Cooling Apparatus

This is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2023/046221 with an international filing date of Dec. 22, 2023, which claims priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-000628 filed on Jan. 5, 2023, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to a cooling apparatus, and more particularly to a cooling apparatus using a Peltier element.

In recent years, cooling apparatuses using a Peltier module have been attracting attention as one type of cooling apparatuses that use no freon gas. The Peltier module is generally a thermoelectric component that is configured by arranging one or more Peltier elements in a plane and that has two heat transfer surfaces and functions to cool one heat transfer surface (hereinafter, cooling-side heat transfer surface or first heat transfer surface) and heat the other heat transfer surface by passing an electric current. As used herein, the cooled side and the cooled heat transfer surface of the Peltier module are referred to as “cooling side” and “first heat transfer surface”, respectively, and the heated side and the heated heat transfer surface are referred to as “heat dissipation side” and “second heat transfer surface”, respectively.

An example of the cooling apparatuses using the Peltier module is a Peltier cooling system proposed in JP 2001-82855 A. The cooling system of JP 2001-82855 A employs a method of circulating a refrigerant on the cooling side of a Peltier element, for cooling. During “cooling period”, the cooling system cools the inside of a cold storage chamber by energizing the Peltier element and circulating the refrigerant inside the cold storage chamber while cooling the refrigerant. During “temperature keeping period”, the cooling system stops energizing the Peltier element and returns the refrigerant near the Peltier element to a reserve tank, to prevent the refrigerant from being present in the pipe near the Peltier element.

However, in the cooling system of JP 2001-82855 A, since the Peltier element keeps in active mode during the “cooling period”, an increased load on the Peltier element is induced, which may lead to a large power consumption.

Thus, in view of such problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a cooling apparatus that can reduce the load on a Peltier element.

A cooling apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: 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. 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.

According to the cooling apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure, the load on the Peltier element can be reduced.

A cooling apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: 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. 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.

According to this aspect, the load on the Peltier element can be reduced, and thus it is possible to decrease the power consumption.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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 includes 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.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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, and 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. The second reference temperature value is a temperature value higher than the first reference temperature value.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, further including 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. 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.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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 controller activates the first fan when the first heat dissipator is in the third state or the fourth state.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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, and 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. The second reference temperature value is a temperature value higher than the first reference temperature value.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, 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.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the refrigerant circulation flow path includes a plurality of valves. 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.

In addition, in a cooling apparatus according to another aspect of the present disclosure, further including a second pump disposed on the second circulation flow path and configured to drive the circulation of the refrigerant. 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.

Any of the above various embodiments may be appropriately combined to achieve the effects of each of the embodiments.

Embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, more detailed explanations than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters and duplicate explanations for substantially the same configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding of those skilled in the art.

Cooling apparatuses according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to. The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims. In each figure, each element is exaggerated for ease of explanation. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are imparted to substantially the same members.

is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a cooling apparatusaccording to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The cooling apparatusshown inis configured including a Peltier module, a cooling-side configuration, a heat-dissipation-side configuration, temperature measurers,, and, a controller, and a refrigerant circulation flow path. The cooling apparatuscan cool an object to be cooledby circulating a refrigerant through the refrigerant circulation flow path.

The Peltier modulemay include one or more Peltier elements and generally has a flat plate shape. As shown in, the Peltier modulehas a first heat transfer surfaceand a second heat transfer surfacethat face each other. By passing an electric current therethrough, the first heat transfer surfaceon the cooling side is cooled and the second heat transfer surfaceon the heat dissipation side is heated. The Peltier elements that constitute the Peltier modulemay have the configuration of a conventionally known Peltier element, and further detailed description thereof will be omitted in this specification.

The refrigerant circulation flow pathof the cooling apparatusis disposed on the cooling side of the Peltier module. The refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circulation flow pathis cooled by heat exchange in a first heat transferorand/or a first heat dissipator, and absorbs heat from the object to be cooledin a heat receiver, thereby cooling the object to be cooled.

The cooling-side configurationis composed of the first heat transferor, the heat receiver, a first pump, a first reserve tank, and the first heat dissipator, which are thermally connected by a refrigerant circulation flow path. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the refrigerant circulates along the refrigerant circulation flow path, passing through the first heat transferor, the heat receiver, the first pump, the first reserve tank, and the first heat dissipatorin this order.

