Apparatus for temperature control and method for controlling the same

Abstract

This invention provides a temperature control device and method for preventing moisture condensation caused by temperature changes. According to one embodiment, the temperature control device may include: a temperature regulating unit that uses a thermoelectric element to heat or cool a heat exchange medium; a piping unit including pipes connecting one or more temperature regulating units and pipes connecting at least one of the temperature regulating units to an external environment; a sensor unit including a pressure sensor disposed in the pipes connecting the temperature regulating units to the external environment; and a control unit that controls the temperature regulating unit and the sensor unit.

Claims

1. A temperature control device, wherein, The temperature control device includes: a temperature regulating unit that uses a thermoelectric element to heat or cool a heat exchange medium; a piping unit that includes pipes connecting one or more temperature regulating units and pipes connecting at least one of the one or more temperature regulating units to an external environment; a sensor unit that includes a pressure sensor disposed in the pipe connecting the temperature regulating unit to the external environment; and a control unit that controls the temperature regulating unit and the sensor unit; the control unit predicts pressure changes inside the temperature regulating unit based on whether the temperature regulating unit is heating or cooling and the operating time of the temperature regulating unit.

2. The temperature control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The temperature control device further includes a valve unit, which includes one or more valves disposed in a pipe connected between the one or more temperature regulating units, and the control unit further controls the valve unit.

3. The temperature control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein, The temperature control unit includes: one or more thermoelectric elements; two or more heat exchangers in close contact with both sides of the thermoelectric elements; and a housing that seals the thermoelectric elements and the heat exchangers from the outside.

4. The temperature control device as claimed in claim 3, wherein, Two or more heat exchangers each include an input port for inputting heat exchange medium and an output port for outputting heat exchange medium, wherein the input port and the output port penetrate the housing and are exposed to the outside.

5. The temperature control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein, The heat exchanger and the housing are made of different metal materials, while the input port and the output port are made of the same metal material as the housing.

6. The temperature control device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, The heat exchanger is welded to the input port and the output port by means of brazing of predetermined welding components, and the input port and the output port are welded to the housing by means of homometallic fusion welding.

7. The temperature control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein, The one or more temperature control units are connected in series through pipes connecting the one or more temperature control units, and dry gas is supplied through pipes connecting the temperature control units to the outside.

8. The temperature control device as claimed in claim 7, wherein, The control unit measures the pressure inside the temperature regulating unit through the sensor unit, and based on the measured pressure, the control unit controls the pressure of the dry gas supplied to the temperature regulating unit and the valves of the pipelines connecting the one or more temperature regulating units.

9. The temperature control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The control unit controls the pressure of the drying gas supplied to the temperature regulating unit based on the predicted pressure changes inside the temperature regulating unit.

10. The temperature control device as claimed in claim 9, wherein, The control unit detects a leak in the drying gas in the temperature regulating unit based on at least one of the pressure inside the temperature regulating unit, the pressure of the drying gas supplied to the temperature regulating unit, and a predicted pressure change inside the temperature regulating unit.

11. The temperature control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein, When a dry gas leak is detected, the control unit determines the temperature control unit where the dry gas leak has occurred by opening and closing one or more valves in the pipeline connected between the one or more temperature control units in a predetermined sequence.

12. The temperature control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein, The piping unit also includes an auxiliary pipe that connects the temperature control unit to the outside and is connected to a separate pressure vessel storing dry gas.

13. The temperature control device as claimed in claim 12, wherein, When a dry gas leak is detected, the control unit blocks the supply of dry gas from the outside and supplies dry gas through an auxiliary pipe connected to the pressure vessel. The control unit performs a detailed leak detection based on whether the dry gas is continuously supplied through the auxiliary pipe for a predetermined time in order to maintain the pressure inside the temperature regulating unit above a predetermined pressure.

14. A control method for a temperature control device, executed in a computer device, said computer device comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing one or more programs executed by said one or more processors, wherein... The control method of the temperature control device includes the following steps: measuring the pressure inside the temperature regulating unit using a sensor unit including a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor being disposed in a pipe connecting the temperature regulating unit, which uses thermoelectric elements to heat or cool a heat exchange medium, to the outside; and controlling the pressure of the dry gas supplied to the temperature regulating unit based on the measured pressure; and in the control step, predicting pressure changes inside the temperature regulating unit based on whether the temperature regulating unit is heating or cooling and the operating time of the temperature regulating unit.

15. The control method of the temperature control device as described in claim 14, wherein, The control method of the temperature control device further includes the step of controlling the valves of the pipes connected between the one or more temperature regulating units.

16. The control method of the temperature control device as described in claim 14, wherein, In the control step, the pressure of the dry gas supplied to the temperature regulating unit is controlled based on the predicted pressure change inside the temperature regulating unit.

17. The control method of the temperature control device as described in claim 16, wherein, In the control step, a leak of dry gas in the temperature control unit is detected based on at least one of the pressure inside the temperature control unit, the pressure of the dry gas supplied to the temperature control unit, and a predicted pressure change inside the temperature control unit.

18. A control method for the temperature control device as described in claim 17, wherein, In the control step, when a dry gas leak is detected, the temperature control unit where the dry gas leak occurred is identified by opening and closing one or more valves in the pipeline connected between the one or more temperature control units in a predetermined sequence.

19. A control method for the temperature control device as described in claim 18, wherein, The temperature control device also includes an auxiliary pipe that connects the temperature regulation unit to the outside and is connected to an independent pressure vessel storing dry gas.

20. A control method for the temperature control device as described in claim 19, wherein, In the control steps, when a dry gas leak is detected, the supply of dry gas from the outside is blocked, and dry gas is supplied through an auxiliary pipe connected to the pressure vessel. A detailed leak detection is performed based on whether the dry gas is continuously supplied through the auxiliary pipe for a predetermined time in order to maintain the pressure inside the temperature regulating unit above a predetermined pressure.

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