COOLING DEVICE USING THERMOELECTRIC ELELMENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device that cools a working fluid using a thermoelectric element which not only can increase cooling efficiency and reduce electricity consumption by minimizing the volume of the heat exchange block through which a working fluid flows while ensuring a length of the flow path therein long to the maximum extent, but also can further increase cooling efficiency by sandwiching a gasket between the heat exchange block and the heat dissipation block to fix the heat exchange block and the heat dissipation block without heat transfer.

Claims

1. A cooling device using a thermoelectric element comprising: a heat exchange block (2) that is cooled by a thermoelectric element (3) and cools a working fluid flowing through a flow path (21) formed in a zigzag shape therein; a thermoelectric element (3) that is fixed to either one side surface or both side surfaces of the heat exchange block (2) so that the cooled surface cools the heat exchange block (2) when electric power is supplied; a heat dissipation block (4) that is closely adhered to the heat dissipation surface of the thermoelectric element (3) and is cooled by cooling water circulating through an internal passage (41) to cool the heat dissipation surface of the thermoelectric element (3); and a gasket (5) that is made of a non-conductive material, and is sandwiched between the heat exchange block (2) and the heat dissipation block (4) while housing the thermoelectric element 3 therein, so that the heat exchange block (2) is fixed to one side surface by a fixing means, and the heat dissipation block (4) is fixed on the other side surface, wherein the heat exchange block (2) cooled by the thermoelectric element (3) cools the working fluid flowing through the flow path (21), the heat dissipation block (4) through which the cooling water flows inside dissipates heat from the heat dissipation surface of the thermoelectric element (3), so that the temperature of the working fluid discharged to the outlet of the heat exchange block (2) is cooled to a temperature lower than the temperature of the working fluid supplied to the inlet of the heat exchange block (2).

2. The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange block (2) has a structure in which a plurality of flow paths (21) are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the body so that the working fluid can flow, the respective flow paths (21) are mutually communicated with adjacent paths at one end or both ends through a U-turn groove (22) to have one row flow path shape, both outer side openings of the flow path (21) are closed by a cover (23), and the inlet (23a) and outlet (23b) mounted on the cover (23) are communicated with the inlet flow path (21-1) and the outlet flow path (21-1) corresponding thereto.

3. The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to claim 1, wherein a first bolt (B1) is fastened to the heat exchange block (2) to fasten and fix the gasket (5) to the heat exchange block (2), and a second bolt (B2) is fastened to the exposed surface of the gasket (5) to fasten and fix the heat dissipation block (4) to the gasket (5), wherein the head of the first bolt (B1) is buried so as not to protrude outside the exposed surface of the gasket (5), so that it does not come into contact with the heat dissipation block (4) that is closely fixed to the exposed surface of the gasket (5).

4. The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric element (3) for cooling the heat exchange block (2) is housed inside the housing (3b) in a state where the cool block (3a) is mounted on the cooling surface, so that the housing (3b) is fixed to the heat dissipation block (4) so that the heat dissipation surface is closely adhered to the heat dissipation block (4), and when the heat dissipation block (4) is fixed to the gasket (5), the cool block (3a) protruding outside the housing (3b) is closely adhered with the heat exchange block (2).

5. The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation block (4) has a structure in which a plurality of passages (41) are penetrated inside the body along the longitudinal direction, both ends of the passage (41) are closed by a cover (42), both sides of the body in the transverse direction are formed with an inlet passage (43) and an outlet passage (44) so as to be in communication with the passage (41) so that cooling water can enter and exit the passage (41), and the edge of the body is fastened to the gasket (5) so that a fastening hole (45) is penetrated through which the second bolt (B2) for fastening and fixing the heat dissipation block (4) to the gasket (5) is fastened.

6. The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to claim 1, wherein the gasket (5) is configured in a ring shape so as to have a space for housing the thermoelectric element (3) therein, in which a plurality of fastening holes (51) for housing the first bolts (B1) fastened to the heat exchange block (2) are penetrated, a tab (52) is formed to which a second bolt (B2) for fixing the heat dissipation block (4) between the fastening holes (51) is fastened, and adhesive receiving grooves (53) for bonding the heat exchange block (2) and the heat dissipation block (4), which are adhered and fixed thereto, are concavely formed in the periphery of both side surfaces.

7. The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to claim 4, wherein the housing (3b) has a structure in which an elastic member (3c) built therein pushes the cool block (3a) toward the thermoelectric element (3), thereby increasing the adhesion between the cool block (3a) and the cooling surface of the thermoelectric element (3).

