KR20200022419A - A Refrigerator Having a Thermo Electric Module Integrated with a Heat Pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a coupling structure of a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe and, more specifically, to a refrigerator having a coupling structure of a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe, which can freeze a refrigeration space of a refrigerated truck by the thermoelectric module and the heat pipe. The refrigerator having a coupling structure of a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe comprises: the thermoelectric module (11) including a plurality of thermoelectric elements; a heat pipe module (12) configured to transfer heat between the thermoelectric module (11) and the refrigeration space (16) or the thermoelectric module (11) and an outer space of the refrigeration space (16); and a power supply means including a vehicle generator (13) configured to supply power to the thermoelectric module (11), a storage battery (14), or external power (15). Moreover, heat exchange is performed in an evaporation space or a condensation space by the heat pipe module (12).

Description

A Refrigerator Having a Thermo Electric Module Integrated with a Heat Pipe}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe coupling structure, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe coupling structure that enables the freezing of a freezing space of a refrigeration tower vehicle by the thermoelectric module and the heat pipe.

The box-shaped truck of a closed structure with a roof formed in the cargo compartment may have a freezing or refrigeration function due to its structural features. Such a refrigerated or freezing tower vehicle may have a cooler, which is operated by a compressor or condenser by an independent cooling engine or is basically mounted on the vehicle. When a compressor is installed in a vehicle engine to operate a refrigeration function in a refrigeration tower vehicle, the engine output may be reduced and the vehicle may be difficult to maintain. In addition, if the refrigeration function is activated by electricity generated by a generator in the vehicle, the structure may be simplified, but similarly, a loss of engine power may occur. In addition, when applied to the medium-sized refrigeration system, the fuel consumption is increased, the energy efficiency can be lowered, and the carbon dioxide emissions can be increased.

Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0090144 related to a vehicle refrigeration system can supply and store a stable power source capable of driving the cooling system, cooling device for refrigeration vehicles that can control the refrigeration system more efficiently through a DC power supply It is disclosed. In addition, Patent Registration No. 10-1021326 discloses a refrigeration system for a refrigeration tower for installing a freezer in a cargo vehicle and cooling the inside of the freezer with a refrigeration cycle using a refrigerant.

When the refrigeration equipment in the freezing space is driven by electric power, it is advantageous in terms of energy efficiency to operate by a thermoelectric element such as a Peltier element, for example, compared to the refrigeration by the refrigerant. In addition, the freezing by the thermoelectric module has the advantage that the overall structure is simplified and at the same time the operation and adjustment is simple. However, the prior art does not disclose a refrigeration system having such a structure.

The present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art has the following object.

Prior Art 1: Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0090144 (Siwon Co., Ltd., published August 10, 2011) Cooling device for refrigeration vehicle Prior Art 2: Patent Registration No. 10-1021326 (Lee, Hyung-Joo, Announced March 14, 2011)

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe coupling structure in which heat exchange is performed by a heat pipe while cooling a refrigerating or refrigerating space by a thermoelectric module.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerator having a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe coupling structure includes a thermoelectric module including a plurality of thermoelectric elements; A heat pipe module transferring heat between the thermoelectric module and the freezing space or the thermoelectric module and the outer space of the freezing space; And a power supply means including a vehicle generator, a storage battery, or an external power source for supplying power to the thermoelectric module, wherein the heat pipe module exchanges heat in an evaporation space or a condensation space.

According to another suitable embodiment of the present invention, the thermoelectric module is installed on the wall surface of the refrigeration tower, and the heat pipe module connects the first and the second heat connecting the evaporation space formed inside the freezing space and the condensation space formed outside the freezing space. Made of pipes.

According to another suitable embodiment of the present invention, it further comprises a heat conduction block for transferring heat between the thermoelectric module and the heat pipe module.

According to another suitable embodiment of the present invention, the heat pipe module comprises a plurality of loop heat pipes in which one surface is in contact with the heat conducting block while being composed of a plurality of loops.

