WO2020177790A1

WO2020177790A1 - Textile having thermocouple

Info

Publication number: WO2020177790A1
Application number: PCT/DE2020/000009
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabian Volkmar KRUSE; Jan Jordan; Tim BOLLE; Thomas Gries
Original assignee: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (Rwth)
Priority date: 2019-03-07
Filing date: 2020-01-24
Publication date: 2020-09-10
Also published as: DE102019105807A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a flat textile (12), which lies over a surface of a body (24), wherein a thermocouple (10) for cooling and/or heating is provided in the textile (12). The invention further relates to a thermocouple (10) for a flat textile, which lies over a surface of a body for cooling and/or heating. The invention additionally relates to a method for cooling and/or heating a surface of a body (24), wherein a flat textile (12) having a thermocouple (10) is laid over the surface of the body (24). The invention further relates to an arrangement containing a flat textile (12), which lies over a surface of a body (24), wherein a thermocouple (10) for cooling and/or heating is provided in the textile (12).

Description

Patent application

Textile with thermocouple

Technical area

The invention relates to a flat textile which lies over a surface of a body, a thermocouple being provided in the textile for cooling and / or heating. The invention further relates to a thermocouple and a method for a flat textile which lies over a surface of a body for cooling and / or heating. Furthermore, the invention relates to an arrangement containing a flat textile which lies over a surface of a body, a thermocouple being provided in the textile for cooling and / or heating.

description

The human body begins to warm up during sport or physical work. As a result of the warming, sweat glands in the skin produce sweat, which cools the body through evaporation. The more the body exerts itself, the more sweat is generated in order to obtain more evaporative cooling. This protects the human body from overheating. This allows the body to be kept at a relatively constant temperature. When wearing clothes, especially those with only low breathability, cooling evaporation can only take place poorly or not at all. The heat and sweat build up on the skin or in the Clothing. Not only is the wearing comfort of the clothing impaired, but health can also be damaged in extreme situations because evaporation no longer takes place and there is therefore a risk of hyperthermia.

State of the art

For example, liquid-based cooling circuits are known for cooling. Here, cooled liquid flows past the skin through tubes or channels. The heat that is given off by the body during exertion is transported away with the fluid. This cooling mechanism reduces the body's perspiration. A disadvantage of liquid cooling, however, is the susceptibility to leakage. In addition, complex pump mechanisms must be available to move the liquid through the hoses or channels.

There are also known cooling systems with air for clothing in which air is drawn past the skin in order to cool it. The humidity that arises on the skin when the sweat evaporates is transported away through channels or the like. These cooling systems are very complex and expensive. Clothing made from phase change material cools without any additional technical equipment, but cannot be regulated and does not wick away sweat.

JP2000234201 describes a portable accessory that provides coolness and warmth. This accessory is worn directly on the body and includes an electrothermal cooling element with a cooling surface and a heat release surface on the main body. The cooling surface lies against the body. The side of the heat release surface, however, is directed outwards. The electrothermal cooling element is removably attached with a holding part. A heat transfer element is connected to the electrothermal cooling element in such a way that heat is transferred through it. From EP173 70 52 a heat setting device for heating is known. The thermal adjuster includes a thermally conductive substrate and a plurality of thermoelectric chips. The thermally conductive substrate serves as a support surface. Each of the thermoelectric chips has a first surface and a second surface, the second surfaces of the thermoelectric chips being attached to the carrier surface of the thermally conductive substrate. They are electrically connected to one another so that energy can be supplied to the thermoelectric chips. As a result, a temperature change is generated on the second surfaces of the thermoelectric chips, which is conducted to the thermally conductive substrate. Such a heat adjuster can be mounted in clothing. When the temperature of the thermoelectric chips is increased and the heat is conducted to the thermally conductive substrate, the garments can generate heat, for example to keep a body warm.

The known thermocouples in textiles have the disadvantage that they do not transport sweat away. They do cool, but the unpleasant sweat remains on the skin.

