AU2007216884B2

AU2007216884B2 - Thermoelectric air conditioning unit & thermoelectric air conditioner thereof

Info

Publication number: AU2007216884B2
Application number: AU2007216884A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ai Guo Cao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-29
Filing date: 2007-09-20
Publication date: 2009-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2027-09-20
Also published as: CN101055109A; CN100532976C; AU2007216884A1; US20080078185A1

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Ai Guo Cao Actual Inventor(s): Ai Guo Cao Address for Service: A.P.T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys PO Box 222, Mitcham, SA 5062 Invention Title: Thermoelectric air conditioning unit & a thermoelectric air conditioner thereof The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:-

TITLE: THERMOELECTRIC AIR CONDITIONING UNIT & A THERMOELECTRIC AIR CONDITIONER THEREOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 (a) Field of the Invention The present invention is related to an air conditioning system, and more particularly, to a thermoelectric air conditioning unit and a thermoelectric air conditioner containing the thermoelectric air conditioning unit. (b) Description of the Prior Art: 10 In general, thermoelectric air conditioning is more environment-friendly and demands less in manufacturing workmanship among the technical fields of cooling and air conditioning. Thermoelectric air conditioning systems generally available in the market are essentially comprised of a thermo-electric component and a heat exchanger to 15 transfer hot air or cool air to a space that needs to have warmer air or cooler air. The heat exchanger is provided with a heat transfer plate, multiple heat sink fins are vertically secured to one side of the heat transfer plate; another side of the heat transfer plate of the heat exchanger is adhered to a surface of one side of the thermoelectric component; on another side of the heat transfer component is attached with a heat 20 transfer water tank to take away the hot air or cool air radiated from the thermoelectric component; and the thermoelectric component is secured at where between the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank (refer to a structural design as disclosed in a Chinese Patent CN03248792.4). Wherein, each thermoelectric component is comprised of a thermoelectric device and a guide vane; and the current flows through 25 the guide vane upon making cool air (hot air) for each pair of thermoelectric components constitute a cool end a hot end opposite to each other. Therefore, when both of the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank are respectively attached to the thermoelectric component, an insulation heat transfer plate is each sandwiched between the heat exchanger and the thermoelectric component and between the heat 30 transfer water tank and the thermoelectric component. According to the prior art, the insulation heat transfer plate is made of ceramic plate (in a structure as disclosed in a Chinese Patent CN96242510.9). However, the ceramic plate is found with flaws including low efficient ratio of heat or cold transfer and higher energy consumption due to that there will be a thermal loss of 1~2 as the temperature of the 2 thermoelectric component after making cool air is transferred through the insulation heat transfer plate to the heat exchanger. A water coil heat sink of the prior art is usually comprised of copper heat pipe tube. It is true that the heat sink performance is better with the copper heat pipe 5 but the copper heat pipe is also blamed for higher costs and heavier weight. The heat exchanger operates at an erected position; the fan is usually mounted to a top edge of the heat sink and the air is blown downward by means of the fan; and the air passes through the heat sink to produce and blow cool air into a room. While the thermoelectric air conditioner is making cool air, a comparatively drastic difference is 10 created between the surface temperature of the heat sink and the ambient temperature, and vapors in the air will condense on the surface of the heat sink and develop small water drops. Meanwhile as the fan is located over the heat sink, the air from the fan is blowing in the same direction as that those water drops on the heat sink fall. Accordingly, the condensed water drops flow in the direction where the air blows and 15 they could easily blockade the air way (as illustrated in accompanying drawings of the Chinese Patent CN03248792.2). For the purposes of this specification the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning. Also a reference within this specification to a document is not to be taken as an 20 admission that the disclosure therein constitutes common general knowledge in Australia. