Cooling apparatus and vehicle including the same

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling apparatus and a vehicle including the same. The cooling apparatus may include an electric water pump for pumping a coolant, a coolant channel in fluid communication with a cooling target and the electric water pump, and a thermoelectric device including a high temperature portion and a low temperature portion. The thermoelectric device may cool the coolant flowing into the coolant passage. The cooling apparatus may include a first heat sink disposed adjacent to the high temperature portion, a second heat sink disposed adjacent to the coolant passage, and a cooling fan disposed adjacent to the first heat sink. The cooling apparatus may include an air guide path forming a first air fluid path in which air passes only through the first heat sink and then is discharged by operation of the cooling fan, and a second air fluid path in which air passes through the first heat sink and the second heat sink and then is discharged by operation of the cooling fan. And then discharging through the operation of the cooling fan.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0101086 filed in the Korean Patent Office on August 2, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a cooling device and a vehicle including the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cooling device capable of cooling a cooling target using a thermoelectric device and a vehicle including the same. Background Art

[0004] Generally, an air conditioning system for a vehicle includes an air conditioning unit that circulates a refrigerant to heat or cool the interior of the vehicle.

[0005] The air conditioning unit is configured to maintain the interior of the vehicle at an appropriate temperature regardless of changes in the external temperature to maintain a comfortable interior environment, and the air conditioning unit is configured to heat or cool the interior of the vehicle through heat exchange. Specifically, the air conditioning unit is configured to heat or cool the interior of the vehicle through the condenser and the evaporator in the process of the refrigerant discharged by the compressor being driven to circulate back to the compressor through the condenser, the receiver dryer, the expansion valve and the evaporator.

[0006] With the increasing interest in energy efficiency and the continued environmental pollution problem, there is a need to develop environmentally friendly vehicles that can largely replace internal combustion engine vehicles. Such environmentally friendly vehicles are divided into electric vehicles driven by using fuel cells or electricity as a power source and hybrid vehicles driven by using an engine and a battery.

[0007] In electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles among these environmentally friendly vehicles, unlike air conditioners of general vehicles, a separate heater is not used to heat or cool the interior of the vehicle. The air conditioner used in the environmentally friendly vehicle is generally called a heat pump system.

[0008] The heat pump system performs the functions of cooling the vehicle interior, cooling the battery module, and cooling electrical components such as the autonomous driving controller.

[0009] In order to supply coolant and / or refrigerant to battery modules and electric components arranged at different positions of the vehicle body, the length of the coolant guide path and / or the refrigerant guide path becomes long, which causes a problem of reduced efficiency of the heat pump system.

[0010] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only provided for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention. Therefore, the Background section may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Summary of the invention

[0011] The present invention provides a cooling device capable of independently cooling a cooling target (such as an automatic driving controller). The cooling device can be arranged separately from an existing heat pump system.

[0012] The cooling device may include: an electric water pump, a coolant channel, and a thermoelectric device, wherein the electric water pump is configured to pump coolant, the coolant channel is in fluid communication with a cooling target and the electric water pump, and the thermoelectric device includes a high temperature portion and a low temperature portion, wherein the high temperature portion is heated by being supplied with electric energy, and the low temperature portion is cooled by being supplied with electric energy. The thermoelectric device may be configured to cool the coolant flowing into the coolant channel by the low temperature portion. The device may also include a first radiator, a second radiator, and a cooling fan, wherein the first radiator is arranged adjacent to the high temperature portion of the thermoelectric device, the second radiator is arranged adjacent to the coolant channel, and the cooling fan is arranged adjacent to the first radiator. The device may also include an air guide, wherein the air guide forms a first air fluid route and a second air fluid route, wherein the air in the first air fluid route passes only through the first radiator and is then discharged by the operation of the cooling fan, and wherein the air in the second air fluid route passes through the first radiator and the second radiator and is then discharged by the operation of the cooling fan.

[0013] The cooling device may further include a reservoir tank configured to temporarily store the coolant and replenish the coolant to the coolant channel.

[0014] The cooling apparatus may further include a thermal insulation pad disposed to surround a side surface of the thermoelectric device.

[0015] The cooling fan, the first radiator, the coolant passage, and the second radiator may be sequentially arranged along a predetermined direction.

