HEATING MEDIUM TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE USING THERMOELECTRIC ELEMENT

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a heating medium temperature control device using a thermoelectric element. The heating medium temperature control device is connected to a temperature regulating apparatus and controls the temperature of a circulating heating medium. The device also includes a main tank, a heat exchange part, a heating medium circulation part, and an auxiliary heat dissipation part. The main tank accommodates the circulating heating medium and supplies the heating medium to the temperature regulating apparatus. The heat exchange part includes a thermoelectric element, a heating medium block, and a main heat dissipation part. The heating medium circulation part includes an inflow line connecting the heating medium block and the temperature regulating apparatus, and a discharge line connecting the main tank and the temperature regulating apparatus. The auxiliary heat dissipation part is connected to the main heat dissipation part.

Claims

1. A heating medium temperature control device connected to a temperature regulating apparatus provided with a tube and controlling a temperature of the heating medium circulating through the tube, the heating medium temperature control device comprising: a main tank for accommodating the heating medium and supplying the heating medium to the temperature regulating apparatus; a heat exchange part including a thermoelectric element, a heating medium block disposed on one side of the thermoelectric element and provided with a first flow path through which the heating medium returned from the temperature regulating apparatus is transferred to the main tank, and a main heat dissipation part disposed on an other side of the thermoelectric element; a heating medium circulation part including an inflow line connecting the heating medium block and the temperature regulating apparatus, and a discharge line connecting the main tank and the temperature regulating apparatus; and an auxiliary heat dissipation part connected to the main heat dissipation part, wherein the main heat dissipation part comprises: a main heat dissipation block; and a heat dissipation flow pipe inserted into the main heat dissipation block and including a second flow path of an auxiliary heating medium, the heat dissipation flow pipe having a heat dissipation inlet and a heat dissipation outlet each formed at one end and the other end of the heat dissipation flow pipe, the auxiliary heat dissipation part comprises: an auxiliary thermoelectric element; an auxiliary heating medium block disposed on one side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element and including a third flow path of the auxiliary heating medium, the auxiliary heating medium block having an auxiliary block inlet and an auxiliary block outlet each formed at one end and the other end of the auxiliary heating medium block; and an auxiliary heating medium circulation part having an auxiliary inflow line connecting the heat dissipation outlet and the auxiliary block inlet and an auxiliary discharge line connecting the heat dissipation inlet and the auxiliary block outlet.

2. The heating medium temperature control device of claim 1, wherein the one side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element is fixed and operates as a cooling surface for performing a cooling action.

3. The heating medium temperature control device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary heat dissipation part further comprises an auxiliary circulation pump for inducing circulation of the auxiliary heating medium.

4. The heating medium temperature control device of claim 1, wherein the main heat dissipation block is provided as a plurality of main heat dissipation blocks, and the heat dissipation flow pipe extends to continuously penetrate the plurality of main heat dissipation blocks a plurality of times.

5. The heating medium temperature control device of claim 1, further comprising: a sensor configured to sense the temperature of the heating medium at a preset location at a preset period or in real time; and a controller configured to selectively operate the auxiliary heat dissipation part according to preset conditions based on information obtained from the sensor.

6. The heating medium temperature control device of claim 5, wherein the preset conditions include a condition in which the auxiliary thermoelectric element is operated in a temperature change stage in which a first temperature is changed to a second temperature which is a target set temperature, and the auxiliary thermoelectric element is not operated in a temperature maintaining stage in which the second temperature is maintained or a preset temperature range corresponding to the second temperature is maintained.

7. The heating medium temperature control device of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary heat dissipation part further comprises an auxiliary heat dissipation block disposed on another side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element, and an auxiliary heat dissipation fan for discharging heat-exchanged air to the outside.

8. The heating medium temperature control device of claim 1, wherein the heating medium block comprises: a first body having one side in contact with the thermoelectric element and another side on which partition walls forming the first flow path are formed; and a second body fixed to the first body while covering the first body, wherein at least one of the partition walls includes protrusions protruding downward.