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric 25 air conditioning unit and a thermoelectric air conditioner containing the unit with improved energy efficiency ratio. To achieve the purpose, a thermoelectric air conditioner of the present invention is comprised of thermoelectric component and heat exchanger to transfer hot or cool air radiated from thermoelectric component to a space where demands hot air 30 or cold air. The heat exchanger is provided with a heat transfer plate; multiple heat sink fins are fixed on one side of the heat transfer plate; another side of the heat transfer plate of the heat exchanger is adhered to a surface on one side of the thermoelectric component; a surface on another side of the thermoelectric component is attached with a heat transfer water tank to carry away the color air or hot air radiated 35 by the thermoelectric component; and the thermoelectric component is firmly secured 3 at where between the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank. Wherein, both of the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank are respectively coated with an insulation heat transfer layer. According to a structure described above, the thermoelectric air 5 conditioning unit is disposed with two thermoelectric components, two heat exchangers, and one heat transfer water tank. The heat transfer water tank is sandwiched by those two sets of thermoelectric components; and both thermoelectric components are of the same electricity with that on the side they are respectively attached to the heat transfer water tank. Both thermoelectric components and the 10 heat transfer water tank sandwiched by them are fixed at where between those two heat exchangers. The insulation heat transfer coated layer is related to an aluminum oxide (A1 2 0 3 ) layer. The heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank are made of aluminum; 15 and the insulation heat transfer coated layer is disposed by micro-arc oxidization (MAO) on the surfaces respectively of the aluminum made heat exchanger and the aluminum made heat transfer water tank to form a layer of aluminum oxide. The heat transfer plate of the heat exchanger is disposed with an elevation area on a bottom inside an outer casing of a thermoelectric air conditioner; and those 20 heat sink fins are fixed on a side of the heat transfer plate abutted to the elevation area and are in parallel with the elevation area with free ends of all those heat sink fins inclining downward in a direction of the elevation area. The heat transfer water tank is related to a cabinet containing a chamber and a water inlet and a water outlet connecting through the chamber are disposed on 25 the cabinet. Multiple partitioning boards arranged in parallel with one another are disposed in the chamber to separate multiple independent waterways in parallel with one another. A head and a tail of each waterway are connected through in sequence to that of another waterway, and a fin is disposed lengthwise in each waterway to help stabilize water flow. 30 The present invention provides a thermoelectric air conditioner disposed with an outer casing and multiple thermoelectric air conditioning units in the outer casing. Each thermoelectric air conditioning unit is disposed with a thermoelectric component and heat exchanger to transfer hot air or cool air radiated from thermoelectric component to a space demanding hot air or cool air. The heat 35 exchanger is disposed with a heat transfer plate and multiple heat sink fins are fixed on 4 one side plate of the heat transfer plate; and another side of the heat transfer plate of the heat exchanger is adhered to a surface on one side of the thermoelectric component. An optional fan may be fixed inside the outer casing to blow the hot air or cold air radiated from the heat exchanger to the space where the hot or cold air is demanded. 5 On a surface of another side of the thermoelectric component of the thermoelectric air conditioning unit is attached with a heat transfer water tank to carry away the cold or hot air irradiated from the thermoelectric component. Both of the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank have respectively on their sides that are adhered to the thermoelectric component coated with an insulation heat transfer layer. 10 According to a structure described above, the thermoelectric air conditioning unit is disposed with two thermoelectric components, two heat exchangers, and one heat transfer water tank. The heat transfer water tank is sandwiched by those two sets of thermoelectric components; and both thermoelectric components are of the same electricity with that on the side they are respectively 15 attached to the heat transfer water tank. Both thermoelectric components and the heat transfer water tank sandwiched by them are fixed at where between those two heat exchangers. The insulation heat transfer coated layer is related to an aluminum oxide (A120 3 ) layer. 20 The heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank are made of aluminum; and the insulation heat transfer coated layer is disposed by micro-arc oxidization (MAO) on the surfaces respectively of the aluminum made heat exchanger and the aluminum made heat transfer water tank to form a layer of aluminum oxide. The heat transfer plate of the heat exchanger is disposed with an elevation 25 area on a bottom inside an outer casing of a thermoelectric air conditioner; and those heat sink fins are fixed on a side of the heat transfer plate abutted to the elevation area and are in parallel with the elevation area with free ends of all those heat sink fins inclining downward in a direction of the elevation area. The heat transfer water tank is related to a cabinet containing a chamber 30 and a water inlet and a water outlet connecting through the chamber are disposed on the cabinet. Multiple partitioning boards arranged in parallel with one another are disposed in the chamber to separate multiple independent waterways in parallel with one another. A head and a tail of each