The first heat transferoris thermally connected to and can exchange heat with the first heat transfer surfaceof the Peltier module. The refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation flow pathpasses through the first heat transferorfrom an inflow endto an outflow endof the first heat transferor(refrigerant circulation flow path Aindicated by the arrows in), and gets cooled by exchanging heat with the first heat transfer surfaceof the Peltier modulewhile passing through.

The heat receiveris thermally connected to and capable of exchanging heat with an object to be cooleddisposed away from the Peltier module. The refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation flow pathpasses through the heat receiverfrom an inflow endto an outflow endof the heat receiver(refrigerant circulation flow path Aindicated by the arrows in), and while passing through, it absorbs heat from the object to be cooledand is heated, and at the same time, the object to be cooledis cooled.

The first heat dissipatorhas a first endand a second end. The refrigerant flowing along the refrigerant circulation flow pathflows from the first endto the second end, passes through the first heat dissipator, and exchanges heat with the surrounding outside air. The refrigerant that has passed through the first heat dissipatorflows from the second endto the first heat transferorof the Peltier module. It is also possible to configure the refrigerant that has passed through the first heat dissipator to flow from the second endto the second heat transferor of the Peltier module. Such a configuration will be described in detail in the second embodiment described later.

In this embodiment, as shown in, the first heat dissipatoris thermally connected at the first endto the outflow endof the heat receiverand at the second endto the inflow endof the first heat transferorvia the refrigerant circulation flow path. In addition, although not limited thereto, for example, the first heat dissipatormay include a heat sink (not shown), a heat dissipation fin (not shown), or the like, and when the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation flow pathpasses through the first heat dissipatorfrom the first endto the second end(refrigerant circulation flow path Ashown by the arrow in), heat may be exchanged with the outside air around the first heat dissipatorvia the heat sink or the heat dissipation fins.

In this embodiment, the first heat dissipatorincludes a first fan, which can promote heat exchange with the surrounding outside air when the refrigerant passes through the first heat dissipator. When the heat receiverremoves heat from the object to be cooledand the heated refrigerant passes through the first heat dissipator, the heat is transferred to the surrounding outside air, and the generated hot air is removed by the blowing of the first fan, thereby promoting heat dissipation from the first heat dissipator.

The first pumpis disposed to drive the circulation of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation flow path, and the first reserve tankcan store the refrigerant used for circulation in the refrigerant circulation flow path. In this embodiment, the first pumpis disposed on the refrigerant circulation flow path between the outflow endof the heat receiverand the first endof the first heat dissipator. The pumpgenerates heat when it operates, and the heat may be also transferred to the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation flow path. Therefore, by disposing the first pumpdownstream of the heat receiverin the flow of the refrigerant, the influence of the heat generated by the first pumpon the cooling of the object to be cooledcan be reduced. The first reserve tankmay be disposed at any position in the refrigerant circulation flow path. In this embodiment, the first reserve tankis disposed adjacent to the first pumpbetween the outflow endof the heat receiverand the first endof the first heat dissipator. The refrigerant stored in the reserve tankcan be used to replace or replenish the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circulation flow path.

In this embodiment, as shown in, the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation flow pathcirculates along a closed flow path formed on the cooling side in the order of the refrigerant circulation flow path A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A, and repeatedly exchanges heat with the first heat transfer surfaceon the cooling side of the Peltier module, the object to be cooled, and the outside air around the first heat dissipator, thereby cooling the object to be cooled. The refrigerant used for circulation may be doped with an antifreeze such as propylene glycol to prevent freezing that may occur depending on the usage environment of the cooling apparatus. In addition, the present disclosure is not limited by the concentration or type of antifreeze added. The type and added concentration of antifreeze can be selected according to the application.

