JPH07234036A - Device for changing the amount of heat absorbed and generated by a thermoelectric conversion element - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] An object of the present invention is to provide a device that has a small thermal shock to a thermoelectric conversion element and changes the amount of heat absorption and heat generation without adding an electric appliance or an electronic device. A medium flow passages 11a, 20 and 21 in which a heat exchange medium that contacts in a heat transfer relationship with one heat exchange surface 12a of a thermoelectric conversion element 12 flows, and inside the medium flow passages are arranged. A pump 19 for refluxing the heat exchange medium, and a flow rate control valve 18 arranged in the medium flow path and capable of adjusting the flow rate of the heat exchange medium.
Heat generation variable device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for varying the amount of heat absorbed and generated by a thermoelectric conversion element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for performing heat exchange using a thermoelectric conversion element, for example, the techniques disclosed in JP-A-3-221775 and JP-A-3-169316 are known.

The former is a cold storage for keeping the inside of the storage space at a set temperature, in which the air in the storage space and one surface of the thermoelectric conversion element are in contact with each other in a heat transfer relationship. The energization direction to the thermoelectric conversion element is arbitrarily switched so that the internal temperature approaches the set temperature.

The latter is a moisture-proof chamber that cools the air in the storage space to a target temperature below the condensation temperature to reduce the humidity, and contacts the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric conversion element in the storage space in a heat transfer relationship. The heat absorbing member is provided, and the air in the storage space is cooled by the thermoelectric conversion element via the heat absorbing member, so that dew condensation is caused on the heat absorbing member for dehumidification.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned conventional technique, in order to bring the temperature in the storage space close to a predetermined value, the energization direction of the thermoelectric conversion element is switched and the on / off of the thermoelectric conversion element is turned on.
Although it is turned off, this causes a problem that the thermal shock to the thermoelectric conversion element is large and the life of the thermoelectric conversion element is shortened.

It is also conceivable to change the amount of heat absorption / heat generation by controlling the flowing current according to the characteristics of the thermoelectric conversion element, but an electric control device or electronic equipment such as a variable resistor for performing this is added. In the specifications of the water supply equipment, it is not preferable to add electric appliances and electronic equipment in consideration of safety such as leakage.

A technical object of the present invention is to provide a device which has a small thermal shock to a thermoelectric conversion element and changes the amount of heat absorption and heat generation without adding an electric appliance or an electronic device.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, the technical means taken in the invention of claim 1 is a heat exchange medium which comes into contact with one heat exchange surface of a thermoelectric conversion element in a heat transfer relationship. A flow path for adjusting the flow rate of the heat exchange medium disposed in the medium flow path, a pump disposed in the medium flow path for circulating the heat exchange medium in the medium flow path, It was equipped with a valve.

[0009]

In the present invention, by adjusting the flow rate of the heat exchange medium in the medium flow path by the flow rate adjusting valve, the heat radiation or heat absorption effect of the thermoelectric conversion element can be improved or reduced. From this, the amount of heat absorption / heat generation from the other heat exchange surface can be adjusted.

With the above-described structure, the thermoelectric conversion element is sucked without switching the energizing direction or switching the power on / off.
Since it adjusts the amount of heat generation, it can greatly reduce the thermal shock to the thermoelectric conversion element, and it does not require the addition of electric appliances or electronic equipment. The safety can be improved.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a model diagram of a heat exchange device which employs a device for varying the amount of heat absorbed and generated by the thermoelectric conversion element of this embodiment.
In the figure, an opening 10 a is provided in the side wall of the housing 10, and the heat dissipation member 11 is attached to the opening 10 a and is arranged outside the housing 10. The heat dissipation member 11 is formed to be larger than the opening 10a, is fixed to the outer wall surface around the opening 10a, and the space between the heat dissipation member 11 and the outer wall surface is airtight so that external air does not enter the housing 10 through the opening 10a. It is composed. And the heat dissipation member 1
A heat radiation surface 12a of a Peltier element 12, which is a thermoelectric conversion element, is fixed to the inner surface of 1. Then, a cooling member 13 having a large number of cooling fins 13 a is fixed to the heat absorbing surface 12 b of the Peltier element 12 opposite to the heat generating surface 12 a, and the cooling member 13 is arranged inside the housing 10. A water receiver 14 is provided below the cooling member 13, and a drain pipe 15 penetrating the bottom of the housing 10 is connected to the water receiver 14. or,
A fan 16 is provided at the upper end inside the housing 10. The fan 16 may be provided in the vicinity of the cooling member 13 so as to force the ventilation of the cooling member 13.

