Air Temperature-Controllable Module

Abstract

An air temperature-controllable module, for a temperature-controllable storage unit, having an air temperature-controllable unit including a useful air temperature-controllable region, a waste air temperature-controllable region, and at least one thermoelectric device including a useful air side and a waste air side, the useful air side connected to the useful air temperature-controllable region and the waste air side connected to the waste air temperature-controllable region, a useful air path for a useful air flow extending from a useful air inlet to a useful air outlet and the useful air temperature-controllable region of the air temperature-controllable unit connecting to the useful air outlet, and a waste air path for a waste air flow extending from a waste air inlet to a waste air outlet and connecting the waste air temperature-controllable region of the air temperature-controllable unit to the waste air outlet.

Claims

1. An air temperature-controllable module for a temperature-controllable storage unit comprising: an air temperature-controllable unit 04)-comprising a useful air temperature-controllable region, a waste air temperature-controllable region, and at least one thermoelectric device, the at least one thermoelectric device comprising a useful air side and a waste air side, the useful air side being connected to the useful air temperature-controllable region in a heat-transmitting manner, and the waste air side being connected to the waste air temperature-controllable region in a heat-transmitting manner; a useful air path for a useful air flow, the useful air path extending from a useful air inlet to a useful air outlet and the useful air temperature-controllable region of the air temperature-controllable unit connecting to the useful air outlet in a fluid-conducting manner, and a waste air path for a waste air flow, the waste air path extending from a waste air inlet to a waste air outlet and the waste air temperature-controllable region of the air temperature-controllable unit connecting to the waste air outlet in a fluid-conducting manner, wherein the useful air path in the useful air temperature-controllable region of the air temperature-controllable unit and the waste air path in the waste air temperature-controllable region of the air temperature-controllable unit run at an angle to one another.

2. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 1, wherein a first and a second heat exchange device are arranged within the useful air temperature-controllable region and/or within the waste air temperature-controllable region, wherein the first and the second heat exchange devices, each comprise heat exchange ribs and/or heat exchange fins.

3. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchange ribs and/or heat exchange fins of the first heat exchange device arranged within the useful air temperature-controllable region extend at an angle to the heat exchange ribs and/or heat exchange fins of the second heat exchange device arranged within the waste air temperature-controllable region.

4. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchange ribs and/or heat exchange fins of the first heat exchange device arranged within the useful air temperature-controllable region and the heat exchange ribs and/or heat exchange fins of the second heat exchange device arranged within the waste air temperature-controllable region have different profiles.

5. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 2, wherein the first heat exchange device arranged within the useful air temperature-controllable region and/or the second heat exchange device arranged within the waste air temperature-controllable region each comprise one or a plurality of protruding regions, within which the respective first and the second heat exchange device protrudes laterally beyond the thermoelectric device.

6. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 5, wherein the first heat exchange device arranged within the useful air temperature-controllable region comprises a protruding region lying in front of the thermoelectric device in the flow direction of the useful air flow and/or a protruding region lying behind the thermoelectric device in the flow direction of the useful air flow; and/or the second heat exchange device arranged within the waste air temperature-controllable region comprises a protruding region lying in front of the thermoelectric device in the flow direction of the waste air flow and/or a protruding region lying behind the thermoelectric device in the flow direction of the waste air flow.

7. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 1, wherein the useful air temperature-controllable region of the air temperature-controllable unit is connected to a useful air inlet channel and/or to a useful air outlet channel, wherein a seal is arranged between the useful air temperature-controllable region and the useful air Inlet channel and/or between the useful air temperature-controllable region and the useful air outlet channel; and/or the waste air temperature-controllable region of the air temperature-controllable unit is connected to a waste air inlet channel and/or to a waste air outlet channel, wherein a seal is arranged between the waste air temperature-controllable region and the waste air inlet channel and/or between the waste air temperature-controllable region and the waste air outlet channel.

8. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 1, further comprising: a useful air fan which is set up to generate the useful air flow along the useful air path, and/or a waste air fan which is set up to generate the waste air flow along the waste air path.

9. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 1, further comprising a multi-part module housing, wherein the useful air path and/or the waste air path is at least partially formed by air channels within a module housing.

10. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 9, wherein the module housing comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the air temperature-controllable unit, the useful air fan and/or the waste air fan are arranged between the first part and the second part.

11. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 10, wherein the first part of the module housing comprises a recess encompassing the useful air path or the waste air path at least in sections, and the second part of the module housing comprises a material projection extending in sections parallel to the useful air path or waste air path, which material projection protrudes into the recess of the first part.

12. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 10, wherein the first part of the module housing comprises the waste air inlet and the waste air outlet and/or the second part of the module housing comprises the useful air inlet and the useful air outlet.

13. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 1, wherein the useful air path and the waste air path are formed separately from one another over the entire length.

14. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 1, wherein the useful air fan and/or the waste air fan are each designed as a radial fan.

15. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 1, further comprising a control device by means of which the useful air fan and the waste air fan can be controlled independently of one another.

16. The air temperature-controllable module according to claim 15, wherein the control device is set up to control the useful air fan, the waste air fan and/or the air temperature-controllable unit as a function of a counter pressure and/or a temperature control requirement.

17. A temperature-controllable storage unit for a vehicle, the temperature-controllable storage unit comprising: the air temperature-controllable module of claim 1 for temperature control of air; and a temperature-control container which is set up to receive one or more objects to be temperature controlled in a receiving region, a useful air path of the air temperature-controllable module connecting a useful air temperature-controllable region of the temperature control unit to the receiving region of the temperature-control container in a fluid-conducting manner and a waste air path of the air temperature-controllable module connecting a waste air temperature-controllable region of the air temperature-controllable unit to the surroundings of the storage unit in a fluid-conducting manner.

18. The temperature-controllable storage unit according to claim 17, wherein the temperature-control container is made from a plastic material.

19. The temperature-controllable storage unit according to claim 17, wherein the temperature-control container is made from a foamed material and/or comprises one or a plurality of film layers.

20. The temperature-controllable storage unit according to claim 17, wherein the walls of the temperature-control container comprise a useful air inlet and/or a useful air outlet, wherein the useful air inlet of the temperature-control container is connected to the useful air outlet of the air temperature-controllable module and/or the useful air outlet of the temperature-control container is connected to the useful air inlet of the air temperature-controllable module.

21. The temperature-controllable storage unit according to claim 17, wherein the useful air path, the useful air temperature-controllable region, and/or the useful air fan of the air temperature-controllable module and/or the receiving region of the temperature-control container are integrated in an air flow circuit.

22. The temperature-controllable storage unit according to claim 17, wherein the temperature-control container is at least partially surrounded by thermal insulation.

23. The temperature-controllable storage unit according to claim 22, wherein at least a part of the module housing of the air temperature-controllable module forms at least a section of the thermal insulation.

24. The temperature-controllable storage unit according to claim 17, wherein the temperature-control container is set up to receive beverage containers.

25. A method for operating the air temperature-controllable module according to claim 1, wherein in a defrosting phase, at least one thermoelectric device is energized with reversed polarity compared to a cooling operation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Shown are:

[0044] FIG. 1 an embodiment of the temperature-controllable storage unit according to the invention in a sectional representation;

[0045] FIG. 2 the temperature-controllable storage unit shown in FIG. 1 in a partially transparent perspective representation;

[0046] FIG. 3 the temperature-controllable storage unit shown in FIG. 1 in an exploded representation;

[0047] FIG. 4 an embodiment of the air temperature-controllable module according to the invention in an exploded representation;

[0048] FIG. 5 the air temperature-controllable module shown in FIG. 4 in a further exploded representation;

[0049] FIG. 6 a first part of a module housing of an air temperature-controllable module according to the invention in a top view;

[0050] FIG. 7 a second part of a module housing of an air temperature-controllable module according to the invention in a top view;