9. The heating medium temperature control device of claim 8, wherein the protrusions are formed to be tilted at a predetermined angle depending on a flow direction of the heating medium.

10. The heating medium temperature control device of claim 1, further comprising a connector connected to the inflow line and the discharge line, wherein the connector comprises: a discharge passage and an inflow passage divided by a barrier; a first mesh case disposed within the discharge passage and having a plurality of open holes, a second mesh case disposed within the inflow passage and having a plurality of open holes; and functional balls accommodated in the first mesh case and the second mesh case, respectively, wherein the discharge passage is connected to the discharge line, and the inflow passage is connected to the inflow line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a heating medium temperature control device using a thermoelectric element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating the configuration and operating state of the heating medium temperature control device using a thermoelectric element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the interior of the heating medium temperature control device using a thermoelectric element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of a heating medium block and a main tank according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing the shape of partition walls according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are diagrams comparing fluid temperature distributions and fluid trajectory distributions when protrusions are formed on the partition walls and when protrusions are not formed thereon.

[0026] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are diagrams for describing the structure of a heat dissipation part according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing the structure of a connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In describing embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure, if a detailed description of known techniques associated with the present disclosure would unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure, detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the attached drawings are provided for easy understanding of embodiments of the disclosure and do not limit technical spirits of the disclosure, and the embodiments should be construed as including all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the embodiments.

[0029] While terms, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, such components must not be limited by the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

[0030] When an element is coupled or connected to another element, it should be understood that a third element may be present between the two elements although the element may be directly coupled or connected to the other element. When an element is directly coupled or directly connected to another element, it should be understood that no element is present between the two elements.

[0031] The singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0032] In addition, in the specification, it will be further understood that the terms comprise and include specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations.

[0033] In describing embodiments of the present disclosure, terms meaning directions such as up and down, forward and backward, left and right are only used to present relative standards for describing embodiments of the present disclosure, are not intended to specify any direction or location on an absolute basis, and may vary relatively depending on the location of a target object, the location of an observer, a viewing direction, etc.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a heating medium temperature control device using a thermoelectric element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating the configuration and operating state of the heating medium temperature control device using a thermoelectric element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the interior of the heating medium temperature control device using a thermoelectric element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of a heating medium block and a main tank according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, a heating medium temperature control device 100 using a thermoelectric element (hereinafter referred to as heating medium temperature control device) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be a device that is detachably connected to a temperature regulating apparatus 10 that is a temperature control target and adjusts the temperature of a circulating heating medium to control the temperature and humidity of the temperature regulating apparatus 10 and the surrounding environment in response to desired conditions of a user. The temperature regulating apparatus 10 may be a cold and hot mat (or mattress pad) including a flow pipe (or tube) 11 through which a heating medium flows, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The heating medium may preferably be water, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0036] The heating medium temperature control device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a housing 101 that determines the external shape of the device. The housing 101 may have a hexahedral shape as shown, but is not limited thereto. The housing 101 may have various external shapes capable of accommodating components that will be described later. The housing 101 may include a first housing and a second housing that can be assembled and separated according to the user's intention to ensure convenience of assembly.

[0037] A user input part 102 may be formed on one surface, preferably the upper surface, of the housing 101. The user input part 102 may generate key input data input by a user to control the operation of the heating medium temperature control device 100. To this end, the user input part 102 may include at least one of a key pad, a dome switch, a touch pad, and a touch screen in which a touch pad and a display panel are combined, or a combination thereof, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. A connector 103 for connecting the heating medium temperature control device 100 and the temperature regulating apparatus 10 may be detachably coupled to one side of the housing 101.

[0038] The heating medium temperature control device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a main tank 110, a heat exchange part 120, a heating medium circulation part 160, a circulation pump 170, and a controller 180. The main tank 110, the heat exchange part 120, the heating medium circulation part 160, the circulation pump 170, and the controller 180 may be accommodated inside the housing 101. The main tank 110, the heat exchange part 120, and the heating medium circulation part 160 may be interconnected with the flow pipe (or tube) 11 of the temperature regulating apparatus 10 to form a flow path for the heating medium.

