US2986009A - Thermo-electric refrigerators - Google Patents

Thermo-electric refrigerators Download PDF

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Publication number
US2986009A
US2986009A US826769A US82676959A US2986009A US 2986009 A US2986009 A US 2986009A US 826769 A US826769 A US 826769A US 82676959 A US82676959 A US 82676959A US 2986009 A US2986009 A US 2986009A
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chamber
conductors
heat
pile
thermo
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US826769A
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English (en)
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Joseph J Gaysowski
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General Electric Co
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General Electric Co
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Priority to FR832866A priority patent/FR1264197A/fr
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Priority to OA50707A priority patent/OA00618A/fr
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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25BREFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B21/00Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
    • F25B21/02Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
    • F25B21/04Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect reversible
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D11/00Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
    • F25D11/02Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures

Definitions

  • thermo-electric refrigerators 14 claims. (c1. 623)
  • the present invention relates to thermo-electric refrigerators, and more particularly to an improved thermoelectric pile for use in such refrigerators and related appliances,
  • thermo-electric pile for the cooling purpose, together with an improved circuit arrangement for selectively controlling the thermo-electric pile.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide in a refrigerator, or related appliance, an improved arrangement of a thermo-electric pile, so as to cause a Peltier effect as required in thetransfer of heat between the appliance and the ambient air.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator cabinet structure of improved construction and arrangement, including a plurality of storage chambers, a plurality of thermo-electric piles arranged to effect the cascading of heat through a series of the storage chambers.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a thermo-electric pile of improved and simplified construction and arrangement that may be readily incorporated in a refrigerator cabinet, or related appliance, in order to govern the transfer of heat between the appliance and the ambient air.
  • Figure l is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a refrigerator of the household type incorporating a thermo-electric pile and embodying the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the refrigerator shown in Fig. 1, with the front door removed from the adjacent cabinet section thereof;
  • Fig. 3 is a combination schematic illustration of the arrangement of the thermo-electric piles incorporated in the refrigerator of Figs. 1 and 2, and a Wiring diagram of the electric circuit control system therefor;
  • Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one of the thermo-electric piles incorporated in the refrigerator of Figs. 1 and 2;
  • Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the thermo-electric pile, taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 55 in Fig. 4.
  • the refrigerator 10 there illustrated and embodying the features of the present invention is of the household type including an upstanding heat-insulating cabinet section 21 provided with both an open top and an open front, and an associated heat-insulating front door section 31. Also, the refrig- ICC erator 10 is provided with a supporting base 41 providing an apparatus compartment 42 in which certain apparatus, described more fully hereinafter, is housed.
  • the cabinet section 21 includes a rear wall 22, a bottom Wall 23 and a pair of side walls 24 and 25; the open top of the cabinet section 21 is closed by a top wall or panel P5; and the interior of the cabinet section 21 is divided into five food storage chambers C1 to C5, inclusive, by four panels P1 to P4, inclusive, arranged in vertically spaced-apart relation between the bottom Wall 22 and the top wall or panel P5; whereby the chambers C1 to C5, inclusive, are arranged in a tier.
  • the panel P1 comprises a thermo-electric pile dividing the chamber C1 from the chamber C2 and adapted to maintain the temperature of the chamber C1 in the general range 0 to 10 F. and to maintain the temperature of the chamber C2 in the general range 10 to 20 F.
  • the panel P2 comprises a thermo-electric pile dividing the chamber C2 from the chamber C3 and adapted rto maintain the temperature of the chamber C2 in the previously mentioned general range 10 to 20 F. and to maintain the temperature of the chamber C3 in the general range 20 to 30 F.
  • the panel P3 comprises a thermo-electric pile dividing the chamber C3 from the chamber C4 and adapted to maintain the temperature of the chamber C3 in the previously mentioned general range 20 to 30 F.
  • the panel P4 cornprises a thermo-electric pile dividing the chamber C4 from the chamber C5 and adapted to maintain the temperature of the chamber C4 in the previously mentioned general range 30 to 40 F. and to maintain the temperature of the chamber C5 in the general range 40 to 60 F.
  • the panel P5 comprises a thermo-electric pile separating the chamber C5 from the ambient air and adapted to maintain the temperature of the chamber C5 in the previously mentioned general range 40 to 60 F., when the ambient air has a temperature of 70 F.
