Thermo-electric chiller/heater component methods and systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermo-electric cooler pump systems lack effective components for maintaining specific temperature ranges required for medicines and testing instruments, as they require improved design and functionality to ensure consistent temperature control.
Innovation Solution
A thermo-electric chiller/heater component with a wetted side featuring regularly-spaced parallel rows of elongated elements perpendicular to the liquid flow and a dry side with parallel sheets, facilitating thermal heat transfer through the Peltier effect, where electron flow enables temperature regulation by transferring heat from one side to the other.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional thermo-electric cooler components are used, then the system structure is simple, but the temperature control precision is insufficient for medicines and testing instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The chiller component is segmented into multiple parallel rows of elongated elements (fins) that extend into the liquid. This segmentation increases the effective heat transfer surface area and improves temperature control precision while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The wetted side features regularly-spaced parallel rows of elongated elements between which the liquid flows, with the rows oriented perpendicular to both the flow and the wetted side surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongated elements extend into the liquid from a single surface of the wetted side, adding a third dimension to the heat transfer interface. This dimensional extension increases the contact area between the thermo-electric component and the liquid without significantly increasing the footprint area, thereby improving temperature control precision while minimizing structural complexity.
2Productivity
If the wetted side has elongated elements extending into the liquid, then the heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wetted side is segmented into multiple parallel rows of elongated elements that are regularly-spaced. This segmentation pattern, while increasing heat transfer efficiency, follows a regular geometric progression that can be achieved through standardized manufacturing processes such as extrusion or molding, thereby limiting the increase in manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows for adjustment of parameters such as the number of parallel rows, the spacing between elements, and the length of elongated elements. These parameter changes enable optimization of heat transfer efficiency while maintaining manufacturability through standard fabrication techniques, balancing productivity improvement with ease of manufacture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively regulates temperature by utilizing the Peltier effect to chill or heat liquids, ensuring precise temperature control for medicines and testing instruments, enhancing the performance of portable refrigerators with improved thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
the chiller/heater component comprises an electron flow through the plurality of parallel sheets to facilitate a thermal heat transfer by a Peltier effect
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a chiller/heater component of a thermo-electric cooler pump system comprising: wherein the chiller/heater component comprises: a wetted side of the chiller/heater component comprising a regularly-spaced plurality of parallel rows of elongated elements between which the liquid flows, wherein the plurality of rows of elongated elements are oriented perpendicular to both the flow of the liquid and the wetted side of the chiller/heater component, wherein the plurality of rows of elongated elements extends into the liquid from a single surface of the wetted side of the chiller/heater component, and wherein the wetted side of the chiller/heater component is in contact with the liquid, and a dry side of the chiller/heater component comprising a plurality of parallel sheets, and wherein the chiller/heater component comprises an electron flow through the plurality of parallel sheets to facilitate a thermal heat transfer by a Peltier effect.