[0039] The main tank 110 may accommodate a heating medium flowing in from the outside and a circulating heating medium. The main tank 110 may include an inlet that is open to the outside, and the inlet may be open and closed through at least one stopper 111. Preferably, the inlet may be provided to be exposed to the outside of the housing 101, and the stopper 111 may be detachably fastened to the inlet from the outside of the housing 101. The main tank 110 may include an outlet 112 provided at the bottom.

[0040] The heat exchange part 120 may be a component for inducing heat exchange with the heating medium under the control of the controller 180 in response to user manipulation and/or preset conditions. The heat exchange part 120 may include a thermoelectric element 130, a heating medium block 140, and a heat dissipation part 150.

[0041] The thermoelectric element 130 uses the Peltier effect, and is an element that creates a temperature difference through a potential difference by using the effect that occurs when bipolar semiconductors (for example, N-type semiconductors and P-type semiconductors) are combined. When a voltage is applied to the thermoelectric element 130, a temperature difference occurs on both sides of the element, and one of the one side and the other side can perform a heating action through heat generation, and the other can perform a cooling action through heat absorption. The heating surface and the cooling surface of the thermoelectric element 130 change depending on the direction of current, and the amount of heat generation and heat absorption can be adjusted depending on the amount of current.

[0042] The heating medium block 140 may be located on one side of the thermoelectric element 130. Preferably, one side of the heating medium block 140 may be positioned to contact the one side of the thermoelectric element 130. The heating medium block 140 may be located between the thermoelectric element 130 and the main tank 110. Preferably, the other side of the heating medium block 140 may be positioned to contact the main tank 110.

[0043] The heating medium block 140 may accommodate a circulating heating medium therein. That is, the heating medium block 140 may include a flow path that can induce heat exchange by the thermoelectric element 130 in the process in which the circulating heating medium flows in from the temperature regulating apparatus 10 and then is discharged to the main tank 110. To this end, the heating medium block 140 may include a block inlet 142, a plurality of partition walls 143, and a block outlet 149. The block inlet 142 may be a portion through which the heating medium returned from the temperature regulating apparatus 10 flows into the heating medium block 140. The plurality of partition walls 143 may form a flow path of the heating medium introduced through the block inlet 142. The block outlet 149 may be a portion that communicates with the main tank 110 such that the heating medium flowing through the flow path formed by the partition walls 143 is discharged to the main tank 110.

[0044] One end of the flow path provided by the partition walls 143 may communicate with the block inlet 142, and the other end may communicate with the block outlet 149. The block inlet 142 may be open toward the lower part of the housing 101 in the downward direction, and the block outlet 149 may be open toward the inside of the main tank 110. Accordingly, the flow path of the heating medium within the heating medium block 140 may be formed by the block inlet 142, partition walls 143, and block outlet 149.

[0045] The partition walls 143 may guide the flow of the heating medium. The plurality of partition walls 143 extend in the left and right directions (or lateral direction or horizontal direction) within the heating medium block 140 and may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the up and down directions (or vertical direction). The plurality of partition walls 143 may be disposed in a zigzag shape to induce the heating medium to flow in a zigzag shape. This may mean ensuring that the flow path of the heating medium is sufficiently long in a limited space. While the heating medium flows along the flow path inside the heating medium block 140, sufficient heat exchange can occur between the heating medium and the thermoelectric element 130, so the heat exchange efficiency can be significantly improved.

[0046] The heating medium block 140 may include a first body 141 and a second body 147 that can be assembled. The external shape of the heating medium block 140 may be determined by the combination of the first body 141 and the second body 147. One side of the first body 141 may be positioned to contact the thermoelectric element 130. The partition walls 143 may be formed on the other side of the first body 141. The first body 141 and the partition walls 143 may be made of the same material and may be made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as a metal material. Accordingly, since the first body 141 and the partition walls 143, which have relatively high thermal conductivity, are in direct contact with the thermoelectric element 130, the efficiency of heat exchange with the heating medium flowing along the flow path provided by the partition walls 143 can be significantly improved.