Disclosure of the invention

The object of the invention is therefore to create a device and a method to cool or warm a body on the one hand and liquid, such as e.g. Sweat, directed through the textile.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that in a flat textile of the type mentioned, the thermocouple is actively designed as a heat pump with two thermal layers with a temperature difference for generating convection currents for liquids. Furthermore, the problem on which the invention is based is solved by a thermocouple for a flat textile of the type mentioned at the beginning, the thermocouple being a heat pump with two having thermal layers with a temperature difference for generating convection currents for liquids. The object is also achieved by a method of the type mentioned at the outset, in which liquid is transported by convection currents.

The invention is based on the principle that the temperature difference between the two thermal layers creates a heat pump. This allows liquids to be actively transported through the textile by convection. For example, liquid from a sweaty body can be led to the outside by convection. The cooler layer of the thermocouple should lie over the skin and the warmer layer should face outwards. Liquid, e.g. Sweat, is brought into the area of the cooler layer. By means of convection currents, the liquid in the textile flows specifically to the warmer layer of the thermocouple. The liquid can evaporate on the warmer layer.

An advantageous embodiment of the flat textile according to the invention is that the thermocouple is designed as a Peltier element. A textile in which the thermocouple is designed as a Peltier element can be implemented relatively easily.

The Peltier element requires a suitable voltage source to generate a cold and a warm layer. Accumulators, batteries, solar modules or combinations thereof are suitable as a voltage source. The Peltier element is an electrothermal transducer based on the Peltier effect. As soon as current flows through the Peltier element, a temperature difference is generated. Peltier elements are often used for cooling.

By reversing the direction of the current, the Peltier elements can also be used for heating if necessary. At least one such Peltier element is incorporated into the flat textile so that one side faces the surface of the body. Depending on the direction of the current, the surface can now be heated or cooled with the Peltier element. The Peltier element acts as a heat pump. Liquids in the textile flow from the colder layer to the warmer layer through convection currents. in the In the case of cooling, the liquids evaporate on the warmer layer and also generate evaporative cooling.

A further advantageous embodiment of the flat textile according to the invention consists in that the temperature difference between the thermal layers is designed to be controllable with a control mechanism. This measure is used to ensure that the temperature difference between the two layers can be adjusted. The control mechanism is usually designed to be processor-controlled. This means that control processes can be carried out quickly and easily. For example, the control mechanism can be used to set the temperature of the colder layer to which the warmer layer has a temperature difference to be set accordingly. Of course, this process can also be done the other way around. This allows the temperature and the temperature difference to be set individually.

In such a flat textile according to the invention, the regulating mechanism preferably contains a temperature and / or a moisture sensor. Changes in the temperature or the temperature difference and / or the humidity are detected by the sensors. The sensors signal these changes to the control mechanism. This allows the control mechanism to be automated, for example. A set temperature or temperature difference can always be tracked with the thermocouple when the temperature sensor detects a changing temperature. A changing humidity can also lead to a change in the microclimate in the area of the textile. By adjusting the temperature or the temperature difference of the thermocouple, an adapted humidity can be obtained here.

The textile often consists of a larger area. This area cannot easily be covered with a single thermocouple or Peltier element. In a preferred embodiment of the flat textile according to the invention, a composite system of at least two thermocouples is therefore provided, which are connected to one another via heat-conducting webs. This allows larger areas to be covered with thermocouples for the thermal effects mentioned above. It is important in the present invention that the liquid is transported from the colder layer to the warmer layer. The liquid should not be transported through channels, tubes or the like. This would mean considerable manufacturing expense and would also be prone to leakage. A particularly advantageous embodiment of the flat textile according to the invention is therefore that the thermocouple is surrounded by material which promotes convection of liquid through the capillary effect. Depending on the use and requirement, this material can be separate, for example, a separate fabric or textile, or it can be formed by the flat textile itself. Another advantageous aspect of the flat textile according to the invention is that the thermocouple is designed as a flexible film. This measure allows a user to use the textile in a variety of ways. A thermocouple designed as a flexible film can be easily replaced, particularly in the case of textile items of clothing, such as, for example, safety or sportswear. Because these garments are themselves very flexible to ensure freedom of movement. In this case, many small thermocouples would have to be attached to a larger area in order to maintain the flexibility of the garment. This can advantageously be circumvented in that the thermocouple itself is designed as a flexible film. Another advantageous aspect of the textile according to the invention arises when the thermocouple has a heat-conducting extension surface on at least one of the thermal layers to enlarge the thermal active surface. This measure enables the effective area of the thermocouple to be enlarged many times over without much effort. This also increases the flow path of the liquid. The liquid thus has a longer contact time with the ambient air, for example, which particularly favors the evaporation of the liquid, such as sweat, and the capillary effect. The expansion area can also be designed, for example, as a heat-conducting film that extends over a larger area of the textile. In an advantageous embodiment of the thermocouple according to the invention for a flat textile, the thermocouple is designed as a Peltier element. A Peltier element is a commercially available and relatively inexpensive component, so that a thermocouple for a textile can thereby be implemented relatively easily. As explained above, the Peltier element has a warm and a cold layer as soon as a current flows through the Peltier element. The required electrical voltage source for the Peltier element is initially arbitrary. However, accumulators or batteries have proven particularly suitable. The design of a Peltier element can be made relatively flat up to a flexible film, so that it can be worked particularly well into a textile.