The refrigerator of the thermoelectric module and the heat pipe coupling structure according to the present invention is operated by a generator, a battery or an external electric power of the vehicle, thereby allowing refrigeration of the refrigeration tower vehicle regardless of vehicle operation. The refrigerator according to the present invention has an advantage of being an environmentally friendly refrigeration structure while improving energy efficiency by applying a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe. In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention has the advantage of being structurally simple and easy to operate by being an electric operation structure as a whole.

1 illustrates an embodiment of a refrigerator having a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe coupling structure according to the present invention.
2 illustrates an embodiment of a heat exchange structure between a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe in a refrigerator according to the present invention.
Figure 3 shows an embodiment in which the refrigerator according to the present invention is applied to the refrigeration tower vehicle.
4 illustrates an embodiment of a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe applied to a freezer applied to a freezer according to the present invention.
Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the operating structure of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments set forth in the accompanying drawings, but the embodiments are provided for clarity of understanding and the present invention is not limited thereto. In the following description, components having the same reference numerals in different drawings have similar functions and thus are not repeatedly described unless necessary for understanding of the invention, and well-known components are briefly described or omitted. It should not be understood to be excluded from the embodiment of.

1 illustrates an embodiment of a refrigerator having a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe coupling structure according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator having a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe coupling structure includes a thermoelectric module 11 including a plurality of thermoelectric elements; A heat pipe module 12 for transferring heat between the thermoelectric module 11 and the freezing space 16 or the outer space of the thermoelectric module 11 and the freezing space 16; And a power supply means including a vehicle generator 13, a storage battery 14, or an external power source 15 for supplying power to the thermoelectric module 11, and the evaporation space or condensation by the heat pipe module 12. There is heat exchange in the space.

The freezer according to the present invention may be applied to refrigeration of a refrigeration tower vehicle, but is not limited thereto, and may be applied to various uses, for example, to freezer of a refrigerator, a vehicle refrigeration box, a portable refrigeration box, or a similar space. In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention may be applied together with the refrigeration structure in which the refrigerant is circulated, and may be operated independently or in an assist operation with the refrigerant circulation refrigeration structure. Therefore, the refrigerator according to the present invention is not limited by the type or application form of the freezing structure.

The thermoelectric device may be a device capable of electronic cooling in various forms capable of endotherm or heat generation according to the Peltier effect, and may be made of a structure in which thermocouples of a plurality of p-type semiconductors and n-type semiconductors are electrically connected to each other. A plurality of thermocouples may be arranged to generate heat conduction in a predetermined direction on a substrate of SiO _{2 in} the form of a film of 1 to 100 μm, for example, and may be connected to each other by conductive connectors such as copper of different thermocouples. As such, a plurality of thermocouples may be arranged and connected in a predetermined manner to form the thermoelectric module 11. The thermoelectric module 11 may include an endothermic portion and a heat generating portion, and the endothermic portion or the heat generating portion may be connected by the heat pipe module 12. For example, the thermoelectric module 11 and the refrigeration space 16 of the refrigeration truck may be connected by the heat pipe module 12, for example, between the refrigeration space 16 and the endothermic portion of the thermoelectric module 11. Exchange may be induced by heat pipe module 12. The heat pipe module 12 may be made of various kinds of sealed container-shaped containers, working fluid for heat transfer, and wicks for transporting the working fluid. The heat pipe module 12 may include heat pipes having the same or different structures made of loop structures, micro heat pipes or separate structures. In addition, while the heat exchange is performed between the thermoelectric module 11 and the freezing space 16 by the heat pipe, the freezing space 16 may be cooled. In addition, heat generated in the thermoelectric module 11 may be transferred to the outside of the freezing space 16 by the heat pipe so that the thermoelectric module 11 is maintained at a predetermined temperature range.

Power for the operation of the thermoelectric module 11 can be provided in a variety of ways, for example, can be supplied by the vehicle generator 13, the battery 14 or the external power source 15. When the refrigeration space 16 becomes a cargo space of the refrigeration tower vehicle, the thermoelectric module 11 may receive power from the vehicle generator 13 during the operation of the vehicle. In a state in which vehicle driving is stopped, electric power may be supplied from a battery 14 charged with electricity in advance. In addition, if necessary, the storage battery 14 may be connected to the external power supply 15 or the external power supply 15 may be directly connected to the thermoelectric module 11 to supply power.

