KR101674386B1 - Thermoelectric modules for instant hot and cold - Google Patents

Thermoelectric modules for instant hot and cold Download PDF

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Publication number
KR101674386B1
KR101674386B1 KR1020150047775A KR20150047775A KR101674386B1 KR 101674386 B1 KR101674386 B1 KR 101674386B1 KR 1020150047775 A KR1020150047775 A KR 1020150047775A KR 20150047775 A KR20150047775 A KR 20150047775A KR 101674386 B1 KR101674386 B1 KR 101674386B1
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South Korea
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thermoelectric module
switch
thermoelectric
module part
present
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KR1020150047775A
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Korean (ko)
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KR20160119413A (en
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권택율
윤영균
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리빙케어소재기술(주)
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    • H01L35/30—
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D35/00—Filtering devices having features not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00, or for applications not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00; Auxiliary devices for filtration; Filter housing constructions
    • B01D35/18—Heating or cooling the filters
    • H01L35/32—

Abstract

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a miniaturized thermoelectric module and a water purifier provided with a cold / hot water function, Extraction saves power.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a thermoelectric module for instantaneous cold / hot water capable of always drinking clean water without having a cold water reservoir, and capable of controlling a desired temperature of cold and hot water.

Description

[0001] Thermoelectric modules for instant hot and cold [

The present invention relates to a thermoelectric module for instantaneous cold / hot water, and more particularly, to a thermoelectric module for instantaneous cold / hot water that is installed in an electronic product such as a water purifier or the like to instantaneously supply cold water and hot water.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as the size of electronic products has been gradually reduced, various components accommodated therein have also been required to be reduced in size. As the size of water purifiers that have been released recently is getting smaller, the function is the same as existing ones, or the demand is rising due to superiority of existing ones. Such a water purifier typically has a water storage tank for storing water, and the water storage tank is provided with a cooling device for cooling the stored water to cool water. Since the size of the cooling device is influenced by the size of the electronic product, a thin cooling device is applied when considering the size.

A technology related to such a cooling device has been proposed in Patent Registration No. 0884645. [ The above-mentioned prior art relates to an instantaneous cooling device for a water purifier, and is a technique for cooling water by a cooling coil. However, the instantaneous cooling device for the water purifier has a problem in that the volume of a refrigerant supply-related accessory for cooling water is increased and the amount of electricity consumed by driving the cooling coil is increased. Further, due to the characteristics of a water purifier, the quality of water stored in the cooling tank is deteriorated with time after the cooling tank is provided.

Korean Registered Patent No. 10-0884645 (registered on February 22, 2009)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a miniaturized thermoelectric module and a water purifier provided with a cold / hot water function, Extraction saves power.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a thermoelectric module for instantaneous cold / hot water capable of always drinking clean water without having a cold water reservoir, and capable of controlling a desired temperature of the hot / cold water.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a thermoelectric module for cooling or heating water flowing in a flow path of the present invention, comprising: a first thermoelectric module part having a plurality of thermoelectric modules connected in series; A first switch provided at one end of the first thermoelectric module; A second thermoelectric module part having a plurality of thermoelectric modules connected in series; A second switch provided at one end of the second thermoelectric module; A module connection switch for connecting the first thermoelectric module part and the second thermoelectric module part; And a polarity switching control unit for switching a polarity of a voltage applied to the first thermoelectric module unit and the second thermoelectric module unit.

In this case, the thermoelectric module is short-circuited with the first switch and the second switch, and the module connection switch is connected, so that the first thermoelectric module part and the second thermoelectric module part are connected in series.

Also, the thermoelectric module is connected to the first switch and the second switch, and the module connection switch is short-circuited, so that the first thermoelectric module part and the second thermoelectric module part are connected in parallel.

The thermoelectric module may further include: P-type and N-type devices sequentially arranged; a coating layer formed on both surfaces of the P-type and N-type devices; an electrode interposed between the P- And a bonding layer interposed between the both-side coating layer of the P-type and N-type elements and both surfaces of the electrode to temporarily fix the electrode.

Also, the pole switching control unit may switch the series-parallel connection of the first thermoelectric module unit and the second thermoelectric module unit by controlling connection or short-circuit of the first switch, the second switch and the module connection switch, And the polarity of the voltage applied to the first thermoelectric module part and the second thermoelectric module part is switched.

The thermoelectric module may further include a crack preventing structure for preventing the thermoelectric module from cracking.

The crack preventing structure may further include: a grid frame having a minimum insulating distance; An SUS plate having an electrolytic polishing structure; And a drinking water jacket having an escape hole to which the electrolytic polishing structure is fastened.