waterway are connected through in sequence to that of another waterway, and a fin is disposed lengthwise in each waterway to help 35 stabilize water flow. 5 When compared to the prior art, the present invention by having the insulation heat transfer coated layer respectively applied on the sides respectively of the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank that are attached to the thermoelectric component to substitute the insulation heat transfer plate disposed in 5 the prior art allows direct installation of the thermoelectric component to where between the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank to avoid thermal loss of 1~2 by shortening the range between the heat exchanger and the thermoelectric component and the range between the heat transfer water tank and the thermoelectric component to upgrade the energy efficiency ratio (EER) of the thermoelectric air 10 conditioning unit and the thermoelectric air conditioner containing the thermoelectric air conditioning unit. Those independent waterways connected in sequence with the head and the tail of each water way disposed in a cabinet of the heat transfer water tank of the thermoelectric air conditioning unit of the present invention are each provided with a 15 fin to stabilize the water flow to extend the time of a cooling liquid to contact the water tank. Therefore a contact area between the cooling liquid and the water tank is enlarged to realize sufficient heat exchange to upgrade the general heat transfer efficiency of the water tank to such that is the same as provided by copper heat pipe while significantly lowering the operation cost of the air conditioner. 20 Furthermore, a well facilitated air outlet is guaranteed by having a drastic separation of airway from waterway in the thermoelectric conditioners of the present invention containing the thermoelectric air conditioning unit provided with the heat exchanger in a structure as described above. Wherein, the fan is disposed by the side of the heat sink so that an airway is formed among those heat sink fins arranged in 25 parallel with one another and the down slanted heat sink fins cause water drops condensed from vapor in the air to flow downward. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a thermoelectric air conditioning unit of the present invention. 30 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the thermoelectric air conditioning unit of the present invention. Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a heat transfer water tank disposed in the thermoelectric air conditioning unit of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the heat transfer water tank disposed in the 6 thermoelectric air conditioning unit of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing an internal structure of a thermoelectric air conditioner of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the thermoelectric air conditioner of the 5 present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figs. 1 through 4, a thermoelectric air conditioning unit 4 of the present invention is comprised of two thermoelectric components 2, two heat exchangers 1 to transfer hot air or cool air radiated from those two thermoelectric 10 components 2 to an space where hot air or cool air is demanded, and one heat transfer water tank 3 to carry away the hot air or cool air radiated from those two thermoelectric components 2. Wherein the heat transfer water tank 3 is sandwiched by those two thermoelectric components 2 and an electricity of those two thermoelectric components 2 is the same as that on their respectively sides that are 15 adhered to the heat transfer water tank 3. That is, when the thermoelectric components 2 are conducted through, both thermoelectric components 2 are the same hot end or cool end as that of the sides where both thermoelectric components 2 are respectively adhered to heat transfer water tank (whereas the thermoelectric component is comprised of a thermoelectric device and a guide vane, electric current 20 flows through the guide vane into the thermoelectric component when the thermoelectric components is producing cool air or hot air and a corresponding cool end and a corresponding hot air are formed on each pair of thermoelectric component). Both thermoelectric components 2 and the heat transfer water tank 3 sandwiched by them are all together firmly secured at where between two heat exchangers. 25 Each heat exchanger 1 is provided with a heat transfer plate 16 made of aluminum. An elevation area 20 is provided on a bottom inside the outer casing 12 of the thermoelectric air conditioner and multiple heat sink fins 19 arranged in parallel with one another are fixed on a surface of one side of the heat transfer plate 16 abutted to the elevation area 20. Those heat sink fins 19 are welded to the heat transfer plate 30 16; arranged in parallel with the elevation area 20; and having their free ends inclined downwardly in the direction of facing the elevation area 20. The heat transfer water tank 3 is provided with a sealed cabinet 6 containing a chamber; and a water inlet 7 and a water outlet 8 connecting through the chamber are disposed on the cabinet 6. Multiple partitioning boards arranged in parallel with one another are disposed in the 35 chamber of the cabinet 6 to separate the chamber into multiple independent waterways 7 10 also arranged in parallel with one another. Those waterways 10 are connected