Vehicle air comfort system and method

{
  "publication_number": "US2010050659A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Vehicle air comfort system and method",
  "abstract": "Systems and methods are provided for conditioning air inside an enclosure. The systems and methods may comprise: (1) a plurality of flow tunnels for passage of a heat-transfer fluid; (2) a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the flow tunnels for thermally conditioning the heat-transfer fluid in the flow tunnels; (3) an air inlet for receiving unconditioned air; (4) a thermal exchange assembly for facilitating thermal exchange between the thermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid and the unconditioned air to result in conditioning of the air; and (5) an air outlet for outputting the conditioned air into the enclosure.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A vehicle air comfort system comprising: a plurality of flow tunnels for the flow of a heat-transfer fluid therethrough; a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the flow tunnels, the thermoelectric cooler being constructed with a plurality of thermoelectric chips and an array of heat pipes in thermal engagement therewith, the cooler being operable to thermally condition the heat-transfer fluid in the flow tunnels; an air inlet for receiving unconditioned air; a thermal exchange assembly operable to facilitate thermal exchange between the thermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid and the unconditioned air, wherein the thermal exchange results in the conditioning of the unconditioned air; and an air outlet for outputting the conditioned air into the vehicle.",
    "2. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 1, wherein the conditioning comprises cooling the unconditioned air, the thermal conditioning comprises cooling the heat-transfer fluid, and wherein the thermal exchange comprises the transfer of heat from the unconditioned air to the thermally conditioned heat transfer fluid.",
    "3. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 1, wherein the conditioning comprises heating the unconditioned air, the thermal conditioning comprises heating the heat-transfer fluid, and wherein the thermal exchange comprises the transfer of heat from the thermally conditioned heat transfer fluid to the unconditioned air.",
    "4. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of fins in thermal contact with the heat pipes and operable to dissipate thermal energy from the heat pipes and the thermoelectric cooler.",
    "5. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a thermoelectric cooler exhaust for outputting dissipated thermal energy from the thermoelectric cooler.",
    "6. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 1, wherein the thermal exchange assembly comprises: a fluid inlet for receiving the thermally conditioned heat transfer fluid; a body for facilitating thermal exchange between the thermally conditioned heat transfer fluid and the unconditioned air; and a fluid outlet for outputting the heat transfer fluid after the thermal exchange.",
    "7. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 1, wherein the thermal exchange assembly is a radiator.",
    "8. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a tubing network operable to place the flow tunnels in fluid communication with the thermal exchange assembly.",
    "9. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 8, wherein the tubing network is a closed-loop circuit.",
    "10. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 8, wherein the tubing network further comprises a pump for facilitating the transport of the heat-transfer fluid through the tubing network.",
    "11. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises one or more fans for facilitating the movement of conditioned or unconditioned air.",
    "12. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 11, wherein the one or more fans move unconditioned air from the air inlet to the thermal exchange assembly.",
    "13. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 11, wherein the one or more fans move conditioned air from the thermal exchange assembly to the air outlet.",
    "14. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 1, wherein the heat pipes comprise generally U-shaped assemblies having fins secured thereto for thermal dissipation therefrom.",
    "15. The vehicle air comfort system of claim 1, wherein the system is powered from a battery unit power source within the vehicle.",
    "16. A method of conditioning the air of a vehicle, wherein the method comprises: providing an air comfort system including an air inlet for receiving unconditioned air, a plurality of flow tunnels, a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the flow tunnels, a thermal exchange assembly, and an air outlet for outputting conditioned air; mounting an array of heat pipes within the thermoelectric cooler for heat dissipation; passing a heat transfer fluid through the plurality of flow tunnels; thermally conditioning the heat-transfer fluid in the flow tunnels, wherein the thermal conditioning is facilitated by the thermoelectric cooler; passing the thermally conditioned heat transfer fluid and unconditioned air through the thermal exchange assembly, wherein the passing results in thermal exchange between the heat transfer fluid and the unconditioned air, and wherein the thermal exchange results in the conditioning of the unconditioned air; and outputting the conditioned air through the air outlet into the vehicle.",
    "17. The method of claim 16 and including cooling the heat-transfer fluid and transferring heat from the unconditioned air to the thermally conditioned heat transfer fluid to result in the cooling the unconditioned air.",
    "18. The method of claim 16 and including heating the heat-transfer fluid and transferring heat from the thermally conditioned heat transfer fluid to the unconditioned air to result in the heating of the unconditioned air.",
    "19. The method of claim 16 and including monitoring conditions for the operation of the system, the monitoring being selected from the group consisting of temperature of the unconditioned heat transfer fluid, temperature of the conditioned heat transfer fluid, temperature of the unconditioned air, temperature of the conditioned air, humidity of the conditioned air, and humidity of the unconditioned air.",
    "20. The method of claim 19, further including providing one or more sensors and wherein the monitoring occurs by the one or more sensors delivering the monitoring condition."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Technical Field\n\nThe present invention relates to air conditioning systems and methods, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to temperature control assemblies and methods for selective temperature control of enclosures, such as a passenger compartment of a vehicle.\n\n2. History of Related Art\n\nTemperature control systems such as vehicle heaters and air conditioners have improved in recent years. Most common in the transportation industry today are compressor based air-conditioning units that use power from the engine to drive the compressor. When the engine is idling, running the A/C unit may require the engine to idle at higher RPM's. Idling the engine at higher RPM's, however, causes an increase in noise, fuel consumption, and pollution. Furthermore, high fuel prices make it desirable to turn the vehicle's engine off when the vehicle is parked for extended periods of time. In order to run a compressor-based A/C unit while the engine is off, power from the vehicle's battery power is generally needed. Such battery use can, however, only be continued for a short period of time before the battery is completely emptied.\n\nFederal and local regulations have exacerbated the problems associated with the above-mentioned issues. For environmental reasons, vehicles parked at truck stops are often only allowed to idle for a limited period of time, sometimes as little as only a few minutes. These limitations create problems because, for various reasons, vehicle drivers are often required to stay overnight at truck stops.",
  "cpc": [
    "F25B 21/04",
    "B60H 1/00478",
    "B60H 1/2221",
    "F28D 15/0275",
    "Y02T 10/88"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F25B 21/04",
    "F25D 17/04",
    "F28D 1/00",
    "F28F 13/12",
    "F28F 7/00",
    "F25B 21/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Thermotek Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Tony Quisenberry",
    "Sam K. McSpadden",
    "Christopher Alan Polser",
    "Niran Balachandran"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2009-08-27",
  "publication_date": "2010-03-04",
  "priority_date": "2008-08-27",
  "application_number": "US-54931909-A",
  "family_id": "41723338",
  "cited_by_count": 28,
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