JPH10132339A - Cold air machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supply cold air without supply of electric power from a cell and from the outside. SOLUTION: An upper case 1 and a lower case 2 from a passage for an air stream entering from an air intake hole 4 and reaching a fan air hole via a communication passage 3. In an accommodation hole 8 formed in a central part of a partition wall 6 between the two cases a thermoelectric converter module 7 is accommodated in which module there are laminated a plurality of plate shaped thermoelectric converter devices for generating a current owing to a temperature difference between both surfaces, and a cooling container 10 holding therein a low temperature material 12 is mounted on one surface of the module while a heat exchanger 9 is mounted on the other surface freely to exchange heat. There are further provided an electric motor 17 rotating with electric power generated by the thermoelectric converter module 7 and an air fan 18 mounted on an output shaft of the motor. When the air fan 18 is rotated, air entering from the air intake hole 4 is cooled on the surfaces of the heat exchanger 9 and the cooling container 10 in order and is sent from a fan air hole.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooler for supplying cool air cooled by a low-temperature substance, and more particularly to a portable cooler that does not require an energy source in addition to the low-temperature substance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for supplying cold air, there are, for example, a device using vapor compression refrigeration, a device using suction refrigeration, and a regenerative air conditioning system using a low-temperature substance such as ice.

[0003]

However, such a conventional apparatus requires a compressor and its power source, a refrigerant harmful to the environment such as chlorofluorocarbons, and large-scale equipment. However, there is a problem that it cannot be carried around for outdoor use such as camping.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide a cooler that can be easily carried and does not require a battery or external power supply.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a plate-like thermoelectric conversion element for generating electric power by a temperature difference between both surfaces is provided, and the thermoelectric conversion element is disposed so as to be able to exchange heat with one surface of the thermoelectric conversion element. A low-temperature substance holding member capable of holding a low-temperature substance therein, an electric motor rotated by electric power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element by the heat exchange, and a blower fan attached to an output shaft of the electric motor. A low-temperature substance holding member is arranged in a passage of an airflow generated by rotation of the blower fan.

[0006] With such a configuration, the blower fan mounted on the output shaft of the electric motor is rotated by the electric power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element due to the temperature difference between the low-temperature substance and the outside air. It is cooled by the low-temperature substance and sent to the downstream side. In the invention according to claim 2, the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion element is arranged so as to face the outside of the airflow path, and the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion element cooled by the low-temperature substance and the air. A heat exchanger that promotes heat exchange is installed to maintain a temperature difference between both surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion element.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, if an intake passage is provided for guiding the air cooled by heat exchange with the heat exchanger to an inlet of the airflow passage, the air can be more efficiently used. Can be cooled. Further, in the invention according to claim 4,
The members of the low-temperature substance holding member, the thermoelectric conversion element, and the heat exchanger are disposed in close contact with each other via a grease-like heat conductive material, thereby improving the efficiency of heat transfer.

Further, in the invention according to claim 5, by disposing a plurality of the thermoelectric conversion elements, the distance between the surface joined to the low-temperature material holding member and the surface joined to the heat exchanger is increased. Then, the temperature difference is maintained. In this way, in the configuration in which a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements are arranged in an overlapping manner, as in the invention according to claim 6, the thermoelectric conversion elements are arranged on the side farther than the area of the element arranged on the side closer to the low-temperature material holding member. By increasing the area of the heat exchanger, heat exchange between the plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements and the heat exchanger becomes smooth.

Further, when a plurality of the thermoelectric conversion elements are arranged and arranged side by side on the same plane as in the invention according to claim 7, a larger power can be obtained. On the other hand, in the invention according to claim 8, on the outer surface of the low-temperature substance holding member, a fin-shaped heat exchanger that is substantially parallel to the direction of passage of the airflow generated by the rotation of the blower fan is protruded, and the air cooling efficiency is Improve.

As the low-temperature substance, ice may be used as in the ninth aspect of the present invention, or a cold storage material made of polyvinyl alcohol gel or the like as in the tenth aspect of the present invention. Further, as the thermoelectric conversion element, an element mainly containing BiTe may be used as in the invention according to claim 11, and an element mainly containing FeSi as in the invention according to claim 12 may be used. Good. Furthermore, as in the invention according to claim 14, a crystal whose main component is a compound having a skutterudite structure may be used.

