KR20100078596A - Cooling and heating box for a vehicle using thermoelectric element module and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A cooling/heating box for a vehicle using a thermoelectric element module and a control method thereof are provided to protect a thermoelectric element module from the thermal shock due to a sharp temperature change by supplying power to a cooling/heating box if the temperature difference between both ends of the thermoelectric element module reaches an acceptable range. CONSTITUTION: A cooling/heating box for a vehicle using a thermoelectric element module comprises a thermoelectric element module(40), a controller(30), and a thermocouple(20). The thermoelectric element module is formed by alternately arranging a N-type semiconductor thermoelectric element and a P-type semiconductor thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element module is serially connected, supplies heat to or absorbs it from the cooling/heating box. The thermocouple generates the current depending on the temperature difference between both ends of the thermoelectric element module. The controller determines whether to switch a function depending on the temperature difference between both ends of the thermoelectric element module. The controller measures the current flowing through the thermocouple and calculates the temperature difference between both ends of the thermoelectric element module. The controller is formed to determine whether to switch the function depending on the temperature calculated.

Description

Cooling and heating box for a vehicle using thermoelectric element module and its control method

The present invention relates to a cold and cold refrigerator for a car using a thermoelectric module, and more particularly, when the function is switched from a refrigerator to a warmer, and from a warmer to a refrigerator in a cold or cold storage for the car, measuring the temperature difference across the thermoelectric module Therefore, if the temperature difference is larger than the allowable range, the power supply of the cold and cold cabinet is cut off, and when the temperature difference is within the allowable range, the power is supplied to the cold and cold cabinet to prevent the thermoelectric module from being thermally shocked by the sudden temperature change. It relates to a cold and cold refrigerator for cars using the thermoelectric module and a control method thereof.

Recently produced cars are equipped with cold and cold storage to store a simple drink can or a small amount of food, which is mainly shown in the glove box (G) located in front of the passenger seat, or in the center of all seats It is installed in the interior space of the console box (C) located or the armrest (A) located in the center of the rear seat, and is installed in the interior space of the armrest disclosed in the Patent Application Publication No. 2007-69058 Explain based on cold and hot.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the invention disclosed in the document. The cold / cold storage 100 includes a storage compartment 112 having one side open, a cover 120 for opening and closing an opening of the storage compartment 112, and the storage compartment 112. The thermoelectric module 140 is installed at the lower portion of the, and the duct 130 is installed outside the thermoelectric module 140 to intake / discharge heat from the thermoelectric module 140 or from the thermoelectric module 140 And an exhaust fan 150 that draws in / out air in the duct 130 to the inside and outside of the vehicle.

If the user wants to use the cold or cold storage 110 having the structure as described above from the refrigerator to the refrigerator or warmer from the refrigerator to the refrigerator when the user presses the function switch button (or function selection button) The polarity of the supplied power is reversed, so that the function of the thermoelectric module 140, which absorbs heat on one side and heat radiation on the other side (or vice versa), is immediately switched.

When the polarity of the power supplied to the thermoelectric module 140 is suddenly reversed by the above operation, a significant thermal shock is applied to the thermoelectric module 140 by a significant temperature difference between both ends of the thermoelectric module 140. This is not only a cause of failure of the thermoelectric module 140, which is a key component of the cold and warm storage 110, but also a cause of shortening of life.

In addition, regardless of switching power to change the function, the function switch button is operated by a curious children irrelevant, even in this case a significant thermal shock to the thermoelectric module 140 by a sudden function switching operation Will be added.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of a cold and cold refrigerator for a vehicle using the conventional thermoelectric module as described above, the present invention is to supply power directly to the thermoelectric module during the switching operation when the function of the cold and hot refrigerator is switched The thermoelectric module that calculates the temperature difference across the thermoelectric module without supplying it and supplies power to the cold and hot storage room only when the temperature difference reaches the allowable range so that the thermoelectric module can be protected from thermal shock due to rapid temperature change. An object of the present invention is to provide a cold and cold refrigerator for a car and a control method thereof.

