System and method for distributed thermoelectric heating and cooling

Abstract

A climate control system and method controls climate at selected regions. The thermoelectric system includes a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies. The system can include a fluid conduit configured to allow a liquid to flow in the at least one fluid conduit. The system can further include a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies. At least two thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies are in thermal communication with the liquid to provide climate control to a region.

1 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A thermoelectric system for heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling a region, the thermoelectric system comprising:
 a fluid conduit configured to allow a working fluid to flow therein;   a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly comprising a plurality of thermoelectric elements;   a first thermoelectric assembly of the thermoelectric assemblies in thermal communication with the working fluid and in thermal communication with a first region corresponding to the first thermoelectric assembly, wherein the first thermoelectric assembly is operable to heat the first region corresponding to the first thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the working fluid to the first region corresponding to the first thermoelectric assembly or to cool the first region corresponding to the first thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the first region corresponding to the first thermoelectric assembly to the working fluid;   a second thermoelectric assembly of the thermoelectric assemblies in thermal communication with the working fluid, wherein the second thermoelectric assembly is operable to transfer heat from the working fluid or to transfer heat to the working fluid;   a switch configured to provide current flow to the first thermoelectric assembly or the second thermoelectric assembly; and   a controller configured to heat or cool the first region by causing the switch to place the first thermoelectric assembly and the second thermoelectric assembly either in series electrical connection or parallel electrical connection with one another.   
     
     
         51 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , wherein each thermoelectric assembly comprises a first side and a second side and is configured to transfer heat between the first side and the second side, the first side in thermal communication with the working fluid, the second side in thermal communication with an other working fluid. 
     
     
         52 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 51 , wherein the other working fluid is the same as the working fluid. 
     
     
         53 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 51 , wherein the other working fluid is different from the working fluid. 
     
     
         54 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 51 , wherein at least one of the working fluid and the other working fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
         55 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 51 , wherein the working fluid is water and the other working fluid is air. 
     
     
         56 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 51 , wherein the other working fluid flows from the first region corresponding to the first thermoelectric assembly to a volume to be cooled or heated. 
     
     
         57 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 56 , wherein the other working fluid comprises a gas and the thermoelectric system further comprises one or more flow control devices which drive the other working fluid from the first region corresponding to the first thermoelectric assembly to the volume. 
     
     
         58 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 51 , wherein the first side is in thermal communication with a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with the working fluid and the second side is in thermal communication with a second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the other working fluid. 
     
     
         59 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 58 , wherein at least one of the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger comprises a plurality of fins. 
     
     
         60 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , further comprising one or more valves configured to control flow of the working fluid in the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         61 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , further comprising a thermal storage reservoir fluidically coupled to the fluid conduit, the thermal storage reservoir configured to receive the working fluid. 
     
     
         62 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , wherein the switch is configured to adjust current flow through the first thermoelectric assembly or the second thermoelectric assembly. 
     
     
         63 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , further comprising a sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a condition of the first region, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal and to heat or cool the first region in response to the condition. 
     
     
         64 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 63 , wherein the condition of the first region comprises temperature of the first region. 
     
     
         65 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 63 , wherein the condition of the first region comprises surface temperature of the first region. 
     
     
         66 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , wherein the first region comprises electronic equipment. 
     
     
         67 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 66 , wherein the electronic equipment comprises a battery. 
     
     
         68 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , wherein the working fluid flows repeatedly through the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         69 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , wherein a fluid loop comprises the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         70 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 69 , wherein the working fluid comprises a liquid working fluid that flows in the fluid loop. 
     
     
         71 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , wherein the second thermoelectric assembly is in thermal communication with the working fluid and in thermal communication with a second region corresponding to the second thermoelectric assembly, wherein the second thermoelectric assembly is operable to heat the second region corresponding to the second thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the working fluid to the second region corresponding to the second thermoelectric assembly or to cool the second region corresponding to the second thermoelectric assembly by transferring heat from the second region corresponding to the second thermoelectric assembly to the working fluid. 
     
     
         72 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , wherein the switch is configured to provide current flow to the first thermoelectric assembly, and further comprising an other switch configured to provide current flow to the second thermoelectric assembly, and wherein the controller is configured to heat or cool the first region by causing the switch and the other switch to place the first thermoelectric assembly and the second thermoelectric assembly either in series electrical connection or parallel electrical connection with one another. 
     
     
         73 . A thermoelectric system for temperature control of electronic equipment, the thermoelectric system comprising:
 a first thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with electronic equipment, wherein the first thermoelectric assembly is configured to heat the electronic equipment by transferring heat to the electronic equipment or to cool the electronic equipment by transferring heat from the electronic equipment;   a second thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the electronic equipment, wherein the second thermoelectric assembly is configured to heat the electronic equipment by transferring heat to the electronic equipment or to cool the electronic equipment by transferring heat from the electronic equipment;   a switch configured to provide current flow to the first thermoelectric assembly or the second thermoelectric assembly; and   a controller configured to heat or cool the electronic equipment by causing the switch to place the first thermoelectric assembly and the second thermoelectric assembly in series electrical connection or parallel electrical connection with one another.   
     
     
         74 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 73 , further comprising a sensor in electrical communication with the controller, the controller configured to receive a signal from the sensor, the signal indicative of a condition of the electronic equipment. 
     
     
         75 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 74 , wherein the condition comprises temperature of the electronic equipment. 
     
     
         76 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 73 , wherein the electronic equipment comprises a battery. 
     
     
         77 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 73 , wherein the switch is configured to provide current flow to the first thermoelectric assembly, and further comprising an other switch configured to provide current flow to the second thermoelectric assembly, and wherein the controller is configured to heat or cool the first region by causing the switch and the other switch to place the first thermoelectric assembly and the second thermoelectric assembly in series electrical connection or parallel electrical connection with one another. 
     
     
         78 . A thermoelectric system for temperature control of a volume, the thermoelectric system comprising:
 a first thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the volume, wherein the first thermoelectric assembly is configured to heat the volume by transferring heat to the volume or to cool the volume by transferring heat from the volume;   a second thermoelectric assembly in thermal communication with the volume, wherein the second thermoelectric assembly is configured to heat the volume by transferring heat to the volume or to cool the volume by transferring heat from the volume;   a switch configured to provide current flow to the first thermoelectric assembly or the second thermoelectric assembly; and   a controller configured to heat or cool the volume by causing the switch to place the first thermoelectric assembly and the second thermoelectric assembly in series electrical connection or parallel electrical connection with one another.   
     
     
         79 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 78 , wherein climate-sensitive equipment resides in the volume. 
     
     
         80 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 78 , wherein the switch is configured to provide current flow to the first thermoelectric assembly, and further comprising an other switch configured to provide current flow to the second thermoelectric assembly, and wherein the controller is configured to heat or cool the first region by causing the switch and the other switch to place the first thermoelectric assembly and the second thermoelectric assembly in series electrical connection or parallel electrical connection with one another.