According to the present invention, when a miniaturized thermoelectric module is implemented and applied to a water purifier provided with a cold / hot water function, a miniaturized water purifier or the like can be realized, and power can be saved by extracting cold water and hot water only when necessary.

Further, since it is not necessary to provide a cold water reservoir, it is possible to always drink clean water, and it is possible to control the temperature of the desired cold / hot water

1 is a side view of a thermoelectric module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a circuit diagram of a thermoelectric module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a circuit diagram of a thermoelectric module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a bridge rectifier circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a diagram illustrating a power factor compensation circuit and an output waveform according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a diagram illustrating a linearly enhanced output waveform according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a view showing an internal pattern of a conventional thermoelectric module.
9 is a view showing an internal pattern of a thermoelectric module ensuring an insulation distance according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a view showing an embodiment of a thermoelectric module having a crack preventing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a view showing an internal configuration of a thermoelectric module having a crack preventing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a view showing the fastening of the SUS plate having the electrolytic polishing structure and the thermoelectric module according to the embodiment of the present invention.
13 is a view showing a crack preventing escape hole by the electrolytic polishing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, specific values are only examples.

1 is a side view of a thermoelectric module of the present invention.

When power is applied to the thermoelectric module 110, heat is absorbed at one joint portion and heat is dissipated at the other joint portion according to the Peltier effect. Here, the thermoelectric module 110 is an eco-friendly energy material capable of converting heat energy and electric energy. The thermoelectric module 110 is composed of p-type and n-type thermoelectric semiconductors in chip form and electrically connected in series via a ceramic substrate such as alumina . Particularly, when electric energy is applied to the thermoelectric module 110, the charge (electrons, holes) in the thermoelectric module 110 absorbs heat energy from one end of the thermoelectric module 110 and moves to the opposite surface, One side of the heat sink 110 is cooled and the other side is heat generated. Accordingly, the direction of charge can be controlled by changing the polarities of the positive and negative electrodes to which power is applied, so that cooling and heat generation of the thermoelectric module 110 can be controlled.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermoelectric module 110 includes upper and lower electrodes 112 and 114, upper and lower bonding layers 112a and 114a, upper and lower coating layers 112b and 114b, 116 and the P-type element 118, and it is preferable to increase the temperature difference between the heat absorbing surface and the heat generating surface in order to maximize the amount of current generation.

The thermoelectric module 110 of the present invention is formed in such a structure that an upper coating layer 112b, an upper bonding layer 112a and an upper electrode 112 are sequentially stacked on the upper surfaces of an N type device 116 and a P type device 118 And a lower coating layer 114b, a lower bonding layer 114a and a lower electrode 114 are sequentially stacked on the bottom surfaces of the N-type device 116 and the P-type device 118. [

The upper and lower electrodes 112 and 114 are formed of a material such as copper (oxygen free copper) or the like and can be changed to a material excellent in electricity and thermal conductivity, and the anode and the cathode are connected to the lower electrode 114 . The polarity connected to the lower electrode 114 can change the polarity depending on the application of cooling and heat generation . Such pole switching will be described later with reference to FIG. The N-type device 116 and the P-type device 118 are sequentially provided between the upper and lower electrodes 112 and 114 so as to be electrically connected to the upper and lower electrodes 112 and 114, And connected in series. At this time, the coating layers 112b and 114b are formed on both sides of the N-type device 116 and the P-type device 118 to improve adhesion with the upper and lower electrodes 112 and 114, 116 and the P-type device 118 and the upper and lower electrodes 112, 114, respectively. In this way, the N-type device 116 and the P-type device 118 are alternately disposed and arranged on both surfaces of the N-type device 116 and the P-type device 118 via the upper and lower electrodes 112, And connection shapes through the upper and lower electrodes 112 and 114 may be arranged in a staggered shape to widen the temperature transfer area.

Fig. 2 shows a circuit configuration of the thermoelectric module in the instant cooling of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the embodiment of the present invention includes a first thermoelectric module part 120 having a plurality of thermoelectric modules 110 connected in series, a second thermoelectric module part 120 having on And a first switch 140 for controlling the first thermoelectric module 130 and the second thermoelectric module 130. The plurality of thermoelectric modules 110 are connected in series to the second thermoelectric module 130 and the second thermoelectric module 130, The first switch 140 and the second switch 150 are provided at the front ends of the first and second thermoelectric module units 120 and 120 to control the current between the first thermoelectric module unit 120 and the second thermoelectric module unit 130, And a module connection switch 160.

