Systems and methods for heat energy management

Abstract

Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for the capturing, transferring, and managing of heat energy. Phase change materials are used for their high thermal inertia property and large energy per volume property when operated near their solid-liquid transition point. Additionally, the systems, devices, and methods utilize one or more thermoelectric modules thermally coupled to a first side of the phase change material and one or more thermoelectric modules thermally coupled to a second side of the phase change material, opposite the first side. The use of the thermoelectric modules allows heat energy to be stored in, transferred within, or harvested from, the phase change material the thermoelectric modules couple to.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for managing heat energy, the system comprising:
 a thermal energy storage medium having a first surface opposite a second surface, wherein the thermal energy storage medium is configured to act as a reservoir or a battery for thermal energy;   a front-end array comprising a first plurality of thermoelectric modules, wherein the front-end array is positioned on the first surface of the thermal energy storage medium and configured to generate heat energy from the thermal energy storge medium and transfer heat energy to and from the thermal energy storage medium; and   a back-end array comprising a second plurality of thermoelectric modules, wherein the back-end array is positioned on the second surface of the thermal energy storage medium and configured to generate heat energy from the thermal energy storage medium and transfer heat energy to and from the thermal energy storage medium,   wherein the system is configured to modulate a temperature of at least a portion of the thermal energy storage medium using the front-end array, or the back-end array, or both, and   wherein the system is configured to transfer heat energy from one portion of the thermal energy storage medium to another portion of the thermal energy storage medium.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first thermal interface material between the front-end array and the first surface of the thermal energy storage medium. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second thermal interface material between the back-end array and the second surface of the thermal energy storage medium. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of thermoelectric modules or the second plurality of thermoelectric modules is configured as a film. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a subset of the second plurality of thermoelectric modules is wired in series to form the back-end array. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a subset of the first plurality of thermoelectric modules or the second plurality of thermoelectric modules is wired in parallel to form the front-end array. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors coupled to the first surface or at least partially recessed into the first surface of the thermal energy storage medium. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors coupled to the second surface or at least partially recessed into the second surface of the thermal energy storage medium. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors coupled to the first plurality of thermoelectric modules. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more temperature sensors coupled to the second plurality of thermoelectric modules. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of thermoelectric modules is operating as a Peltier module. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the second plurality of thermoelectric modules is operating as a Peltier module. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of thermoelectric modules is operating as a thermoelectric generator. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the second plurality of thermoelectric modules is operating as a thermoelectric generator. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy storage medium comprises a phase change material. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to dynamically insulate an enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . A system for managing heat energy, the system comprising:
 a thermal energy storage medium having a first surface opposite a second surface wherein the thermal energy storage medium is configured to act as a reservoir or a battery for thermal energy;   a front-end array comprising a first plurality of thermoelectric modules, wherein the front-end array is positioned on the first surface of the thermal energy storage medium; and   a back-end array comprising a second plurality of thermoelectric modules, wherein the back-end array is positioned on the second surface of the thermal energy storage medium,   wherein the system is configured to modulate a temperature of at least a portion of the thermal energy storage medium using the front-end array, or the back-end array, or both,   wherein the system is configured to transfer heat energy from one portion of the thermal energy storage medium to another portion of the thermal energy storage medium when the phase transition temperature of the thermal energy storage medium is within a predefined range.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the system is configured to dynamically insulate the enclosure. 
     
     
         19 . A system for managing heat energy, the system comprising:
 a thermal energy storage medium having a first surface opposite a second surface wherein the thermal energy storage medium is configured to act as a reservoir or a battery for thermal energy, wherein the first surface defines an interior surface of an enclosure;   a front-end array comprising a first plurality of thermoelectric modules, wherein the front-end array is positioned on the first surface of the thermal energy storage medium; and   a back-end array comprising a second plurality of thermoelectric modules, wherein the back-end array is positioned on the second surface of the thermal energy storage medium, wherein the second surface defines an exterior surface of the enclosure,   wherein the system is configured to modulate a temperature of at least a portion of the thermal energy storage medium using the front-end array, or the back-end array, or both,   wherein the system is configured to transfer heat energy from one portion of the thermal energy storage medium to another portion of the thermal energy storage medium when the phase transition temperature of the thermal energy storage medium is within a predefined range.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the system is configured to be utilized with a traditional HVAC system.