[0047] The second body 147 may be fixed to the first body 141 while covering the partition walls 143. By combining the first body 141 and the second body 147, the flow path formed by the partition walls 143 may be determined in one direction set in advance. One side of the second body 147 may be in contact with the main tank 110. One surface of the main tank 110 may be fixed to the one side of the second body 147 in an open state. The second body 147 may be formed of the same material as the first body 141. Alternatively, the second body 147 may be made of the same material as the main tank 110, for example, plastic. In this case, the second body 147 and the main tank 110 may be formed integrally.

[0048] The heat dissipation part 150 may include a heat sink 151 and a heat dissipation fan 155 that perform a heat dissipation function. The heat sink 151 may be located on the other side of the thermoelectric element 130. The heat sink 151 may include heat dissipation fins formed on the other side thereof opposite one side adjacent to the thermoelectric element 130. The heat dissipation fan 155 may be located on the other side of the heat sink 151 and operate to discharge heat-exchanged air to the outside. The heat dissipation fan 155 may be fixed to the other side of the heat sink 151. If necessary, the heat dissipation fan 155 may operate to allow outside air to flow thereinto. If necessary, a plurality of heat sinks 151 and heat dissipation fans 155 may be provided.

[0049] The heating medium circulation part 160 may include flow pipes through which the heating medium flows. The heating medium circulation part 160 may connect some components within the heating medium temperature control device 100, and may connect some components within the heating medium temperature control device 100 and the temperature regulating apparatus 10. The heating medium circulation part 160 may include at least a discharge line 161 and an inflow line 165.

[0050] The discharge line 161 may connect the main tank 110 and the temperature regulating apparatus 10. The discharge line 161 may refer to a flow pipe through which the heating medium discharged from the outlet 112 of the main tank 110 flows to the temperature regulating apparatus 10. The inflow line 165 may connect the heating medium block 140 and the temperature regulating apparatus 10. The inflow line 165 may refer to a flow pipe through which the heating medium returned from the temperature regulating apparatus 10 flows to the block inlet 142 of the heating medium block 140. A flow path of the heating medium circulating the heating medium temperature control device 100 and the temperature regulating apparatus 10 may be formed by the inflow line 165 and the discharge line 161. The flow path may be formed as follows, and the heating medium may circulate along the flow path corresponding to user settings and/or predetermined conditions. [0051] heating medium block 140 of heat exchange part 120.fwdarw.main tank 110.fwdarw.discharge line 161.fwdarw.temperature regulating apparatus 10.fwdarw.inflow line 165.fwdarw.heating medium block 140 of heat exchange part 120

[0052] The circulation pump 170 may induce circulation of the heating medium in the flow path. The circulation pump 170 may be located below the main tank 110 and may be connected to the discharge line 161, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0053] The controller 180 may perform one or more instructions. The controller 180 may control the heating medium temperature control device 100 according to preset conditions including a cooling mode and a heating mode. The preset conditions may include information on device operation by a user, information related to information on surrounding environment information, etc. The preset conditions may be input through the user input part 102. Alternatively, the heating medium temperature control device 100 may further include a communication unit capable of communicating with a user terminal, and the preset conditions may be input through the user terminal. The preset conditions can be stored in advance in a memory.

[0054] For example, the controller 180 may apply power to the thermoelectric element 130 and drive the circulation pump 170 in response to a power ON signal. The controller 180 may control the thermoelectric element 130 in response to a cooling mode signal (or temperature setting corresponding to cooling mode). That is, the controller 180 may control the current direction of the thermoelectric element 130 to a preset direction such that one side of the thermoelectric element 130 facing the heating medium block 140 performs a cooling function. The controller 180 may control the thermoelectric element 130 in response to a heating mode signal (or temperature setting corresponding to heating mode). That is, the controller 180 may control the current direction of the thermoelectric element 130 to a preset reverse direction such that the one side of the thermoelectric element 130 facing the heating medium block 140 performs a heating function. The controller 180 may obtain sensing information from a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the heat medium discharged toward the temperature regulating apparatus 10 and control the amount of current of the thermoelectric element such that the heating medium at a temperature set by the user can be discharged.

