Cooling apparatus

Abstract

A cooling apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a Peltier module having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface that are cooled and heated, respectively, by passing an electric current therethrough; a first heat transferor thermally connected to the first heat transfer surface; a second heat transferor thermally connected to the second heat transfer surface; a heat receiver thermally connected to an object to be cooled disposed apart from the Peltier module; a refrigerant circulation flow path in which a refrigerant flows; a first heat dissipator; a temperature measurer; and a controller. The refrigerant circulates through the heat receiver, the first heat dissipator, and the first heat transferor or the second heat transferor. The controller controls heat exchange of the refrigerant at the Peltier module and at the first heat dissipator based on the temperature value acquired by the temperature measurer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling apparatus comprising:
 a Peltier module including one or more Peltier elements, the Peltier module having a first heat transfer surface and a second heat transfer surface that are cooled and heated, respectively, by passing an electric current therethrough;   a first heat transferor thermally connected to the first heat transfer surface;   a second heat transferor thermally connected to the second heat transfer surface;   a heat receiver thermally connected to an object to be cooled disposed apart from the Peltier module;   a refrigerant circulation flow path in which a refrigerant flows;   a first heat dissipator including a first end and a second end, the first heat dissipator being configured such that the refrigerant flowing along the refrigerant circulation flow path flows from the first end to the second end exchanges heat with surrounding outside air while passing through the first heat dissipator, and flows from the second end to the first heat transferor or the second heat transferor;   a temperature measurer acquiring a temperature value of at least outside air; and   a controller,   
       wherein
 the refrigerant circulates through the heat receiver, the first heat dissipator, and the first heat transferor or the second heat transferor, 
 the controller controls heat exchange of the refrigerant at the Peltier module and heat exchange of the refrigerant at the first heat dissipator based on the temperature value acquired by the temperature measurer.  2  The cooling apparatus according to claim  1 , wherein 
 the first end of the first heat dissipator is thermally connected to the heat receiver via the refrigerant circulation flow path, 
 the cooling apparatus further comprises: 
 a first pump disposed on the refrigerant circulation flow path between the heat receiver and the first end, the first pump driving circulation of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation flow path. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the Peltier module has a first mode in which it is active and a second mode in which it is inactive,   the first heat dissipator includes a first fan that promotes heat exchange between the refrigerant and surrounding outside air when the refrigerant passes through the first heat dissipator,   the first heat dissipator has a first state in which the first fan runs and a second state in which the first fan stops,   the heat exchange of the refrigerant at the Peltier module is controlled by switching the Peltier module between the first mode and the second mode, and   the heat exchange of the refrigerant at the first heat dissipator is controlled by switching the first heat dissipator between the first state and the second state.   
     
     
         4 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the second heat transferor includes a second fan that promotes heat exchange between the second heat transferor and surrounding outside air,   the controller activates the second fan when triggering the Peltier module to the first mode, and   the controller stops the second fan when triggering the Peltier module to the second mode.   
     
     
         5 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the temperature measurer acquires a first temperature value of outside air around the first heat dissipator,   when the first temperature value is lower than a predetermined first reference temperature value, the controller triggers the Peltier module to the second mode and puts the first heat dissipator in the first state, and   when the first temperature value is equal to or greater than the predetermined first reference temperature value, the controller triggers the Peltier module to the first mode and puts the first heat dissipator in the first state.   
     
     
         6 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 in an operating state in which the Peltier module is in the first mode and the first heat dissipator is in the first state,   when the first temperature value is equal to or lower than a predetermined second reference temperature value, the controller maintains the operating state of the Peltier module and the first heat dissipator,   when the first temperature value is higher than the second reference temperature value, the controller maintains the Peltier module in the first mode and switches the first heat dissipator to the second first state, and   the second reference temperature value is a temperature value higher than the first reference temperature value.   
     
     
         7 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 in an operating state in which the Peltier module is in the first mode and the first heat dissipator is in the first state,   the temperature measurer further acquires a second temperature value of the refrigerant when the refrigerant passes through the first end of the first heat dissipator,   when the second temperature value is equal to or higher than the first temperature value, the controller maintains the operating state of the Peltier module and the first heat dissipator, and   when the second temperature value is lower than the first temperature value, the controller maintains the Peltier module in the first mode and switches the first heat dissipator to the second state.   
     