[0051] FIG. 8 a further embodiment of the air temperature-controllable module according to the invention in a sectional representation;

[0052] FIG. 9 an air temperature-controllable unit of an air temperature-controllable module according to the invention in a perspective representation;

[0053] FIG. 10 an air temperature-controllable unit of an air temperature-controllable module according to the invention in a side view;

[0054] FIG. 11 the air temperature-controllable unit depicted in FIG. 10 in a top view;

[0055] FIG. 12 the air temperature-controllable unit depicted in FIG. 10 in a further side view;

[0056] FIG. 13 the air temperature-controllable unit depicted in FIG. 10 in a view from below;

[0057] FIG. 14 an air temperature-controllable unit of an air temperature-controllable module according to the invention in a perspective representation;

[0058] FIG. 15 an embodiment of the temperature-controllable storage unit according to the invention in a schematic representation;

[0059] FIG. 16 a further embodiment of the temperature-controllable storage unit according to the invention in a schematic representation; and

[0060] FIG. 17 a further embodiment of the temperature-controllable storage unit according to the invention in a schematic representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a temperature-controllable storage unit 100 having a temperature-control container 102. The temperature-control container 102 comprises a receiving region 104 within which two objects 200, 202, namely beverage cans, are positioned in FIG. 1. The objects 200, 202 can be temperature-controlled by a temperature-controlled useful air flow introduced into the receiving region 104 by means of the temperature-controllable storage unit 100. In the present case, the objects 200, 200 are cooled by the temperature-controlled useful air flow introduced into the receiving region 104, wherein the objects 200, 202 are also able to be heated by means of the temperature-controllable storage unit 100.

[0062] The temperature-controllable storage unit 100 is set up to be used inside a vehicle.

[0063] The storage unit 100 comprises an air temperature-controllable module 10 to generate the temperature-controlled useful air flow. The air temperature-controllable module 10 comprises an air temperature-controllable unit 14 which comprises a useful air temperature-controllable region 16 and a waste air temperature-controllable region 18. The air temperature-controllable unit 14 comprises a thermoelectric device 50 designed as a Peltier element. The thermoelectric device 50 comprises a useful air side and a waste air side. The useful air side is connected to the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 in a heat-transmitting manner via a heat exchange device 46. The waste air side is connected to the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 in a heat-transmitting manner via a heat exchange device 48. The heat exchange devices 46, 48 comprise a plurality of heat exchange ribs or heat exchange fins.

[0064] The air temperature-controllable module 10 comprises a useful air path 20 which extends from a useful air inlet 22 of the air temperature-controllable module 10 to a useful air outlet 24 of the air temperature-controllable module 10. Furthermore, the useful air path 20 connects the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 of the air temperature-controllable unit 14 in a fluid-conducting manner to the useful air outlet 24 of the air temperature-controllable module 10. A useful air flow 42 is generated along the useful air path 20 via a useful air fan 26 designed as a radial fan.

[0065] The air temperature-controllable module 10 also comprises a waste air path 28 extending from a waste air inlet 32 of the air temperature-controllable module 10 to a waste air outlet 34 of the air temperature-controllable module 10. Furthermore, the waste air path 28 connects the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 of the air temperature-controllable unit 14 to the waste air outlet 34 of the air temperature-controllable module 10 in a fluid-conducting manner. The useful air path 20 and the waste air path 28 are formed separately from one another over the entire length and do not have a common subsection. An exchange of air between the useful air path 20 and the waste air path 28 and heat exchange between the useful air path 20 and the waste air path 28 are thus avoided. A waste air flow 44 is generated along the waste air path 28 via a waste air fan 36 designed as a radial fan.

[0066] The air temperature-controllable module 10 comprises a multi-part module housing 12, wherein the useful air path 20 and the waste air path 28 are formed by air channels within the module housing 12. The parts 30a, 30b of the module housing 12 are fastened to one another via fastening means 118a-118f designed as screws.