An object of the present invention as described above is to calculate the temperature difference between the both ends of the thermoelectric module 40 without supplying to the cold and hot storage by immediately changing the polarity of the power supply when the signal is switched to the function by pressing the function switching button Only when the temperature difference is within the allowable range is it then achieved by supplying the power by changing the polarity of the power supply.

According to the present invention, when the signal is switched by pressing a function switch button, the polarity of the power supply is immediately changed, and the temperature difference is calculated between both ends of the thermoelectric module 40 without supplying power to the cold / heat storage cabinet. Can only eliminate the cause of failure and shorten the life cycle by minimizing the heat load on the thermoelectric module which is the core part of the cold and cold cabinet by changing the polarity of the power supply and supplying power to the cold and cold cabinet. have.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the configuration and embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a side cross-sectional view of a cold and cold refrigerator for a vehicle using a thermoelectric module according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a configuration of the main part of a cold and cold refrigerator for a vehicle using a thermoelectric module according to an embodiment of the present invention, 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the function switching operation of the cold and hot refrigerator of the present invention.

3 to 5 together, the cold and cold refrigerator 50 for a vehicle using a thermoelectric module according to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage compartment 52 for storing a small amount of food, and opening and closing the storage compartment 52 A cover 54, a thermoelectric module 40 installed at a lower portion of the storage chamber 52 to supply or absorb heat to the storage chamber 52, and installed to surround an outside of the thermoelectric module 40. A duct 56 for discharging heat generated from the thermoelectric module 40 or supplying heat to the thermoelectric module, a thermocouple 20 for measuring current at both ends of the thermoelectric module 40, and the thermocouple It is connected to the (20) and measures the current flowing from the thermocouple 20 and calculates the temperature difference, and according to the result includes a controller (30) to determine whether to supply the power of the polarity is changed to the cold or hot refrigerator (50).

The storage compartment 52 for storing a small amount of food therein is usually a glove box G located in front of the passenger seat, a console box C located at the center of all seats, or an armrest A located at the center of the back seat. Is installed in the interior space of the storage compartment 52, the outside is filled with a heat insulating material to minimize the change in the temperature inside the storage compartment 52 by heat transfer to the surroundings.

A cover 54 for opening and closing the storage compartment 52 is installed at an upper portion of the storage compartment 52 so that food and the like stored in the storage compartment 52 can be easily withdrawn. A heat is stored in the storage compartment 52 at the lower portion of the storage compartment 52. A thermoelectric module 40 for supplying or absorbing is installed.

In the thermoelectric module 40, as shown in FIG. 4, an N-type semiconductor thermoelectric element and a P-type semiconductor thermoelectric element are alternately arranged, and these semiconductor thermoelectric elements are electrically connected in series. And the lower electrode connecting plate 42a and the lower electrode connecting plate 42b are alternately attached to the surface of the semiconductor thermoelectric element by soldering on the lower surface, respectively, so as to be connected in series with the semiconductor thermoelectric elements. The DC power is supplied through the lower electrode heat insulating plate 42b positioned at the left and right ends thereof.

Metalized ceramic substrates 44a and 44b are provided outside the upper electrode connecting plate 42a and the lower electrode connecting plate 42b, respectively, and these semiconductor thermoelements, the upper and lower electrode connecting plates 42a and 42b, and The ceramic substrates 44a and 44b are assembled together to constitute the thermoelectric module 40.

When the DC power is supplied by connecting a wire to the thermoelectric module 40 having the above configuration, heat is generated or absorbed. This will be described below.

First, when the DC power is supplied such that the N-type semiconductor side becomes + (plus) and the P-type semiconductor side becomes-(minus) when power is supplied through the lower electrodes at the left and right ends of the thermoelectric module 40. Current flows from the N-type semiconductor device to the P-type semiconductor device, and the thermoelectric element is caused by the Peltier effect (a phenomenon in which heat is generated or absorbed at the junction of two metals when current flows by joining two kinds of metals). An endothermic reaction occurs in the upper part of the module, and an exothermic reaction occurs in the lower part.

On the contrary, if DC power is supplied such that the P-type semiconductor side becomes + (plus) and the N-type semiconductor side becomes-(minus) when supplying power to the thermoelectric element module, this time, the current flows from the P-type semiconductor element to N. It flows into the semiconductor device, the exothermic reaction occurs in the upper portion of the thermoelectric element module due to the Peltier effect and the endothermic reaction occurs in the lower portion.

