KR20180061726A - Thermoelectric HVAC apparatus for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a thermoelectric HVAC apparatus for a motor vehicle, which can improve convective heat transfer efficiency of a thermoelement. The thermoelectric HVAC apparatus for a motor vehicle comprises: a housing of which the inside is separated by partition walls to be composed of an inbound chamber and an outbound chamber, wherein the inbound chamber introduces outdoor air to be sent to the inside of a motor vehicle, and the outbound chamber introduces indoor air of the motor vehicle to be discharged to the outside; and a thermoelement temperature control device interposed between the partition walls to absorb heat from any one and emit heat to the other one of the inbound chamber and the outbound chamber.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermoelectric HVAC apparatus for motor vehicles,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a thermoelement-type air conditioner for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a thermoelement-type air conditioner for a vehicle capable of increasing the efficiency of the thermoelement.

A thermoelectric element is a device that utilizes various effects caused by the interaction of heat and electricity. Typically, a Peltier element using a Peltier effect, which is a phenomenon in which heat is absorbed or generated by current, Belongs. When a plurality of n-type semiconductors and p-type semiconductors are connected in series and a current is applied to both ends of the thermoelectric elements, the holes move from one surface to the other surface of the thermoelectric element, and heat is generated on one surface and heat is generated on the other surface . In order to increase the efficiency of a thermoelectric device, heat transfer should be performed to the periphery by the convection in both the surface where the endotherm occurs (this is called the 'heat absorbing surface') and the surface where the heat is generated (this is called the 'heating surface'). Since the amount of heat transferred by the convection is proportional to the temperature difference between the solid interface and the fluid, the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element increases the efficiency of the thermoelectric element when the ambient air is warm, and the heat generating surface becomes cold when the ambient air is cold.

On the other hand, in recent years, attempts have been made to introduce thermoelectric elements into automotive air conditioners. However, when a thermoelectric element is installed in a closed space such as an air conditioner, it is structurally difficult to raise the ambient temperature of the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element and lower the ambient temperature of the heat generating surface. Therefore, the efficiency of the thermoelectric element is reduced and it is difficult to introduce it into the air conditioner for a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermoelectric-element air conditioner for a vehicle which can increase the efficiency of the thermoelectric element itself.

The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other matters not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermoelectric module air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a housing having an inner portion separated by a partition wall and including an inbound chamber and an outbound chamber, Wherein the outbound chamber includes a housing for introducing indoor air of the automobile and discharging it to the outside; And a thermoelectric element temperature regulator interposed in the partition wall, wherein either one of the inbound chamber and the outbound chamber absorbs heat and the other releases heat.

The thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device includes a thermoelectric element interposed between the partition walls to cause heat absorption and heat generation; An inbound pin disposed on one surface of the thermoelectric element and exposed to the inbound chamber and performing heat transfer to the outside air; And an outbound pin disposed on the other surface of the thermoelectric element and exposed to the outbound chamber and performing heat transfer to the room air.

The inbound pin and the outbound pin may be formed symmetrically with respect to the thermoelectric element.

And a power control module for controlling an application direction and on / off of a power applied to the thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device.

The thermoelectric-element temperature regulating apparatus can heat or cool the automobile interior according to the application direction of the power applied thereto.

The thermoelectric-element temperature regulator can adjust the temperature of the automobile room according to the on-off time of the power applied thereto.

A plurality of thermoelectric element temperature regulating devices may be combined in a matrix form to constitute a thermoelectric device assembly interposed in the barrier ribs.

The thermoelectric module assembly can individually control the temperature of the automobile room by individually turning on and off the thermoelectric device temperature adjusting devices constituting the thermoelectric device assembly.

The thermoelectric module assembly can control the temperature of the automobile interior by individually controlling the power application direction applied to each thermoelectric device temperature regulating device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermoelectric module air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a housing having an inner portion separated by a partition wall and including an inbound chamber and an outbound chamber, Wherein the outbound chamber includes a housing for introducing indoor air of the automobile and discharging it to the outside; And a thermoelectric element temperature regulator interposed in the partition wall, wherein either one of the inbound chamber and the outbound chamber absorbs heat and the other releases heat. Here, the partition may include a first partition adjacent to the inbound chamber, and a second partition adjacent to the outbound chamber spaced apart from the first partition and the space. The thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device may further include: a first thermoelectric element interposed in the first bank; A second thermoelectric element interposed in the second bank adjacent to the first thermoelectric element; An inbound pin disposed on one side of the first thermoelectric element and exposed to the inbound chamber and performing heat transfer with the outside air; And an outbound pin disposed on the other surface of the second thermoelectric element and exposed to the outbound chamber and performing heat transfer with the room air.