[0067] The wall of the temperature-control container 102 comprises a useful air inlet 112 and a useful air outlet 110. The useful air inlet 112 of the temperature-control container 102 is connected to the useful air outlet 24 of the air temperature-controllable module 10 in a fluid-conducting manner. The useful air outlet 110 of the temperature-control container 102 is connected to the useful air inlet 22 of the air temperature-controllable module 10 in a fluid-conducting manner. The result is that the useful air path 20 of the air temperature-controllable module 10 connects the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 of the temperature control unit to the receiving region 104 of the temperature-control container 102 in a fluid-conducting manner. Furthermore, the waste air path 28 of the air temperature-controllable module 10 connects the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 of the air temperature-controllable unit 14 to the surroundings of the storage unit 100 in a fluid-conducting manner.

[0068] The temperature-control container 102 is formed in one piece and made of a foamed plastic material. The temperature-control container 102 can be closed with a cover 106 and is surrounded by a thermal insulation 108, namely a thermal insulation container, made of a thermal insulation material. The thermal insulation material can be, for example, expanded polypropylene (EPP) or modified polyphenylene ether (MPPE). A part of the module housing 12 of the air temperature-controllable module 10 forms a section of the thermal insulation 108. In the present case, the thermal insulation 108 is a supporting structure.

[0069] The useful air inlet 112 of the temperature-control container 102 is arranged above the useful air outlet 110 of the temperature-control container 102. Ventilation grilles 114, 116 are arranged in each case in the region of the useful air inlet 112 of the temperature-control container 102 and the useful air outlet 110 of the temperature-control container 102.

[0070] The useful air path 20, the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 and the useful air fan 26 of the air temperature-controllable module 10 and the receiving region 104 of the temperature-control container 102 are integrated into an air flow circuit within which the temperature-controlled useful air circulates. The waste air path 28, the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 and the waste air fan 36 of the air temperature-controllable module 10 are integrated into an open flow loop which does not allow any circulation of the waste air. The waste air fan 36 sucks in air from the surroundings and then expels the waste air back again into the surroundings after it has passed through the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 of the air temperature-controllable unit 14.

[0071] FIGS. 4 and 5 show an air temperature-controllable module 10 having a module housing 12, an air temperature-controllable unit 14, a useful air fan 26 and a waste air fan 28.

[0072] The module housing 12 is designed in two parts and comprises a useful air path 20 designed as an air channel and a waste air path 28 designed as an air channel. The useful air path 20 extends from a useful air inlet 22 to a useful air outlet 24 and connects a useful air temperature-controllable region 16 of the air temperature-controllable unit 14 to the useful air outlet 24 in a fluid-conducting manner. The waste air path 28 extends from a waste air inlet 32 to a waste air outlet 34 and connects a waste air temperature-controllable region 18 of the air temperature-controllable unit 14 to the waste air outlet 34 in a fluid-conducting manner.

[0073] The useful air fan 26 generates a useful air flow 42 along the useful air path 20. The waste air fan 36 generates a waste air flow 44 along the waste air path 28.

[0074] The module housing 12 is made of plastic and comprises a first part 30a and a second part 30b. The air temperature-controllable unit 14, the useful air fan 26 and the waste air fan 36 are arranged between the first part 30a and the second part 30b within recesses, so that the air temperature-controllable unit 14, the useful air fan 26 and the waste air fan 36 are fixed in the module housing 12 via a form fit.

[0075] The first part 30a of the module housing 12 comprises the waste air inlet 32 and the waste air outlet 34. The second part 30b of the module housing 12 comprises the useful air inlet 22 and the useful air outlet 24.

[0076] The first part 30a of the module housing 12 comprises a recess 38 which encompasses the waste air path 28 in sections. The second part 30b of the module housing 12 has a material projection 40 extending in sections parallel to the waste air path 28, which material projection 40 protrudes into the recess 38 of the first part 30a in the assembled state of the module housing 12. This ensures that the useful air path 20 and the waste air path 28 are located in different flow planes.