In other words, in the case of an NP type semiconductor thermoelectric element supplying DC power such that an N-type semiconductor side is a + pole and a P-type semiconductor side is a-pole, the upper portion functions as a cooling junction (CJ). The lower part functions as a heating junction (HJ). On the contrary, when the power is supplied by changing the polarity of the power so that the P-type semiconductor side becomes the + pole and the N-type semiconductor side becomes the-pole, it becomes a PN-type semiconductor thermoelectric element. The positions and functions of the CJ and the heat-junction HJ are changed to each other.

The thermoelectric element module 40 having the above function is installed at the bottom side of the storage compartment 52 of the cold / cold storage 50 and heat or cold of high temperature generated from the thermoelectric element module 40 according to the flow direction of the current. It supplies to the storage chamber 52, and the cold air or high temperature heat discharged | emitted from this storage chamber 52 is discharge | released into the duct 56 by the heat radiation fin 48 provided in the opposite side.

In addition, the duct 56 installed at the lower portion of the storage compartment 52 to supply heat to the cold / cold storage 50 or to discharge heat generated from the cold / cold storage 50 may include a suction duct 56a connected to the indoor side and an outdoor side. It is composed of the exhaust duct 56b connected to communicate the interior side and the exterior side of the vehicle with each other.

For example, when the cold / hot refrigerator 50 having the structure as described above suddenly changes the polarity of the power supply when the refrigerator is functioning, that is, when the polarity of the power is changed to function as the warmer, the process described above is described. As described above, a thermal shock may be applied to the thermoelectric module 40.

Accordingly, the present invention measures the temperature difference between both ends of the thermoelectric module 40 to prevent thermal shock from being applied to the thermoelectric module 40 by suddenly changing its function from the refrigerator to the refrigerator or the refrigerator. When the temperature difference is within the allowable range, the power supply with the changed polarity is supplied to operate as the switched function.

To this end, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the sensing rods 22 and 24 of the thermocouple 20 are attached to upper and lower surfaces of the thermoelectric module 40, respectively, so that the upper and lower surface temperatures of the thermoelectric module 40 are installed. Measure the current due to the thermoelectric power generated by the difference.

In order to measure the temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the thermoelectric module 40, one temperature sensor may be attached to each of the upper and lower sides to calculate the temperature difference by the temperature detected from these temperature sensors. In the present invention, instead of using two temperature sensors as the temperature difference detecting means, a thermocouple 20 (thermocouple) in which thermoelectric power is generated in accordance with the temperature difference between both ends is used.

The controller 30 is connected to the thermocouple 20 to measure the current flowing through the thermocouple 20 to calculate the temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the thermoelectric module 40, and then determine whether the temperature difference is within the set allowable range If the temperature difference is larger than the allowable range, the power supply to the cold / hot refrigerator 50 is cut off, and when the temperature difference is within the allowable range, the polarity of the power is changed so that the function is switched so that the function is switched from the refrigerator to the refrigerator or to the refrigerator. Switch the function to work.

In this case, the current value generated by the thermocouple 20 may not only vary depending on the temperature difference, but also may vary depending on the wiring length, the method of installing the thermocouple, and the surrounding environment. By obtaining the "temperature-current value relation" according to the relationship between the temperature differences, and obtaining the temperature difference by this relation, the correct temperature difference is calculated.

The range of the allowable temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the thermoelectric module 40 may be different depending on the situation. However, if the allowable temperature range is too small, it takes a long time to reach the state, and thus the time required and the heat load. In consideration of this, it is preferable to set appropriately through experimentation, and the predetermined allowable temperature range should be input to the controller 30 in advance.

Hereinafter will be described a method for operating the cold and hot refrigerator of the present invention made as described above.

In general, the cold and hot refrigerator 50 using the thermoelectric module 40 is mainly used as a refrigerator in the summer and the warmer in the winter, when the cold and hot refrigerator 50 is used as a refrigerator, the temperature of the storage compartment 52 is generally used. Is -10 to -4 deg. C, and the temperature of the storage chamber 52 in the case of using for a warm storage is 50 to 60 deg.