[0016] The air guide may include: a guide lower body, a guide side body and a guide upper body, the guide lower body being arranged below the cooling fan and having a hollow interior, the guide side body extending upward from the guide lower body and having a hollow interior, the guide upper body extending from the side surface of the guide side body and having a hollow interior, the air door may be set on the side surface air outlet formed on the guide side body, and the upper air outlet may be formed on the end of the guide upper body.

[0017] The upper air outlet may be formed to face the second radiator.

[0018] The first air fluid route and the second air fluid route may be formed according to the operation of an air door.

[0019] The first air fluid route may include: an opening of the guide path lower body, an inner space of the guide path lower body, an inner space of the guide path side body, and a side surface air outlet formed on the guide path side body.

[0020] The second air fluid route may include: an opening of the guide path lower body, an internal space of the guide path lower body, an internal space of the guide path side body, an internal space of the guide path upper body, and an opening of the guide path upper body.

[0021] When the air door rotates in a first direction, the side surface air outlet can be opened, and the inner space of the guide side portion can be blocked, so that a first air fluid route can be formed. When the air door rotates in a second direction, the side surface air outlet can be blocked, and the inner space of the guide side portion body can be opened, so that a second air fluid route can be formed.

[0022] Depending on the temperature of the cooling target, the cooling device can be configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode, in which the coolant in the coolant channel is cooled by the low-temperature portion of the thermoelectric device and by the air circulation of the air guide, and in which the coolant in the coolant channel is cooled only by the air circulation of the air guide.

[0023] The cooling device may be configured to operate in a first mode when a temperature of a cooling target is at or above a predetermined temperature, and to operate in a second mode when the temperature of the cooling target is below the predetermined temperature.

[0024] In the first mode, the thermoelectric device can be turned on so that the low temperature portion of the thermoelectric device cools the coolant in the coolant channel. Through the operation of the cooling fan, the first radiator can be cooled by air passing through the first air fluid route of the air guide, thereby cooling the coolant stored in the coolant channel.

[0025] In the second mode, the thermoelectric device may be turned off, and the second radiator may be cooled by air passing through the second air fluid route of the air guide through operation of the cooling fan, thereby cooling the coolant stored in the coolant channel.

[0026] A vehicle may include the above-mentioned cooling device.

[0027] According to the cooling device of the present invention, the load of the existing heat pump system can be reduced by cooling a cooling target such as an automatic driving controller through a separate cooling device.

[0028] Other effects that can be obtained or predicted according to the embodiments are described explicitly or implicitly in the detailed description of the present invention. In other words, various effects predicted according to the disclosed embodiments are described in the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] These drawings are only for reference in describing the embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the technical concept of the present invention should not be limited to the drawings.

[0030] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a partial configuration of a vehicle on which a cooling device according to the embodiment is mounted.

[0031] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a cooling device according to the embodiment.

[0032] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a cooling device according to the embodiment.

[0033] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cooling device according to the embodiment.

[0034] Figure 5A and Figure 5B is a perspective view showing the configuration of a reservoir tank according to the embodiment.

[0035] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an electric water pump according to the embodiment.

[0036] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a coolant channel according to the embodiment.

[0037] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a thermoelectric device according to the embodiment.

[0038] Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a thermoelectric device and a thermal insulation mat according to the embodiment.

[0039] Fig.10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first heat sink according to the embodiment.

[0040] Fig.11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a second heat sink according to the embodiment.

[0041] Fig.12 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a cooling fan according to the embodiment.

[0042] FIG. 13A to FIG. 13D is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an air guide according to the embodiment.

[0043] Fig.14A and Fig. 14B is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the cooling device according to the embodiment.

[0044] It should be understood that the drawings referred to above are not drawn to scale, but are schematically simplified to present various features to show the basic principles of the present invention. The specific design features of the present invention include, for example, specific dimensions, directions, positions and shapes that will be determined in part by the specific environment to be applied and used.