8. The cooling device using a thermoelectric element according to claim 4, wherein a nut for fastening the second bolt (B2) is inserted at the position of the tab (52), or a helicoil (54) is built in.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is an image showing an embodiment of the present invention mounted on a scrubber.

[0030] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a gasket is assembled to a lower part of the heat exchange block of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a gasket is assembled to the upper part of the heat exchange block of FIG. 3.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a heat dissipation block is assembled to the lower gasket of FIG. 4.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the heat dissipation block is assembled to the upper gasket of FIG. 5 to thereby complete the assembly of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 7 is an imaged photograph of the actual product of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 8 is an exploded front view of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a front view showing a state in which the thermoelectric element of FIG. 8 is fastened to the heat dissipation block.

[0038] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which a gasket is fastened to both side surfaces of the heat exchange block of FIG. 9.

[0039] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a state in which the heat dissipation block is fastened to both side gaskets of FIG. 10.

[0040] FIG. 12 is a plan conceptual view showing a working fluid flowing along the flow path provided in the heat exchange block of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 13 is a front conceptual view showing a working fluid flowing along the flow path provided in the heat exchange block of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the assembled state of the thermoelectric element of the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 15 is an imaged photograph of the thermoelectric element, housing, and cool block of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional plan view of the heat dissipation block of the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the right side of the heat dissipation block of the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the gasket of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] Hereinafter, a cooling device using a thermoelectric element of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] FIG. 1 is an embodiment showing the state of use of the present invention, which shows that a cooling device 1 of the present invention is installed inside a scrubber S, and the working fluid discharged from the cooling device 1 of the present invention is sprayed onto the upper part of an exhaust pipe S1, so that the harmful gases discharged to the outside through the exhaust pipe S1 are cooled and collected, thereby reducing environmental pollution.

[0049] A cooling device 1 using a thermoelectric element 3 according to the present invention comprises: [0050] a heat exchange block 2 that is cooled by a thermoelectric element 3 and cools a working fluid flowing through a flow path 21 formed in a zigzag shape therein; [0051] a thermoelectric element 3 that is fixed to either one side surface or both side surfaces of the heat exchange block 2 so that the cooled surface cools the heat exchange block 2 when electric power is supplied; [0052] a heat dissipation block 4 that is closely adhered to the heat dissipation surface of the thermoelectric element 3 and is cooled by cooling water circulating through an internal passage 41 to cool the heat dissipation surface of the thermoelectric element 3; and [0053] a gasket 5 that is made of a non-conductive material, and is sandwiched between the heat exchange block 2 and the heat dissipation block 4 while housing the thermoelectric element 3 therein, so that the heat exchange block 2 is fixed to one side surface by a fixing means, and the heat dissipation block 4 is fixed on the other side, [0054] wherein the heat exchange block 2 cooled by the thermoelectric element 3 cools the working fluid flowing through the flow path 21, the heat dissipation block 4 through which the cooling water flows inside dissipates heat from the heat dissipation surface of the thermoelectric element 3, so that the temperature of the working fluid discharged to the outlet 23b of the heat exchange block 2 is cooled to a temperature lower than the temperature of the working fluid supplied to the inlet 23a of the heat exchange block 2.

[0055] The heat exchange block 2 is cooled by the thermoelectric element 3 and functions to cool the working fluid flowing through the internal flow path 21. Since the thermoelectric element 3 or the cool block 3a cooled by the thermoelectric element 3 is closely mounted on either one side surface or both side surfaces of the heat exchange block 2, the one side surface or both side surfaces must be maintained in a smooth and flat state, and must be cooled by the thermoelectric element 3, so that it is made of a material with excellent thermal conductivity. For example, copper, aluminum, etc., which have excellent thermal conductivity and are not expensive to purchase, can be used as the material of the heat exchange block 2.

