JP2010266107A - Gas temperature control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas temperature control device in which small and light-weight fins are jointed to Peltier elements to maximize heat exchange by the fins. <P>SOLUTION: The gas temperature control device 1 includes a plurality of thermoelectric units 3 and a support body 5. The thermoelectric unit 3 is formed, by nipping the Peltier element 11, by using the opposite side to a heat-absorbing face 7 as a heat release face 9 between a heat absorbing fin 15 jointed to the heat absorbing face 7 via a fin base 13 and a heat release fin 19 jointed to the heat release face 9 via a fin base 17. The support body 5 is formed, by framing vertical frames 21, 23 and two cross members 25 to form a square shape and inner sides of these members form an opening 27. The plurality of thermoelectric units 3 are arranged in a gap, from the vertical frame 21 to the vertical frame 23 of the support body 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas temperature control device that adjusts the temperature of a gas using the Peltier effect of a thermoelectric element.

  The Peltier element shown in Patent Document 1 is a thermoelectric element having two surfaces facing away from each other, and one of the two surfaces becomes a heat absorbing surface and the other becomes a heat radiating surface depending on the direction of current flow. . As the heat sink bonded to the heat absorbing surface or the heat radiating surface of the Peltier element, one that exchanges heat between a plurality of fins and a gas such as air is applied.

  Patent Document 2 shows a structure in which a plurality of Peltier elements are arranged between two heat sinks facing each other, and the two heat sinks are bound using bolts. A heat sink is arrange | positioned in an air path so that gas may flow between the fins. In order to promote the heat exchange, it is conceivable to increase the surface area of the heat sink.

  However, if the distance between the fins is reduced in order to add fins to a heat sink having a limited size, or if the fin depth is increased in the direction of gas flow, the pressure loss of the gas becomes significant in the air passage. For this reason, the output of a blower or the like for supplying gas to the air passage must be increased unnecessarily.

  Furthermore, the increase in the size of the heat sink increases the weight of the heat sink, and the strength is insufficient if the heat sink is bonded to the Peltier element by simply bonding them with an adhesive. When both are joined using a bolt instead of an adhesive, the bolt tightening force is concentrated in the bolt insertion hole formed in the heat sink. Accordingly, when the heat sink is slightly bent, the adhesion between the Peltier element and the heat sink is impaired, and the thermal resistance between the two is increased. Further, if the heat sink is made thick to increase the rigidity of the heat sink, an increase in the overall weight of the Peltier element and the heat sink together and an increase in cost are inevitable.

  Patent Document 3 shows an example in which the width of the heat sink is wider than that of the Peltier element in order to secure room for forming bolt insertion holes in the heat sink. In this case, the effect of promoting heat exchange by expanding the heat sink is not necessarily large, and there is a problem that the cross-sectional area of the air path is excessively increased in order to fit the heat sink in the air path.

JP 11-294890 A JP 2005-344992 A JP 2000-188428 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a gas temperature control device capable of joining a Peltier element with a small and light fin and further maximizing heat exchange by the fin.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention sandwiches a Peltier element having a heat radiating surface opposite to a heat absorbing surface between a heat absorbing fin joined to the heat absorbing surface and a heat radiating fin joined to the heat radiating surface. A plurality of thermoelectric units and an opening through which gas can pass inside are arranged, and the heat absorption fins and the heat dissipation fins of the plurality of thermoelectric units are arranged in a direction crossing the direction in which the gas passes through the openings, A plurality of thermoelectric units, and a support body that is positioned inside the opening in a posture in which the directions of the heat absorbing fins and the heat radiating fins are alternately opposite to each other. An air path for guiding the gas passing through the opening to the heat-absorbing fin and the heat-radiating fin is secured between the elements.

  Further, the present invention provides an area in which the thermoelectric units adjacent to each other are opposed to each other, and an area in which the adjacent thermoelectric units are opposed to each other. The plurality of thermoelectric units are alternately changed in the order in which they are arranged.

  Further, the present invention provides an endothermic air passage in which the opening of the support is guided by a Peltier element of the thermoelectric unit to the heat absorbing fin of the thermoelectric unit, and a heat radiating air passage that guides the gas to the heat radiating fin of the thermoelectric unit. It is divided into and.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the direction in which the gas is guided to the endothermic air path and the direction in which the gas is guided to the heat radiating air path are opposite to each other or the same direction.