through by a head and a tail of each waterway in sequence; and a fin 11 is provided in and lengthwise along each waterway 10 to stabilize the water flow. Both of the heat exchanger 1 and the heat transfer water tank 3 are made of aluminum. A thin and 5 refine insulation heat transfer layer 5 is coated on a surface of a side plate adhered to the thermoelectric component 2 of the heat transfer plate 16 of the heat exchanger 1. The insulation heat transfer coated layer 5 is provided by using a micro-arc oxidization (MAO) method to form an aluminum oxide (A1 2 0 3 ) layer on the surface of the heat transfer plate 16. Both sides of the heat transfer tank 3 attached to the thermoelectric 10 component 2 are also respectively coated with a thin and refine insulation heat transfer layer 5, which is also related to an aluminum oxide layer. Accordingly, where between the heat exchanger 1 and the thermoelectric component 2, and where between the heat transfer water tank 3 and the thermoelectric component 2 are maintained at the same time good transfer. Substitution of the ceramic insulation heat transfer plate 15 of the prior art with the insulation heat transfer coated layer 5 not only avoids a thermal loss of 1~2 but also helps achieve an even compact structure for the thermoelectric air conditioning unit 4 as a whole. Figs. 5 and 6 show an integral structure of the thermoelectric air conditioner of the present invention. The thermoelectric air conditioner is provided 20 with an outer casing 12 and multiple thermoelectric air conditioning units 4 are disposed in the outer casing 12. Those thermoelectric air conditioning units are arranged in parallel with one another and spaced at a given interval by means of a mounting frame. Each thermoelectric air conditioning unit 4 is provided with a thermoelectric component 2 and a heat exchanger 1. The heat exchanger 1 is 25 provided with a heat transfer plate 16. Multiple heat sink fins 19 are fixed on a side plate of the heat transfer plate 16 and another side of the heat transfer plate 16 is adhered to a surface of one side of the thermoelectric component 2. A heat transfer water tank 3 is attached to a surface on another side of the thermoelectric component 2. The thermoelectric component 2 is firmly secured to where between the heat 30 exchanger 1 and the heat transfer water tank. Both of the heat exchanger 1 and the heat transfer water tank 3 have on their respective sides that are adhered to the thermoelectric component 2, both of the heat exchanger 1 and the heat transfer water tank 3 are coated with an insulation heat transfer layer 5. An optional fan 14 to blow the hot air or cool air radiated from the heat 8 exchanger 1 to a space where the hot air or the cool air is needed may be fixed in the outer casing 12. The fan 14 in the outer casing 12 is fixed at one side of the heat transfer plate 16 of the heat exchanger 1 and the direction of the air blown by the fan 14 is in parallel with the surface of the heat transfer plate 16 and the elevation are 20 5 of the heat transfer plate 16 at the same time. That is, the fan 14 blows the air from the side of the heat sink fins 19 so to form an airway among those heat sink fins arranged in parallel among one another. Whereas water formed on the surfaces of those heat sink fins 19 flows downward along the slanted surfaces of those heat sink fins 19 due to central gravity, the water on surfaces of those heat sink fins 19 in a 10 direction opposite to that of the air blown from the fan 14 thus to prevent the direction of air from being plugged by the water flowing in the same direction. A drain pan 21 is disposed at where below the thermoelectric air conditioning unit 4 to collect condensed water falling from the surface of the heat exchanger of the thermoelectric air conditioning unit 4. 15 A cabinet 6 of the heat transfer water tank indicates a flat shape and contains a sealed chamber. A water inlet 7 and the water outlet 8 are disposed connecting through the chamber and multiple partitioning boards 9 with each having a section to indicate a shape of ">" (or further indicating an arc or inclination of certain degrees) in the cabinet 6, arranged in parallel with one another, and fixed at where 20 between two opposite surfaces of the cabinet. The chamber of the cabinet 6 is divided into multiple waterways 10 independent from one another by means of multiple partitioning boards 9. Those waterways are connected to one another in sequence by their heads and tails; and a flowing direction of a cooling liquid flows in the waterway indicates an S shape. The fin 11 is welded to the waterway 10 and 25 provided lengthwise along each waterway 10 to stabilize the water flow so to allow sufficient contact between the cooling liquid and the cabinet 6 for upgrading heat transfer efficiency. Multiple water inlets 7 and water outlets 8 from those thermoelectric air conditioning units 4 that produce hot air or cool air are respectively converged to a water inlet main 17 and a water outlet main 18 to execute heat 30 exchange with the ambient air. The fan 14 blows the air delivered from those thermoelectric air conditioning units 4 after the heat exchange out of an air vent 15. In manufacturing a thermoelectric air conditioner, the manufacturer may determine the number of the thermoelectric air conditioning unit 4 according to the cooling power as needed to realize more flexible and convenient operation. 35 9