[0077] FIG. 6 shows a first part 30a of a module housing 12. The waste air path 28 extends from a covered waste air inlet 32 to a covered waste air outlet 34 and connects a waste air temperature-controllable region 18 (see FIG. 7) of the air temperature-controllable unit 14 to the waste air outlet 34 in a fluid-conducting manner. The waste air fan 36 designed as a radial fan is used to generate a waste air flow 44 along the waste air path 28.

[0078] FIG. 7 shows a second part 30b of a module housing 12. The useful air path 20 extends from a covered useful air inlet 22 via a useful air fan 26 to a useful air outlet 24 and connects a useful air temperature-controllable region 16 (see FIG. 6) of the air temperature-controllable unit 14 to the useful air outlet 24 in a fluid-conducting manner. The useful air fan 26 is designed as a radial fan and is used to generate a useful air flow 42 along the useful air path 20.

[0079] FIG. 8 shows the design and arrangement of the air temperature-controllable unit 14 within the module housing 12 of the air temperature-controllable module 10. The air temperature-controllable unit 14 comprises a thermoelectric device 50 designed as a Peltier element which comprises a useful air side and a waste air side. The useful side is connected to a useful air temperature-controllable region 16 in a heat-transmitting manner via a heat exchange device 46. The waste air side is connected to a waste air temperature-controllable region 18 in a heat-transmitting manner via a heat exchange device 48. The heat exchange devices 46, 48 each have a plurality of heat exchange fins, wherein the heat exchange fins of the heat exchange devices 46, 48 are arranged offset from one another by 90 degrees. The heat exchange fins of the heat exchange device 46 extend in the flow direction of the useful air. The heat exchange fins of the heat exchange device 48 extend in the flow direction of the waste air.

[0080] The air temperature-controllable module 10 can also comprise a control device by means of which the useful air fan 26 and the waste air fan 36 can be controlled independently of one another. The control device can control the useful air fan 26, the waste air fan 36 and the air temperature-controllable unit 14, for example, as a function of a counter pressure and/or a temperature control requirement.

[0081] FIG. 9 shows an air temperature-controllable unit 14 of an air temperature-controllable module 10. The air temperature-controllable unit 14 comprises a useful air temperature-controllable region 16 and a waste air temperature-controllable region 18. Furthermore, the air temperature-controllable unit 14 comprises a thermoelectric device 50 designed as a Peltier element, which is covered in FIG. 9. The thermoelectric device 50 comprises a useful air side and a waste air side, wherein the useful air side is connected to the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 in a heat-transmitting manner and the waste air side is connected to the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 in a heat-transmitting manner.

[0082] A section of a useful air path 20, which runs through the air temperature-controllable unit 14, is also depicted. In addition, a section of a waste air path 28 is shown, which runs through the air temperature-controllable unit 14. The useful air path 20 in the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 of the air temperature-controllable unit 14 and the waste air path 28 in the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 of the air temperature-controllable unit 14 run at right angles to one another. As a result, the useful air path 20 in the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 and the waste air path 28 in the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 run offset from one another by 90 degrees. This leads to the useful air flow direction in the region of the air temperature-controllable unit 14 running at right angles to the waste air flow direction.

[0083] A heat exchange device 46 is arranged within the useful air temperature-controllable region 16. A heat exchange device 48 is arranged within the waste air temperature-controllable region 18. The heat exchange devices 46, 48 each comprise heat exchange fins 66a, 66b.

[0084] The useful air temperature-controllable region 16 is connected to a useful air inlet channel 60a and to a useful air outlet channel 60b. A seal 56a, 56b is arranged between the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 and the useful air inlet channel 60a and between the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 and the useful air outlet channel 60b. The waste air temperature-controllable region 18 is connected to a waste air inlet channel 62a and to a waste air outlet channel 62b. A seal 58a, 58b is arranged between the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 and the waste air inlet channel 62a and between the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 and the waste air outlet channel 62b. The seals 56a, 56b, 58a, 58b are designed as elastic, sticky sealing strips, which ensure a sealing effect even with increasing material aging and material embrittlement. The seals 56a, 56b, 58a, 58b are arranged in protruding regions 52a, 52b, 54a, 54b of the heat exchange devices 46, 48.

