KR20180061727A - Thermoelectric HVAC apparatus for motor vehicles improving thermal capacity - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a thermoelectric HVAC apparatus for a motor vehicle with improved efficiency and thermal capacity of a thermoelement. The thermoelectric HVAC apparatus for a motor vehicle comprises: a housing having an outdoor air inlet into which outdoor air flows and a plurality of air vents sending the outdoor air to the inside of a motor vehicle; and a thermoelement temperature control device arranged in the housing to control a temperature of the outdoor air, and having a thermoelement causing heat absorption on one surface and heat emission on the other surface, a cooling fin arranged on one surface of the thermoelement, and a heating pin arranged on the other surface of the thermoelement.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a thermoelectric HVAC apparatus for a motor vehicle,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention 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 having improved efficiency and heat capacity of a 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').

On the other hand, in recent years, attempts have been made to introduce thermoelectric elements into automotive air conditioners. However, the external air must be rapidly cooled or heated for a short time due to the characteristics of the automobile air conditioner. However, the conventional thermoelectric device has a limit in the heat capacity performance so that it is difficult to apply to automobiles. If a thermoelectric element having such a low heat capacity is applied to an automotive air conditioner, it is necessary to use a large number of thermoelectric elements, which leads to an increase in the manufacturing cost and is not applicable to actual mass production.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermoelectric module air conditioner for a vehicle having improved efficiency and heat capacity of a thermoelectric device.

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 thermoelement type air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: a housing having an outside air inlet through which outside air flows and a plurality of vent holes through which the outside air flows into a car interior; And a thermoelectric element disposed inside the housing to regulate a temperature of the outside air, the thermoelectric element having a thermoelectric element that generates heat on one side and generates heat on the other side, a cooling pin disposed on one side of the thermoelectric element, And a thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device including a heating pin arranged on the other surface of the element.

A heating buffer for repeatedly engaging and disengaging the cooling pin with the end of the cooling pin to compensate for the heat capacity of the cooling pin; As shown in FIG.

The cooling buffer may have a concavo-convex shape to increase a coupling area with the cooling fin, and the heating buffer may have a concavo-convex shape to increase a coupling area with the heating pin.

The cooling buffer and the heating buffer may each contain a liquid therein.

Wherein the cooling buffer is housed in a first housing part formed in the housing and moves to the cooling pin when the temperature of the cooling fin is higher than a predetermined value to be coupled to the cooling fin, When the temperature of the heating pin is lower than a preset value, the heating pin moves to the heating pin and can be engaged with the heating pin.

And a rotating door disposed between the thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device and the ventilation hole to adjust an amount of the outside air passing through the cooling fin and an amount of the outside air passing through the heating pin.

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

The power supply control module may adjust the on-off time of the power source applied to the thermoelectric device to control the temperature of the vehicle interior.

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

As described above, the structure of the thermoelectric-module air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention is very simple because the thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device can heat or cool the interior of the automobile. 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 cooling and heating can be performed simply by a thermoelectric-element temperature control device provided in the indoor-side air conditioner and a rotary door connected thereto.

Further, by forming the cooling fin on the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element, convective heat transfer from the heat absorbing surface to the outside air can be effectively performed. Further, by forming the heating fin on the heating surface of the thermoelectric element, convective heat transfer from the heating surface to the outside air can be effectively performed.

Furthermore, the air conditioning system of the present invention can improve the heat capacity of the cooling fin and the heating pin by providing the cooling buffer and the heating buffer, which are frequently combined / separated with respect to the cooling fin and the heating pin, respectively. That is, when the cooling pin comes into contact with the outside air and heat transfer occurs, the temperature of the cooling pin increases. Conversely, when the heating pin comes into contact with the outside air, heat transfer occurs and the temperature of the heating pin is lowered. If the temperature of the cooling pin and the heating pin is changed, the efficiency of the thermoelectric device may be deteriorated. In this case, the cooling buffer and the heating buffer are respectively coupled to the cooling pin and the heating pin, have.

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.