[0055] The controller 180 may be implemented as a non-volatile computer-readable medium including executable program instructions. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, a ROM, a RAM, a compact disc (CD)-ROMs, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, a flash drive, a smart card, and am optical data storage device.

[0056] The controller 180 may be implemented using at least one of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a digital signal processing device (DSPD), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a processor, a microprocessor, and an electrical unit for performing other functions.

[0057] The heating medium temperature control device 100 may further include a power supply for supplying power to at least some components of the device. The power supply may receive power from an external source or may include an energy storage device such as a battery.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing the shape of the partition walls according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are diagrams comparing fluid temperature distributions and fluid trajectory distributions when protrusions are formed on the partition walls and when protrusions are not formed thereon.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 5, the heating medium block 140 may include the partition walls 143. As described above, the partition walls 143 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction and may be arranged in a zigzag shape to form one flow path. For example, as illustrated, one of adjacent partition walls 143 may be shifted to the left to form a right hole 143a that is open on the right side, and the other may be shifted to the right to form a left hole 143b that is open on the left side. According to such arrangement of the partition walls 143, the heating medium block 140 may have a structure in which right holes 143a and left holes 143b are formed sequentially alternately from bottom to top in at least some areas.

[0060] In this structure, at least one of the partition walls 143 may further include a protrusion 135 protruding downward (or in a direction opposite the direction in which the heating medium flows). The partition walls 143 may include a plurality of protrusions 135, and the plurality of protrusions 135 may be arranged at predetermined intervals. The numbers and spacings of the protrusions 135 formed on each of the partition walls 143 may be the same, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the surface area of the heat conductor in contact with the circulating heating medium can be increased by providing the protrusions 135. Accordingly, heat conductivity from the thermoelectric element 130 to the heating medium can be improved, and temperature uniformity depending on the location of the heating medium can be significantly improved. Additionally, by including a resistance structure such as the protrusions 135, the vortex phenomenon of the flowing heating medium can be reduced.

[0062] As another example, the protrusions 135b formed on the partition walls 143 may be formed to be tilted at a predetermined angle in the flow direction of the heating medium. For example, at a position where the flow direction of the heating medium is to the right (e.g., in case of protrusions formed on partition walls shifted to the left in FIG. 5(b)), the protrusions in contact with the heating medium may be formed to be tilted to the right at a predetermined angle. At a position where the flow direction of the heating medium is to the left (for example, in case of protrusions formed on partition walls shifted to the right in FIG. 5(b)), the protrusions in contact with the heating medium may be formed to be tilted to the left at a predetermined angle. In this case, it is possible to secure a predetermined thermal conductivity from the thermoelectric element 130 without impeding the flow of the heating medium and significantly reduce the vortex phenomenon.

[0063] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are diagrams for describing the structure of a heat dissipation part according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the heat dissipation part 150 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a main heat dissipation part 150 and an auxiliary heat dissipation part 200.

[0065] The main heat dissipation part 150 may include one or more main heat dissipation blocks 151, a main heat dissipation fan 155, and a heat dissipation flow pipe 156. It may be desirable to provide a plurality of main heat dissipation blocks 151. Hereinafter, an example of a case where there is a plurality of main heat dissipation blocks 151 will be described. Although the figures show an example in which there are three main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The plurality of main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c may be arranged side by side in one direction. One side of the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c may be in contact with at least a portion of the thermoelectric element 140. The other side of the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c may include a plurality of heat dissipation fins formed at predetermined intervals.

[0066] A plurality of thermoelectric elements 130 may be provided, and at least one of the plurality of thermoelectric elements 130a, 130b, and 130c may be fixed and arranged on one side of the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c. As another example, a single thermoelectric element 130 may be provided and positioned such that at least a portion of the thermoelectric element 130 is in contact with one side of the plurality of main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c. In this case, the direction in which the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c are arranged may correspond to the longitudinal direction of the thermoelectric element 140.