[0085] FIGS. 10 to 13 show an air temperature-controllable unit 14, the heat exchange devices 46, 48 of which also comprise protruding regions 52a, 52b, 54a, 54b. The respective heat exchange device 46, 48 projects beyond the thermoelectric device 50 within the protruding regions 52a, 52b, 54a, 54b. This results in a protrusion of the heat exchange devices 46, 48 in relation to the thermoelectric device 50. Seals can be arranged in the protruding regions 52a, 52b, 54a, 54b, so that the inlets and outlets of the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 and of the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 can be sealed much better. Heat exchange between the useful air flow and the waste air flow is thus further reduced.

[0086] The heat exchange device 46 arranged within the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 comprises a protruding region 52a lying in front of the thermoelectric device 50 in the flow direction of the useful air flow and a protruding region 52b lying behind the thermoelectric device 50 in the flow direction of the useful air flow. The heat exchange device 48 arranged within the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 comprises a protruding region 54a lying in front of the thermoelectric device 50 in the flow direction of the waste air flow and a protruding region 54b lying behind the thermoelectric device 50 in the flow direction of the waste air flow. The heat exchange devices 46, 48 protrude over the thermoelectric device 50 along the respective flow direction. In the plan view, the heat exchange devices 46, 48 form a cross-shaped structure.

[0087] The thermoelectric device 50 is further connected to connections 68a-68d, via which the thermoelectric device 50 can be supplied with electrical energy. A control device (not shown) can be set up to set the voltage and/or current strength applied to the thermoelectric device 50. For example, the heat exchange devices 46, 48 can be defrosted by means of a suitable setting of the voltage applied to the thermoelectric device 50 or the current strength applied to the thermoelectric device 50. For this purpose, the control device can be set up to temporarily reverse the voltage applied to the thermoelectric device 50, so that any ice that is present is melted and evaporated.

[0088] FIG. 14 shows an air temperature-controllable unit 14 in which the heat exchange devices 46, 48 each comprise heat exchange fins 66a, 66b which are arranged on a base plate 64a, 64b of the respective heat exchange device 46, 48. The heat exchange fins 66a of the heat exchange device 46 arranged within the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 extend at right angles to the heat exchange fins 66b of the heat exchange device 48 arranged within the waste air temperature-controllable region 18. The useful air flow and the waste air flow are guided like a cross flow due to the lamellar arrangement.

[0089] The heat exchange fins 66a of the heat exchange device 46 arranged within the useful air temperature-controllable region 16 and the heat exchange fins 66b of the heat exchange device 48 arranged within the waste air temperature-controllable region 18 have different profiles. That is, the heat exchange fins 66a and the heat exchange fins 66b have different folds. The heat exchange fins 66a are folded into triangles resting on one another. The heat exchange fins 66b are folded in a rectangular sawtooth pattern. The tight folding of the heat exchange fins 66a leads to a large heat exchange surface, so that a particularly intensive heat exchange can take place with the useful air flow. The large lamella spacing of the heat exchange fins 66b ensures a reduced risk of condensation formation, so that the air path is prevented from being clogged by freezing condensate droplets.

[0090] FIG. 15 shows a temperature-controllable storage unit 100 having an air temperature-controllable module 10 for temperature control of air and a temperature-control container 102, which is set up to receive a plurality of temperature-controllable objects 200, namely beverage containers, in a receiving region 104. The receiving region 104 of the temperature-control container 102 can be closed with a pivotable cover 106. When the cover 106 is opened, an air flow which acts as an air curtain is generated. The air curtain keeps the temperature-controlled air within the receiving region 104 of the temperature-control container 102 and prevents an intensive fluid and heat exchange with the surroundings.

