Thermoelectric cooling systems

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a thermoelectric cooling system with improved performance. The thermoelectric cooling system comprises a thermoelectric cooling unit. The thermoelectric cooling unit comprises a thermoelectric device, heat pipes, condenser fins, a cold sink and a cold fan. The thermoelectric cooling unit can be easily assembled with a chamber which contains a fluid to be cooled. The thermoelectric cooling system comprises screws to attach the thermoelectric cooling unit to the chamber, and sealant rings to prevent heat leakage in the thermoelectric cooling system. Further, the present disclosure provides a thermoelectric cooling system with a freezer part and a refrigerator part. The freezer part encloses the cold sink and the cold fan. The freezer part is cooled by the thermoelectric device, and the refrigerator part is cooled by walls of the freezer part. Further, the present disclosure provides a thermoelectric cooling system for use as a wine cooler.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly of heat pipes for use in a thermoelectric cooling system, the assembly of heat pipes comprising:
 one or more heat pipes to transfer heat, wherein at least one side of the one or more heat pipes is flat; and   a metal block attached to the one or more heat pipes, wherein the metal block is configured to conduct heat and to provide support to the one or more heat pipes.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of heat pipes in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the one or more heat pipes comprise two flat sides. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of heat pipes in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the metal block is made of at least one of Aluminum and Copper. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of heat pipes in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the metal block is configured to conduct heat from the one or more heat pipes. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of heat pipes in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the metal block is configured to conduct heat to the one or more heat pipes. 
     
     
         6 . A thermoelectric cooling unit for use in a thermoelectric cooling system to cool a fluid present in a chamber, the thermoelectric cooling unit comprising:
 a thermoelectric device comprising a hot side and a cold side, the thermoelectric device being configured to cool the fluid;   a cold sink thermally connected to the cold side of the thermoelectric device, the cold sink being configured to collect heat from the fluid;   a metal standoff present between the thermoelectric device and the cold sink;   an insulation enclosing the thermoelectric device and the metal standoff;   an evaporator plate attached to the hot side of the thermoelectric device, the evaporator plate being configured to collect heat from the thermoelectric device;   one or more heat pipes comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the evaporator plate, wherein the one or more heat pipes are configured to conduct heat from the evaporator plate to ambient;   condenser fins attached to the second end of the one or more heat pipes, the condenser fins being configured to provide heat transfer from the one or more heat pipes to the ambient; and   a collar configured to attach the thermoelectric cooling unit to the chamber.   
     
     
         7 . The thermoelectric cooling unit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the one or more heat pipes are embedded in the evaporator plate. 
     
     
         8 . The thermoelectric cooling unit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the collar comprises one or more holes, wherein the one or more holes are used to attach the thermoelectric cooling unit to the chamber by using one or more screws. 
     
     
         9 . The thermoelectric cooling unit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the metal standoff is made of at least one of Copper and Aluminum. 
     
     
         10 . The thermoelectric cooling unit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the evaporator plate is made of Copper. 
     
     
         11 . The thermoelectric cooling unit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the first end of the one or more heat pipes is soldered to the evaporator plate. 
     
     
         12 . The thermoelectric cooling unit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the first end of the one or more heat pipes is epoxied to the evaporator plate. 
     
     
         13 . The thermoelectric cooling unit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the second end of the one or more heat pipes is attached to the condenser fins with interference fit. 
     
     
         14 . The thermoelectric cooling unit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the condenser fins are made of Aluminum. 
     
     
         15 . The thermoelectric cooling unit in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the condenser fins comprise ridges and dimples. 
     
     
         16 . A thermoelectric cooling system to cool a fluid, the thermoelectric cooling system comprising:
 a chamber comprising the fluid, wherein the chamber comprises a wall including an opening therein;   a thermoelectric cooling unit inserted in the opening of the chamber, the thermoelectric cooling unit being configured to cool the fluid, wherein the thermoelectric cooling unit comprises a collar configured to attach the thermoelectric cooling unit to the chamber; and   one or more sealant rings present between the collar of the thermoelectric cooling unit and the wall of the chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 16 , wherein the thermoelectric cooling unit comprises:
 a thermoelectric device comprising a hot side and a cold side, the thermoelectric device being configured to cool the fluid;   a cold sink thermally connected to the cold side of the thermoelectric device, the cold sink being configured to collect heat from the fluid;   a metal standoff present between the thermoelectric device and the cold sink;   an insulation enclosing the thermoelectric device and the metal standoff;   an evaporator plate attached to the hot side of the thermoelectric device, the evaporator plate being configured to collect heat from the thermoelectric device;   one or more heat pipes comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the evaporator plate, wherein the one or more heat pipes are configured to conduct heat from the evaporator plate to the ambient; and   condenser fins attached to the second end of the one or more heat pipes, the condenser fins being configured to provide heat transfer from the one or more heat pipes to the ambient.   
     
     
         18 . The thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 17 , wherein the thermoelectric cooling unit further comprises a fan attached to the condenser fins, the fan being configured to provide dissipation of heat from the condenser fins to the ambient. 
     
     
         19 . The thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 18 , wherein the fan is attached to the condenser fins through a clamp. 
     