[0067] The main heat dissipation fan 155 may be disposed on the other side of the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c. A plurality of main heat dissipation fans 155 may be provided, and at least one of the plurality of main heat dissipation fans 155 may be fixed and disposed on the other side of the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c.

[0068] The heat dissipation flow pipe 156 may form one flow path. The heat dissipation flow pipe 156 may extend through the plurality of main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c. One end and the other end of the heat dissipation flow pipe 156 are open to the outside of the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c, and may be referred to as a heat dissipation outlet 157 and a heat dissipation inlet 158, respectively. The heat dissipation flow pipe 156 may be formed of copper, aluminum, stainless steel, or the like which has high heat exchange efficiency.

[0069] For example, each of the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c may include a plurality of through holes 152. The through holes 152 may be formed to penetrate the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c in the direction in which the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c are arranged. Adjacent through holes 152 may be formed at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c. The through holes 152 formed in one of the adjacent main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c corresponds to the through holes 152 formed in the other, and the corresponding through holes 152 may communicate with each other side by side in one direction.

[0070] The heat dissipation flow pipe 156 may be inserted into and fixed in the through holes 152. The heat dissipation flow pipe 156 may be inserted into the through holes 152 of the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c such that the heat dissipation flow pipe 156 continuously penetrates the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c. The heat dissipation flow pipe 156 may extend to penetrate the main heat dissipation blocks 151a, 151b, and 151c multiple times in a zigzag shape.

[0071] The auxiliary heat dissipation part 200 may include an auxiliary heating medium block 201, an auxiliary thermoelectric element 203, an auxiliary heating medium circulation part 205, an auxiliary heat dissipation block 207, and an auxiliary heat dissipation fan 208.

[0072] The auxiliary heating medium block 201 may be located on one side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element 203. Preferably, one side of the auxiliary heating medium block 201 may be positioned to contact one side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element 203. One side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element 203 may be fixed and operate as a cooling surface for a cooling function.

[0073] The auxiliary heating medium block 201 may accommodate a circulating auxiliary heating medium therein. The auxiliary heating medium may be water or may be the same material as the heating medium circulating in the temperature regulating apparatus 10, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The auxiliary heating medium block 201 may include a flow path capable of inducing heat exchange between the circulating auxiliary heating medium and the auxiliary thermoelectric element 203 in the process in which the circulating auxiliary heat medium flows in from the heat dissipation outlet 157 of the heat dissipation flow pipe 156 and is discharged to the heat dissipation inlet 158 of the heat dissipation flow pipe 156. To this end, the auxiliary heating medium block 201 may include an auxiliary block inlet 202a, auxiliary partition walls, and an auxiliary block outlet 202b. The auxiliary block inlet 202a may be a portion into which the auxiliary heating medium returned from the heat dissipation outlet 157 flows. The plurality of auxiliary partition walls may form a flow path for the auxiliary heating medium flowing into through the auxiliary block inlet 202a. The auxiliary partition walls may guide the flow of the auxiliary heating medium. The auxiliary partition walls may have substantially the same structure as the partition walls 143 of the heating medium block 140, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The auxiliary block outlet 202b may be a portion through which the auxiliary heating medium flowing through the flow path formed by the auxiliary partition walls is discharged to the heat dissipation inlet 158. One end of the flow path provided by the auxiliary partition walls may communicate with the auxiliary block inlet 202a, and the other end may communicate with the auxiliary block outlet 202b.

