Cooling device using thermoelectric elelment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device that cools a working fluid using a thermoelectric element which not only can increase cooling efficiency and reduce electricity consumption by minimizing the volume of the heat exchange block through which a working fluid flows while ensuring a length of the flow path therein long to the maximum extent, but also can further increase cooling efficiency by sandwiching a gasket between the heat exchange block and the heat dissipation block to fix the heat exchange block and the heat dissipation block without heat transfer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling device using a thermoelectric element comprising:
 a heat exchange block ( 2 ) that is cooled by a thermoelectric element ( 3 ) and cools a working fluid flowing through a flow path ( 21 ) formed in a zigzag shape therein;   a thermoelectric element ( 3 ) that is fixed to either one side surface or both side surfaces of the heat exchange block ( 2 ) so that the cooled surface cools the heat exchange block ( 2 ) when electric power is supplied;   a heat dissipation block ( 4 ) that is closely adhered to the heat dissipation surface of the thermoelectric element ( 3 ) and is cooled by cooling water circulating through an internal passage ( 41 ) to cool the heat dissipation surface of the thermoelectric element ( 3 ); and   a gasket ( 5 ) that is made of a non-conductive material, and is sandwiched between the heat exchange block ( 2 ) and the heat dissipation block ( 4 ) while housing the thermoelectric element  3  therein, so that the heat exchange block ( 2 ) is fixed to one side surface by a fixing means, and the heat dissipation block ( 4 ) is fixed on the other side surface,   wherein the heat exchange block ( 2 ) cooled by the thermoelectric element ( 3 ) cools the working fluid flowing through the flow path ( 21 ), the heat dissipation block ( 4 ) through which the cooling water flows inside dissipates heat from the heat dissipation surface of the thermoelectric element ( 3 ), so that the temperature of the working fluid discharged to the outlet of the heat exchange block ( 2 ) is cooled to a temperature lower than the temperature of the working fluid supplied to the inlet of the heat exchange block ( 2 ).   
     
     
         2 . The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange block ( 2 ) has a structure in which a plurality of flow paths ( 21 ) are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the body so that the working fluid can flow, the respective flow paths ( 21 ) are mutually communicated with adjacent paths at one end or both ends through a U-turn groove ( 22 ) to have one row flow path shape, both outer side openings of the flow path ( 21 ) are closed by a cover ( 23 ), and the inlet ( 23   a ) and outlet ( 23   b ) mounted on the cover ( 23 ) are communicated with the inlet flow path ( 21 - 1 ) and the outlet flow path ( 21 - 1 ) corresponding thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to  claim 1 , wherein a first bolt (B 1 ) is fastened to the heat exchange block ( 2 ) to fasten and fix the gasket ( 5 ) to the heat exchange block ( 2 ), and a second bolt (B 2 ) is fastened to the exposed surface of the gasket ( 5 ) to fasten and fix the heat dissipation block ( 4 ) to the gasket ( 5 ),
 wherein the head of the first bolt (B 1 ) is buried so as not to protrude outside the exposed surface of the gasket ( 5 ), so that it does not come into contact with the heat dissipation block ( 4 ) that is closely fixed to the exposed surface of the gasket ( 5 ).   
     
     
         4 . The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric element ( 3 ) for cooling the heat exchange block ( 2 ) is housed inside the housing ( 3   b ) in a state where the cool block ( 3   a ) is mounted on the cooling surface, so that the housing ( 3   b ) is fixed to the heat dissipation block ( 4 ) so that the heat dissipation surface is closely adhered to the heat dissipation block ( 4 ), and when the heat dissipation block ( 4 ) is fixed to the gasket ( 5 ), the cool block ( 3   a ) protruding outside the housing ( 3   b ) is closely adhered with the heat exchange block ( 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipation block ( 4 ) has a structure in which a plurality of passages ( 41 ) are penetrated inside the body along the longitudinal direction, both ends of the passage ( 41 ) are closed by a cover ( 42 ), both sides of the body in the transverse direction are formed with an inlet passage ( 43 ) and an outlet passage ( 44 ) so as to be in communication with the passage ( 41 ) so that cooling water can enter and exit the passage ( 41 ), and the edge of the body is fastened to the gasket ( 5 ) so that a fastening hole ( 45 ) is penetrated through which the second bolt (B 2 ) for fastening and fixing the heat dissipation block ( 4 ) to the gasket ( 5 ) is fastened. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to  claim 1 , wherein the gasket ( 5 ) is configured in a ring shape so as to have a space for housing the thermoelectric element ( 3 ) therein, in which a plurality of fastening holes ( 51 ) for housing the first bolts (B 1 ) fastened to the heat exchange block ( 2 ) are penetrated, a tab ( 52 ) is formed to which a second bolt (B 2 ) for fixing the heat dissipation block ( 4 ) between the fastening holes ( 51 ) is fastened, and adhesive receiving grooves ( 53 ) for bonding the heat exchange block ( 2 ) and the heat dissipation block ( 4 ), which are adhered and fixed thereto, are concavely formed in the periphery of both side surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to  claim 4 , wherein the housing ( 3   b ) has a structure in which an elastic member ( 3   c ) built therein pushes the cool block ( 3   a ) toward the thermoelectric element ( 3 ), thereby increasing the adhesion between the cool block ( 3   a ) and the cooling surface of the thermoelectric element ( 3 ). 
     
     
         8 . The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to  claim 4 , wherein a nut for fastening the second bolt (B 2 ) is inserted at the position of the tab ( 52 ), or a helicoil ( 54 ) is built in.