In the invention according to claim 14, a DC motor using an Nd-Fe-B-based magnet is used as the electric motor to obtain strong power.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of the configuration of the cooler of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. Hereinafter, the details will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 at the same time.
A substantially rectangular cylindrical upper housing 1 made of a heat insulating material.
And the lower housing 2 are provided so as to be overlapped so that their axial directions are the same. The upper housing 1 and the lower housing 2 are connected to each other through a communication path 3 made of a heat-insulating material and connected to one of the openings. ), And enters the other opening of the upper housing 1 via the communication path 3 (hereinafter, referred to as a blow port).
5 to form one passage.

The partition wall 6 that partitions the upper and lower housings has substantially the same thickness as the thermoelectric conversion element module 7. Also,
At the center of the partition wall 6, storage holes 8 having substantially the same shape as the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 are provided in the same number as the number of the arranged thermoelectric conversion element modules 7.
Is attached so as to close the storage hole 8. The heat exchanger 9 is formed by, for example, extruding aluminum, has a plurality of fins protruding toward the inside of the lower housing 2, and promotes heat exchange by its expanded surface area. is there.

The thermoelectric conversion element module 7 is housed in the housing hole 8 with one surface being in close contact with the flat surface above the heat exchanger 9. Further, the bottom surface of a heat-conductive cooling container 10 formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape is fixed to the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 so as to be in close contact therewith. The heat transfer is performed by bringing the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 into close contact with the heat exchanger 9 and the cooling vessel 10 using heat transfer grease (for example, grease-like silicon compound: heat conductivity of about 0.84 W / deg · m). The loss has been reduced.

In the thermoelectric conversion element module 7, a plurality of plate-like thermoelectric conversion elements, each having an independent power generation capability, are overlapped via a heat transfer grease and electrically connected, and the output of each thermoelectric conversion element is combined. It is formed so that it can be taken out as an output of the thermoelectric conversion element module 7.
Then, of the plurality of stacked thermoelectric conversion elements, the thermoelectric conversion element is disposed closer to the heat exchanger 9 (farther side) than the thermoelectric conversion element disposed closer to the cooling vessel 10 (closer to the low-temperature substance holding member). The area of the thermoelectric conversion element is configured to be larger.

As the material of the thermoelectric conversion element, a material mainly composed of BiTe, which is easily available and excellent in characteristics, and a material mainly composed of inexpensive FeSi are preferably used. May be used. Further, the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 may be single, but if a plurality of thermoelectric conversion modules 7 are arranged between the cooling vessel 10 and the heat exchanger 9, more electric power can be obtained, It is possible to obtain a strong wind force using a powerful electric motor with a large electric power.

In the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a thermoelectric conversion element module 7 composed of three thermoelectric conversion elements is housed in each of four housing holes 8 provided in the partition 6 in two rows and two columns. Things. FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the partition wall 6 and the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 as viewed from above. The cooling container 10 as a low-temperature substance holding member vertically penetrates the upper housing 1, and has an opening 11 facing the upper surface of the upper housing 1. The low-temperature substance 12 is stored in the inside of the cooling container 10 from the opening 11 and is sealed by the heat-insulating lid 13. A plate 14 is attached to the lid 13 via a spring 15 toward the inside of the cooling container 10. As a result, even when ice-like material that deforms as it melts is used as the low-temperature substance 12, the low-temperature substance 12 is always pressed against the bottom of the cooling vessel 10, so that
Heat transfer between the thermoelectric conversion module 12 and the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 can be continuously and stably performed.

A cooling fin 16 for promoting heat exchange with air is attached to the outer surface of the cooling vessel 10 so as to be substantially parallel to the axial direction of the upper housing 1. Cold substance 12
For example, a cold storage material made of inexpensive and easily available ice or a polyvinyl alcohol gel that can be repeatedly reused may be used. Ice may be used by storing commercially available block ice or the like in the cooling container 10, and the regenerator material may be sealed in a dedicated container, frozen in a freezer or the like, and stored in the cooling container 10. .

An electric motor 17 is provided in the blower port 5 provided in the upper housing 1 so that the axial direction of its output shaft coincides with the axial direction of the upper housing 1. A blower fan 18 is attached to the output shaft so as to generate an airflow from the inside to the outside of the upper housing 1 by the rotation thereof.
A hood 19 that protects the outer periphery of the blower fan 18 and regulates the blow direction is attached to the blower opening 5.