Inside the heat dissipation member 11, a water channel 11a which constitutes a medium flow path for passing water which is a heat exchange medium is provided throughout, and the water directly contacts the heat dissipation surface 12a of the Peltier element 12. Has become. The medium flow path is
A water channel 11a, a water supply pipe 20 which communicates the upper end of the water channel 11a and a water storage tank 17 with a flow rate control valve 18 and a pump 19 disposed in the middle of the water channel, and drainage which communicates the lower end of the water channel 11a with the water storage tank 17. It is composed of a tube 21.
As shown in FIG. 2, the flow rate adjusting valve 18 is threaded and screwed into the wall surface of the water supply pipe 20, and the flow rate of water flowing in the medium flow path can be adjusted by turning the handle portion 18a.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

When the pump 19 and the Peltier element 12 are energized, the surface temperature of the cooling member 13 fixed to the heat absorption surface 12b of the Peltier element 12 is lowered, and the temperature difference between the cooling member 13 and the air inside the housing 10 in contact with the cooling member 13 is decreased. Occurs, heat exchange is performed, and the air temperature is lowered. The air inside the housing 10 activates convection due to the temperature difference, but the fan 1
Air can be further supplied to the cooling member 13 by turning 6. When the surface temperature of the cooling member 13 is equal to or lower than the dew condensation temperature, dew condensation occurs on the surface of the cooling member 13, and the dew condensation water drops to the water receiver 14 below and the drain pipe 15
Through the housing 10 to the outside of the housing 10. On the other hand, the water in the water storage tank 17 is pumped up by the pump 19, flows into the water passage 11a of the heat dissipation member 11 through the water supply pipe 20, flows in the water passage 11a, and exchanges heat with the heat dissipation surface 12a, thereby radiating heat. The surface 12a is water-cooled, and the heated cooling water flows back from the drain pipe 14 into the cooling layer 16.

In the above embodiment, the absorption of the Peltier element 12
Although the calorific value varying device is adopted as the heat exchanging device, the device is not limited to this and can be used in an electronic cold storage, an air conditioner, or the like.

Further, in this embodiment, the heat dissipation effect of the Peltier element 12 can be improved by adjusting the flow rate of water in the medium flow path by the flow rate adjusting valve 18. Therefore, the amount of heat absorbed from the heat absorbing surface 12b can be adjusted.

According to the present embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration,
Since the amount of heat absorption / heat generation is adjusted without switching the energization direction to the Peltier element 12 or switching the power on / off, the thermal shock to the Peltier element 12 can be significantly reduced, and electric appliances and electronic devices can be further reduced. Since there is no need to add any more, safety can be improved even in the specification of water supply equipment without any failure due to electric leakage.

[0019]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY In the present invention, by adjusting the flow rate of the heat exchange medium in the medium flow path by the flow rate control valve, the heat dissipation or heat absorption effect of the thermoelectric conversion element can be improved,
Since it can be reduced, the amount of heat absorption / heat generation from the other heat exchange surface can be adjusted from the above.

With the above-described structure, the thermoelectric conversion element can be sucked without switching the energizing direction or switching on / off.
Since it adjusts the amount of heat generation, it can greatly reduce the thermal shock to the thermoelectric conversion element, and it does not require the addition of electric appliances or electronic equipment. The safety can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a model diagram of a heat exchange device adopting a device for varying the amount of heat absorbed and generated by a thermoelectric conversion element according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a flow control valve.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Heat dissipation member 11a ... Water channel (medium flow path) 12 ... Peltier element (thermoelectric conversion element) 12a ... Heat dissipation surface 12b ... Heat absorption surface 13 ... Heat absorption member 17 ... Water storage Tank 18 ... Flow rate control valve 19 ... Pump 20 ... Water injection pipe (medium flow path) 21 ... Drainage pipe (medium flow path)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A medium flow path in which a heat exchange medium, which is in contact with one of the heat exchange surfaces of a thermoelectric conversion element in a heat transfer relationship, flows inside, and a heat exchange medium disposed in the medium flow path and containing the heat in the medium flow path. An absorption / heat generation amount varying device for a thermoelectric conversion element, comprising: a pump that recirculates the exchange medium; and a flow rate adjustment valve that is disposed in the medium flow path and that can adjust the flow rate of the heat exchange medium.