Under these conditions, for example, when the user presses a function switch button (not shown) and selects a function switch to a warmer box (step S1), the controller 30 first thermocouples the module through the thermocouple 20. After calculating the temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces of 40 (step S2), it is determined whether the detected temperature difference is within the set allowable range (step S3), and if the calculated temperature difference is larger than the allowable range, the power supply to the refrigerator is cut off. do.

When the power is cut off, the temperature around the storage compartment, i.e., the indoor temperature of the vehicle, is higher than that, so that the temperature inside the storage compartment 52, which is in a low temperature state, gradually increases, and the temperature of the duct 56 side which is in a high temperature state gradually decreases. Accordingly, the temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the thermoelectric module 40 is reduced.

At this time, the controller 30 continuously monitors the temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the thermoelectric module 40 through the thermocouple 20, and repeats the above process if the temperature difference is still larger than the allowable range (step S4), and the temperature difference is allowed. If it is within the range, it is only then to supply power to the cold / hot refrigerator in reverse (step S5) so that it can now function as a warmer.

In the above description, for example, when the function of switching the cold / hot refrigerator 50 from the refrigerator to the warmer is described by way of example, the description thereof will be omitted since the same function and logic are performed when the function is switched from the refrigerator to the refrigerator.

1 is a schematic view showing that a cold and hot refrigerator is installed inside a typical vehicle;

Figure 2 is a side sectional view showing the internal configuration of a conventional cold and cold storage for cars,

Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a cold and cold refrigerator for cars using a thermoelectric module according to an embodiment of the present invention,

4 is a configuration of the main part of a cold and cold refrigerator for cars using a thermoelectric module according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 5 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the function switching operation of the cold and hot refrigerator of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

20: thermocouple 22, 24: sensing rod

30: controller 40: thermoelectric module

42a: upper electrode connecting plate 42b: lower electrode connecting plate

44a: upper ceramic substrate 44b: lower ceramic substrate

46: thermoelectric element 48: heat dissipation fin

50: cold storage 52: storage room

54: cover 56: duct

56a: suction duct 56b: discharge duct

58: exhaust fan

Claims (5)

Installed in the interior of the car in the cold and cold storage for cars using the thermoelectric module, An N-type semiconductor thermoelectric element and a P-type semiconductor thermoelectric element are alternately arranged and electrically connected in series to supply or absorb heat in the cold / hot refrigerator 50; Cold and cold storage for a vehicle using a thermoelectric module, characterized in that made of a controller 30 for determining whether to switch the function according to the temperature difference between the two ends of the thermoelectric module (40). The method according to claim 1, Further comprising a thermocouple 20 for generating a current in accordance with the temperature difference across the thermoelectric module 40, the controller 30 measures the current flowing through the thermocouple 20, the temperature difference across the thermoelectric module 40 The cold and cold refrigerator for cars using the thermoelectric module, characterized in that configured to determine whether to switch the function according to the calculated temperature. The method according to claim 2, The controller 30 cuts off the power supply when the temperature difference between both ends of the thermoelectric module 40 is greater than the allowable range, and supplies power by changing the polarity of the power when the temperature difference is within the allowable range. Cold and cold storage for cars. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The temperature difference between the thermoelectric module 40 is obtained from a "temperature-current value relationship" representing the relationship between the current and the temperature difference of the thermocouple 20, the cold and cold cabinet for a vehicle using a thermoelectric module. In the control method of the cold and cold storage for cars using the thermoelectric module installed in the interior of the car, Selecting a switching of the function by the user pressing the function switching button (S1); Calculating a temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the thermoelectric module 40 (S2); Determining whether the temperature difference is within a set allowable range (S3); Calculating a temperature difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the thermoelectric module 40 after the power supply is cut off when the temperature difference is larger than the allowable range (S4); If the temperature difference is within the allowable range control method of a cold and cold refrigerator for a vehicle using a thermoelectric module, characterized in that the step of supplying by changing the polarity of the power supply so that the function is switched.

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