     
         20 . The thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 18 , wherein the fan is attached to the collar through one or more stubs. 
     
     
         21 . The thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 17 , wherein the thermoelectric cooling unit further comprises a cold sink fan, the cold sink fan being configured to provide collection of heat from the fluid. 
     
     
         22 . The thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 16 , wherein the wall of the chamber comprises one or more slots, and one or more screws are tightened to the one or more slots and the collar to attach the thermoelectric cooling unit to the chamber. 
     
     
         23 . The thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more sealant rings are  0 -rings. 
     
     
         24 . The thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more sealant rings are made of polyethylene plastic. 
     
     
         25 . The thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more sealant rings are made of weather stripping materials. 
     
     
         26 . A thermoelectric cooling system to cool a fluid, the thermoelectric cooling system comprising:
 a chamber comprising the fluid;   a thermoelectric device attached to the chamber, the thermoelectric device comprising a cold side and a hot side, wherein the thermoelectric device is configured to cool the fluid;   a cold sink thermally connected to the cold side of the thermoelectric device, the cold sink being configured to collect heat from the fluid;   a metal standoff present between the thermoelectric device and the cold sink;   an insulation enclosing the thermoelectric device and the metal standoff;   a cold sink fan attached to the cold sink to provide collection of heat from, the fluid to the cold sink fan;   an evaporator plate attached to the hot side of the thermoelectric device, the evaporator plate being configured to collect heat from the thermoelectric device;   one or more heat pipes comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the evaporator plate, wherein the one or more heat pipes are configured to conduct heat from the evaporator plate to the ambient;   condenser fins attached to the second end of the one or more heat pipes, the condenser fins being configured to provide heat transfer from the one or more heat pipes to the ambient;   a fan attached to the condenser fins, the fan being configured to provide dissipation of heat from the condenser fins to the ambient;   a collar attached to the evaporator plate, wherein the collar is configured to attach an assembly comprising the thermoelectric device, the cold sink, the metal standoff, the insulation, the evaporator plate, the one or more heat pipes, and the condenser fins to the chamber; and   one or more sealant rings present between the collar and a wall of the chamber.   
     
     
         27 . A thermoelectric cooling system to cool a fluid, the thermoelectric cooling system comprising:
 a freezer part to cool a fluid present in the freezer part, the freezer part comprising:
 a thermoelectric device attached to the freezer part, the thermoelectric device comprising a hot side and a cold side, wherein the thermoelectric device is configured to cool the fluid; 
 a cold sink thermally connected to the cold side of the thermoelectric device, the cold sink being configured to collect heat from the fluid; and 
 a cold sink fan attached to the cold sink; 
   one or more heat pipes comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the one or more heat pipes being attached to the hot side of the thermoelectric device, wherein the one or more heat pipes are configured to conduct heat from the thermoelectric device to the ambient;   condenser fins connected to the second end of the one or more heat pipes, the condenser fins being configured to provide transfer of heat from the one or more heat pipes to the ambient;   a fan attached to the condenser fins, the fan being configured to provide dissipation of heat from the condenser fins to the ambient; and   a refrigerator part comprising the fluid, the refrigerator part enclosing the freezer part, wherein the fluid in the refrigerator part gets cooled by walls of the freezer part.   
     
     
         28 . The thermoelectric cooling system according to  claim 27 , wherein the thermoelectric cooling system is a compact refrigerator. 
     
     
         29 . The thermoelectric cooling system according to  claim 27 , wherein the freezer part further comprises wails made of a sheet metal. 
     
     
         30 . A thermoelectric cooling system to cool a fluid, the fluid being present in a chamber, wherein the thermoelectric cooling system comprises:
 a thermoelectric device attached to the chamber, the thermoelectric device comprising a hot side and a cold side, wherein the thermoelectric device is configured to cool the fluid;   a cold sink thermally connected to the cold side of the thermoelectric device, the cold sink being configured to collect heat from the fluid;   a cold sink fan present in the chamber, the cold sink fan being configured to circulate the fluid in the chamber;   a first partition present in the chamber, the first partition providing circulation of the fluid by the cold sink fan inside the chamber;   a metal standoff present between the thermoelectric device and the cold sink;   an insulation present between the chamber and an external partition;   an evaporator plate attached to the hot side of the thermoelectric device, the evaporator plate being configured to collect heat from the thermoelectric device;   one or more heat pipes comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the one or more heat pipes being attached to the evaporator plate, wherein the one or more heat pipes are configured to transfer heat from the hot side of the thermoelectric device to the ambient;   condenser fins attached to the second end of the one or more heat pipes, wherein the condenser fins are configured to provide heat transfer from the one or more heat pipes to the ambient; and   a fan attached to the external partition, the fan being configured to provide dissipation of heat from the condenser fins to the ambient.   
     
     
         31 . The thermoelectric cooling system in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the cold sink fan and the fan attached to the external partition are driven by an electric motor. 
     
     
         32 . The thermoelectric cooling system in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the cold sink fan is a blower fan. 
     
     
         33 . .The thermoelectric cooling system in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the fan is a blower fan. 
     
     
         34 . The thermoelectric cooling system in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the thermoelectric cooling system is a wine cooler.