[0056] The specific form of the heat exchange block 2 has a structure in which a plurality of flow paths 21 are densely arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the body so that the working fluid can flow as shown in FIGS. 2 to 13, the respective flow paths 21 are mutually communicated with its adjacent path at one end or both ends through a U-turn groove 22 to have one row flow path shape, both outer side openings of the flow path 21 are closed by a cover 23, and the inlet 23a and outlet 23b mounted on the cover 23 are communicated with the inlet flow path 21-1 and the outlet flow path 21-1 corresponding thereto. The inlet flow path 21-1 is communicated at its end with adjacent flow paths 21 and U-turn grooves 22, the outlet flow path 21-2 is communicated at its tip with adjacent flow paths and U-turn grooves 22. Both ends of the heat exchange block 2 where the flow path 21 is formed are closed by a cover 23, wherein the cover 23 closes the side surface of the flow path 21 by a bolt B fastened to the tab 24, and a sealing material 25 is disposed inside the cover 23 to maintain watertightness. In addition, a tab 26 to which a first bolt B1 for fixing the gasket 5 is fastened is formed on the edge of one side surface or both side surfaces of the heat exchanger block 2. The figure shows that tabs 26 are formed on both side surfaces. The wall surface forming the flow path 21 may be coated with a material having a corrosion prevention function to prevent corrosion. Before the covers 23 are assembled, the heat exchange block 2 has both sides of the flow path 21 open, and therefore, a corrosion prevention material can be supplied and coated inside the flow path 21. As an example of the corrosion prevention material, a parylene coating material can be used. Since the parylene coating material is a well-known element that is already widely used in the industrial field, a further detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

[0057] One embodiment of the heat exchange block 2 of the present invention has a horizontal length of 120150 mm, a vertical length of 2025 mm, and a diameter of the flow path 21 of 67 mm, wherein the flow path 21 is densely arranged in two stages, and its quantity may be formed by the number of 2226. As described above, the heat exchange block 2 has a structure in which a plurality of flow paths 21 are arranged in parallel in two stages at dense intervals, thereby having the flow paths 21 formed in a zigzag shape while minimizing the volume. Therefore, the volume of the heat exchange block 2 can be reduced.

[0058] As the heat exchange block 2 is configured as described above, the working fluid supplied to the inlet flow path 21-1 through the inlet 23a sequentially flows in a zigzag shape through the successive flow paths 21, and is discharged to the outlet 23b via the outlet flow path 21-1. In this process, since the heat exchange block 2 is in a state of being cooled by the thermoelectric element 3, the working fluid is discharged in a cooled state through heat exchange while flowing through the flow path 21, and then is sprayed through the scrubber S as shown in FIG. 1 to thereby cool and collect harmful gases.

[0059] The thermoelectric element 3 is fixed to either one side surface or both side surfaces of the heat exchange block 2, and the cooled cooling surface cools the heat exchange block 2 when electric power is supplied. In the thermoelectric element 3, the high temperature heat existing on the cooling surface transfers to the other side surface to become a cooling surface, and therefore, the other surface becomes a heat dissipation surface because the temperature of the other side surface rises by the amount of hot heat transferred. The heat dissipation surface is cooled by the heat dissipation block 4, which will be described later.

[0060] The thermoelectric element 3 is housed inside the housing 3b in a state in which the cool block 3a is mounted on the cooling surface, as shown in FIGS. 1, 14 and 15, and the housing 3b is first fixed to the heat dissipation block 4 so that the heat dissipation surface is closely adhered to the heat dissipation block 4. After that, when the heat dissipation block 4 is fixed to the gasket 5, the cool block 3a protruding from the housing 3b is tightly adhered to the heat exchange block 2. Since the compression elastic member 3c built into the housing 3b always pushes the cool block 3a in the direction of the thermoelectric element 3, the close adhesion force between the cool block 3a and the cooling surface of the thermoelectric element 3 is improved. Therefore, even if the thermal expansion coefficient differs due to the difference in materials between the housing 3b and the cool block 3a, the elastic member 3c always tightly adhere the cool block 3a and the thermoelectric element 3, so that the cold heat of the thermoelectric element 3 is transferred well to the heat exchange block 2 via the cool block 3a, thereby improving the cooling efficiency.

[0061] Since the material of the cool block 3a transfers the cold heat of the thermoelectric element 3 to the heat exchange block 2, a metal material with excellent thermal conductivity can be used. As an example, the same material as the heat exchange block 2 can be used.

[0062] The heat dissipation block 4 is closely adhered to the heat dissipation surface of the thermoelectric element 3, and is cooled by the cooling water circulating through the internal passage 41 to cool the heat dissipation surface of the thermoelectric element 3. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 17, the heat dissipation block 4 has a structure in which a plurality of passages 41 are penetrated inside the body along the longitudinal direction, both ends of the passage 41 are closed by a cover 42, and both sides of the body in the transverse direction are formed with an inlet passage 43 and an outlet passage 44 so as to be in communication with the passage 41 so that cooling water can enter and exit the passage 41. The edge of the body is fastened to the gasket 5 so that a fastening hole 45 is penetrated through which the second bolt B2 for fastening and fixing the heat dissipation block 4 to the gasket 5 is fastened. In addition, a plurality of tabs 46 are formed on one side surface of the body of the heat dissipation block 4 so that the housing 3b of the thermoelectric element can be fastened.

