System and method for distributed thermoelectric heating and cooling

Abstract

A climate control system and method controls climate at selected regions within a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The thermoelectric system includes a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies. The system includes at least one fluid conduit configured to allow a liquid to flow in the at least one fluid conduit. The system further includes a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies. At least two thermoelectric assemblies of the plurality of thermoelectric assemblies are in thermal communication with the liquid and each of the at least two thermoelectric assemblies has a corresponding region within the passenger compartment. The at least two thermoelectric assemblies are selectively operable to transfer heat between the corresponding region and the liquid, wherein the at least two thermoelectric assemblies are each operable independently from one another.

1 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A thermoelectric system for heating or cooling regions of a vehicle, the thermoelectric system comprising:
 a fluid conduit loop configured to allow a liquid working fluid to flow in the fluid conduit loop, wherein the liquid working fluid comprises engine coolant, wherein the fluid conduit loop is configured to be in thermal communication with an engine of the vehicle;   a plurality of thermoelectric assemblies, each thermoelectric assembly comprising a plurality of thermoelectric elements;   a first thermoelectric assembly of the thermoelectric assemblies positioned in a seat of the vehicle, the first thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the liquid working fluid and in thermal communication with a first region associated with the seat of the vehicle, wherein the first thermoelectric assembly is operable to heat the first region by transferring heat from the liquid working fluid to the first region or to cool the first region by transferring heat from the first region to the liquid working fluid;   a second thermoelectric assembly of the thermoelectric assemblies positioned in a pillar of the vehicle or a headliner of the vehicle, the second thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the liquid working fluid and in thermal communication with a second region associated with the pillar of the vehicle or the headliner of the vehicle, wherein the second thermoelectric assembly is operable to heat the second region by transferring heat from the liquid working fluid to the second region or to cool the second region by transferring heat from the second region to the liquid working fluid; and   a controller configured to independently operate the first thermoelectric assembly and the second thermoelectric assembly to heat or cool the first region or the second region.   
     
     
         51 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , further comprising a third thermoelectric assembly of the thermoelectric assemblies positioned in a steering wheel of the vehicle, the third thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the liquid working fluid and in thermal communication with a third region associated with the steering wheel, wherein the third thermoelectric assembly is configured to heat the third region by transferring heat from the liquid working fluid to the third region or to cool the third region by transferring heat from the third region to the liquid working fluid. 
     
     
         52 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , wherein the first or second 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 configured to be in thermal communication with the liquid working fluid, the second side configured to be in thermal communication with an other working fluid. 
     
     
         53 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 52 , wherein the other working fluid is different from the liquid working fluid. 
     
     
         54 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 52 , wherein the other working fluid is air. 
     
     
         55 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 54 , further comprising one or more flow control devices configured to drive the air through the corresponding region. 
     
     
         56 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , wherein the fluid conduit loop is configured to be in fluid communication with a radiator of the vehicle to allow the liquid working fluid to flow through the radiator, the radiator for cooling the engine of the vehicle. 
     
     
         57 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 56 , further comprising one or more valves configured to control flow of the liquid working fluid in the fluid conduit loop, the one or more valves configured to bypass flow of the liquid working fluid to the radiator. 
     
     
         58 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 50 , wherein the fluid conduit loop is configured to be in fluid communication with an auxiliary radiator of the vehicle to allow the liquid working fluid to flow through the auxiliary radiator, the auxiliary radiator for cooling the liquid working fluid. 
     
     
         59 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 58 , further comprising one or more valves configured to control flow of the liquid working fluid in the fluid conduit loop, the one or more valves configured to bypass flow of the liquid working fluid to the auxiliary radiator. 
     
     
         60 . A thermoelectric system for heating or cooling regions of a vehicle, 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 positioned in a seat of the vehicle, the first thermoelectric assembly comprising a first side and a second side and configured to transfer thermal energy between the first side of the first thermoelectric assembly and the second side of the first thermoelectric assembly, the first side of the first thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the working fluid, the second side of the first thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with a first region associated with the seat of the vehicle, wherein the first thermoelectric assembly is operable to heat the first region by transferring heat from the working fluid to the first region or to cool the first region by transferring heat from the first region to the working fluid;   a second thermoelectric assembly of the thermoelectric assemblies positioned in a pillar of the vehicle or a headliner of the vehicle, the second thermoelectric assembly comprising a first side and a second side and configured to transfer thermal energy between the first side of the second thermoelectric assembly and the second side of the second thermoelectric assembly, the first side of the second thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the working fluid, the second side of the second thermoelectric assembly configured to be in thermal communication with a second region associated with the pillar of the vehicle or the headliner of the vehicle, wherein the second thermoelectric assembly is operable to heat the first region by transferring heat from the working fluid to the first region or to cool the first region by transferring heat from the first region to the working fluid; and   a controller configured to independently operate the first thermoelectric assembly and the second thermoelectric assembly to heat or cool the first region or the second region.   
     