The details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

As described above, according to the thermoelectric module air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention, it is very easy to heat or cool the interior of the automobile by using only the thermoelectric device temperature control device. Conventional automotive air conditioners are equipped with a compressor, a receiver dryer, a condenser, various pipes connecting them, and an evaporator in an HVAC module in an engine room for cooling, and a complicated and large However, the air conditioner of the present invention does not require such components, and a simple switching operation of changing the application direction of the power applied to the thermoelectric elements provided in the indoor air conditioner allows the interior of the vehicle to be heated And vice versa.

In addition, when the thermoelectric element is driven to cool the vehicle interior, the heat transfer is effectively performed through the outbound pin formed on the heat generating surface of the thermoelectric element, thereby improving the performance of the thermoelectric element. Further, by introducing room air having a relatively low temperature around the outbound pin, it is possible to increase the efficiency of the thermoelectric device by increasing the difference between the heating surface and the ambient temperature.

On the other hand, when the thermoelectric element is driven to heat the interior of the automobile, the heat transfer is effectively performed by the outbound pin formed on the heat-absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element, so that the heating efficiency of the heat-generating surface of the thermoelectric element can be increased. Further, by introducing room air having a relatively high temperature around the outbound pin, the cool heat absorption surface is brought into contact with the air at a high temperature, thereby improving the efficiency of the thermoelectric device.

Further, when a plurality of thermoelectric device temperature adjusting devices individually operating are combined in a matrix form to constitute a thermoelectric device assembly, the thermoelectric device temperature adjusting devices are individually turned on or off or the direction of power application is switched, Can be adjusted.

1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a thermoelectric-element temperature control device used in a thermoelectric-module air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the thermoelectric-element temperature control device of FIG. 1; FIG.
3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a thermoelectric module air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are conceptual views illustrating a plurality of thermoelectric-element temperature regulating devices of FIG. 1 assembled into a matrix form.
6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a thermoelectric-vehicle air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present invention, and the manner of achieving them, will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Is provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

In the present specification, the term "outside air" means air entering the inbound chamber of the air conditioner as air outside the air conditioner. Specifically, it may mean air outside the automobile, or may mean air inside the automobile when the air conditioner is shutting off the outside air.

In the present specification, the term "indoor air" refers to the air in a room where a person is boarded on an automobile.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a thermoelectric-element temperature control apparatus used in a thermoelectric-component air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view combining the configurations of the thermoelectric-element temperature regulating apparatus of FIG.

1 and 2, the thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device 30 includes a thermoelectric transducer 10 on one side and a heat-absorbing thermoelectric transducer 10 on the other side, A pin 20 and an outbound pin 22 disposed on the other side of the thermoelectric element 10.

The thermoelectric element 10 is a device using a Peltier effect, which is a phenomenon that causes heat absorption or heat generation by an electric current, and has a configuration in which a plurality of n-type semiconductors and p-type semiconductors are connected in series. When power is applied to both ends of such a semiconductor array, the holes move from one surface of the thermoelectric element to the other surface, and heat is generated on one surface of the thermoelectric element and heat is generated on the other surface.

The power supply control module 40 is connected to the thermoelectric element 10 to turn on / off the power applied to the thermoelectric element 10 or to switch the application direction of the power. Specifically, the power supply control module 40 can heat or cool the vehicle interior by switching the application direction of the power applied to the thermoelectric element 10. [ In addition, the power supply control module 40 can adjust the temperature of the vehicle interior by adjusting the on / off time of the power applied to the thermoelectric element 10. [

The inbound pin 20 and the outbound pin 22 are formed on both sides of the thermoelectric element 10 so that heat transfer from the thermoelectric element 10 can be efficiently performed. These are formed of a metal material and have a structure in which a plurality of thin plates are spaced apart to widen the contact area with the outside air. It is preferable that the inbound pin 20 and the outbound pin 22 are in contact with both surfaces of the thermoelectric element 10, respectively. The inbound pin 20 and the outbound pin 22 may be formed symmetrically with respect to the thermoelectric element 10.

3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a thermoelectric module air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. A vehicular thermoelec- tronic device air conditioning apparatus 100 includes a housing 110 which is separated from a partition 103 by an inbound chamber 101 and an outbound chamber 102 and a housing 110 which is interposed between the partition walls 103, One includes a thermo-element temperature regulating device 30 that absorbs heat and emits heat to the other.