[0091] FIG. 16 shows a storage unit 100, the temperature-control container 102 of which comprises a plurality of useful air openings 120a-120f and a waste air opening 122. The useful air openings 120a-120f are used to implement an air curtain which prevents fluid and heat exchange with the surroundings when a cover 106 is opened.

[0092] FIG. 17 also shows a storage unit 100, in the temperature-control container 102 of which an air curtain can be produced.

[0093] Here, cooled air brushes along the inside of a cover or a door of a temperature-control container 102 or flows parallel thereto. In this way, an air curtain is formed that prevents air from escaping from the temperature-control container into the surroundings, even when the cover is open. This air flow can be the result of an ordinary operating condition of the system. However, to save energy, it can also be generated specifically when the cover is opened.

[0094] At least one heat exchanger is preferably provided with a water-repellent coating in order to reduce or avoid the formation of condensation. This is particularly desirable in the case of heat exchangers (often also referred to as heat conducting bodies) in the useful air region, since strong cooling could otherwise cause blockage due to icing.

[0095] It can be useful to briefly reverse the polarity of at least one thermoelectric device as a method for defrosting. As a result, a cooled side of the thermoelectric device is briefly heated (and a heated side is briefly cooled). The same applies to the heat exchangers/heat conducting bodies associated with these sides. This brief heating process melts disruptive ice and the air that then flows past (again) removes the condensation. A corresponding circuit or a corresponding switching device is expediently provided on the temperature-controllable module for this purpose.

[0096] It can be helpful to provide a drainage device (not shown) to remove condensate on a cold side of a thermoelectric device and a heat exchanger associated with this cold side. This drainage device can, for example, be or comprise a foam layer. The drainage device connects the cold side of the thermoelectric device to its warm side or their respective heat exchangers arranged there so that condensate is transported from the cold side to the warm side. The drainage device can be at least partially identical to a sealing device that separates a useful air flow from a waste air flow, particularly a sealing device on a temperature-controllable module, particularly a foam seal around a Peltier element. The drainage device sucks up the condensate on the cold side through a capillary, transports it to the warm side and evaporates it into the warm waste air flow.

[0097] The module housing preferably comprises prefabricated channels in a hardened polymer foam, in which the electrical connecting lines are received and held. In addition, plug-in receptacles can be provided in the foamed module housing, which receptacles enable electrical integration of an electronic control or other circuit board.

Reference Numbers

[0098] 10 air temperature-controllable module

[0099] 12 module housing

[0100] 14 air temperature-controllable unit

[0101] 16 useful air temperature-controllable region

[0102] 18 waste air temperature-controllable region

[0103] 20 useful air path

[0104] 22 useful air inlet

[0105] 24 useful air outlet

[0106] 26 useful air fan

[0107] 28 waste air path

[0108] 30a, 30b housing parts

[0109] 32 waste air inlet

[0110] 34 waste air outlet

[0111] 36 waste air fan

[0112] 38 recess

[0113] 40 material projection

[0114] 42 useful air flow

[0115] 44 waste air flow

[0116] 46 heat exchange device

[0117] 48 heat exchange device

[0118] 50 thermoelectric device

[0119] 52a, 52b protruding regions

[0120] 54a, 54b protruding regions

[0121] 56a, 56b seals

[0122] 58a, 58b seals

[0123] 60a, 60b useful air inlet and useful air outlet channel

[0124] 62a, 62b waste air inlet and waste air outlet channel

[0125] 64a, 64b base plates

[0126] 66a, 66b heat exchange fins

[0127] 68a-68d connectors

[0128] 100 storage unit

[0129] 102 temperature-control container

[0130] 104 receiving region

[0131] 106 cover

[0132] 108 thermal insulation

[0133] 110 useful air outlet

[0134] 112 useful air inlet

[0135] 114 ventilation grille

[0136] 116 ventilation grille

[0137] 118a-118f fastening means

[0138] 120a-120f useful air openings

[0139] 122 waste air opening

[0140] 200, 202 objects