  According to the gas temperature control device according to the present invention, the adjacent thermoelectric units oppose the heat-absorbing fins in the air passage, so that the heat-absorbing fins and the gas passing through the air passage are simultaneously Heat exchange can be performed. Moreover, since the thermoelectric units adjacent to each other make the radiating fins face each other in the air passage, heat exchange can be performed simultaneously between these radiating fins and the gas passing through the air passage. For this reason, the calorie | heat amount of the gas heat-exchanged in an air path is doubled.

  Therefore, according to the said gas temperature control apparatus, even if a heat absorption fin and a heat radiation fin are comparatively small and lightweight, the performance of each thermoelectric unit can be exhibited to the maximum. Further, by reducing the size of the heat-absorbing fins and the heat-dissipating fins, it is possible to reduce the pressure loss of the gas flowing along these fins.

  Furthermore, by reducing the weight of the heat-absorbing fins and the heat-radiating fins, these can be joined to the Peltier element with sufficient strength using only an adhesive. For this reason, mechanical tightening using a bolt becomes unnecessary, and the thermal resistance between the heat absorption fin and the Peltier element and between the heat radiation fin and the Peltier element can be reduced. In addition, since bolts or the like are not used for joining these fins, individual thermoelectric units can be reduced in weight, and the manufacturing cost of the gas temperature control device can be reduced.

  Further, by increasing or decreasing the number of thermoelectric units arranged in the opening of the support, it is possible to adjust the amount of gas heat that the gas temperature control device can exchange heat in the air passage. In this case, if a plurality of thermoelectric units are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the gas flow direction, the distance that the gas flows along the fins does not increase, so that there is an advantage that the pressure loss of the gas does not increase.

  Furthermore, according to the gas temperature control device according to the present invention, the opening of the support is divided into the heat absorption air passage and the heat radiation air passage by the Peltier elements of the plurality of thermoelectric units. The support can be miniaturized as much as is unnecessary.

The front view of the gas temperature control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. The disassembled perspective view of the thermoelectric unit applied to the gas temperature control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Schematic which shows one usage example of the gas temperature control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Schematic which shows the other usage example of the gas temperature control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The gas temperature control device 1 includes a plurality of thermoelectric units 3 and a support 5. Arrows w, h, and d indicate the width, height, and depth direction of the thermoelectric unit 3, respectively.

  The thermoelectric unit 3 includes a Peltier element 11 having a heat radiating surface 9 opposite to the heat absorbing surface 7, a heat absorbing fin 15 joined to the heat absorbing surface 7 via a fin base 13, and a heat radiating surface 9 via a fin base 17. It is sandwiched between the radiating fins 19 to be joined. Joining means welding or adhesion. The endothermic fin 15 is a corrugated fin obtained by plastically deforming a thin aluminum plate into a corrugated shape. Silica gel may be fixed to the surface of the endothermic fin 15. The heat radiating fins 19 are the same as the heat absorbing fins 15.

  The support body 5 is a frame in which the vertical frames 21 and 23 and the two cross members 25 are squarely formed, and an opening 27 through which gas can pass in the depth direction is provided. The vertical frames 21 and 23 and the horizontal member 25 are acrylic plate materials. One end and the other end of the opening 27 are defined by vertical frames 21 and 23, respectively. A plurality of thermoelectric units 3 are arranged between the vertical frame 21 and the vertical frame 23 of the support 5, and each Peltier element 11 is positioned on the cross member 25 by the fin bases 13 and 17. FIG. 1 shows a form in which four thermoelectric units 3 are arranged in the height direction and these are connected in eight stages in the width direction, but the total number of thermoelectric units 3 is not limited. Reference numeral 29 indicates a heat insulating material.

  The plurality of Peltier elements 11 are spaced from each other in the height direction, and an air passage 31 is secured between these Peltier elements 11. The air passage 31 is divided into an endothermic air passage 33 and a heat radiating air passage 35 described below.