The inbound chamber 101 has an outside air inflow port 111 through which outside air flows and a plurality of ventilation ports 112, 113, 114 and 115. When the outside air flows into the inbound chamber 101, 30, and then enters the interior of the automobile through the ventilation holes 112, 113, 114, and 115. [ The outside air inlet (111) is provided with an outside air fan (120) to help inflow of outside air. Valves 131, 132, 133, and 134 are provided for each of the air vents 112, 113, 114, and 115 to blow air to a proper position in the automobile interior. Each of the ventilation holes 112, 113, 114 and 115 is allocated to the front windshield, front, rear, floor and the like of the vehicle, It can blow.

The outbound chamber 102 includes an inflow inlet 116 through which the room air flows into the vehicle and an inflow and outflow port 117 through which the room air passing through the thermoelectric device temperature adjuster 30 exits to the outside of the automobile. When the indoor air flows into the outbound chamber 102, the temperature changes through the thermoelectric device temperature regulating device 30, and then is discharged to the outside of the vehicle through the inner air outlet 117. A ventilation fan 122 is installed in the ventilation inlet 116 to allow indoor air to flow in. In addition, the inside air outlet 117 is provided with a valve 135 to control the amount of indoor air being discharged to the outside, or to prevent air outside the vehicle from entering the room when the air conditioner is not in use.

The thermoelectric element temperature regulating device 30 includes a thermoelectric element 10 interposed in the partition 103 to cause heat absorption and heat generation and an inbound pin disposed on one surface of the thermoelectric element 10 and exposed to the inbound chamber 101 And an outbound pin 22 disposed on the other side of the thermoelectric element 10 and exposed to the outbound chamber 102. The outbound pin 22 serves to assist the heat transfer between the one surface of the thermoelectric element 10 and the outside air in the inbound chamber 101 and the outbound pin 22 serves to facilitate the heat transfer between the other surface of the thermoelectric element 10 and the outbound chamber 102. [ It helps heat transfer between indoor air.

Hereinafter, the operation of the thermostat air conditioner for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Consider the case of cooling the interior of a car using a thermoelectric air-conditioning unit for a vehicle on a hot day such as in the summer. Heat is generated at the upper surface of the thermoelectric element 10 under the control of the power control module 40, and heat is generated at the lower surface. The inbound pin 20 contacted with the upper surface of the thermoelectric element 10 is naturally cooled and the hot outside air flowing into the inbound chamber 101 passes through the inbound pin 20 and the temperature is lowered, ≪ / RTI > On the other hand, the outbound pin 22 comes into contact with the lower surface of the thermoelectric element 10 and is naturally heated, and is completely separated from the inbound fin 20 by the partition 103. In order to improve the cooling efficiency by the top surface of the thermoelectric element 10 and the inbound pins 20, the heat generated on the bottom surface of the thermoelectric element 10 must be well escaped to the outside. To this end, the present invention can increase the efficiency of convective heat conduction by disposing the outbound pins 22 on the lower surface of the thermoelectric element 10. Further, by introducing the relatively cool indoor air around the outbound pin 22, the temperature difference between the outbound pin 22 and the ambient air can be maximized to further increase the efficiency of the thermoelectric device.

The heating of a vehicle interior using a thermoelectric device air conditioner for a vehicle can be easily understood as the opposite case.

4 and 5, a description will be given of a thermoelectric heating apparatus for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are conceptual views illustrating a plurality of thermoelectric-element temperature regulating devices of FIG. 1 assembled into a matrix form.

Referring to FIG. 4, the power supply control module is connected to each thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device 30 constituting the thermoelectric-element assembly 300, and a part of the thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device 30 is turned on, The temperature of the air flowing into the passenger compartment from the air conditioner as a whole can be adjusted as a whole by turning off the thermoelectric element temperature regulating device 30. [

Referring to FIG. 5, the power supply control module can adjust the temperature of the air flowing into the passenger compartment from the air conditioner as a whole by adjusting the application direction of the power applied to each thermo-electric-element temperature regulating device 30. [ Specifically, power is applied to some thermoelectric element temperature regulator 30 to cause cooling C, and power is applied to the other thermo element temperature regulator 30 so that heating H occurs.

Hereinafter, a thermoelectric air conditioning system for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a thermoelectric-vehicle air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those of the members shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted, and the differences will be mainly described below.

The partition wall separating the inbound chamber 101 and the outbound chamber 102 is divided into a first partition wall 203 adjacent to the inbound chamber 101 and a second partition wall 203 spaced apart from the first partition wall 203 and the space portion 205, And a second partition wall 204 adjacent to the bound chamber 102.