The electric motor 17 is a thermoelectric conversion element module 7
And is rotated using electric power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 as a power supply. As the electric motor 17, an efficient DC motor using a strong Nd-Fe-B magnet is preferably used.
A magnet using a Co-based magnet or a ferrite-based magnet may be used.

Next, the operation will be described. When the low-temperature substance 12 is stored inside the cooling container 10, one surface of the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 is cooled, and a temperature difference is generated between the other surface maintained at the temperature of the air by the heat exchanger 9. . Thereby, electric power is generated in the thermoelectric conversion element module 7. At this time, only one thermoelectric conversion element is connected to the cooling vessel 10 and the heat exchanger 9.
In this configuration, the distance between the cooling vessel 10 and the heat exchanger 9 is short, and the heat exchanger 9 is cooled at a stroke. Power may not be obtained.

In this respect, in the configuration using the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 formed by stacking a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements, a sufficient distance between the cooling vessel 10 and the heat exchanger 9 can be ensured. Further, in a configuration in which the area of the thermoelectric conversion element disposed on the heat exchanger 9 side is larger than that of the thermoelectric conversion element disposed on the cooling vessel 10 side, the contact area becomes closer to the heat exchanger 9 side. The heat exchange is performed smoothly because of the large size. For this reason, the temperature difference ΔT between both surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 is maintained at a sufficient level, and power generation can be continued.

Each of the thermoelectric conversion elements constituting the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 generates electric power in accordance with the temperature difference between both surfaces, and the total is the total of the thermoelectric conversion element modules 7.
Power generation. When electric power is supplied to the electric motor 17 from the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 and the blower fan 18 attached to the output shaft of the electric motor 17 rotates, the electric power is supplied from the intake port 4 to the lower housing 2 as shown in FIG. Inhaled, communication path 3
Then, the air enters the upper housing 1 via the air outlet 5 and is generated from the air outlet 5.

The air sucked from the air inlet 4 first exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 9 inside the lower housing 2. The air is preliminarily cooled by this heat exchange. On the other hand, when the temperature of the heat exchanger 9 approaches the air temperature, the temperature difference ΔT between both surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 is maintained, and power generation is continued. The air that has passed through the heat exchanger 9 inside the lower housing 2 enters the upper housing 1 through the communication passage 3. The lower housing 2 and the communication passage 3 correspond to an intake passage.

The air entering the upper housing 1 from the communication passage 3 is
4 flows along the path indicated by the arrow in FIG. Through this process, the upper and lower housings 1 and 2 and the communication passage 3
In other words, the function of thermally shutting down the inside of the cooler 12 from the outside and suppressing the temperature rise of the low-temperature substance 12 as much as possible also serves to maintain the operation of the cooler for a longer time.

As described above, the sucked air is efficiently cooled at the two places of the heat exchanger 9 and the cooling vessel 10, while
Since the temperature difference ΔT between both surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion element module 7 is also maintained, the cool air can be continuously supplied until the temperature of the low-temperature substance 12 reaches the air temperature. In an experiment using 500 g of ice as a low-temperature substance, cold air of about 5 ° C. could be continuously supplied at an air temperature of 30 ° C. for 90 minutes.

This cooler does not require an external power supply and has a simple and lightweight structure, so that it is easy to carry and use outdoors. Further, since only the blower fan 18 performs a mechanical operation, there is no noise and the device can be used without being limited in time and place. If the lower housing 2, the communication passage 3, and the side walls of the upper housing 1 that form the airflow passage are designed to have appropriate curved surfaces, the resistance and stagnation of air inside the cooler can be reduced. Thus, the cool air can be supplied more efficiently.