[0045] Description of Reference Numerals

[0046] 1: Cooling equipment 10: Cooling target

[0047] 20: Liquid storage tank 21: Tank body

[0048] 22: Box in / out 23: Box inlet

[0049] 24: Tank cover 30: Electric water pump

[0050] 31: Pump body 33: Pump inlet

[0051] 35: Pump outlet 40: Coolant channel

[0052] 41: Channel body 42: First channel entrance

[0053] 43: Second channel entrance 44: Channel exit

[0054] 50: Thermoelectric device 51: High temperature part

[0055] 52: Low temperature part 53: Peltier element

[0056] 54: upper conductor 55: lower conductor

[0057] 56: Upper insulator 57: Lower insulator

[0058] 60: Thermal insulation pad 70: First radiator

[0059] 71: first heat sink body 73: first heat sink

[0060] 80: Second radiator 81: Second radiator body

[0061] 83: Second heat sink 90: Cooling fan

[0062] 91: Fan blade 100: Air guide

[0063] 110: guide path lower body 111: opening

[0064] 120: guide path side body 121: side surface air outlet

[0065] 123: Air door 130: Upper body of the guide

[0066] 131: Upper air outlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] The terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the inventive concept. As used herein, the singular form is intended to also include the plural form, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that when the terms "include" and / or "include", "comprise" and / or "comprises", "have" and / or "have" and variations thereof are used in this specification, it is indicated that there are the features, numerical values, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but the presence or addition of one or more other features, numerical values, steps, operations, elements, components and / or their groups are not excluded. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any one or all combinations of one or more related items.

[0068] The present invention will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the present invention are shown. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all of which will not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

[0069] In order to clearly describe the present invention, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted, and the same or similar constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

[0070] In addition, the size and thickness of each structure shown in the figure are arbitrarily displayed for understanding and convenience of explanation. The present invention is not necessarily limited to this. In addition, its thickness is increased in order to clearly show several parts and regions.

[0071] The terms "module" and "unit" used for components in the following description are only used to make the specification clearer. Therefore, these terms themselves do not have mutually distinguished meanings or roles.

[0072] In describing the embodiments of the present specification, in the case where it has been determined that a detailed description of known technologies associated with the inventive concept may obscure the gist of the inventive concept, the description of the known technologies is omitted.

[0073] The accompanying drawings are provided only to enhance the understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification and should not be interpreted as limiting the spirit and scope of the inventive concept disclosed in this specification. It should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention include all modifications, equivalents and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventive concept.

[0074] Terms including ordinal numbers (such as first, second, etc.) are used only to describe various components and should not be construed as limiting these components.

[0075] In the following description, expressions described in the singular form may be construed in the singular or plural unless an explicit expression such as "one" or "single" is used.

[0076] These terms are only used to distinguish one constituent element from another constituent element. When a component, device, element, etc. of the present invention is described as having a purpose or performing an operation, function, etc., the component, device or element should be considered as "configured to" meet the purpose or perform the operation or function in this article.

[0077] A cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0078] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a partial structure of a vehicle on which a cooling device according to the embodiment is mounted.

[0079] like Figure 1 As shown, the cooling apparatus 1 according to the embodiment is provided in an electric vehicle, and is configured to cool a coolant for cooling a cooling target 10 provided in the electric vehicle through a thermoelectric device 50 and / or air.

[0080] According to the present invention, the cooling target 10 refers to a target (i.e., an object) to be cooled by the cooling device 1. The cooling target 10 may include an electrical component provided in an electric vehicle. The electrical component provided in the electric vehicle may include at least one of a power control device, an inverter, a power conversion device such as an on-board charger (OBC), a drive motor, or an automatic driving controller.

[0081] In the embodiment, the cooling target 10 is not cooled by a heat pump system provided in the electric vehicle but is cooled by a cooling device 1 separately provided in the electric vehicle.

[0082] For example, the cooling target 10 (such as an electrical component) is not cooled by the existing heat pump system, but can be cooled by a separate cooling device 1. Therefore, the existing heat pump system can focus on cooling the battery module and refrigerating the interior of the vehicle, thereby preventing the performance of the existing heat pump system from deteriorating. Therefore, the cooling target 10 such as the electrical component can be cooled independently.

[0083] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a cooling device according to the embodiment. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a cooling device according to the embodiment. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cooling device according to the embodiment.

[0084] like Figures 2 to 4As shown, the cooling apparatus 1 according to the embodiment may include a reservoir tank 20 , an electric water pump 30 , a coolant channel 40 , a thermoelectric device 50 , a first radiator 70 , a second radiator 80 , an air guide 100 , and a cooling fan 90 .