Claims

1. A thermoelectric air conditioning unit comprising a thermoelectric component and a heat exchanger to transfer hot air or cool air radiated from 5 the thermoelectric component to a space where the hot air or cool air is demanded; the heat exchanger being provided with a heat transfer plate; multiple heat sink fins being fixed on one side of the heat transfer plate to transfer the hot air or cool air to the space where the hot air or cool air is demanded; another side of the heat transfer plate of the heat exchange 10 being adhered to one side of the thermoelectric component; a surface of another side of the thermoelectric component being attached with a heat transfer water tank to carry away hot air or cool air radiated from the thermoelectric component; the thermoelectric component being firmly secured between the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank; and 15 both of the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank having an insulation heat transfer layer being each coated on their respective side attached to the thermoelectric component.

2. The thermoelectric air conditioning unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric air conditioning unit is comprised of two thermoelectric 20 components, two heat exchangers, and one heat transfer water tank; the heat transfer water tank is sandwiched by those two thermoelectric components; on their respective sides of those two thermoelectric components that are attached with the heat transfer water tank have same electricity; and both thermoelectric components and the heat transfer water 25 tank sandwiched by them are secured at where between two heat exchangers.

3. The thermoelectric air conditioning unit as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the insulation heat transfer coated layer is related to a layer of A1 2 0 3 layer. 30

4. The thermoelectric air conditioning unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein both of the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank are made of aluminum; the insulation heat transfer coated layer is related to a layer of aluminum oxide (AL 2 0 3 ) formed by having performed micro-arc oxidization (MAO) on a surface of the heat exchanger and on a surface of 35 the heat transfer water tank. i1i

5. The thermoelectric air conditioning unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the heat transfer plate of the heat exchanger is disposed with an elevation area on a bottom in an outer casing of a thermoelectric air conditioner; those heat sink fins are fixed on the heat transfer plate abutted to one side of the 5 elevation area and arranged in parallel with the elevation area; and all their free ends are inclined downward in a direction facing the elevation area.

6. The thermoelectric air conditioning unit as claimed in Claim 1 or 5, wherein the heat transfer water tank is related to a cabinet containing a 10 chamber and a water inlet and a water outlet connecting through the chamber are disposed on the cabinet; multiple partitioning plates arranged in parallel with one another are disposed in the chamber to separate multiple independent waterways in parallel with one another; and a head and a tail of each waterway are connected through in sequence to that of 15 another waterway and a fin is disposed lengthwise in each waterway to help stabilize water flow.

7. A thermoelectric air conditioner comprising an outer casing containing multiple thermoelectric air conditioning units; each thermoelectric air conditioning unit comprising a thermoelectric component and a heat 20 exchanger to transfer hot air or cool air radiated from the thermoelectric component to a space where the hot air or cool air is demanded; the heat exchanger being provided with a heat transfer plate; multiple heat sink fins being fixed on one side of the heat transfer plate; another side of the heat transfer plate of the heat exchange being adhered to one side of the 25 thermoelectric component; a surface of another side of the thermoelectric device being attached with a surface of one side of the thermoelectric component; a surface of another side of the thermoelectric component being attached with a heat transfer water tank to carry away hot air or cool air radiated from the thermoelectric component; the thermoelectric 30 component being firmly secured at where between the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank; an optional fan being fixed in the outer casing to blow the hot air or cool air radiated from the heat exchanger to a space where the hot air or cool air is needed; and both of the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank having an insulation heat transfer layer being 35 each coated on their respective side attached to the thermoelectric 12 component an insulation heat transfer layer.

8. The thermoelectric air conditioner as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the thermoelectric air conditioning unit is comprised of two thermoelectric components, two heat exchangers, and one heat transfer water tank; the 5 heat transfer water tank is sandwiched by those two thermoelectric components; on their respective sides of those two thermoelectric components that are attached with the heat transfer water tank have same electricity; and both thermoelectric components and the heat transfer water tank sandwiched by them are secured at where between two heat 10 exchangers.

9. The thermoelectric air conditioner as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein the insulation heat transfer coated layer is related to a layer of A1 2 0 3 layer.

10. The thermoelectric air conditioner as claimed in Claim 7, wherein both of 15 the heat exchanger and the heat transfer water tank are made of aluminum; the insulation heat transfer coated layer is related to a layer of aluminum oxide (AL 2 0 3 ) formed by having performed micro-arc oxidization (MAO) on a surface of the heat exchanger and on a surface of the heat transfer water tank. 20

11. The thermoelectric air conditioner as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the heat transfer plate of the heat exchanger is disposed with an elevation area on a bottom in an outer casing of a thermoelectric air conditioner; those heat sink fins are fixed on the heat transfer plate abutted to one side of the elevation area and arranged in parallel with the elevation area; all their free 25 ends are inclined downward in a direction facing the elevation area; the fan in the outer casing is fixed to one side of the heat transfer plate of the heat exchanger; and a direction of air blown by the fan is in parallel with the surface of the heat transfer plate and the elevation of the heat transfer plate at the same time. 30

12. The thermoelectric air conditioner as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the heat transfer water tank is related to a cabinet containing a chamber and a water inlet and a water outlet connecting through the chamber are disposed on the cabinet; multiple partitioning plates arranged in parallel with one another are disposed in the chamber to separate multiple independent waterways in 35 parallel with one another; and a head and a tail of each waterway are 13 connected through in sequence to that of another waterway and a fin is disposed lengthwise in each waterway to help stabilize water flow. 5 10 15 20 14