  • each of the piles P1 to P5, inclusive includes a plurality of thermocouples, each including a hot junction and a cold junction.
  • the cold junctions are arranged in heat exchange relation with the air in the top of the chamber C1
  • the hot junctions are arranged in heat exchange relation with the air in the bottom of the chamber C2.
  • the cold junctions are arranged in heat exchange relation with the air in the top of the chamber C2
  • the hot junctions are arranged in heat exchange relation with the air in the bottom of the chamber C3.
  • the cold junctions are arranged in heat exchange relation with the air in the top of the chamber C3, and the hot junctions are arranged in heat exchange relation with the air in the bottom of the chamber C4.
  • the cold junctions are arranged in heat exchange relation with the air in the top of the chamber C4 and the hot junctions are arranged in heat exchange relation with the air in the bottom of the chamber C5.
  • the cold junctions are arranged in heat exchange relation with the air in the top of the chamber C5 and the hot junctions are arranged in heat exchange relation wtih the ambient air exteriorly of the cabinet section 21 and adjacent to the top thereof.
  • a plurality of lower screens of foraminous construction LS1 to LS5, inclusive are respectively arranged below and adjacent to the piles P1 to P5, inclusive, for the fundamental purpose of preventing short-circuiting of the thermocouples incorporated therein; and likewise, a plurality of upper screens of foraminous construction USI to US5, inclusive, are respectively arranged above and adjacent to the piles P1 to PS,. inelusive, for the fundamental purpose of preventing short circuiting of the thermocouples incorporated therein.
  • the screens LS1, etc., and US1, etc. prevent the shortcircuiting of the thermocouples incorporated in the respective piles P1, etc., without, in any way, interfering with the ready conduction of heat, by convection currents, with respect to the associated piles P1, etc.; and moreover, the upper screens USI, US2, USS and U84 serve the additional purpose of food-supporting shelves in the respective food storage chambers C2, C3, C4 and C5.
  • the refrigerator l comprises electrical apparatus 50 housed in the base 4l and supplied with A.C. power of 118 volts, single-phase; which apparatus 50 supplies direct current in parallel circuit relation to the piles P1 to P5, inclusive.
  • the refrigerator 10 comprises a temperature-responsive device T arranged in the side wall 25 of the cabinet section 21 and subject to the temperature of the storage air in the chamber C3; which temperature-responsive device T preferably takes the form of a thermistor.
  • the thermistor T is employed for the purpose of selectively controlling the electrical apparatus 50, as explained more fully hereinafter.
  • the pile P1 comprises 66 thermocouples and occupies an ⁇ area of approximately 6" x 11; the pile P2 comprises 168 thermocouples and occupies an area of approximately 7" x 24; the pile P3 comprises 316 thermocouples and occupies an area of approximately 1l x 30; the pile P4 comprises 536 thermocouples and occupies an area of approximately 15" x 36; and the pile S comprises 1150 thermocouples and occupies an area of approximately 26 x 45".
  • each of the piles P1, etc. is arranged substantially centrally with respect to the associated partition and each of the partitions is about 27 x 48".
  • each of the chambers C1, C2, etc. has a volume approximately l2 x 27 x 48".
  • the apparatus 50 essentially comprises a plug 51 that is insertible into an associated socket, not shown, terminating the previously mentioned A.C. supply source, and a cable 52 connected to the plug 51 and including a pair of conductors 53 and 54, the conductors 53 and 54 being terminated by a switch 55 of the double-pole single-throw type.
  • the apparatus 50 comprises a power transformer 60 including a primary winding 61 and a secondary winding 62, a control transformer 701 including a primary winding 71 and a secondary winding 72, and a magnetic amplifier 80 including a saturable magnetic core 81 provided with an exciting winding 82 and a reactive winding 83.
  • the two output terminals of the power switch 55 are respectively connected to two conductors 56 and 57; the primary winding 71 is bridge across the conductors 56 and 57; and the primary winding 61 is connected in series relation with the reactive winding 83 and bridged across the conductors 56 and 57.
  • the secondary winding 62 is provided with a ⁇ center tap that is connected to a negative bus 63; and the extremities of the secondary winding 62 are respectively connected by a pair of diode rectiliers 64 and 65 to a positive bus 66, a filtering capacitor 67 being bridged across the negative and positive buses 63 and 66.
