Thermoelectric-based air conditioning system

Abstract

Disclosed is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for a vehicle that operates in a heating mode, a cooling mode or a demisting mode. In some embodiments, the system includes a first circuit having first pump for circulating a first medium therein, a second circuit having a second pump for circulating a second medium therein and a thermoelectric module having a first surface in thermal contact with the first medium and a second surface in thermal contact with the second medium.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a first circuit configured to circulate a first medium therein, the first circuit in thermal communication with a heat generating system of a vehicle;   a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first medium;   a thermoelectric module separate from the heat generating system, the thermoelectric module comprising a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface, the first heat transfer surface in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger;   a second circuit configured to circulate a second medium therein;   a second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second medium, the second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric module;   a third heat exchanger disposed in an air flow directed to a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the third heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second circuit; and   a bypass line in fluid communication with the first circuit, the bypass line configured to direct the first medium therethrough to prevent at least a portion of the first medium from being in thermal communication with the first heat transfer surface of the thermoelectric module,   wherein in a heating mode, the thermoelectric module is configured to transfer heat from the first heat transfer surface to the second heat transfer surface to transfer heat from the first medium to the second medium via the first and second heat exchangers, respectively, for the third heat exchanger to warm the air flow directed to the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and   wherein in the heating mode, the first medium is not directed through the bypass line.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein in a cooling mode, the thermoelectric module is configured to transfer heat from the second heat transfer surface to the first heat transfer surface to transfer heat from the second medium to the first medium via the second and first heat exchangers, respectively, for the third heat exchanger to cool the air flow directed to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein in the cooling mode, the first medium is directed through the bypass line. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the heating mode includes transferring heat from the first heat transfer surface to the second heat transfer surface to transfer heat from the first medium to the second medium via the first and second heat exchangers with the heat generating system warming up. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein further comprising a first valve configured to direct the first medium through one of the bypass line or the heat generating system. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a first pump configured to circulate the first medium in the first circuit and a second pump configured to circulate the second medium in the second circuit, and wherein the first medium comprises a liquid. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the first medium comprises a liquid. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the heat generating system comprises at least one of a battery or an electronic device. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising a fourth heat exchanger disposed in the air flow, the fourth heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first circuit. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the third heat exchanger is disposed in the air flow downstream of the fourth heat exchanger with respect to a direction of movement of the air flow. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising an other bypass line configured to direct at least a portion of the first medium through the other bypass line away from being in thermal communication with at least a portion of the first circuit. 
     
     
         41 . A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system comprising:
 a first circuit configured to direct a first medium therethrough, the first circuit in thermal communication with a heat generating system comprising at least one of a battery or an electronic device;   a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first medium;   a heat pumping device separate from the heat generating system, the heat pumping device comprising a first side and a second side, the first side in thermal communication the first heat exchanger; and   a second heat exchanger in thermal communication with second side of the heat pumping device, the second heat exchanger in thermal communication with an area,   wherein in a heating mode, the first side of the heat pumping device is configured to transfer thermal energy from the first medium to the second side of the heat pumping device to warm the area.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , further comprising a second circuit configured to convey a second medium therein, the second circuit providing via the second medium the thermal communication between the second side of the heat pumping device and the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 41 , further comprising a bypass line in fluid communication with the first circuit, the bypass line configured to direct the first medium therethrough to prevent at least a portion of the first medium from being directed through at least a portion of the first circuit. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the bypass line is configured to direct the first medium therethrough to prevent the at least a portion of the first medium from being in thermal communication with the first side of the heat pumping device. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 41 , further comprising a third heat exchanger disposed in the area and selectively in thermal communication with the heat generating system, the third heat exchanger configured to selectively warm the area. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the heat pumping device comprises a thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         47 . A method for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning an area, the method comprising:
 circulating a first medium through a first circuit, the first circuit in thermal communication with a heat generating system comprising at least one of a battery or an electronic device;   transferring thermal energy between a first heat exchanger and the first medium;   transferring thermal energy between a first side of a heat pumping device and a second side of the heat pumping device, the first side in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger, wherein the heat pumping device is separate from the heat generating system;   transferring thermal energy between a second heat exchanger and an air flow, the second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second side of the heat pumping device; and   directing energy to the heat pumping device in a heating mode so that the first side of the heat pumping device cools the first medium through the first heat exchanger and the second side of the heat pumping device warms the air flow through the second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising circulating a second medium through a second circuit, the second circuit providing the thermal communication between the second side of the heat pumping device and the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising directing at least a portion of the first medium through a bypass line in fluid communication with the first circuit to prevent the at least a portion of the first medium from being in thermal communication with the first side of the heat pumping device. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising transferring thermal energy between a third heat exchanger disposed in the air flow and the heat generating system to heat the air flow. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the heat pumping device comprises a thermoelectric module.