     
         8 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 in an operating state in which the Peltier module is in the first mode and the first heat dissipator is in the first state,   the temperature measurer further acquires a second temperature value of the refrigerant when the refrigerant passes through the first end of the first heat dissipator and a third temperature value of the refrigerant when the refrigerant passes through the second end of the first heat dissipator,   when the second temperature value is equal to or higher than the third temperature value, the controller maintains the operating state of the Peltier module and the first heat dissipator, and   when the second temperature value is lower than the third temperature value, the controller maintains the Peltier module in the first mode and switches the first heat dissipator to the second state.  9  The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:   a second heat dissipator thermally connected in series to the second heat transferor via the refrigerant circulation flow path, the second heat dissipator being configured to exchange heat with surrounding outside air when the refrigerant flowing along the refrigerant circulation flow path passes through the second heat dissipator, wherein   the refrigerant circulation flow path includes:   a first circulation flow path in which the refrigerant circulates by passing through the first heat transferor and the heat receiver in series; and   a second circulation flow path in which the refrigerant circulates by passing through the second heat transferor and the second heat dissipator in series,   the Peltier module has:   a third mode in which the Peltier module is active, and the refrigerant circulates through the first circulation flow path and the second circulation flow path; and   a fourth mode in which the Peltier module is inactive, and the refrigerant circulates only through the first circulation flow path,   the first heat dissipator has:   a third state in which the first heat dissipator is connected in series to the first heat transferor and the heat receiver to constitute the first circulation flow path; and   a fourth state in which the first heat dissipator is connected in series to the second heat transferor and the second heat dissipator to constitute the second circulation flow path,   the heat exchange of the refrigerant at the Peltier module is controlled by switching the Peltier module between the third mode and the fourth mode, and   the heat exchange of the refrigerant at the first heat dissipator is controlled by switching the first heat dissipator between the third state and the fourth state.   
     
     
         10 . The cooling apparatus according to claim  9 , wherein
 the first heat dissipator includes a first fan that promotes heat exchange between the refrigerant and surrounding outside air when the refrigerant passes through the first heat dissipator, and   the controller activates the first fan when the first heat dissipator is in the third state or the fourth state.   
     
     
         11 . The cooling apparatus according to claim  9 , wherein
 the second heat dissipator includes a second fan that promotes heat exchange between the refrigerant and surrounding outside air when the refrigerant passes through the second heat dissipator,   the controller activates the second fan when triggering the Peltier module to the third mode, and   the controller stops the second fan when triggering the Peltier module to the fourth mode.   
     
     
         12 . The cooling apparatus according to claim  9 , wherein
 the temperature measurer acquires a first temperature value of outside air around the first heat dissipator,   when the first temperature value is lower than a predetermined first reference temperature value, the controller triggers the Peltier module to the fourth mode and puts the first heat dissipator in the third state, and   when the first temperature value is equal to or higher than the first reference temperature value, the controller triggers the Peltier module to the third mode and puts the first heat dissipator in the third state.   
     
     
         13 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein
 in an operating state in which the Peltier module is in the third mode and the first heat dissipator is in the third state,   when the first temperature value is equal to or lower than a predetermined second reference temperature value, the controller maintains the operating state of the Peltier module and the first heat dissipator,   when the first temperature value is higher than the second reference temperature value, the controller maintains the Peltier module in the third mode and switches the first heat dissipator to the fourth state, and   the second reference temperature value is a temperature value higher than the first reference temperature value.   
     
     
         14 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein
 in an operating state in which the Peltier module is in the third mode and the first heat dissipator is in the third state,   the temperature measurer further acquires a second temperature value of the refrigerant when the refrigerant passes through the first end of the first heat dissipator,   when the second temperature value is equal to or higher than the first temperature value, the controller maintains the operating state of the Peltier module and the first heat dissipator, and   when the second temperature value is lower than the first temperature value, the controller maintains the Peltier module in the third mode and switches the first heat dissipator to the fourth state.   
     
     
         15 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein
 in an operating state in which the Peltier module is in the third mode and the first heat dissipator is in the third state,   the temperature measurer further acquires a second temperature value of the refrigerant when the refrigerant passes through the first end of the first heat dissipator and a third temperature value of the refrigerant when the refrigerant passes through the second end of the first heat dissipator,   when the second temperature value is equal to or higher than the third temperature value, the controller maintains the operating state of the Peltier module and the first heat dissipator, and   when the second temperature value is lower than the third temperature value, the controller maintains the Peltier module in the third mode and switches the first heat dissipator to the fourth state.   
     
     
         16 . The cooling apparatus according to claim  9 , wherein
 the refrigerant circulation flow path includes a plurality of valves, and   the controller switches the Peltier module between the third mode and the fourth mode and switches the first heat dissipator between the third state and the fourth state by operating the plurality of valves.   
     
     
         17 . The cooling apparatus according to claim  9 , further comprising:
 a second pump disposed on the second circulation flow path and configured to drive the circulation of the refrigerant, wherein   the controller activates the second pump when triggering the Peltier module to the third mode, and   the controller stops the second pump when triggering the Peltier module to the fourth mode.