  • the secondary winding 72 is provided with a center tap that is connected to a negative bus 73; and the extremities of the secondary winding 72 are respectively connected by a pair of diode rectiers 74 and 75 to a positive bus 76, a filtering capacitor 77 being bridged across the negative and positive buses 7'3 and 74.
  • the apparatus 50 further comprises a control switch provided with a cool position and a defrost position; which switch 90 comprises three movable switch blades 91, 92 and 93, three stationary front switch blades 94, 95 and 96 and two stationary back switch blades 97 and 98.
  • switch 90 comprises three movable switch blades 91, 92 and 93, three stationary front switch blades 94, 95 and 96 and two stationary back switch blades 97 and 98.
  • the negative bus 73 is connected to one terminal of the exciting winding 82; and other terminal of the exciting winding 82 is connected by a conductor 84 to a contact 85 that is operatively associated with a variable resistor 86 that, in turn, terminates a conductor 87.
  • the thermistor T is bridge dacross the conductor 87 and a conductor 88. ln the switch 90: the blades 91, 92 and 93 respectively terminate the conductors 63, 66 and 76; the blades 94 and 98 commonly terminate a power supply bus 101; the blades 95 and 97 commonly terminate a power supply bus 102; and the blade 96 terminates the conductor 88.
  • the chamber C3 in the refrigerator 10 is hot so that the thermistor T has a relatively low resistance, thereby to cause a direct exciting current to traverse the exciting winding 82 that is adequate to cause saturation of the magnetic core 81 of the magnetic amplier 80, with the result that the reactive winding 83 has very small impedance. Accordingly, a substantial primary current traverses the primary winding 61 in series circuit relation with the reactive winding 83 inducing a substantial voltage in the secondary winding 62, with the result that a substantial D.C.
  • thermo-electric piles P1 to P5, inclusive are energized in parallel circuit relationship 'between the supply conductors 101 and 102 ⁇ and the polarity is such that the lower junctions thereof comprises cold junctions and upper junctions thereof comprises hot junctions; whereby the chambers C1 to C5, inclusive, are progressively cooled due to the Peltier effects respectively produced by the piles P1 to P5, inclusive.
  • the heat from the chamber C1 is cascaded into the chamber C2 by the pile P1; the heat from the chamber C2 is cascaded into the chamber C3 by the pile P2; the heat from the chamber C3 is cascaded into the chamber C4 by the pile P3; the heat from the chamber C4 is cascaded into the chamber C5 by the pile P4; and the heat from the chamber C5 is cascaded into the ambient air by the pile P5.
  • the temperature in the chamber C3 is lowered, so that the resistance of the thermistor T is correspondingly increased, thereby to increase the resistance of the circuit including the exciting winding 82, with the result that the current traversing the exciting winding 82 is progressively decreased, so as to bring about progressively reduced amounts of saturation of the magnetic core 81 of the magnetic amplifier 80; whereby the impedance of the reactive winding 83 is correspondingly and progressively increased.
  • the impedance of the reactive winding 83 is progressively increased, the voltage impressed across the primary winding 61 is progressively reduced, with the result that the D.-C.
  • the thermistor T controls the apparatus 50 to establish the rate of heat transfer by the piles P1 to P5, inclusive, from the refrigerator 10 to the ambient air.
  • the piles P1 to P5, inclusive progressively include larger numbers of thermocouples, as previously explained, so that the piles P1 to P5, inclusive, are capable of transferring progressively larger amounts of heat; whereby ultimately the temperatures of the chambers C1 to C5, inclusive, may be brought respectively into the previously mentioned temperature ranges, progressively decreasing below the ambient temperature in the downward direction in the tier.
  • the reversal of polarity as applied to the supply conductors 101 and 102 brings about the reversal of the normal hot junctions and the normal cold junctions of the thermocouples in each of the piles P1, etc.; whereby the heat is pumped from the exterior or ambient air into the refrigerator in the manner described above.
  • thermo-electric piles P1 to P5, inclusive these piles are preferably of the same basic construction, but include a progressively increasing number of thermocouples, as previously explained.
  • thermo-electric pile there illustrated may be assumed to be the pile P3; and the composite partition provided in the cabinet section 21 between the chambers C3 and C4 comprises a stationary section 111 and a movable section 112, the stationary section 111 constituting a flat sheet having the previously mentioned dimensions 27" x 48 and having a centrally disposed opening 113 therein into which the movable section 112 is arranged, the opening 113 having the previously mentioned dimensions 11" X 30".