[0074] The auxiliary heating medium circulation part 205 may include flow pipes through which the auxiliary heating medium flows. The auxiliary heating medium circulation part 205 may connect the components of the main heat dissipation part 150 and the auxiliary heat dissipation part 200. For example, the auxiliary heat medium circulator 205 may include an auxiliary inflow line 205a connecting the heat dissipation outlet 157 of the heat dissipation flow pipe 156 and the auxiliary block inlet 202a, and an auxiliary discharge line 205b connecting the heat dissipation inlet 158 of the heat dissipation flow pipe 156 and the auxiliary block outlet 202b. [0075] heat dissipation flow pipe 156.fwdarw.heat dissipation outlet 157 of heat dissipation flow pipe 156.fwdarw.auxiliary inflow line 205a.fwdarw.auxiliary block inlet 202a.fwdarw.auxiliary heating medium block 201.fwdarw.auxiliary block outlet 202b.fwdarw.auxiliary discharge line 205b.fwdarw.heat dissipation inlet 158 of heat dissipation flow pipe 156.fwdarw.heat dissipation flow pipe 156

[0076] The circulating auxiliary heating medium may be cooled within the auxiliary heat medium block 201 through heat exchange with the auxiliary thermoelectric element 203 and flow into the heat dissipation flow pipe 156 in a cooled state. The cooled auxiliary heating medium may effectively cool the heat generated through heat exchange with the main heat dissipation part 150. The auxiliary heating medium that has exchanged heat while flowing through the heat dissipation flow pipe 156 may flow back into the auxiliary heating medium block 201 and be cooled.

[0077] The auxiliary heat dissipation part 200 may further include an auxiliary circulation pump for inducing circulation of the auxiliary heating medium. The auxiliary circulation pump may be connected to the auxiliary inflow line 205a or the auxiliary discharge line 205b, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0078] The auxiliary heat dissipation block 207 may be located on the other side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element 203. The auxiliary heat dissipation block 207 may include auxiliary heat dissipation fins formed on the other side opposite the side adjacent to the auxiliary thermoelectric element 203. The auxiliary heat dissipation fan 208 may be located on the other side of the auxiliary heat dissipation block 207 and operate to discharge heat-exchanged air to the outside. The auxiliary heat dissipation fan 208 may be fixed on the other side of the auxiliary heat dissipation block 207.

[0079] The auxiliary heat dissipation part 200 assists the heat dissipation function of the main heat dissipation part 150 and may operate under the control of the controller 180. The auxiliary heat dissipation part 200 may operate independently of the main heat dissipation part 150 under preset conditions. The auxiliary heat dissipation part 200 may selectively operate under preset conditions. In an embodiment according to the present disclosure, the auxiliary heat dissipation part 200 can selectively operate as needed through the controller 180, and thus power consumption can be reduced.

[0080] For example, the controller 180 may monitor the temperature at a preset location within the heating medium temperature control device 100 at a preset period or in real time, and selectively control the thermoelectric element 130, the main heat dissipation part 150, and the auxiliary heat dissipation part 200 on the basis of monitoring information.

[0081] More specifically, the controller 180 may sense at least one of the temperature of the heating medium discharged from the heating medium temperature control device 100, the temperature of the heating medium circulating inside the main tank 110, and the temperature of the heating medium circulating inside the heating medium block 140 using a temperature sensor.

[0082] Depending on the operation of the thermoelectric element 130, a first temperature of the heating medium at a first point in time at a predetermined location may be different from a second temperature of the heating medium at a second point in time. For example, the first temperature may be a temperature when the device is turned on, and the second temperature may be a temperature of the heating medium corresponding to a target temperature set by the user.

[0083] The controller 180 may operate the thermoelectric element 130 to change the temperature of the heating medium from the first temperature to the second temperature based on sensing information obtained by the temperature sensor (temperature change stage), and operate the thermoelectric element 130 to maintain the second temperature after the heating medium reaches the second temperature (temperature maintaining stage). The temperature maintaining stage may be a stage in which the second temperature that is a target set temperature is maintained and/or a stage in which a preset temperature range corresponding to the second temperature is maintained. For example, the preset temperature range may be set within +2 C. of the second temperature, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0084] Since the amount of heat generated may increase as the amount of current of the thermoelectric element 130 relatively increases in the temperature change stage, the controller 180 may simultaneously operate the main heat dissipation part 150 and the auxiliary heat dissipation part 200. Since the amount of heat generated may be relatively reduced as the amount of current of the thermoelectric element 130 relatively decreases in the temperature maintaining stage, the controller 180 may reduce power consumption by not operating the auxiliary heat dissipation part 200.