The heat-dissipation-side configurationis configured by a second heat transferor. The second heat transferoris thermally connected to the second heat transfer surfaceof the Peltier moduleand can exchange heat. In this embodiment, the second heat transferorincludes a second fanand a dissipator. The dissipatorcan include, for example, a heat sinkand heat dissipation fins, but is not limited thereto. The heat sinkis in thermal contact with the second heat transfer surfaceof the Peltier moduleat the contact surface, and can exchange heat with the heated second heat transfer surfacewhen the Peltier moduleis activated. The heat dissipation finsare disposed on the opposite side of the contact surface of the heat sink, and can increase the contact area with the air to promote efficient heat dissipation of the heat sink. The second fancan promote heat dissipation from the heat sinkby blowing air to the heat dissipation fins, and thus promote heat exchange between the second heat transferorand the surrounding outside air.

In this embodiment, the heat-dissipation-side configurationis configured to dissipate the second heat transfer surfaceof the Peltier moduleby exchanging heat with the outside air, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The heat-dissipation-side configurationcan also be provided with a refrigerant circulation flow path, as in the cooling-side configuration, to dissipate the second heat transfer surfaceof the Peltier modulevia the circulation of the refrigerant. An example of such a configuration will be described later with reference to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Note that a heat insulating material or a cold storage chamber may be partially disposed in the cooling-side configuration, the heat-dissipation-side configuration, and the refrigerant circulation flow path. The location where the heat insulating material or the cold storage chamber is disposed can be selected depending on the application, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The temperature measurers,, andare configured to acquire at least the temperature value of the outside air. In this embodiment, the temperature measureris disposed on the cooling side of the Peltier moduleand is disposed to acquire the temperature of the outside air around the first heat dissipator. Althoughshows the temperature measurerdisposed in close proximity to the first heat dissipator, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The temperature measureronly needs to acquire the temperature of the outside air around the first heat dissipator, and can also be disposed in a location physically separated from the first heat dissipator. In this embodiment, the temperature measurercan acquire the temperature of the refrigerant when the refrigerant passes through the first endof the first heat dissipator, and the temperature measurercan acquire the temperature of the refrigerant when the refrigerant passes through the second endof the first heat dissipator. The configuration of the temperature measurers,, andcan adopt the configuration of a conventionally known temperature sensor, and further detailed description will be omitted in this specification.

The controllerreceives temperature data acquired by the temperature measurers,, and, and can control the heat exchange of the refrigerant at the Peltier moduleand the heat exchange of the refrigerant at the first heat dissipatorbased on the temperature measurement value. The configuration of the controllerwill be described below with reference to.is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the controllerof the cooling apparatusof. The controlleraccording to this embodiment may be, for example, a computer, which may be configured as a general-purpose computer device. For example, as shown in, the computer device includes a temperature value receiver, a processor, a storage, and an output device, and is electrically connected to the temperature measurers,, and

From the temperature measurers,, and, the temperature value receiverreceives data of a first temperature value Tof the outside air around the first heat dissipator, data of a second temperature value Tof the refrigerant when the refrigerant passes through the first endof the first heat dissipator, and data of a third temperature value Tof the refrigerant when the refrigerant passes through the second endof the first heat dissipator. The temperature values may be received by a wired connection or wirelessly.

The processormay be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microcomputer, or a processor capable of executing computer-executable instructions. The processorexecutes a data processing program based on the temperature measurement data T, T, and Treceived by the temperature value receiverand the reference temperature value data stored in the storage, and the like, to determine the operating states of the Peltier moduleand the first heat dissipator.

The storagemay be, for example, an auxiliary storage such as a hard disk drive, and stores the data processing program executed by the processor, various data, etc. The data stored in the storagemay also include, for example, correlation data used to determine the operating states of the Peltier moduleand the first heat dissipator.

The output devicemay be an output interface circuit that outputs a control signal from the controllerto an external device. The control signal output from the controllermay include, for example, a control signal Sto the Peltier module, a control signal Sto the first fanof the first heat dissipator, a control signal Sto the second fanof the second heat transferor, a control signal Sto the first pump, etc. The control signals may be output by a wired connection or may be transmitted wirelessly.

The controllermay obtain the data processing program, etc., to be executed by the processor, from a portable storage medium. The storage medium is a medium that stores information such as programs, by electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, or chemical action so that a computer or other device, machine, etc. can read the recorded information. When the controlleris connected to a network, the data processing program, etc., may be downloaded from the network as necessary.