The thermocouple according to the invention preferably has a regulating mechanism for regulating the temperature difference between the thermal layers of the thermocouple. In the case of a Peltier element, the regulating mechanism controls the flow of current, which regulates the temperature difference between the two layers of the thermocouple.

An advantageous embodiment of the thermocouple according to the invention consists in that a heat-conducting extension surface is provided on at least one of the thermal layers to enlarge the thermal effective surface. The expansion area on at least one of the layers of the thermocouple increases the effective range of the thermocouple. In this way, the flow path for the liquid in particular can be enlarged so that it has a longer contact time with the ambient air, which particularly promotes evaporation of the liquid, such as sweat.

The expansion area can also be designed, for example, as a heat-conducting film that extends over a larger area of the textile. Further refinements and advantages emerge from the subject matter of the subclaims and the drawings with the associated descriptions. Exemplary embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention is not intended to be restricted solely to these exemplary embodiments listed. They only serve for a more detailed explanation the invention. Rather, the present invention is intended to relate to all subjects which a person skilled in the art would now and in the future use as obvious to implement the invention.

Brief description of the drawing

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a functional diagram of the

Invention with a thermocouple.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a controllable Peltier element for a textile according to the invention.

Fig. 3 shows as an application example a kidney belt with a

Thermocouple as a heat pump.

Fig. 4 shows as an application example a kidney belt with a

Thermocouple as a heat pump with a convection-favored textile.

5 shows, as an example of use, a kidney belt with several

Thermocouples as heat pumps, which are connected to each other via heat-conducting webs. Fig. 6 shows as an application example a thermocouple as a heat pump in

Neck area.

Fig. 7 shows, as an application example, a bracelet with a thermocouple as a heat pump. Fig. 8 shows, as an application example, a headband with thermocouples as a heat pump.

Preferred embodiment

In Fig. 1, a functional diagram of the invention with a thermocouple 10 is shown in a schematic principle sketch. A flat textile according to the invention is designated here by 12. The textile 12 contains the thermocouple 10. The thermocouple 10 is designed as a Peltier element 14, which forms an active heat pump 16. The Peltier element 14 is surrounded by a convection textile 18 which promotes convection of liquid through the capillary effect. The entire textile 12 itself can be designed as a convection textile 18 or just the area that surrounds the thermocouple 10.

The Peltier element 14 is a commercially available semiconductor component which works according to the Peltier effect. Two layers 20, 22 with different doping are superposed. By suitably applying a voltage, a temperature difference arises between the two layers 20, 22 at the Peltier element 14. The first layer 20 becomes warm and the second layer 22 becomes cold. By reversing the polarity of the voltage, the temperatures of the two layers 20, 22 of the Peltier element 14 can be exchanged. In the present exemplary embodiment, the voltage is applied to the Peltier element 14 in such a way that the second layer 22 is cooler than the first layer 20. The second layer 22 rests on a body 24 that is heated and sweated by liquid. It can e.g. act about a human body. In order to enlarge the effective area of the Peltier element 14, a heat-conducting extension area 25 is provided on the layer 22. In the present exemplary embodiment, the expansion area 25 is designed as a metal foil which is in direct contact with the layer 22 of the Peltier element 14. The thermally effective area can be expanded many times over by the expansion area 25

The resulting liquid - sweat, indicated by arrow 26, is transported by convection currents from the lower and colder second layer 22 to the warmer first layer 20. Arrows 27 indicate the direction of flow Liquid. The convection is supported by capillary effects of the convection textile 18. The liquid finally evaporates on the warmer first layer 20.