[0085] The reservoir 20 may temporarily store the coolant and may replenish the coolant to the cooling system in response to a change in the volume of the coolant flowing through the cooling system (the cooling system including the coolant passage 40). For example, when the coolant is heated and its volume expands or increases, the coolant with an increased volume (e.g., an additional volume of the coolant) is temporarily stored in the reservoir 20. Conversely, when the coolant is cooled and its volume decreases, the coolant stored in the reservoir 20 is replenished or supplied to the cooling system.

[0086] refer to Figure 5A and Figure 5B The storage tank 20 may include a tank body 21 configured to store coolant and a tank inlet / outlet 22, the tank body 21 being provided at a lower portion of the tank body 21 and configured to allow coolant to flow into and out of the tank body. A tank inlet 23 (for refilling coolant) is formed at an upper portion of the storage tank 20, and a tank cover 24 (capable of selectively opening / closing the tank inlet 23) may be provided at the tank inlet 23.

[0087] The electric water pump 30 pumps the coolant flowing through the cooling system including the coolant passage 40 and smoothes the flow of the coolant flowing through the cooling system. The coolant may be supplied from the coolant passage 40 to the cooling target 10 by the operation of the electric water pump 30 .

[0088] refer to Figure 6 The electric water pump 30 may include a pump body 31 on which the electric pump is mounted, a pump inlet 33 formed at a lower portion of the pump body 31 , and a pump outlet 35 formed at a side of the pump body 31 .

[0089] The pump inlet 33 is fluidly connected to or in fluid communication with the coolant passage 40, and the coolant flows from the coolant passage 40 to the pump body 31. In addition, the pump outlet 35 is fluidly connected to or in fluid communication with the cooling target 10. The coolant pumped by the electric pump installed in the pump body 31 is discharged to the cooling target 10.

[0090] The coolant passage 40 may be fluidly connected to or in fluid communication with the cooling target 10 , the reservoir 20 , and the electric water pump 30 .

[0091] refer to Figure 7The coolant channel 40 may include a channel body 41 configured to store coolant, a first channel inlet 42 formed on the channel body 41 , a second channel inlet 43 formed on the channel body 41 , and a channel outlet 44 formed on the channel body 41 .

[0092] The high-temperature coolant that has cooled the cooling target 10 flows into the channel body 41 through the first channel inlet 42. The high-temperature coolant is cooled in the channel body 41 by the thermoelectric device 50 and / or the second radiator 80. The coolant stored in the channel body 41 of the cooling channel is supplied to the electric water pump 30 through the channel outlet 44, and then supplied to the cooling target 10 (for example, via the electric water pump 30). If necessary, when the coolant in the channel body 41 is insufficient, the coolant can be supplemented to the channel body 41 from the reservoir 20 through the second channel inlet 43.

[0093] To this end, the first passage inlet 42 is fluidly connected to or in fluid communication with the cooling target 10 , the second passage inlet 43 is fluidly connected to or in fluid communication with the reservoir 20 , and the passage outlet 44 is fluidly connected to or in fluid communication with the electric water pump 30 .

[0094] The thermoelectric device 50 is an element that heats a first surface and cools a second surface by allowing heat to flow from the first surface to the second surface using supplied electric energy. The thermoelectric device 50 may include a high temperature portion 51 and a low temperature portion 52, the high temperature portion 51 is heated by being supplied with electric energy, and the low temperature portion 52 is cooled by being supplied with electric energy.

[0095] refer to FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C The thermoelectric device 50 may include: a Peltier element 53 which is a combination of a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor, an upper conductor 54 arranged above the Peltier element 53, a lower conductor 55 arranged below the Peltier element 53, an upper insulator 56 arranged above the upper conductor 54, and a lower insulator 57 arranged below the lower conductor 55.

[0096] The upper conductor 54 and the lower conductor 55 are practical cooling engines and may be made of copper. The upper insulator 56 and the lower insulator 57 may be made of ceramic to transfer heat and limit current. When electric energy is supplied to the Peltier element 53, the upper conductor 54 is heated and the lower conductor 55 is cooled according to the movement of charges occurring between the P-type semiconductor and the N-type semiconductor.

[0097] In one embodiment, the upper conductor 54 may be implemented as the low temperature portion 52 , and the lower conductor 55 may be implemented as the high temperature portion 51 .

[0098] The thermoelectric device 50 is arranged adjacent to the lower portion of the coolant channel 40. Specifically, the low temperature portion 52 of the thermoelectric device 50 is arranged adjacent to the lower portion of the coolant channel 40. When the high temperature portion 51 is heated and the low temperature portion 52 is cooled due to the supply of electric energy, the coolant stored in the coolant channel 40 may be cooled by the cold air of the low temperature portion 52.