  That is, the plurality of thermoelectric units 3 are arranged in a height direction across the direction in which the gas passes through the opening 27, and in this arrangement order, each heat-absorbing fin 15 is directed to one end (vertical frame 21) of the opening 27. The posture in which each heat-absorbing fin 15 is directed to the other end (vertical frame 23) of the opening 27 is alternately changed. The endothermic air passage 33 is a region where the thermoelectric units 3 adjacent to each other in the height direction oppose the endothermic fins 15. The heat radiating air passage 35 is a region where the thermoelectric units 3 adjacent to each other in the height direction oppose the heat radiating fins 19 to each other. The region between the vertical frame 21 and the Peltier element 11 facing this, and between the vertical frame 23 and the Peltier element 11 facing this corresponds to one endothermic air passage.

  As described above, the opening 27 of the support 5 is divided into the endothermic air passage 33 and the heat radiating air passage 35 by the Peltier elements 11 of the plurality of thermoelectric units 3. There is no need for a partitioning plate or the like. Accordingly, the gas temperature control device 1 can reduce the size of the support 5.

  The usage example of the gas temperature control apparatus 1 is described next. In the following description, attention is paid to one endothermic air passage 33 and the heat radiating air passage 35, but the same applies to all the endothermic air passages 33 and the radiating air passage 35 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows an introduction path 37 and a lead-out path 39 connected to the endothermic air path 33, and an introduction path 41 and a lead-out path 43 connected to the radiating air path 35. The lead-out path 39 is connected to the blower means 47 via the switching dampers 45 and 46, and the lead-out path 43 is connected to the blower means 51 via the switch dampers 49 and 50. The air blowing means 47 and 51 are air passages equipped with a blower.

  First, a current is supplied to the Peltier element 11 so that heat is transferred from the heat absorbing surface 7 to the heat radiating surface 9. When the air blowing means 47 and 51 are activated, the gas introduced into the introduction path 37 passes through the endothermic air path 33 and is led out from the outlet path 39 by the air blowing means 47. The gas introduced into the introduction path 41 passes through the heat radiating air path 35 and is led out from the lead-out path 43 by the blower 51.

  As described above, heat exchange is simultaneously performed between the gas passing through the endothermic air passage 33 and the endothermic fins 15 of the two rows (16 pieces) of the thermoelectric units 3 adjacent to each other. Can be lowered. As described above, heat exchange is performed simultaneously between the gas passing through the heat radiating air passage 35 and the heat radiating fins 19 of the two rows (16 pieces) of the thermoelectric units 3 adjacent to each other. The heat of the surface 9 can be efficiently radiated.

  In the gas temperature control apparatus 1 described above, the height of the heat absorption fins 15 is less than or equal to half that of the heat absorption air passage 33, and the height of the heat dissipation fins 19 is less than or equal to half of the heat dissipation air passage 35. Thus, even if the heat absorption fins 15 and the heat radiation fins 19 are relatively small and light, the individual thermoelectric units 3 can maximize their performance. Further, by reducing the size of the heat-absorbing fins 15 and the heat-radiating fins 19, it is possible to reduce the pressure loss of the gas flowing along these thickness directions. In particular, when the heat-absorbing fins 15 and the heat-radiating fins 19 are made shorter than the respective widths and the heights of the heat-absorbing fins 15 and the heat-radiating fins 19 are set to be lower than the depth, the above effects become remarkable.

  Further, by reducing the weight of the heat-absorbing fins 15 and the heat-dissipating fins 19, these can be joined to the Peltier element 11 with sufficient strength by using only an adhesive. The thermal resistance between the fin 15 and the Peltier element 11 and between the radiation fin 19 and the Peltier element 11 can be reduced. Moreover, since no bolts are used to join the heat-absorbing fins 15 and the heat-radiating fins 19, the individual thermoelectric units 3 can be reduced in weight, and the manufacturing cost of the gas temperature control device 1 can be reduced.

  Moreover, the gas temperature control apparatus 1 can adjust the heat quantity of the gas which can be heat-exchanged by the air path 31 by increasing the number of the thermoelectric units 3 arranged in the width direction in the opening part 27 of the support body 5 as desired. In this case, the thermoelectric units 3 that increase with respect to the existing thermoelectric units 3 are cascaded in the width direction. For example, the eight-stage thermoelectric unit 3 shown in FIG. 1 may be increased to ten stages. Even if the number of thermoelectric units 3 increases in this way, the distance that the gas flows in the thickness direction along the fin does not increase, so that the pressure loss of the gas flowing through the endothermic air passage 33 and the radiating air passage 35 does not increase. There is.

