each other in said longitudinal extension direction.
• the invention also relates to a heat exchanger, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a thermoelectric module as defined above.
• FIG. 1 a schematically illustrates, in perspective, a first exemplary embodiment of an exchanger comprising a thermoelectric module according to the invention
• FIG. 1 b schematically illustrates, in perspective, a second exemplary embodiment; of the exchanger according to the invention
• FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective, a part of the thermoelectric module according to the invention
• FIG. 3 illustrates in perspective, a portion of the thermoelectric module of Figure 2, some of the parts having been omitted.
• the invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a beam 1 enabling, according to a first function, a heat exchange between a first fluid, said to be hot, and a second fluid, said cold.
• the exchanger according to the invention is thus intended to accommodate two fluids input, the first, namely the hot fluid, having a higher temperature than the second, namely the cold fluid.
• the hot fluid may be the cooling fluid of a cooling loop of the vehicle engine and the cold fluid a flow of ambient air from the front of the vehicle, through its calender.
• Other types of fluids are however possible, especially other types of hot fluid. It may be, in particular, hot fluids whose circuit passes through the front of the vehicle to allow their cooling and / or a phase change.
• the exchanger is configured, in particular, so that the hot fluid passes through the exchanger in a first direction, illustrated by the arrow marked 3, and that the cold fluid passes through the exchanger in a second direction, illustrated by the arrow marked 2, in particular substantially perpendicular to the first direction 3. It is provided with manifolds 4 for distributing the hot liquid in the bundle 1 and / or for collecting said hot fluid leaving said bundle 1.
• the manifolds here permit a circulation of the hot fluid U.
• the upper manifold 4 has an internal partition, not visible, dividing the box into two parts, each provided with a nozzle inlet / outlet of the hot fluid.
• the hot fluid thus enters a first part of the upper header box through the inlet manifold, it travels the beam in the direction 3, downwards, on a first portion of the beam, it is collected by the lower manifold 4 and distributed in the other part of the beam that it travels upwards, in the direction 3, it is finally collected by the second part of the upper manifold 4 and leaves the exchanger through its outlet manifold.
• the beam has, for example, a generally parallelepiped shape.
• the manifolds 4 are located on two opposite sides of the parallelogram.
• the beam has two opposite first faces 5, and two opposite second faces 6, connecting the boxes 4.
• the exchanger is configured so that the flow of cold fluid is perpendicular to the first faces 5.
• the dimension of the beam in the direction 2 the flow of cold fluid, namely its depth is, for example, less than the other dimensions of the beam, namely its width and height, that is to say the dimensions of the first faces 5.
• An exchanger thus configured is intended, for example, to be located on the front of the vehicle. It may however be placed in other locations of the vehicle. Similarly, the exchangers according to the invention may have other configurations while remaining intended to be located on the front of the vehicle.
• the exchanger comprises electric thermoelectric elements (referenced 15 in FIGS. 2 and 3) making it possible to generate an electric current in the presence of a temperature gradient.
• electric thermoelectric elements are, for example, substantially parallelepiped shaped elements generating an electric current, according to the Seebeck effect, when they are subjected to said gradient between two of their opposite faces, called active faces.
• Such elements allow the creation of an electric current in a load connected between said active faces.
• such elements consist, for example, of Bismuth and Tellurium (Bi 2 Te 3 ).
• the beam comprises a first zone 7 configured to allow said exchange of heat between the hot fluid and the cold fluid and a second zone 8 configured to allow the generation of said electric current.
• an exchanger performing both a conventional heat exchange function, the cold fluid cooling the hot fluid and the hot fluid heating the cold fluid, in the first zone 7, and a conversion of heat into electric current. in the second zone 8.
• the first zone 7 and the second zone 8 are provided in parallel in the direction of circulation of the hot fluid.
• the fluid enters one of the manifolds 4 and exits through the other manifolds 4.
• said exchanger is entirely dedicated to a conversion of heat into electric current. It is then configured to maintain the temperature gradient between the hot fluid and the cold fluid rather than to reduce it.
• the heat exchanger comprises a thermoelectric module 10, according to the invention, located at the second zone of the heat exchanger.
• said thermoelectric module comprises the electric thermoelectric elements 15 and a heat exchange device 20 intended to be traversed by the cold fluid.
• This device 20 comprises a first face 21 in heat exchange relation with a first series of said electric thermo elements 15, a second face 22, in heat exchange relation with a second series of said electric thermo elements 15 and a means of exchange heat exchanger 25 with the cold fluid, in heat exchange relation with said first and second faces 21, 22.
• the heat exchange means 25 ensures wide contact with the cold fluid and promotes the maintenance of a temperature gradient at the level of the electric thermoelectric elements 15 via the first and second faces 21, 22.
• the first and second faces 21, 22 have a direction of longitudinal extension D and are traversed by hot tubes 30 without being in thermal relationship with the latter.
• the hot tubes 30 are, for example, oblong, parallel to each other and allow the passage of hot fluid. They open at each of their ends in the manifolds, through passage orifices provided thereon, for example at the collector plates of said boxes.
• the exchanger comprises separate heat exchange means between two adjacent hot tubes 30 in the direction of longitudinal extension of said first and second faces.
• the hot tubes 30 are in heat exchange relation with hot fins 33 provided flat, extending perpendicular to the hot tubes 30 and traversed by them.
• the hot fins 33 are held on the hot tubes 30, for example, by crimping.
• the heat exchange devices 20 according to the invention extend parallel to the hot fins 33, that is to say here perpendicularly to the hot tubes 30.
• the hot fins 33 thus extend between two exchange devices 20 adjacent heat.
• a first face of the hot fins 33 is vis-à-vis the first face 21 of a first device 20 and a second face of the hot fins 33, located opposite the first face of the hot fins 33 is located in vis-à-vis the second face 22 of a second device 20 adjacent to the first.