[0085] Additionally, in the temperature maintaining stage, the controller 180 may reduce power consumption by selectively operating only some of a plurality of thermoelectric elements 140a, 140b, and 140c. Additionally, in the temperature maintaining stage, the controller 180 may reduce power consumption by selectively operating some of the plurality of main heat dissipation fans 155.

[0086] FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing the structure of the connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 10, the connector 103 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be a component that connects the heating medium temperature control device 100 and the temperature regulating apparatus 10. The connector 103 may include a barrier that partitions a discharge passage 1033 and an inflow passage 1034. Due to the barrier, the heating medium flowing through the discharge passage 1033 and the heating medium flowing through the inflow passage 1034 may not be mixed with each other.

[0088] The connector 103 may include a first cover 1031 and a second cover 1032 that can be assembled and separated. The method of assembling the first cover 1031 and the second cover 1032 may be a screw coupling method, but the present disclosure is not limited to thereto, and various methods such as a snap-fit method and a magnetic coupling method may be adopted.

[0089] The first cover 1031 may include a first discharge port 1031a and a first return port 1031b. The second cover 1032 may include a second discharge port 1032a and a second return port 1032b. The first discharge port 1031a may open one end of the discharge passage 1033, and the second discharge port 1032a may open the other end of the discharge passage 1033. The first return port 1031b may open one end of the inflow passage 1034, and the second return port 1032b may open the other end of the inflow passage 1034. The controller 180 may control opening and closing of the first discharge port 1031a, the second discharge port 1032a, the first return port 1031b, and the second return port 1032b in response to a preset signal including a user operation for circulation of the heating medium.

[0090] The first discharge port 1031a is connected to the discharge line 161 and may be a portion through which the heating medium discharged from the main tank 110 through the circulation pump 170 flows into the discharge passage 1033. The second discharge port 1032a may be a portion through which the heating medium flowing into the discharge passage 1033 is discharged to the temperature regulating apparatus 10. The first return port 1031b is connected to the inflow line 165 and may be a portion that transfers the heating medium flowing into the inflow passage 1034 to the heating medium block 140 through the inflow line 165. The second return port 1032b may be a portion through which the heating medium returned from the temperature regulating apparatus 10 flows into the inflow passage 1034. Although not illustrated, the second discharge port 1032a and the temperature regulating apparatus 10, and the second return port 1032b and the temperature regulating apparatus 10 may be connected through first and second flexible flow pipes, respectively, to improve convenience of use.

[0091] The connector 103 is disposed inside the assembled first cover 1031 and second cover 1032, and may include a first mesh case 1035a and a second mesh case 1036a having multiple open holes. The first mesh case 1035a may be disposed in the discharge passage 1033 and accommodate a plurality of functional balls 1037. If necessary, one end of the first mesh case 1035a may be open, and a first mesh stopper 1035b may be provided to open and close the opened end of the first mesh case 1035a. The second mesh case 1036a may be disposed in the inflow passage 1034 and accommodate a plurality of functional balls 1037. If necessary, one end of the second mesh case 1036a may be open, and a second mesh stopper 1036b may be provided to open and close the opened end of the second mesh case 1036a.

[0092] The functional balls 1037 may perform a function of preventing and removing deposits such as scale that impede the functionality of the device, such as reducing heat exchange efficiency. The functional balls 1037 may be made of a ceramic material (e.g., alumina, silica, or the like). The functional balls 1037 may move freely due to the flow rate of the heating medium flowing into through the open holes in the first mesh case 1035a and the second mesh case 1036a, and perform their functions while continuously contacting the heating medium.

[0093] Although the embodiments have been described with reference to limited drawings as described above, those skilled in the art can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above description. For example, even if the described techniques are performed in a different order from that in the described method, and/or components of the described system, structure, device, and circuit are combined in a different manner from that in the described method or replaced with other components or equivalents, appropriate results can be achieved.