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 regulator 30 includes a thermoelectric transducer 10 on one side of which the heat is generated and a thermoelectric transducer 10 on the other side where heat is generated when the power is applied, A fin 20 and a heating 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 and off the power applied to the thermoelectric element 10. [ Specifically, the power supply control module 40 can adjust the temperature of the automobile interior by adjusting the on / off time of the power applied to the thermoelectric element 10.

The cooling pins 20 and the heating pins 22 are formed on both surfaces 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 cooling fin 20 and the heating pin 22 are in contact with both surfaces of the thermoelectric element 10, respectively. The cooling pin 20 and the heating 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. The vehicular thermoelectric device air conditioning apparatus 100 includes a housing 110, a thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device 30 disposed therein, a cooling buffer 140, and a heating buffer 141.

The housing 110 has an outside air inlet 111 through which external air flows and a plurality of air vents 112, 113, 114 and 115. When external air flows into the housing 110, And enters the interior of the automobile through the ventilation holes 112, 113, 114, and 115 after a temperature change occurs. The outside air inlet 111 is provided with an outside air fan 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. These ventilation openings 112, 113, 114 and 115 are allocated to the front windshield, front, rear, floor and the like of the vehicle, respectively. It can blow.

The thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device 30 includes a thermoelectric element 10 that generates heat absorption and heat generation, a cooling fin 20 disposed on the upper surface of the thermoelectric element 10, And a pin (22). In this embodiment, the case where the upper surface of the thermoelectric element 10 absorbs heat and the lower surface of the thermoelectric element 10 emits heat will be described as an example. A space for cooling the outside air by the cooling pin 20 with respect to the thermoelectric element 10 is referred to as a cooling region 101 and a space for heating the outside air by the heating pin 22 is referred to as a heating region 102 do. Although the cooling region 101 is disposed above the thermoelectric element 10 and the heating region 102 is disposed below the thermoelectric element 10 in this embodiment, They can be exchanged with each other. The cooling fin 20 helps to transfer heat between the top surface of the thermoelectric element 10 and the outside air in the cooling area 101 and the heating pin 22 functions to heat the bottom surface of the thermoelectric element 10 and the outside It helps heat transfer between air.

The cooling buffer 140 is accommodated in the first accommodating portion 150 formed in the housing 110 and may be repeatedly engaged and disengaged from the end of the cooling fin 20 through a linear reciprocating motion. The cooling buffer 140 may contain a liquid therein to compensate for the heat capacity of the cooling fin 20. The cooling buffer 140 may have a concavo-convex shape to increase the coupling area with the cooling fin 20.

The heating buffer 141 is accommodated in the second accommodating portion 151 formed in the housing 110 and can be repeatedly engaged and disengaged from the end of the heating pin 22 through a linear reciprocating motion. The heating buffer 141 may contain a liquid therein to compensate for the heat capacity of the heating pin 22. The heating buffer 141 may have a concavo-convex shape to increase the coupling area with the heating pin 22.

The rotary door 160 disposed between the thermoelectric element temperature regulating device 30 and the ventilation holes 112, 113, 114 and 115 is formed in such a manner that the amount of outside air passing through the cooling fin 20 and the amount of outside air passing through the heating pin 22 Adjusts the amount of air to control the temperature of the air that is discharged into the car as a whole. When the thermoelectric element temperature regulating device 30 is disposed in the housing 110 with the support part interposed therebetween, the rotary door 160 is preferably formed at one end of the supporting part.

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.

When outside air flows into the housing 110 through the outside air inlet 111, a part of the outside air enters the cooling area 101 and the rest enters the heating area 102. 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. Therefore, the cooling fin 20 which is in contact with the upper surface of the thermoelectric element 10 is naturally cooled, and the outside air flowing into the cooling region 101 passes through the cooling fin 20, On the other hand, the heating pin 22 comes into contact with the lower surface of the thermoelectric element 10 and is naturally heated. The outside air flowing into the heating region 102 passes through the heating pin 22, The temperature of the air flowing into the automobile room is controlled by controlling the amount of cold wind and hot wind by the rotational opening and closing motion of the rotary door 160 coupled to the rear end of the thermoelectric element temperature regulating device 30.

