Vehicle Thermoelectric Cooling System

Abstract

A thermoelectric cooling device has first and second sides which can act as hot and cold sides. Heat exchangers are preferably in thermal conductance with the first and second sides and air may be directed by fans past the heat exchangers. Closed fluid systems may also be used. Furthermore, improved heat sink constructions are believed to improve the efficiency of the thermoelectric device.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed herein is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a thermoelectric cooling system as an HVAC system for use with vehicles comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a thermoelectric device configured to be connected to a power source, said thermoelectric device connected to a first heat sink on a first side of the thermoelectric device, said first sink having serpentine oriented fins extending along a first direction of airflow, said serpentine oriented fins extending an exposed surface area of the fins at least about 20% over linearly oriented fins extending a similar distance across the first heat sink;   (b) energizing the thermoelectric device thereby transferring heat across the thermoelectric device;   (c) directing a first air flow intentionally to be conditioned by the thermoelectric device in the first direction of airflow as conditioned air directed to a conditioned space thereby one of heating and cooling the space.   
     
     
         2 . The method of using a thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of having longitudinal grooves in sides of the fins of the first heat sink, said longitudinal grooves increasing exposed surface area of the fins at least 100%. 
     
     
         3 . The method of using a thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 2 , wherein said longitudinal grooves in the fins of the first heat sink increase the exposed surface area of the fins at least 200%. 
     
     
         4 . The method of using a thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 3 , wherein said longitudinal grooves in the fins of the first heat sink increase the exposed surface area of the fins at least 300%. 
     
     
         5 . The method of using the thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 4  further comprising a second heat sink on a second side of the thermoelectric device opposite the first side, said second heat sink having serpentine oriented fins extending along a second direction of airflow, said serpentine oriented fins extending an exposed surface area of the fins at least about 20% over linearly oriented fins extending a similar distance across the second heat sink. 
     
     
         6 . The method of using a thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of having longitudinal grooves in sides of the fins of the second heat sink, said longitudinal grooves increasing exposed surface area of the fins at least 100%. 
     
     
         7 . The method of using a thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 6 , wherein said longitudinal grooves in the fins of the second heat sink increase the exposed surface area of the fins at least 200%. 
     
     
         8 . The method of using a thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein said longitudinal grooves in the fins of the second heat sink increase the exposed surface area of the fins at least 300%. 
     
     
         9 . The method of using thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 5  further comprising the step of directing air flow to contact the fins of the second heat sink. 
     
     
         10 . A method of using a thermoelectric cooling system as an HVAC system for use with vehicles comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a thermoelectric device configured to be connected to a power source, said thermoelectric device connected to a first heat sink on a first side of the thermoelectric device, said first heat sink having fins extending along a first direction of airflow, said fins having longitudinal grooves in sides of the fins, said grooves increasing an exposed surface area of the fins at least about 100% over planar surface fins extending a similar distance across the first heat sink;   (b) energizing the thermoelectric device thereby transferring heat across the thermoelectric device;   (c) directing a first air flow intentionally to be conditioned by the thermoelectric device in the first direction of airflow as conditioned air directed to a conditioned space thereby one of heating and cooling the space.   
     
     
         11 . The method of using a thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 10 , wherein said longitudinal grooves in the fins of the first heat sink increase the exposed surface area of the fins at least 200%. 
     
     
         12 . The method of using a thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 11 , wherein said longitudinal grooves in the fins of the first heat sink increase the exposed surface area of the fins at least 300%. 
     
     
         13 . The method of using the thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 10  further comprising a second heat sink on a second side of the thermoelectric device opposite the first side, said second heat sink having fins extending along a second direction of airflow, said fins having longitudinal grooves increasing an exposed surface area of the fins at least about 100% over planar surfaced fins extending a similar distance across the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The method of using a thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 13 , wherein said longitudinal grooves in the fins of the second heat sink increase the exposed surface area of the fins at least 200%. 
     
     
         15 . The method of using a thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 11 , wherein said longitudinal grooves in the fins of the first heat exchanger increase the exposed surface area of the fins at least 300%. 
     
     
         16 . The method of using the thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 10  further comprising the step of directing air flow to contact the fins of the second heat sink. 
     
     
         17 . The method of using the thermoelectric cooling system of  claim 16  further comprising the steps of providing a second flow of air across the second heat sink in the second direction of airflow. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the fins of the second heat sink are serpentine oriented relative to the second direction of airflow, and said serpentine oriented fins extending an exposed surface area of the fins at least about 20% over linearly oriented fins extending a similar distance across the second heat sink. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the fins of the first heat sink are serpentine oriented relative to the first direction of airflow, and said serpentine oriented fins extending an exposed surface area of the fins at least about 20% over linearly oriented fins extending a similar distance across the first heat sink. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10  wherein a gap between adjacent fins in the first heat exchanger is no more than about 1.5 times a width of the fins.