• the same hot fin 33 may thus be in heat exchange relation with a first series of electric thermo elements 1 5 situated between the first face of the hot fin 33 and the first face 21 of a first device 20, and with a second series of electric thermo elements 1 5, located between the second face of the hot fin 33 and the second face 22 of a second device 20 adjacent to the first.
• the first face 21 of the device 20 is located vis-à-vis a first hot fin 33 and a first series of electric thermo element 1 5 is disposed between the first face 21 and the hot fin 33.
• the second face 22 of the same device 20 is located vis-à-vis another hot fin 33, adjacent to the first, and a second series of electric thermo elements 1 5 is disposed between the second face 22 of the device 20 and this hot fin 33.
• the heat exchange means 25 is located between the first face 21 and the second face 22, in particular to provide them frigories from the cold fluid.
• the devices 20 and the hot fins 33 are thus stacked alternately.
• the substrate 50 receives, for example, the electric thermo elements 1 5.
• the substrate 50 is constituted an electrical insulating material and thermal conductor, in order to distribute the heat to the electric thermo elements 1 5. It is, in particular, through the substrate 50 that the first and second faces 21, 22 are in exchange relation thermal with electric thermo elements 1 5. It can contain electrical tracks connecting in series and / or in parallel the thermoelectric elements 15 between them. Such a substrate 50 may also be located between the hot fins 33 and the electric thermo elements 15.
• the heat exchange device 20 here comprises first and second fins 31, 32 in heat exchange relation with the cold fluid and the electric thermo elements 15.
• the first fin 31 comprises the first face 21 of the device and an opposite face in contact with the heat exchange means 25 and the second fin 32 comprises the second face 22 of the device and an opposite face in contact with the the heat exchange means 25.
• Said first and second fins 31, 32 are parallel to each other and parallel to the hot fins 33.
• the heat exchange means 25 is connected between the first fin 31 and the second fin 32. It comprises a zone intended to be in contact with the cold fluid with a surface much greater than that of said first face 21 and / or said second face 22, especially at least five times higher. It is intended to disturb the flow of the cold fluid when the latter passes through the device 20 to improve the heat exchange between the cold fluid and the device 20.
• the heat exchange means 25 comprises here a spacer 40 and in particular, several spacers 40.
• the spacers 40 provided corrugated, that is to say comprising corrugations, are arranged between the first and second faces 21, 22. In other words, they are here arranged between the first and second fins 31, 32, and are, for example, in contact with them by the peaks of their undulations.
• the thermoelectric module 10 of the invention is configured so that the flow of cold fluid passes between the folds of the corrugations of the spacers 40. More particularly, said spacers 40 are oriented so that the peaks of their corrugations extend according to a direction orthogonal to the direction of longitudinal extension of the tubes 30 and fins 31, 32, 33.
• the spacers 40 are, for example, soldered to the first and second fins 31, 32. According to an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the spacer 40 comprises means 45 for disrupting the flow of the fluid.
• These means 45 of disturbances of the fluid flow here comprise louvers 46, provided at the folds connecting the peaks of the corrugations.
• the louvers 46 are slots for passing the flow of the cold fluid from one corrugation to the other in order, in particular, to increase the path of the cold fluid to pass through the device 20 and increase the exchange of heat with tab 40.
• the spacer 40 may be divided into two distinct layers, extending parallel to each other in the direction of the longitudinal extension direction D of the first and second faces 21, 22.
• a first of the two sheets is located at the level of the cold fluid inlet in the device 20 while the second of the two layers is located at the outlet of the cold fluid of the device 20.
• said heat exchange means 25 is formed in the form of a disturbing device, called "offset", comprising corrugated material strips arranged parallel to one another in an extension direction, for example the direction of longitudinal extension D of the first and second faces 21, 22. These strips are offset relative to each other in the direction of extension so as to provide passages for the cold fluid of a corrugation of one of the bands to a ripple of a neighboring band. In this way, a material gap is created between two corrugations in order to disturb the flow of the cold fluid and thus to improve the heat exchange.
• the heat exchange devices 20 are configured to make a heat shield 36 protecting the hot fins 33.
• the first and second fins 31, 32 are configured to make a heat shield. 36 protecting the hot fins 33.
• the first and second fins 31, 32 comprise, for example, peripheral edges 37 raised in the direction of the first and second faces 21, 22.
• the raised peripheral edge 37 of a first fin 31 of a first device 20 found vis-à-vis the peripheral edge raised 37 of a second fin 32 of a second device 20 adjacent to the first device so that one of the raised peripheral edges 37 comes into contact with the other and / or overlap the other. This overlap makes it possible to prevent the cold fluid from coming into contact with the hot fins 33.
• the raised peripheral edges 37 guide the cold fluid towards the inside of the device 20, that is to say between the first and second faces 21, 22, so that it passes through the heat exchange means 25. In other words, the raised peripheral edges 37 cap the edges of the hot fins 33.
• fin means an element having two large opposite planar surfaces and of much smaller thickness than its width and its length, making it possible to establish a surface contact between said large surfaces and the electric thermoelectric elements 15 of the or their active faces.
• the fins are formed, for example, of aluminum and / or aluminum alloy.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
• Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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• 2012
  • 2012-10-25 FR FR1260196A patent/FR2997482B1/fr active Active
• 2013
  • 2013-10-22 KR KR1020157013401A patent/KR101704322B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2013-10-22 CN CN201380061293.8A patent/CN105190922A/zh active Pending
  • 2013-10-22 WO PCT/EP2013/072044 patent/WO2014064089A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2013-10-22 EP EP13788698.2A patent/EP2912704A1/fr not_active Withdrawn

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