On the other hand, when the cooling pins 20 and the heating pins 22 are in contact with the outside air for a long time, the surface temperatures of the cooling pins 20 and the heating pins 22 are changed by heat transfer. For example, the temperature of the cooling pin 20 may be higher than a predetermined value, and the temperature of the heating pin 22 may be lower than a predetermined value. In the present invention, a cooling buffer 140 and a heating buffer 141 are provided for uniform temperature control. That is, the cooling buffer 140 is accommodated in the first housing part 150. When the temperature of the cooling fin 20 is higher than a preset value, the cooling buffer 140 moves to the cooling fin 20, The temperature of the cooling fin 20 can be lowered to a desired value. The cooling buffer 140 may be maintained at a constant temperature by using a separate power source or by contact with the cooling pin 20.

Likewise, the heating buffer 141 operates in the same manner. That is, the heating buffer 141 is accommodated in the second accommodating portion 151. When the temperature of the heating pin 22 becomes lower than a preset value, the heating buffer 141 moves to the heating pin 22, The temperature of the heating pin 22 can be increased to a desired value. This heating buffer 141 can be kept at a constant temperature by using a separate power source or by contacting the heating pin 22 with the heating pin.

In order to compensate the heat capacity of the thermoelectric element, the cooling buffer 140 and the heating buffer 141 apply power to the thermoelectric element in advance even when the driver does not turn on the air conditioner or the heater of the automobile, . For example, when the buffer reaches a predetermined temperature, the buffer is separated from the pin and waits in the storage section. When the temperature of the buffer is shifted from the predetermined temperature by a predetermined value or more, It is possible to carry out preparations for supplementing the heat capacity of the thermoelectric elements. If the operator turns on the air conditioner or the heater, the buffer is connected to the pin to compensate the heat capacity of the thermoelectric element and the pin when the heat capacity of the thermoelectric element is insufficient.

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
20: Cooling pin
22: Heating pin
30: Thermoelectric device temperature control device
40: Power control module
100: Automotive thermoelectric device air conditioner
101: Cooling zone
102: Heating area
110: Housing
111: outside air inlet
112, 113, 114, 115: Vents
131, 132, 133, 134: valve
140: Cooling buffer
141: Heating buffer
150: First storage part
151: Second storage compartment
160: Rotary door

Claims (8)

A housing having an outside air inlet through which outside air flows and a plurality of vent holes through which the outside air flows into a vehicle interior; And
A thermoelectric element that generates heat on one surface of the thermoelectric element and generates heat on the other surface of the thermoelectric element; a cooling pin disposed on one surface of the thermoelectric element; And a heating pin arranged on the other surface of the heating element. The method according to claim 1,
A heating buffer for repeatedly engaging and disengaging the cooling pin with the end of the cooling pin to compensate for the heat capacity of the cooling pin; Further comprising: a thermoelectric element for heating the air. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the cooling buffer has a concavo-convex shape to increase a coupling area with the cooling fin,
Wherein the heating buffer has a concavo-convex shape to increase a coupling area with the heating pin. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the cooling buffer and the heating buffer each contain a liquid therein. 3. The method of claim 2,
The cooling buffer is housed in a first housing portion formed in the housing. When the temperature of the cooling fin is higher than a preset value, the cooling buffer moves to the cooling pin and engages with the cooling pin.
Wherein the heating buffer is housed in a second accommodating portion formed in the housing, and when the temperature of the heating pin is lower than a predetermined value, the heating buffer moves to the heating pin and engages with the heating pin. . The method according to claim 1,
And a rotary door disposed between the thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device and the ventilation hole for regulating the amount of the outside air passing through the cooling fin and the amount of the outside air passing through the heating fin, . The method according to claim 1,
And a power supply control module for controlling on / off of power supplied to the thermoelectric-element temperature regulating device. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the power supply control module adjusts the temperature of the automobile room by adjusting the on / off time of a power source applied to the thermoelectric module.

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