The temperature difference between the first layer 20 and the second layer 22 can be varied by changing the voltage applied in each case. The applied voltage and thus the temperature difference between the two layers 20, 22 of the thermocouple 10 are set with a control mechanism 28. The temperature in the textile 12 or on the thermocouple 10 is detected by a temperature sensor 30. A humidity sensor 32 also determines the degree of humidity caused by the evaporating liquid. The temperature sensor 30 and the humidity sensor 32 signal to the control mechanism 28 the values determined in each case. In this way, the control mechanism 28 can readjust the thermocouple 10 accordingly via the voltage, so that a fixed value for temperature and humidity is maintained in each case.

FIG. 2 shows a basic sketch of the thermocouple 10, which is surrounded by the convection textile 18 in order to promote the convection of liquid by the capillary effect. The electronic thermocouple 10 is also formed by the Peltier element 14 in the present exemplary embodiment. However, other thermocouples are also quite conceivable as heat pumps 16, for example based on compressed and expanding gas. As in the present case, it is important that the liquid flows in a targeted manner by convection currents in the convection textile 18 from the colder second layer 22 to the warmer first layer 20 of the thermocouple 10. The liquid can finally evaporate on the warmer layer 20.

A voltage source 34 supplies an electrical circuit 36 with the required electrical energy. The circuit 36 contains in particular the Peltier element 14, the temperature sensor 30, the humidity sensor 32 (see FIG. 1) and the control mechanism 28. The control mechanism 28 can be, for example easy to implement using microelectronics and processor control. Connections 37 for the voltage supply are provided on the Peltier element 14. In this way, the Peltier element 14 receives the electrical energy required for operation from the voltage source 34.

3 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the textile 12 with the thermocouple 10 is provided as a kidney belt 38. Insofar as this FIG. 3 corresponds to the previous figures, the same reference symbols are used. The thermocouple 10 is also formed here by the Peltier element 14. The Peltier element 14 is supplied with electrical energy via the voltage supply 34. The temperature difference between the two layers 20, 22 is regulated by means of the regulating mechanism 28, which is integrated in the circuit 36. The temperature difference between the layers 20, 22 can thus be kept constant. Of the

The temperature sensor 30 and the humidity sensor 32 are located at suitable points in the area of the thermocouple 10 of the kidney belt 38 in order to detect the temperature and the degree of humidity.

FIG. 4 corresponds to the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 3. The same reference symbols are therefore used for corresponding components. Unlike in FIG. 3, however, the flat textile 12 is provided with a thermally conductive coating 40. In this way, the effect of the Peltier element 14 is extended to a larger area of the kidney belt 38. The textile 12 with the coating 40 is preferably designed to be semipermeable, so that any moisture that occurs is always transported to the outside by the convection currents. However, due to the semi-permeability, this moisture does not get back to the body 24. The Peltier element 14 is very thin, provided as a largely flexible film 42, as a result of which a certain comfort can be achieved when the kidney belt 38 is worn. Here too, as in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, the circuit 36 with the voltage source 34, the regulating mechanism 28, the temperature sensor 30 and the humidity sensor 32 is provided. The embodiment of FIG. 5 again shows the kidney belt 38 corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4. As far as the figures correspond again, the same reference numerals are used here again. As in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 2 to 4, the circuit 36 has, in addition to the voltage source 34, the temperature sensor 30, the humidity sensor 32 and the control mechanism 28. Instead of the thermally conductive coating 40, as shown, for example, in FIG. 3, in this exemplary embodiment several thermocouples 10 are used as a composite system for the two-dimensional expansion of the thermal effect. These thermocouples 10 are provided in the kidney belt 38 and are connected to one another by heat-conducting webs 44. Of course, electrical conductors can also be provided between the thermocouples 10 for exchanging electrical energy.