     
         60 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 60 , further comprising a fluid conduit loop configured to allow the working fluid to flow in the fluid conduit loop, the fluid conduit loop comprising the fluid conduit, and the working fluid comprising engine coolant, wherein the fluid conduit loop is configured to be in thermal communication with an engine of the vehicle. 
     
     
         62 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 60 , wherein the second side of the first or the second thermoelectric assembly is configured to be in thermal communication with an other working fluid. 
     
     
         63 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 62 , wherein the other working fluid is different from the working fluid. 
     
     
         64 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 62 , wherein the other working fluid is air. 
     
     
         65 . The thermoelectric system of  claim 64 , further comprising one or more flow control devices configured to drive the air through the corresponding region. 
     
     
         66 . A temperature control system for heating or cooling regions of a vehicle, the temperature control system comprising:
 a fluid conduit loop configured to allow a liquid working fluid to flow in the fluid conduit loop, wherein the liquid working fluid comprises engine coolant, wherein the fluid conduit loop is configured to be in thermal communication with an engine of the vehicle;   a first temperature control assembly positioned in a seat of the vehicle, the first temperature control assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the liquid working fluid and in thermal communication with a first region associated with the seat of the vehicle, wherein the first temperature control assembly is configured to heat the first region by transferring heat from the liquid working fluid to the first region or to cool the first region by transferring heat from the first region to the liquid working fluid; and   a second temperature control assembly positioned in a different location of the vehicle from a location of the first temperature control assembly, the second temperature control assembly configured to be in thermal communication with the liquid working fluid and in thermal communication with a second region associated with the different location of the vehicle, wherein the second temperature control assembly is configured to heat the second region by transferring heat from the liquid working fluid to the second region or to cool the first region by transferring heat from the second region to the liquid working fluid.   
     
     
         67 . The temperature control system of  claim 66 , wherein the different location of the second temperature control assembly comprises a pillar of the vehicle, a headliner of the vehicle, or a steering wheel of the vehicle. 
     
     
         68 . The temperature control system of  claim 66 , further comprising a thermal storage reservoir in fluid communication the fluid conduit loop, the thermal storage reservoir configured to receive the liquid working fluid and configured to store thermal power. 
     
     
         69 . The temperature control system of  claim 66 , wherein the first or second temperature control assembly comprises a thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric device comprising a first side and a second side and configured to transfer thermal energy between the first side of the thermoelectric device and the second side of the thermoelectric device, the first side of the thermoelectric device configured to be in thermal communication with the liquid working fluid, the second side of the thermoelectric device configured to be in thermal communication with the first or second region, wherein the thermoelectric device is operable to heat the first or second region by transferring heat from the liquid working fluid to the first or second region or to cool the first or second region by transferring heat from the first or second region to the liquid working fluid. 
     
     
         70 . The temperature control system of  claim 66 , wherein the fluid conduit loop is configured to be in fluid communication with a radiator of the vehicle to allow the liquid working fluid to flow through the radiator, the radiator for cooling the engine of the vehicle. 
     
     
         71 . The temperature control system of  claim 70 , further comprising one or more valves configured to control flow of the liquid working fluid in the fluid conduit loop, the one or more valves configured to bypass flow of the liquid working fluid to the radiator. 
     
     
         72 . The temperature control system of  claim 66 , wherein the fluid conduit loop is configured to be in fluid communication with an auxiliary radiator of the vehicle to allow the liquid working fluid to flow through the auxiliary radiator, the auxiliary radiator for cooling the liquid working fluid. 
     
     
         73 . The temperature control system of  claim 72 , further comprising one or more valves configured to control flow of the liquid working fluid in the fluid conduit loop, the one or more valves configured to bypass flow of the liquid working fluid to the auxiliary radiator.