[0063] The passages 41 are preferably arranged densely in two stages as shown in FIG. 17 so as to allow a large amount of cooling water to flow widely. Further, since the heat dissipation block 4 must be quickly cooled by cooling water, it is made of a metal material with excellent thermal conductivity. As an example, copper or aluminum materials can be used.

[0064] In the heat dissipation block 4 configured as above, cooling water supplied from the outside is supplied to the inlet passage 43 through the inlet 47 and then distributed and flows through a plurality of passages 41 and then collected to the outlet passage 44 and discharged to the outlet 48. In this process, the cooling water flowing through the passage 41 of the heat dissipation block 4 cools the high temperature heat dissipation block 4 in a water-cooled manner, thereby continuously lowering the temperature of the heat dissipation surface of the thermoelectric element 3.

[0065] The gasket 5 is sandwiched between the heat exchange block 2 and the heat dissipation block 4 while the thermoelectric element 3 is housed therein, so that a heat exchange block 2 is fixed to one side surface by fixing means, and a heat dissipation block 4 is fixed to the other side surface, as shown in FIG. 18. The gasket 5 is configured in a ring shape so as to have a space for housing the thermoelectric element 3 therein, in which a plurality of fastening holes 51 for housing the first bolts B1 fastened to the heat exchange block 2 are penetrated, a tab 52 is formed to which a second bolt B2 for fixing the heat dissipation block 4 between the fastening holes 51 is fastened, and adhesive receiving grooves 53 for bonding the heat exchange block 2 and the heat dissipation block 4, which are adhered and fixed thereto, are concavely formed in the periphery of both side surfaces. The adhesive filled in the adhesive receiving groove 53 airtightly attaches the heat exchange block 2 and heat dissipation block 4 fixed to both sides of the gasket 5, thereby preventing external air from penetrating into the thermoelectric element 3. A nut (not shown) for fastening the second bolt B2 is inserted at the position of the tab 52, or a helicoil 54 is built in, thereby allowing the second bolt B2 to be fastened more firmly.

[0066] The fixing means for fixing the heat exchange block 2 and the heat dissipation block 4 may be, for example, the first and second bolts B1 and B2. The gasket 5 is first fastened to the heat exchange block 2 by fastening the first bolt B1 to the heat exchange block 2. After that, the second bolt B2 is fastened to the exposed surface of the gasket 5 to fasten and fix the heat dissipation block 4 to the gasket 5. In this process, the head of the first bolt B1 must be buried so as not to protrude outside the exposed surface of the gasket 5, so that it must not come into contact with the heat dissipation block 4 that is closely fixed to the exposed surface of the gasket 5 at a later time. If the head of the first bolt B1 protrudes outside the gasket 5 and comes into contact with the heat dissipation block 4, the high heat of the heat dissipation block 4 is transferred to the first bolt B1, and the first bolt B1 and the heat exchange block 2 rise in heat by the amount of the temperature transferred, and so the cooling efficiency is reduced.

[0067] Since the low-temperature heat exchange block 2 and the high-temperature heat dissipation block 4 are tightly fixed on both side surfaces of the gasket 5, the gasket is preferably made of a non-conductive material that hardly causes heat transfer so as to prevent heat transfer between them.

[0068] The present invention, which is constructed as described above, has the following features, and therefore can be considered to have an inventive step: (i) a flow path 21 extended long and densely in a zigzag shape is formed in the heat exchange block 2 having a small volume, thereby capable of realizing miniaturization; (ii) the working fluid is cooled using a small number of thermoelectric elements 3 closely adhered with the heat exchange block 2, thereby capable of increasing the cooling efficiency; (iii) electricity consumption can be reduced by using a limited number of thermoelectric elements 3; and (iv) the heat exchange block 2 and cooling block are closely fixed to the gasket 5 so as to prevent heat exchange from progressing, thereby capable of further increasing the cooling efficiency.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0069] 1: cooling device 2: heat exchange block [0070] 3: thermoelectric element 4: heat dissipation block [0071] 5: gasket 21: flow path [0072] 22: U-turn groove 41: passage [0073] 43: inlet passage 44: exit passage