In order to make the thermoelectric module 110 having the above-described configuration generate the heat required for the instantaneous cooling operation, a power of about 800 to 1200 W based on power consumption is required. However, about 2200 ~ 2600W of electric power is required for the heating operation. When the thermoelectric module 110 is used for cooling, the first switch 140 and the second switch 150 are opened and the module connection switch 160 is closed, And a series connection in which a current flows from the anode of the module section to the cathode of the second module section, so that the thermoelectric module 110 can perform the instantaneous cooling operation.

3 shows a circuit configuration of the thermoelectric module at the time of heat generation according to the present invention.

In Fig. 3, the configuration of each part is the same as that of each part in Fig. 2, the first switch 140 and the second switch 150 are closed and the module connection switch 160 is turned off because the heat required for the heat generation can not be satisfied. Is opened so that the first module unit and the second module unit are operated in parallel. In parallel connection, the applied voltage per thermoelectric module 110 is twice that of the series connection, and the total current in parallel is also doubled, so that the heat required for hot water extraction can be met. At this time. It is possible to generate heat in the same circuit by switching the electrodes of the thermoelectric module 110 to the opposite direction of cooling.

4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the apparatus of the present invention. 4, the pole switching control unit 200 controls connection and short-circuit of the first switch 140, the second switch 150 and the module connecting switch 160 so that the first thermoelectric module 120 and the second thermoelectric module Parallel connection of the controller 130 can be controlled. The direction of the voltage applied to the first thermoelectric module 120 and the second thermoelectric module 130 is controlled through the first switch 140 and the second switch 150 so that the first thermoelectric module 120, The thermoelectric module 130 can be operated as a cooling or an exothermic heat. In this case, if the user extracts the cold water, the pole switching control unit 200 switches the pole switching circuit in series (for example, And the cold water can be extracted by applying a forward voltage. Likewise, if the user extracts the hot water, the hot water can be extracted by connecting the hot water in parallel in the polarity switching control unit 200 and applying the reverse voltage.

The cooling and heating configuration using the thermoelectric module 110 and the pole switching by the pole switching control unit 200 have been described above. However, in order to commercialize the thermoelectric module 110, it is necessary to compensate the power factor. To be exported to most countries overseas, the power factor must be 90% or more. To increase the power factor, it is necessary to remove elements such as capacitors. When the capacitor is removed, considerable ripple occurs at the output DC voltage, so the quality of the DC voltage is lowered and cold water of the desired temperature can not be realized.

Therefore, in order to configure the thermoelectric module power source that meets the power factor standard, the capacitor is removed and a high-quality DC is outputted by applying the PFC Power Factor Correction, so that instantaneous cooling (800 W to 1200 W) by the thermoelectric module 110, . In case of heat generation, the power of 2200W ~ 2600W can be realized by using the bridge diode rectification method. An embodiment to which the power factor correction circuit is applied will be described later with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a bridge rectifier circuit. The bridge rectifier circuit is a circuit that converts AC to DC. The input voltage represents the sinusoidal waveform, while the output waveform represents the polarized output waveform as it is converted from AC to DC. When the thermoelectric module generates heat, joule heat generated from the circuit is added in addition to the exothermic power, so that even a low DC voltage due to the ripple exhibits sufficient performance. However, in case of cold water, it is difficult to exert its performance by DC voltage due to ripple. Therefore, a linear output waveform can be obtained through the power factor correction circuit of FIG. 7 shows an output waveform that is linearly improved by compensating the output waveform and the power factor of the bridge rectifier circuit.

In order to realize instantaneous cooling, a large number of thermoelectric modules 110 of 8 to 12 or more are required. In order to reduce the size of the thermoelectric module 110 while satisfying the number of the thermoelectric modules 110, the size of the thermoelectric module 110 must be small. In addition, the thermal capacity of the thermal load must be small for instantaneous cooling. Therefore, the miniaturized thermoelectric module 110 according to the present invention has a small contact area with the object, so that the thermal capacity of the object is reduced and the object can be cooled quickly.

However, in order to use instantaneous cooling and instantaneous hot water through the thermoelectric module 110 used for cooling or generating heat, a large power source is required. In particular, the DC voltage needs to be supplied due to the characteristics of the thermoelectric module 110. If a conventional SMPS (Switching Mode Power Supply) is used, fabrication cost increases and mass production is impossible. However, if the AC and DC of the present invention are directly converted and rectified and supplied, the manufacturing cost can be made such that mass production is possible. At this time, if insulation is formed in the power supply part, manufacturing cost is increased, so that a minimum insulation distance of 4 mm or more can be ensured in the thermoelectric module 110 as a load, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. In addition, since the thermoelectric module 110 must be prevented from cracking during the assembly process, a special structure for assembling the thermoelectric module 110 is required. This can reduce the manufacturing cost by securing the insulation distance. However, since the insulation distance of 4 mm is an empty space having no member for supporting the thermoelectric module, the structure is required to prevent cracks because it becomes vulnerable to cracks.