[0099] The cooling apparatus 1 according to the embodiment may further include a thermal insulation pad 60 disposed on a side surface of the thermoelectric device 50 .

[0100] refer to Fig. 9 The heat insulation pad 60 is disposed to surround the side surface of the thermoelectric device 50 and prevent the heat generated from the side surface of the thermoelectric device 50 from being dissipated to the outside or exterior of (eg, the cooling device 1 ).

[0101] The first heat sink 70 is disposed adjacent to a lower portion of the high temperature portion 51 of the thermoelectric device 50 , and may cool heat generated by the high temperature portion 51 of the thermoelectric device 50 .

[0102] refer to Fig.10 The first heat sink 70 may include a first heat sink body 71 and a plurality of first heat sink fins 73 formed on the first heat sink body 71 .

[0103] The first heat sink body 71 is formed in a generally plate shape and may be disposed adjacent to the high temperature portion 51 on the lower portion of the thermoelectric device 50. The plurality of first heat sink fins 73 formed on the first heat sink body 71 increases a contact area where air contacts the first heat sink 70. Therefore, heat generated at the high temperature portion 51 of the thermoelectric device 50 may be more effectively dissipated to cool the high temperature portion 51 of the thermoelectric device 50 by air cooling.

[0104] The second radiator 80 is disposed adjacent to an upper portion of the coolant passage 40 , and may cool the coolant stored in the coolant passage 40 through air cooling.

[0105] refer to Fig.11 The second heat sink 80 may include a second heat sink body 81 and a plurality of second heat sink fins 83 formed on the second heat sink body 81 .

[0106] The second radiator body 81 is formed in a substantially plate shape and may be arranged adjacent to an upper portion of the coolant passage 40. The plurality of second fins 83 formed on the second radiator body 81 increases a contact area where air contacts the second radiator 80. Therefore, heat exhausted from the coolant stored in the coolant passage 40 may be more effectively dissipated to cool the coolant stored in the coolant passage 40 by air cooling.

[0107] The cooling fan 90 is disposed adjacent to a lower portion of the first radiator 70 , and may cool the first radiator 70 .

[0108] refer to Fig.12 The cooling fan 90 may include fan blades 91 rotated by electric energy. When the fan blades 91 rotate due to the supply of electric energy, the airflow to the plurality of first fins 73 of the first heat sink 70 may increase to quickly cool the first heat sink 70 by air cooling.

[0109] The air guide 100 is formed in a substantially U-shape, and may be configured to circulate air to the first radiator 70 and / or the second radiator 80 by operation of the cooling fan 90 .

[0110] refer to FIG. 13A to FIG. 13D The air guide 100 may include: a guide lower body 110, a guide side body 120, and a guide upper body 130, the guide lower body 110 having an open top, the guide side body 120 extending upward from the guide lower body 10 and having a hollow interior, and the guide upper body 130 extending from the guide side body 120 along the direction in which the guide lower body 110 extends and having a hollow interior.

[0111] The side surface air outlet 121 is formed on the guide side portion body 120, and the air door 123 is rotatably provided on the side surface air outlet 121. The air door 123 may be provided to be rotated by a motor (not shown).

[0112] An end portion of the guide path upper body 130 is opened to form an upper air outlet 131 , and the upper air outlet 131 is formed to face the second radiator 80 .

[0113] When the air door 123 rotates in the first direction (eg, Fig. 13C In contrast, when the air door 123 rotates in the second direction (eg, clockwise in the direction of rotation), the side surface air outlet 121 is opened, and the inner space of the guide side body 120 is blocked. Fig.13D ), the side surface air outlet 121 is blocked, and the inner space of the guide side body 120 is opened.

[0114] In addition, a cooling fan 90 is disposed at the open top of the guide path lower body 110 .

[0115] The guide lower body 110, the guide side body 120, and the guide upper body 130 jointly form a first air fluid route and a second air fluid route. When the air passes through the first air fluid route, it passes only through the first radiator 70, and when the air passes through the second air fluid route, it passes through the first radiator 70 and the second radiator 80. At this time, according to the opening and closing of the air door 123 provided in the guide side body 120 (or, according to the rotation of the air door 123), the first air fluid route or the second air fluid route is formed in the air guide 100.