The refrigerator according to the present invention may be applied to various types of refrigeration spaces 16, and the thermoelectric module 11 may be supplied with power in an appropriate manner according to the structure of the refrigeration space 16 and is not limited to the embodiments shown. .

2 illustrates an embodiment of a heat exchange structure between a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe in a refrigerator according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the thermoelectric module 11 may be disposed on the wall surface W of the freezing space, the evaporation space 21 may be formed in the freezing space, and the low temperature portion L of the thermoelectric module 11. May be connected by the evaporation space 21 and the first heat pipe 12a. In the evaporation space 21, heat exchange may be performed between the hot air and the low temperature heat pipe, and the fluid inside the first heat pipe 12a is in a gaseous state so that the low temperature portion L of the thermoelectric module 11 is changed. Can be moved to a liquid state. By such heat exchange, the evaporation space 21 may be cooled. The high temperature portion H of the thermoelectric module 11 may be located outside the wall surface W, and the high temperature portion H may be located at the outside of the wall surface W and the second heat pipe (2). 12b). The heat of the high temperature portion H may be transmitted to the condensation space 22 by the second heat pipe 12b and released to the outside. If necessary, heat dissipation means such as heat dissipation fins may be made in the condensation space 22, and the condensation space 22 may be disposed at various positions while being formed outside the freezing space. However, the condensation space 22 may be made of various structures in which heat of a high temperature portion of the thermoelectric module 11 may be discharged, and is not limited to the embodiments shown.

Hereinafter will be described an embodiment in which the refrigerator according to the present invention is applied to the refrigeration tower vehicle.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment in which the refrigerator according to the present invention is applied to the refrigeration tower vehicle.

Referring to FIG. 3, the freezing space 16 of the freezing tower vehicle may be cooled by the cooler, and the thermoelectric module 11 may be installed on one wall surface of the freezing space 16. For example, the thermoelectric module 11 may be installed at an upper portion of the front wall of the freezing space 16, and may be made of a modular structure that can be coupled to one wall of the freezing space 16. For example, an installation space having a through hole structure may be formed on the front wall surface or the ceiling surface of the freezing space 16. An evaporation space 21 for cooling the freezing space 16 may be connected to one portion of the thermoelectric module 11, and a condensation space 22 may be connected to the other portion of the thermoelectric module 11. At least a portion of the evaporation space 21 may be located inside the freezing space 16, and the condensation space 22 may be located outside the freezing space 16. One separate circulation region may be formed in the thermoelectric module 11 and the evaporation space 21, and two separate circulation regions may be formed between the thermoelectric module 11 and the condensation space 22. In addition, 1 and 2 circulation fans 32a and 32b may be disposed in the 1 and 2 separation circulation regions, respectively. In addition, a heat conductor or heat dissipation means may be disposed in the evaporation space 21 and the condensation space 22 to be in contact with one portion of the first and second heat pipes 12a and 12b. Heat exchange can be made between the heat conductor or heat dissipation means disposed in the evaporation space 21 or the condensation space 22 and the first and second heat pipes 12a, 12b, and the heat conductor or heat dissipation means is suitable for heat exchange. It may have a structure. For example, it may be made of aluminum having a high thermal conductivity or a similar material, and may be formed to be in contact with heat dissipation or absorption sites of the first and second heat pipes 12a and 12b. For example, the first and second heat pipes 12a and 12b may have a conduit structure having a circular cross section, and end and end portions of the first and second heat pipes 12a and 12b may be inserted into and contacted with an insertion hole formed in a heat conductor or heat dissipation means. Can be. In addition, the other ends of the first and second heat pipes 12a and 12b, which become heat absorption or heat dissipation sites, may be in contact with different portions of the thermoelectric module 11, respectively.