[0028]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a comfortable and cool air can be obtained only with a low-temperature substance without using a dry cell or an external power supply with a simple and lightweight structure. Therefore, an effect of being easy to carry and use outdoors can be obtained. In addition, since there is no noise generated by the compressor of the apparatus using the vapor compression refrigeration, there is also an effect that cold air can be obtained regardless of place and time. further,
Since an environmentally harmful refrigerant such as Freon is not required, there is also an effect that environmental destruction can be prevented as much as possible.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the surface of the thermoelectric conversion element on the heat exchanger side can be maintained at the temperature of air, and the temperature difference from the surface on the side cooled by the low-temperature substance can be maintained. There is an effect that the thermoelectric conversion and the supply of the cool air can be stably performed. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the air preliminarily cooled by the heat exchanger is further cooled, there is an effect that cold air at a lower temperature can be efficiently obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by improving the heat transfer efficiency with the grease-like heat conductive material, it is possible to improve the supply time of the cool air by the same amount of the low-temperature substance. There is. Further, according to the invention according to claim 5, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements can be arranged in a narrow space, and there is an effect that larger power can be obtained. Further, since the distance between the low-temperature substance holding member and the heat exchanger is increased and the temperature difference is maintained, there is also an effect that stable power generation is performed.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the heat exchange between the thermoelectric conversion elements has a difference corresponding to each contact area. The temperature difference between the surface arranged on the near side and the surface arranged on the farthest side increases, and there is an effect that efficient and stable power generation can be performed. Further, according to the invention according to claim 7, there is an effect that more electric power can be obtained and more powerful cold air can be supplied.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the fin-shaped heat exchanger provided on the outer surface of the low-temperature substance holding member can improve the cooling efficiency of air and obtain colder cold air. effective. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the use of ice has an effect that a low-temperature substance can be easily and inexpensively obtained.

Further, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that a regenerator material made of polyvinyl alcohol gel or the like can be regenerated in a freezer or the like and used repeatedly. Further, the invention according to claim 11 has an effect that implementation is facilitated by using a thermoelectric conversion element containing BiTe as a main component, which is easily available on the market and has excellent thermoelectric conversion characteristics.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the use of a thermoelectric conversion element containing FeSi as a main component, which is less expensive, has an effect that a cooler can be provided at low cost. Further, in the invention according to claim 13, by using a high-efficiency thermoelectric conversion element whose crystal is a compound having a skutterudite structure as a main component, it is possible to improve the supply time of cold air with the same amount of low-temperature substance. There is an effect that can be.

In the invention according to claim 14, Nd-F
With a DC motor using an eB magnet, there is an effect that a strong wind power can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing one configuration example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an arrangement of a partition and a thermoelectric conversion element module.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the flow of air inside the upper housing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper case 2 Lower case 3 Communication path 4 Inlet 5 Inlet 6 Inlet 6 Partition wall 7 Thermoelectric conversion element module 9 Heat exchanger 10 Cooling container 12 Low temperature substance 16 Cooling fin 17 Electric motor 18 Blow fan

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A plate-like thermoelectric conversion element for generating electric power by a temperature difference between both surfaces, a low-temperature substance holding member arranged to be heat-exchangeable with one surface of the thermoelectric conversion element and capable of holding a low-temperature substance therein; An electric motor that is rotated by electric power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element due to the heat exchange, and a blower fan attached to an output shaft of the electric motor;
A cold air blower, wherein the low-temperature substance holding member is arranged in a passage of an airflow generated by rotation of the blower fan. 2. The other surface of the thermoelectric conversion element is disposed so as to face the outside of the airflow path, and heat exchange between the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion element cooled by the low-temperature substance and air is promoted. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger. 3. The air cooler according to claim 2, further comprising an intake passage for guiding air cooled by heat exchange with the heat exchanger to an inlet of the airflow passage. 4. A low-temperature substance holding member, a thermoelectric conversion element, and a heat exchanger, wherein each member is closely attached via a grease-like heat conductive material. 3. The cooler according to 3. 5. The cool air blower according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said thermoelectric conversion elements are arranged in an overlapping manner. 6. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements have a larger area than those arranged closer to said low-temperature substance holding member than those arranged farther. 5. The cooler according to 5. 7. The cool air blower according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the thermoelectric conversion elements are arranged side by side in the same plane. 8. A fin-shaped heat exchanger projecting from an outer surface of said low-temperature substance holding member, said fin-shaped heat exchanger being substantially parallel to a direction of passage of an airflow generated by rotation of said blower fan. Item 8. The cooler according to any one of Items 7. 9. The cold air blower according to claim 1, wherein the low-temperature substance is ice. 10. The cool air blower according to claim 1, wherein the low-temperature substance is a cold storage material. 11. The cool air blower according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric conversion element has BiTe as a main component. 12. The cool air blower according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric conversion element has FeSi as a main component. 13. The cool air blower according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric conversion element has a crystal containing a compound having a skutterudite structure as a main component. . 14. The cool air blower according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor is a DC motor using an Nd—Fe—B-based magnet as its magnet.