[0116] At this time, the first air fluid route is a route in which air flows through the opening 111 of the guide lower body 110, the internal space of the guide lower body 110, the internal space of the guide side body 120, and the side surface air outlet 121 formed on the guide side body 120. In addition, the second air fluid route is a route in which air flows through the opening 111 of the guide lower body 110, the internal space of the guide lower body 110, the internal space of the guide side body 120, the internal space of the guide upper body 130, and the opening 131 of the guide upper body 130.

[0117] For example, when the air door 123 opens the side surface air outlet 121 and blocks the inner space of the guide side body 120, and the cooling fan 90 operates, the air passing through the first radiator 70 by the operation of the cooling fan 90 passes through the first air fluid route and is then discharged through the side surface air outlet 121. In addition, when the air door 123 blocks the side surface air outlet 121 and opens the inner space of the guide side body 120, and the cooling fan 90 operates, the air passing through the first radiator 70 by the operation of the cooling fan 90 passes through the second air fluid route, passes through the second radiator 80, and is then discharged.

[0118] In the cooling apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the cooling fan 90 , the first heat sink 70 , the thermoelectric device 50 , the coolant channel 40 , and the second heat sink 80 may be sequentially arranged in a vertical direction and may be modularized.

[0119] Hereinafter, the operation of the cooling device is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0120] Fig.14A and Fig. 14B is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the cooling device according to the embodiment.

[0121] According to the embodiment, the cooling device 1 may be operated in the first mode or the second mode depending on the temperature of the cooling target 10 .

[0122] The first mode is a mode for cooling the cooling target 10, in which when the temperature of the cooling target 10 is a predetermined temperature or exceeds a predetermined temperature, the coolant stored in the coolant passage 40 is cooled by the thermoelectric device 50, and at the same time, the coolant stored in the coolant passage 40 is cooled by the air circulation of the air guide 100. In addition, the second mode is a mode for cooling the cooling target 10, in which when the temperature of the cooling target 10 is lower than a predetermined temperature, the coolant stored in the coolant passage 40 is not cooled by the thermoelectric device 50, but is cooled only by the air circulation of the air guide 100.

[0123] The first mode is a fast cooling mode in which the cooling target 10 is cooled faster than the second mode. The second mode cools the cooling target 10 by the low temperature portion 52 of the thermoelectric device 50 and the air circulation of the air guide 100. In addition, the second mode is a normal cooling mode in which the cooling target 10 is cooled relatively slowly compared to the first mode, and the cooling target 10 is cooled only by the air circulation of the air guide 100.

[0124] refer to Fig.14A , in the first mode, the thermoelectric device 50 is turned on, so that electric energy is supplied to the thermoelectric device 50, so that the high temperature portion 51 of the thermoelectric device 50 is heated and the low temperature portion 52 is cooled. Therefore, the coolant stored in the coolant channel 40 arranged adjacent to the low temperature portion 52 is cooled by the low temperature portion 52. At the same time, the air door 123 of the air guide 100 is rotated in the first direction, the side surface air outlet 121 is opened, and the internal space of the guide side body 120 is blocked. In addition, the cooling fan 90 operates. Therefore, the air passing through the first radiator 70 by the operation of the cooling fan 90 passes through the first air fluid route of the air guide 100, and is then discharged through the side surface air outlet 121. Therefore, the first radiator 70 is cooled by the air passing through the first air fluid route, and the coolant stored in the coolant channel 40 is cooled by the first radiator 70 after being cooled by the air.

[0125] refer to Fig. 14BIn the second mode, since the thermoelectric device 50 is turned off and no electric energy is supplied to the thermoelectric device 50, the high temperature portion 51 of the thermoelectric device 50 is not heated and the low temperature portion 52 is not cooled. Therefore, the coolant stored in the coolant channel 40 is not cooled by the thermoelectric device 50. At the same time, the air door 123 of the air guide 100 is rotated in the second direction, the side surface air outlet 121 is blocked, and the inner space of the guide side body 120 is opened. In addition, the cooling fan 90 operates. Therefore, the air passing through the first radiator 70 by the operation of the cooling fan 90 passes through the second air fluid route of the air guide 100, passes through the second radiator 80, and is then discharged. Therefore, the first radiator 70 and the second radiator 80 are cooled by the air passing through the second air fluid route, and the coolant stored in the coolant channel 40 is cooled by the second radiator 80 after being cooled by the air.

