Refrigeration – Using electrical or magnetic effect – Thermoelectric; e.g. – peltier effect
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-06
2001-09-25
Doerrler, William (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Using electrical or magnetic effect
Thermoelectric; e.g., peltier effect
C062S003200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293107
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thermoelectric refrigeration system in, for example, an electric refrigerator of a type utilizing a Peltier element to refrigerate the interior of a refrigerator cabinet.
BACKGROUND ART
A technique of use of the Peltier element in a refrigeration system is disclosed in a PCT Japanese patent publication No. 6-504361. According to this known technique, the Peltier element has a heat radiating surface and a cooling surface each thermally coupled with a coolant passage through which a liquid coolant is forcibly circulated. By so doing, an object can be cooled by a heat exchanger disposed on the coolant passage thermally coupled with the cooling surface of the Peltier element, or can be heated by a heat exchanger disposed on the coolant passage thermally coupled with the heat radiating surface of the Peltier element.
However, in order to realize an electric refrigerator by the use of the above discussed technique, problems have been encountered to further increase the heat efficiency and also to avoid inclusion of air bubbles in the liquid coolant that is filled in the coolant passages.
Also, as far as the interior of the refrigerator is concerned, both an ice chamber and a food storage chamber for accommodating food materials have to be refrigerated efficiently.
In addition, condensation that results in formation of condensed liquid droplets around tubings used in the coolant passages must be minimized.
The present invention has been developed in view of the above discussed problems inherent in the prior art technique and is intended to provide a thermoelectric refrigeration system effective to minimize the inclusion of the air bubbles which would recirculate within the coolant passages.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric refrigeration system effective to minimize the condensation which would result in formation of condensed liquid droplets around the tubings of the coolant passages.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric refrigeration system of an increased heat efficiency which has a high safety factor and wherein piping can easily be accomplished.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In order to accomplish the above objects, a thermoelectric refrigeration system of the present invention comprises a thermoelectric module having a heat radiating surface and a cooling surface; a first heat exchanging portion thermally coupled with the heat radiating surface of the thermoelectric module; a second heat exchanging portion thermally coupled with the cooling surface of the thermoelectric module; a heat radiating system comprising a circulating passage which includes a circulating pump having a discharge port and a suction port, a heat-radiating heat exchanger, the first heat exchanging portion, and a liquid medium filled in the circulating passage; and an air trap coupled with at least one of the suction and discharge ports of the circulating pump.
Preferably, the circulating pump is positioned at a level higher than the level where the heat-radiating heat exchanger and the first heat exchanging portion are disposed.
A thermoelectric refrigeration system according to another aspect of the present invention comprises a thermoelectric module having a heat radiating surface and a cooling surface; a first heat exchanging portion thermally coupled with the heat radiating surface of the thermoelectric module; a second heat exchanging portion thermally coupled with the cooling surface of the thermoelectric module; a heat absorbing system comprising a circulating passage which includes a circulating pump having a discharge port and a suction port, a cooling heat exchanger, the second heat exchanging portion, and a liquid medium filled in the circulating passage; and an air trap coupled with at least one of the suction and discharge ports of the circulating pump.
Preferably, the circulating pump is positioned at a level higher than the level where the cooling heat exchanger and the second heat exchanging portion are disposed.
A thermoelectric refrigeration system according to a further aspect of the present invention comprises a thermoelectric module having a heat radiating surface and a cooling surface; a manifold including a first heat exchanging portion thermally coupled with the heat radiating surface of the thermoelectric module, and a second heat exchanging portion thermally coupled with the cooling surface of the thermoelectric module; a heat radiating system comprising a first circulating passage which includes a first circulating pump having a discharge port and a suction port, a heat-radiating heat exchanger, the first heat exchanging portion of the manifold, and a liquid medium filled in the first circulating passage; a heat absorbing system comprising a second circulating passage which includes a second circulating pump having a discharge port and a suction port, a cooling heat exchanger, the second heat exchanging portion of the manifold, and a liquid medium filled in the second circulating passage; and an air trap coupled with at least one of the suction and discharge ports of any one of the first and second circulating pumps.
A thermoelectric refrigeration system according to a still further aspect of the present invention comprises first and second thermoelectric modules each having a heat radiating surface and a cooling surface; a primary manifold including a first heat exchanging portion thermally coupled with the heat radiating surface of the first thermoelectric module, and a second heat exchanging portion thermally coupled with the cooling surface of the first thermoelectric module; an auxiliary manifold including a third heat exchanging portion thermally coupled with the heat radiating surface of the second thermoelectric module; a heat radiating system comprising a first circulating passage which includes a first circulating pump having a discharge port and a suction port, a heat-radiating heat exchanger, the first heat exchanging portion of the primary manifold, and a liquid medium filled in the first circulating passage; a heat absorbing system comprising a second circulating passage which includes a second circulating pump having a discharge port and a suction port, a cooling heat exchanger, the third heat exchanging portion of the auxiliary manifold, and a liquid medium filled in the second circulating passage; and an air trap coupled with at least one of the suction and discharge ports of any one of the first and second circulating pumps.
Preferably, the first circulating pump is positioned at a level higher than the level where the heat-radiating heat exchanger and the first heat exchanging portion are disposed, and the second circulating pump is positioned at a level higher than the level where the cooling heat exchanger and the second heat exchanging portion are disposed.
According to the foregoing structure, air bubbles flowing within the circulating passage can be recovered by the air trap and, therefore, the air bubbles within the circulating passage can efficiently be removed.
Where the thermoelectric refrigeration system of the present invention is to be applied to an electric refrigerator, the second circulating pump and the manifold have to be positioned inside and outside a refrigerator cabinet, respectively, and a piping fluid-coupled at one end with the discharge port of the second circulating pump has to extend within the refrigerator cabinet with the opposite end thereof drawn outside the refrigerator cabinet at a location adjacent the manifold. In this application, a substantial length of the piping can be disposed within the refrigerator cabinet with no possibility of contacting the warm air drifting outside the refrigerator cabinet and, therefore, the condensation can advantageously be minimized.
Also, the heat efficiency can be increased if the liquid medium within the first heat exchanging portion and the liquid medium within the second heat exchanging portion are allowed to flow in respective directions counter to each other.
If
Kitagawa Hiroaki
Maeda Munekazu
Nakagawa Osamu
Tokunaga Shigetomi
Doerrler William
Jones Melvin
Matsushita Refrigeration Company
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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