  Further, when silica gel is fixed to the heat-absorbing fins 15 and the heat-radiating fins 19, water vapor contained in the gas can be absorbed by the silica gel. When the silica gel reaches a saturated state, the direction of the current supplied to the Peltier element 11 is reversed, and heat is transferred from the heat radiation surface 9 to the heat absorption surface 7.

  Then, the switching dampers 45, 46, 49, 50 are operated as shown in FIG. As a result, the gas introduced into the lead-out path 39 passes through the endothermic air path 33 and is led out from the introduction path 37 by the blowing means 51. As described above, the temperature of the gas passing through the heat radiating air passage 35 decreases. The gas introduced into the lead-out path 43 passes through the heat radiating air path 35 and is led out from the introduction path 41 by the blowing means 47. In this way, heat of the heat absorbing surface 7 of the Peltier element 11 is radiated to the gas passing through the heat absorbing air passage 33. Further, when the temperature of the endothermic fin 15 rises, the moisture absorbed by the silica gel of the endothermic fin 15 evaporates.

  It should be noted that the present invention can be carried out in a mode in which various improvements, modifications, or variations are added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, FIGS. 4 and 5 show a form in which the direction in which the endothermic air passage 33 guides the gas to the endothermic fin 15 and the direction in which the heat radiating air passage 35 leads the gas to the heat radiating fin 19 are opposite to each other. These directions may be the same.

  Further, instead of the fin bases 13 and 17, a rod body may be stretched between the two cross members 25, and the Peltier element 11 may be attached to the rod body. In this case, the heat absorbing fins 15 and the heat radiating fins 19 can be directly joined to the heat absorbing surface 7 and the heat radiating surface 9 of the Peltier element 11, respectively. Further, either one of the endothermic air passage 33 and the heat radiating air passage 35 may be blown with warm air or cold air to cause a temperature difference between the heat absorbing surface 7 and the heat radiating surface 9 of the Peltier element 11. . Thereby, an electromotive force can be generated in the Peltier element 11.

  The present invention can be used to cool an electrical component or adjust the temperature in a room.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Gas temperature control device, 3 ... Thermoelectric unit, 5 ... Support body, 7 ... Endothermic surface, 9 ... Radiation surface, 11 ... Peltier element, 15 ... Endothermic fin, 19 ... Radiation fin, 21 ... One end (vertical frame), 23 ... The other end (vertical frame), 27 ... Opening, 31 ... Air passage, 33 ... Endothermic air passage, 35 ... Radiation air passage.

Claims (4)

A Peltier element having a heat dissipation surface opposite to the heat absorption surface, a heat absorption fin joined to the heat absorption surface, and a plurality of thermoelectric units sandwiched between the heat dissipation fins joined to the heat dissipation surface;
A plurality of thermoelectric units, each having an opening through which gas can pass inside, the heat absorbing fins and the heat radiating fins of each of the plurality of thermoelectric units arranged in a direction crossing the direction in which the gas passes through the openings. A support body that is positioned inside the opening in a posture in which the directions of the heat absorbing fins and the heat radiating fins are alternately opposite to each other,
A gas temperature control device characterized in that an air passage is provided between each Peltier element of the plurality of thermoelectric units to guide the gas passing through the opening to the heat-absorbing fin and the heat-radiating fin, respectively.   The air path includes a region in which the adjacent thermoelectric units oppose each heat-absorbing fins, and a region in which the adjacent thermoelectric units oppose each heat-dissipating fins to each other. The gas temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the gas temperature control device is alternately changed in the order of arrangement.   The opening of the support is partitioned by a Peltier element of the thermoelectric unit into an endothermic air passage that guides gas to the endothermic fin of the thermoelectric unit and a radiant air passage that guides gas to the radiating fin of the thermoelectric unit. The gas temperature control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   The gas temperature control device according to claim 3, wherein a direction in which the gas is guided to the endothermic air path and a direction in which the gas is guided to the heat radiating air path are opposite to or in the same direction.

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