The thermoelectric module 11 and the first and second circulation fans 32a and 32b may be operated by electric power supplied from the vehicle generator 13, the storage battery 14, or the external power source 15. The control module 31 may be installed for the operation of the thermoelectric module 11 or the first and second circulation fans 32a and 32b, and the control module 31 may be installed according to the operating state of the refrigeration truck or the storage battery 14. Depending on the state of charge of the connection to different power sources can be established. In addition, the control module 31 may adjust the voltage of the thermoelectric module 11 or the operation level of the first and second circulation fans 32a and 32b. In addition, according to the structure of the first and second heat pipes 12a and 12b, the internal pressure of the heat pipes 12a and 12b or the temperature of the middle portion may be adjusted by the control module 31.

The control module 31 can properly adjust the operation of the thermoelectric module 11 according to the state of the refrigeration space 16, and can be made in various structures suitable for this.

4 illustrates an embodiment of a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe applied to a freezer applied to a freezer according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the thermoelectric module 11 may include a base substrate 114 made of silicon or similar material; A first conductive unit 113 made of copper, aluminum, or similar electrically conductive material formed on the base substrate 114; First and second semiconductor electrodes 111 and 112 having one end fixed to the first conductive unit 113; And a second conductive unit 115 connecting upper ends of the first and second semiconductor electrodes 111 and 112. The first and second semiconductor electrodes 111 and 112 corresponding to the p-type semiconductor and the n-type semiconductor may be electrically connected to each other by the first and second conductive units 113 and 115. The first and second conductive units 113 and 115 may be made of a material having high thermal conductivity, and may have a structure having a relatively large contact area. For example, the first and second conductive units 113 and 115 may have a rectangular plate shape. The plurality of first and second semiconductor electrodes 111 and 112 may be arranged in the form of a two-dimensional matrix, and the plurality of first conductive units 113 disposed on the upper surface of the base substrate 114 may be insulated from each other while the base substrate is insulated from each other. It may be made into a structure that is in maximum contact with the upper surface of 114. In addition, the upper surfaces of the plurality of second conductive units 115 may be positioned at the same height, and the upper surfaces thereof may have a planar shape, and at the same time, may be insulated from each other, and are in contact with other conductive means at the maximum. The first and second conductive units 113 and 115 may be a heat generating portion and an endothermic portion in the thermoelectric module 11, may be made of a structure having a large contact area with the heat pipe module 12, and are limited to the embodiments shown. It doesn't work.

Referring to (b) of FIG. 4, the endothermic portion or the second conductive unit 115 of the thermoelectric module 11 may be located inside the freezing space separated by the wall surface W, and the second conductive unit ( 115 may be in contact with the first thermal conductive block 41. In addition, the first heat pipe 12a may be in contact with the first heat conductive block 41. The first conductive unit 113 of the thermoelectric module 11 may transmit heat to the outside of the wall (W) by the heat conductive members 43_1 to 43_K, and the heat conductive members 43_1 to 43_K to the outside of the wall (W). The second thermal conductive block 42 may be disposed to be in contact with one end of the. The second heat conductive block 42 may be in contact with the second heat pipe 12b. The wall surface W of the freezing space may have a constant thickness, and the heat conductive members 43_1 to 43_K may be made to have a structure penetrating the wall surface W. The heat conductive members 43_1 to 43_K may be stably fixed to the wall surface W by the sealing means 441 made of silicon or rubber, and the thermoelectric module 11 may be connected to the power supply means by the wiring conduit 45. Can be.

Referring to FIG. 4C, the heat pipe module 12 may include a plurality of heat pipes having a loop shape, and each heat pipe may include fluid moving portions 121_1 and 121_2 extending linearly; The heat absorbing portion 122_1 and the heat generating portion 122_2 formed at both ends of the fluid moving portion 121_1 may be formed. The heat absorbing portion 122_1 and the heat generating portion 122_2 may be in contact with the heat conductive blocks 41 and 42, respectively. The heat pipe may be made of a rectangular cross-sectional structure having a large contact area with each of the heat conductive blocks 41 and 42. The fluid flow control unit 47 may be installed at the fluid moving parts 121_1 and 121_2 extending linearly according to the design structure of the heat pipe module 12, and the heat may be controlled by temperature control of the fluid flow control unit 47. The heat transfer coefficient by the pipe module 12 can be adjusted. For example, the temperature of the fluid moving parts 121_1 and 121_2 may be controlled by the fluid flow control unit 47, thereby controlling fluid movement, vaporization, or liquefaction of the fluid, whereby the heat pipe module 12 may be controlled. The heat transfer coefficient of can be adjusted.