[0126] According to the above-described embodiment, the cooling target 10 such as the automatic driving controller is cooled by the separate cooling device 1, and the load applied to the existing heat pump system can be reduced.

[0127] Furthermore, by independently cooling the cooling target 10 such as the autonomous driving controller, it is possible to prevent the cooling performance of an existing heat pump system used for vehicle interior cooling or a battery module from being deteriorated.

[0128] While the invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be practical embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cooling device comprising: an electric water pump configured to pump coolant; a coolant passage in fluid communication with a cooling target and an electric water pump; a thermoelectric device including a high temperature portion and a low temperature portion, the high temperature portion being heated by being supplied with electric energy, the low temperature portion being cooled by being supplied with electric energy, the thermoelectric device being configured to cool a coolant flowing into a coolant channel through the low temperature portion; a first heat sink disposed adjacent to a high temperature portion of the thermoelectric device; a second radiator disposed adjacent to the coolant passage; a cooling fan disposed adjacent to the first radiator; as well as An air guide forms a first air fluid route in which the operating air passing through the cooling fan passes only through the first radiator and then is exhausted, and a second air fluid route in which the operating air passing through the cooling fan passes through the first radiator and the second radiator and then is exhausted. 2 . The cooling device according to claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir tank configured to temporarily store a portion of the coolant and configured to replenish the stored coolant to the coolant channel. 3 . The cooling apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a thermal insulation pad disposed to surround a side surface of the thermoelectric device.

4. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein: The cooling fan, the first radiator, the coolant passage, and the second radiator are sequentially arranged along a predetermined direction.

5. The cooling device according to claim 4, wherein: The air guide comprises: a guide lower body disposed below the cooling fan and having a hollow interior; a guide path side body extending upward from the guide path lower body and having a hollow interior; and a guide path upper body extending from a side surface of the guide path side body and having a hollow interior, The air door is arranged on the side surface air outlet, and the side surface air outlet is formed on the side body of the guide path. The upper air outlet is formed on the end of the guide path upper body.

6. The cooling device according to claim 5, wherein: The upper air outlet is formed to face the second radiator.

7. The cooling device according to claim 5, wherein: The first air fluid route and the second air fluid route are formed according to the operation of an air door.

8. The cooling device according to claim 7, wherein: The first air fluid route includes: an opening of the guide path lower body, an inner space of the guide path lower body, an inner space of the guide path side body, and a side surface air outlet formed on the guide path side body.

9. The cooling device according to claim 7, wherein: The second air fluid route includes: an opening of the guide path lower body, an internal space of the guide path lower body, an internal space of the guide path side body, an internal space of the guide path upper body, and an opening of the guide path upper body.

10. The cooling device according to claim 7, wherein: When the air door rotates along the first direction, the side surface air outlet is opened, and the inner space of the guide path side body is blocked, so that a first air fluid route is formed; When the air door rotates along the second direction, the side surface air outlet is blocked, and the inner space of the guide path side body is opened, so that a second air fluid route is formed.

11. The cooling device according to claim 7, wherein: Depending on the temperature of the cooling target, the cooling device is configured as follows: operating in a first mode in which coolant in the coolant passage is cooled by a low temperature portion of the thermoelectric device and by air circulating through the air guide; Operation takes place in a second mode in which the coolant in the coolant passage is cooled solely by air circulating through the air duct.

12. The cooling device according to claim 11, wherein: The cooling device is configured as follows: operating in a first mode when the temperature of the cooling target is at or above a predetermined temperature; When the temperature of the cooling target is lower than a predetermined temperature, it operates in the second mode.

13. The cooling device according to claim 11, wherein: In the first mode: The thermoelectric device is turned on so that the low temperature portion of the thermoelectric device cools the coolant in the coolant channel; The first radiator is cooled by air passing through the first air fluid route of the air guide through the operation of the cooling fan, thereby cooling the coolant stored in the coolant passage.

14. The cooling device according to claim 11, wherein: In the second mode: The thermoelectric device is turned off; The second radiator is cooled by the air passing through the second air fluid route of the air guide through the operation of the cooling fan, thereby cooling the coolant stored in the coolant passage.

15. A vehicle comprising the cooling device according to claim 1.

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