The thermoelectric element temperature regulator 230 includes a first thermoelectric element 10a interposed in the first bank 203 and a second thermoelectric element 10b positioned adjacent to the first thermoelectric element 10a and interposed in the second bank 204. [ Element 10b, an inbound pin 20, and an outbound pin 22. [ The inbound pin 20 is disposed on one surface of the first thermoelectric element 10a and exposed to the inbound chamber 101. [ The outbound pin 22 is disposed on the other surface of the second thermoelectric element 10b and exposed to the outbound chamber 102. [

The operation of the thermoelectric-element temperature regulator 230 of this embodiment is as follows. The case where the inside of the vehicle is cooled will be described as an example.

Heat is generated on the upper surface of the first thermoelectric element 10a and heat is generated on the lower surface by the power source control module. In order to efficiently perform air cooling on the upper surface of the first thermoelectric element 10a and the inbound pin 20 contacting the upper surface of the first thermoelectric element 10a, heat emission through the lower surface of the first thermoelectric element 10a must be smooth. In this embodiment, by lowering the temperature of the air around the lower surface of the first thermoelectric element 10a, the heat emission efficiency is increased. To this end, the second thermoelectric transducer 10b is disposed at a position opposite to the lower surface of the first thermoelectric transducer 10a, and heat is generated on the upper surface of the second thermoelectric transducer 10b by the power control module, 10a. Preferably, the heat transfer efficiency of the second thermoelectric element 10b can be increased by forming the outbound pin 22 on the lower surface of the second thermoelectric element 10b.

As a modification of the present invention, the air conditioner may be constituted by a thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device 30 of FIG. 3 and a thermo-electric-element temperature regulating device 230 of FIG.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, You will understand. It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive.

10: thermoelectric element
10a: a first thermoelectric element
10b: a second thermoelectric element
20: Inbound pin
22: Outbound pin
30, 230: Thermoelectric device temperature control device
40: Power control module
100, 200: Automotive thermoelectric device air conditioner
101: Inbound chamber
102: Outbound chamber
103:
110: Housing
111: outside air inlet
112, 113, 114, 115: Vents
116:
117:
120: Outdoor fan
122: Betting fans
131, 132, 133, 134, 135: valve
203: first bulkhead
204: second partition
205:
300: thermoelectric device assembly

Claims (10)

And an outbound chamber for introducing the indoor air of the automobile and discharging the room air to the outside, wherein the inbound chamber is connected to the inlet chamber and the outbound chamber, ; And
And a thermoelectric element thermostat interposed between the partition and the outbound chamber to absorb heat and emit heat to the other of the inbound chamber and the outbound chamber. The thermoelectric conversion module according to claim 1,
A thermoelectric element interposed between the partition walls to generate heat absorption and heat generation;
An inbound pin disposed on one surface of the thermoelectric element and exposed to the inbound chamber and performing heat transfer to the outside air; And
And an outbound pin disposed on the other surface of the thermoelectric element and exposed to the outbound chamber and performing heat transfer to the room air. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the inbound pin and the outbound pin are formed symmetrically with respect to the thermoelectric element. The method according to claim 1,
And a power supply control module for controlling an application direction and an on / off state of power applied to the thermoelectric-element temperature regulation device. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device is adapted to heat or cool the automobile interior according to an application direction of the power applied thereto. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the thermoelectric-element temperature control device adjusts the temperature of the automobile room according to an on-off time of a power source applied thereto. The method according to claim 1,
Characterized in that a plurality of thermoelectric element temperature control devices are coupled in a matrix form and are interposed in the partition walls (hereinafter referred to as " thermoelectric element assemblies "). 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the thermoelectric module assembly individually turns on and off the thermoelectric device temperature adjusting devices constituting the thermoelectric device module to adjust the temperature of the automobile room. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the thermoelectric module assembly controls the temperature of the automobile room by individually controlling the power application direction applied to the thermoelectric device temperature adjusting devices constituting the thermoelectric device assembly. And an outbound chamber for introducing the indoor air of the automobile and discharging the room air to the outside, wherein the inbound chamber is connected to the inlet chamber and the outbound chamber, ; And
And a thermoelectric-element temperature regulator interposed between the partition and the outbound chamber to absorb heat and emit heat to the other of the inbound chamber and the outbound chamber,
Wherein the partition wall includes a first partition adjacent to the inbound chamber and a second partition adjacent to the outbound chamber spaced apart from the first partition and the space,
The thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device may further include: a first thermoelectric element interposed in the first bank; A second thermoelectric element interposed in the second bank adjacent to the first thermoelectric element; An inbound pin disposed on one surface of the first thermoelectric element and exposed to the inbound chamber and performing heat transfer to the outside air; And an outbound pin disposed on the other surface of the second thermoelectric element and exposed to the outbound chamber and performing heat transfer to the room air.

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