The heat pipe module 12 may be in contact with the thermoelectric module 11 in various structures and is not limited to the embodiments shown.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the operating structure of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the entire operation of the refrigerator can be controlled by the control module 31. For example, the control module 31 controls the operation of the connection setting unit 51 to control the vehicle generator 13 and the storage battery. 14 or the connection to the external power source 15 and the thermoelectric module 11 can be established. In addition, the control module 31 may control the operation of the voltage unit 52 to adjust the voltage applied to the thermoelectric module 11 and control the operation of the circulation unit 53 to operate the circulation fan.

At least one detection unit 161 may be disposed inside the freezing space 16, and detects the temperature, humidity or air circulation state detected by the detection unit 161 to detect the voltage unit 52 or the circulation unit ( 53) can be adjusted. In addition, vehicle driving information detected by the driving detection unit 511 is transmitted to the control module 31, and based on this, the control module 31 may control the operation of the connection setting unit 51.

The cooler according to the present invention can be operated in various ways and is not limited to the embodiments shown.

The refrigerator of the thermoelectric module and the heat pipe coupling structure according to the present invention is operated by a generator, a battery or an external electric power of the vehicle, thereby allowing refrigeration of the refrigeration tower vehicle regardless of vehicle operation. The refrigerator according to the present invention has an advantage of being an environmentally friendly refrigeration structure while improving energy efficiency by applying a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe. In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention has the advantage of being structurally simple and easy to operate by being an electric operation structure as a whole.

Although the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the presented embodiments, those skilled in the art may make various modifications and modifications without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention with reference to the presented embodiments. . The invention is not limited by the invention as such variations and modifications but only by the claims appended below.

11: thermoelectric module 12: heat pipe module
12a, 12b: first and second heat pipes 13: vehicle generator
14: storage battery 15: external power source
16: freezing space 21: evaporation space
22: condensation space 31: control module
32a, 32b: 1, 2 circulation fan 41, 42: 1st, 2nd heat conduction block
43_1 to 43_K: heat conductive member 45: wiring conduit
47: fluid flow control unit 51: connection setting unit
52: voltage unit 53: circulation unit
111 and 112: first and second semiconductor electrodes 113 and 115: first and second conducting units
114: base substrate 121_1, 121_2: fluid movement site
122_1: endothermic site 122_2: exothermic site
161: detection unit 441: sealing means
511: driving detection unit H: high temperature region
L: Low temperature part W: Wall surface

Claims (2)

A thermoelectric module including a plurality of thermoelectric elements including a base substrate 114, a first conductive unit 113 formed on the base substrate 114, and a second conductive unit 115 electrically connected to the first conductive unit 113. (11);
A heat pipe module 12 for transferring heat between the thermoelectric module 11 and the freezing space 16 or the outer space of the thermoelectric module 11 and the freezing space 16;
Power supply means including a vehicle generator 13, a storage battery 14, or an external power source 15 for supplying power to the thermoelectric module 11;
And thermally conductive blocks 41 and 42 for transferring heat between the thermoelectric module 11 and the heat pipe module 12,
The heat pipe module 12 includes a plurality of looped heat pipes, each heat pipe having a fluid moving portion 121_1 and 121_2 extending linearly; The heat absorbing portion 122_1 and the heat generating portion 122_2 formed at both ends of the fluid moving portion 121_1 are respectively characterized in that the heat absorbing portion 122_1 and the heat generating portion 122_2 are in contact with the heat conductive blocks 41 and 42, respectively. Refrigerator of thermoelectric module and heat pipe coupling structure. 2. The thermoelectric module 11 of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric module 11 is installed on the wall surface W of the refrigeration tower, and the heat pipe module 12 of the evaporation space 21 and the freezing space 16 formed inside the freezing space 16. A refrigerator having a thermoelectric module and a heat pipe coupling structure comprising first and second heat pipes 12a and 12b connecting the condensation spaces 22 formed outside.

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