FIG. 6 shows, as an example of application for the invention, a sweater 46 as the flat textile 12 for cooling and / or for warming. The thermocouple 10 serves as a heat pump 16 in the neck area 48 of a human body 50. The use and mode of operation of the thermocouple 10 are analogous to the kidney belt 38. The electrical voltage for the thermocouple 10, designed as a Peltier element 14, comes from a voltage source 34 retrievable. Both the voltage source 34 and the regulating mechanism 28 are attached to a belt 52. In this application example, portable accumulators 54 are used as voltage source 34. These are particularly suitable because they can be used multiple times. They can easily be charged in a conventional external charger. But also solar cells, e.g. on the textile surface 56 are quite suitable for charging accumulators. Batteries can also be charged inductively, if necessary, so that they do not have to be removed from their holder. The type of voltage source 34 is therefore basically arbitrary. This means that only simple batteries can be used if necessary.

7 and 8 show two further examples of application of the invention. In the application example of FIG. 7, the invention is designed as a bracelet 58 with a thermocouple 10 as a heat pump 16. The bracelet 58 is located for cooling or warming in the area of a wrist 60. In the application example of FIG. 8, the invention is designed as a headband 62 with a plurality of thermocouples 10 as a heat pump 16. The headband 62 is pulled over a head 64 to be cooled or warmed. The use and the mode of operation of the thermocouples 10 of these two applications can be seen corresponding to the kidney belt 38 according to FIGS. 3 to 5 and to the thermocouple 10 in the neck area according to FIG.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 62 headband

64 head

10 thermocouple

12 flat textile

14 Peltier element

16 heat pump

18 convection textile

20 first layer (warm)

22 Second shift (cold)

24 bodies

25 expansion area

26 arrow

27 arrows

28 Control Mechanism

30 temperature sensor

32 humidity sensor

34 Power source

36 circuit

37 Connections

38 kidney belt

40 Thermally conductive coating

42 Flexible film

44 heat conducting bars

46 sweaters

48 neck area

50 human body

52 belt

54 accumulators

56 textile surface

58 bracelet

60 wrist

Claims

1. A flat textile (12) which lies over a surface of a body (24), a thermocouple (10) for cooling and / or heating being provided in the textile (12), characterized in that the thermocouple (10) is actively designed as a heat pump (16) with two thermal layers (20, 22) with a temperature difference for generating convection currents for liquids.

2. A flat textile (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that the thermocouple (10) is designed as a Peltier element (14).

3. A flat textile (12) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the temperature difference between the thermal layers (20, 22) is designed to be controllable with a control mechanism (28).

4. A flat textile (12) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control mechanism (28) contains a temperature (30) and / or a humidity sensor (32).

5. A flat textile (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by a composite system of at least two thermocouples (10) which are connected to one another via heat-conducting webs (44).

6. A two-dimensional textile (12) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the thermocouple (10) is surrounded by material which promotes convection of liquid through the capillary effect.

7. A flat textile (12) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the thermocouple (10) is designed as a flexible film (42).

8. A flat textile (12) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the thermocouple (10) has a thermally conductive extension surface (25) on at least one of the thermal layers (20, 22) to enlarge the thermal effective area.

9. Thermocouple (10) for a flat textile, which over a surface of a

Body for cooling and / or heating, characterized in that the thermocouple (10) is a heat pump (16) with two thermal layers (20, 22) with a temperature difference for generating

Has convection currents for liquids.

10. Thermocouple (10) for a flat textile according to claim 9, characterized in that the thermocouple (10) is designed as a Peltier element (14).

11. Thermocouple (10) for a flat textile according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the temperature difference between the thermal layers (20, 22) of the thermocouple (10) is designed to be controllable with a control mechanism (28).

12. Thermocouple (10) for a flat textile according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that a thermally conductive expansion surface (25) is provided on at least one of the thermal layers (20, 22) to enlarge the thermal effective area.

13. A method for cooling and / or heating a surface of a body (24), wherein a flat textile (12) with a thermocouple (10) according to one of the preceding claims is placed over the surface of the body (24), characterized in that Liquid is transported by convection currents.

14. An arrangement comprising a flat textile (12) which lies over a surface of a body (24), wherein a thermocouple (10) is provided for cooling and / or heating in the textile (12), characterized in that the Thermocouple (10) is actively designed as a heat pump (16) with two thermal layers (20, 22) with a temperature difference for generating convection currents for liquids.