Refrigeration – Using electrical or magnetic effect – Thermoelectric; e.g. – peltier effect
Patent
1994-12-06
1996-05-07
Bennet, Henry A.
Refrigeration
Using electrical or magnetic effect
Thermoelectric; e.g., peltier effect
62 364, 62389, 2221466, F25B 2102
Patent
active
055134955
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
THIS INVENTION relates to cooling systems, but in particular relates to water coolers for drinking water.
Cooling systems are commonly used in many domestic, commercial, or industrial situations where there is a need or a desire for the provision of cold drinking water. Water coolers in particular are traditionally fairly large although this is often used advantageously by designing aesthetically pleasing bodies or stands.
Water coolers in particular generally come in two forms; those that have an upper inverted bottle of water and a lower stand or body, and those that are supplied with mains water and thus simply have a body with an upper drinking spout or the like.
Traditionally, both of these types of water coolers have used standard refrigeration components such as a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser and a thermostat. The compressor compresses vapour into a high pressure gas which is then condensed into a liquid in the condenser. The high pressure liquid is then expanded in the evaporator and absorbs heat as it changes state. The thermostat controls the temperature of the medium being cooled by switching the compressor on and off as required. Typically, these systems run for only 6 to 10 hours per day and require comparatively large amounts of energy to run and large amounts of space to house the apparatus.
The cooling system of the present invention utilises a different principle to that described above. The present invention is characterised by a cooling system which produces ice and then uses energy stored in the ice to cool a liquid. In this respect, and as indicated above, the cooling system is most advantageously used as a water cooler.
The basic operating principle responsible for the production of the ice in the cooling system of the present invention is that of a thermoelectric cooler. This principle, commonly called the Peltier effect, relies on the absorption or generation of heat as a current passes through a junction of two dissimilar conductive materials.
In any thermoelectric module there are two metal interfaces which provide two functions. Firstly, the cold-side interface absorbs heat from the medium to be cooled while the hot-side interface dissipates heat to another medium, typically ambient air via a heat sink such as a vaned baffle. Secondly, the interfaces enable the module itself to be sealed into a plastic housing, as thermoelectric modules are readily degraded by condensation.
Thus, the present invention provides a cooling system which produces ice and then uses the energy stored in the ice to cool a liquid, the cooling system having a supply of liquid in fluid communication with a cooling chamber, there being an ice producing means located at least partially within the cooling chamber, the ice producing means including a thermoelectric module having a cold-side interface and a hot-side interface, the cold-side interface being in direct or indirect communication with liquid in the cooling chamber and the hot-side interface being located externally of the cooling chamber and being connected to a hot-side heat sink for the dissipation of heat generated thereby, and a power supply being connected to the thermoelectric module, wherein as heat is absorbed from the liquid by the cold-side interface, local freezing of the liquid immediately about the cold-side interface occurs and ice is produced thereon.
More particularly, the present invention provides a water cooler having a supply of drinking water in fluid communication with a cooling chamber, there being an ice producing means located at least partially within the cooling chamber, the ice producing means including a thermoelectric module having a cold-side interface and a hot-side interface, the cold-side interface being in direct or indirect communication with water in the cooling chamber and the hot-side interface being located externally of the cooling chamber and being connected to a hot-side heat sink for the dissipation of heat generated thereby, and a power supply being connected to the thermoelectric module, wherein
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Neuwen David B.
West Christopher P.
Bennet Henry A.
Doerrler William C.
Thermotech International Pty Ltd.
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