A piezoelectric cooling system and method for driving the cooling system are described. The piezoelectric cooling system includes a first piezoelectric cooling element and a second piezoelectric cooling element. The first piezoelectric cooling element is configured to direct a fluid toward a surface of a heat-generating structure. The second piezoelectric cooling element is configured to direct the fluid to an outlet area after heat has been transferred to the fluid by the heat-generating structure.

A cooling system and method for using the cooling system are described. The cooling system includes a plurality of individual piezoelectric cooling elements spatially arranged in an array extending in at least two dimensions, a communications interface and driving circuitry. The communications interface is associated with the individual piezoelectric cooling elements such that selected individual piezoelectric cooling elements within the array can be activated based at least in part on heat energy generated in the vicinity of the selected individual piezoelectric cooling elements. The driving circuitry is associated with the individual piezoelectric cooling elements and is configured to drive the selected individual piezoelectric cooling elements.

The present disclosure relates to a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system having a heat exchanger configured to thermally regulate a supply air flow, where the heat exchanger includes a thermoelectric device, a first plurality of fins coupled to the thermoelectric device, and a second plurality of fins coupled to the thermoelectric device. The first plurality of fins extend into a supply air flow path of the supply air flow to transfer thermal energy between the thermoelectric device and the supply air flow and the second plurality of fins convectively transfer thermal energy between the thermoelectric device and a working fluid exterior the supply air flow path.

A plasma torch that includes an electrode having an exterior surface and a tip having an interior surface spaced apart from and facing the exterior surface of the electrode. A process gas flow channel located being located between the exterior surface of the electrode and the interior surface of the tip. A thermoelectric cooler having a cold plate and a hot plate is disposed between the exterior surface of the electrode and the interior surface of the tip with the cold plate being thermally connected to the exterior surface of the electrode. According to some implementations, electrical power is deliverable to the thermoelectric cooler only up electrical power being supplied to the electrode.

A container has a chamber and a phase change material (PCM) that can remove heat from the chamber. The container can have a thermal conductor movably coupled in the container between a retracted position and a deployed position, where in the deployed position, while on a heat sink unit, the thermal conductor can draw heat from the PCM to solidify or charge the PCM, which can then maintain the chamber in a chilled state for a prolonged period of time. The container can have one or more heating elements in thermal communication with the chamber and operable to add heat to the chamber to increase or maintain a temperature of the chamber in a heated state for a prolonged period of time.

An apparatus for cooling bottled beverages may include an open-topped vessel defining a bottle chamber. The vessel may have a tubular wall and a base. The apparatus may further include a cooling device in thermal communication with the base of the vessel and with a heat exchanger. The apparatus may also include a tubular housing surrounding the vessel and enclosing the cooling device and the heat exchanger. Additionally, the apparatus may include a fan configured to provide an air flow along an airflow path. The airflow path may extend from an inlet of the housing, across the heat exchanger, to an outlet of the housing.

In one aspect, a portable liquid pump with integrated chiller and heater system includes a pump component includes a pump, a liquid chamber, an inlet port and an outlet port. The pump component seals a liquid so that it does not escape except by the inlet port and the exit port. The pump component pressurizes and directs the liquid in a warm state from the inlet port over a Thermo-electric element-based cold-side heat exchanger and through the outlet port. A Thermo-electric element component includes the Thermo-electric element-based cold-side heat exchanger and a hot-side heat exchanger, wherein the Thermo-electric element component converts an electrical current into a temperature difference that in turn causes heat to flow from the Thermo-electric element-based cold-side heat exchanger to the hot-side heat exchanger. A battery component includes an electrical energy storage component that provides electrical power to the Thermo-electric element component that in turn pumps heat from the Thermo-electric element-based cold-side heat exchanger to the hot-side heat exchanger.

A heat pump assembly includes a plurality of Peltier devices mounted to receive air from a common air inlet, means for causing a current to flow through the Peltier devices, a plurality of first heat sinks arranged in thermal contact with a first, hot, side of the Peltier devices, and a plurality of second heat sinks arranged in thermal contact with a second, cold, side of the Peltier devices. Each of the first heat sinks defines a respective first channel through which inlet air warmed by the hot side of the Peltier devices flows, and each of the second heat sinks defines a respective second channel through which inlet air cooled by the cold side of the Peltier devices flows.

A vacuum insulator including a heat diffusion block placed in a vacuum space; a thermoelectric module, in the vacuum space, coming into contact with the heat diffusion block so as to exchange heat therewith: and a heat sink exchanging heat with the thermoelectric module and placed in a first space or a second place. High heat-insulation performance and heat-transfer performance can be obtained.

A vacuum insulator including a heat diffusion block placed in a vacuum space; a thermoelectric module, in the vacuum space, coming into contact with the heat diffusion block so as to exchange heat therewith: and a heat sink exchanging heat with the thermoelectric module and placed in a first space or a second place. High heat-insulation performance and heat-transfer performance can be obtained.