Fig. 8 shows a thermoelectric module internal pattern of the thermoelectric module of the prior art. As described above, securing the insulation distance is indispensable in the case of the thermoelectric module for instantaneous cooling. However, since the insulation pattern of the thermoelectric module inner pattern of the prior art has only an insulation distance of 2 mm, additional insulation must be formed. On the other hand, the present invention is constituted by a thermoelectric module inner pattern securing an insulation distance as shown in FIG. The thermoelectric module internal pattern of Fig. 9 secures the minimum insulation distance 901 of 4 mm. The minimum insulation distance 901 ensures space flexibility in the power supply design as well as the effects described above.

Hereinafter, the crack preventing structure of the thermoelectric module will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 13. FIG.

 10 and 11 are views showing an embodiment of a thermoelectric module including a crack preventing structure of a thermoelectric module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The grid frame 101 of FIG. 10 is used to prevent cracking of the thermoelectric module 110 as described above, and has an effect of dispersing the fastening pressure during assembly. A water drinking water jacket 102 and an SUS plate 103 are provided at the lower end of the grid frame 101 and a thermoelectric module 110 and a water jacket 104 are disposed at the lower end of the SUS plate 103. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the radiating water jacket 104. Fig. Figs. 12 and 13 are views showing a crack preventing structure of the thermoelectric module, showing a crack preventing coupling structure of the thermoelectric module 110, the SUS plate 103, and the drinking water jacket 102. Fig. The SUS plate 103 is smaller in size than the thermoelectric module 110 and has an electrolytic polishing structure 103a. 13, the electrolytic polishing structure 103a is fastened to the escape hole 102a of the drinking water jacket 102 so that the escape hole 102a is formed in the thermoelectric module 110 by the electrolytic polishing structure 103a Cracks can be prevented.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, such as specific elements, and specific embodiments and drawings. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above- And various modifications and changes may be made thereto by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

Accordingly, the spirit of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described, and all of the equivalents or equivalents of the claims, as well as the following claims, belong to the scope of the present invention .

Claims (7)

1. A thermoelectric module for cooling or heating water flowing in a flow path,
A first thermoelectric module part having a plurality of thermoelectric modules connected in series;
A first switch provided at one end of the first thermoelectric module part;
A second thermoelectric module part having a plurality of thermoelectric modules connected in series;
A second switch provided at one end of the second thermoelectric module part;
A module connection switch for connecting the first thermoelectric module part and the second thermoelectric module part;
And
And a polarity switching control unit for switching a polarity of a voltage applied to the first thermoelectric module unit and the second thermoelectric module unit,
A crack preventing structure for preventing cracks in the thermoelectric module,
A grid frame having a minimum isolation distance; An SUS plate having an electrolytic polishing structure; And a drinking water jacket having an escape hole to which the electrolytic polishing structure is fastened.
The method according to claim 1,
The thermoelectric module includes:
Wherein the first switch and the second switch are short-circuited, and the module connecting switch is connected, and the first thermoelectric module part and the second thermoelectric module part are connected in series. The method according to claim 1,
The thermoelectric module includes:
Wherein the first switch and the second switch are connected, and the module connection switch is short-circuited, so that the first thermoelectric module part and the second thermoelectric module part are connected in parallel. The method according to claim 1,
The thermoelectric module includes:
And a coating layer formed on both sides of the P-type and N-type elements, an electrode interposed between the P-type and the N-type elements in an interlocking manner, and a P-type and N- And a bonding layer interposed between the both-side coating layer and both surfaces of the electrode to temporarily fix the electrode. The method according to claim 1,
The pole switching control unit,
Parallel connection of the first thermoelectric module part and the second thermoelectric module part is controlled by controlling connection or short-circuit of the first switch, the second switch and the module connection switch, And the polarity of the voltage applied to the second thermoelectric module part is switched.

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KR1020150047775A 2015-04-03 2015-04-03 Thermoelectric modules for instant hot and cold KR101674386B1 (en)

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KR101953010B1 (en) * 2017-03-13 2019-02-27 두산중공업 주식회사 Additional generating apparatus and steam turbine having the same

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100884645B1 (en) 2007-04-30 2009-02-23 웅진코웨이주식회사 Instantaneous Cooling System for Water Purifier
KR101363973B1 (en) * 2011-12-12 2014-02-18 주식회사 엠아이서진 Dual thermalelectric system
KR101498047B1 (en) * 2013-04-19 2015-03-11 주식회사 리빙케어 Cooling device for instant cold water

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