  • the movable section 112 also carries the previously described lower and upper screen respectively indicated at LS3 and U83, the screens LS3 and US3 being of foraminous construction, as previously noted.
  • each of the conductors 121 and 122 includes a central bridging strap and a pair of outwardly projecting heat-exchange tins formed integrally therewith.
  • a pair of holes are formed in each of the strap portions in each of the conductors 121 and 122; and electrical connections are formed through the holes mentioned with the adjacent ends of the semi-conductors 114 and 115, as, for example, by soldering, as indicated at 123.
  • the lower group of conductors 121 respectively connect together the adjacent ends of the P-N types of semi-conductors 11S-114; and the upper group of conductors 122 respectively connect together the adjacent ends of the N-P types of semi-conductors 114- 115; whereby all of the N-type semi-conductors and all the P-type semi-conductors 115 and all of the metallic conductors 121 and 122 are connected in series circuit relationship.
  • a rst of the conductors 121 is connected via a rst of the N-type ⁇ semi-conductors 114 to a first of the conductors 122; this first conductor 122 is connected via a rst of the P-type semi-conductors 115 to a second of the conductors 121; lthis second conductor 121 is connected via a second of the N-type semi-conductors 114 to a second of the conductors 122; etc.
  • thermocouples when a relatively positive potential is connected to the left-hand conductor 121 and a relatively negative potential is connected to the righthand conductor 122, all of the junctions between the semi-conductors 114 and 115 and the conductors 121 comprise cold junctions of the corresponding thermocouples and all of the junctions between the semi-conductors 114 and 115 and the conductors 122 comprise hot junctions of the corresponding thermocouples.
  • each of the semiconductors 114 is formed essentially of Bi2'1 ⁇ e3 and contains a small controlled amount of a donor impurity to render the same an N-type semi-conductor; and each of the semi-conductors 115 is formed essentially of BigTea and contains a small controlled amount of an acceptor impurity to render the same a P-type semi-conductor.
  • the donor impurity contained in an N-type semi-conductor is selected from the group consisting of P, As and Sb; and ordinarily, the acceptor impurity contained in a P-type semi-conductor is selected from the group consisting7 of B, Al, Ga and In.
  • Each of the N- type semi-conductors 114 is of cylindrical form having a diameter of about %4 (with a cross-sectional area of 1.0 o2); and each of the P-type semi-conductors 115 is of cylindrical form having a diameter of about 5/32" (with a cross-sectional area of 1.1 cm.2).
  • Each of the cylinders 114 and 115 has a length of 1 cm.
  • the plates or panels 111 and 112 comprise at sheets and are formed of plastic or ceramic heat-insulating and electrical-insulating material; and preferably, the panel 112 is formed of a phenolformaldehyde condensation product, a melamine resin or a high-density polyethylene, and has a thickness of approximately 1 cm. substantially to match the length of the cylinders 114 and 115.
  • the material of the panel 112 may be cast in place about the cylinders 114 and 115, or alternatively suitable holes may be first provided through the panel 112 and the cylinders 114 and 115 may be located in the holes and suitably cemented in place therein.
  • the plate 112 also has a thickness of about 1 cm. and the holes formed therein are arranged in a grid-pattern with a space therebetween of about 1 in each of the X and Y directions.
  • Each of the metallic conductors 121-122 may be formed of copper, or other suitable metal that is both a good thermal conductor and a good electrical conductor.
  • Each of the conductors 121 and 122' may be formed of ribbon stock 5%, wide and j,/16" thick.
  • the strap section of each of the conductors mentioned may be approximately 11/2 long and each of the iin sections thereof may be approximately 1/2 long or high.
  • thermocouples provided in the pile P3, the figure of merit of each thermocouple is 2.08)(*3 per C. (or higher); also, the resistance of each thermocouple is 0.0016 ohm (or less), and the thermal conductivity of each thermocouple is 0.0534 watt per C. per cm. (or less). Furthermore, the thermo-electric power of each of the semi-conductors 114- 115 exceeds 200 106 volt per C.
  • each of the panels P2, etc. is constructed to provide a cooling eect that is approximately 100 watts (or 341 Btu/hr.) greater than the total heat given off by the panel P1, etc., disposed therebelow.
  • This arrangement allows each thermo-electric panel or pile P2, etc., to provide sufficient cooling effect for cooling any food, or the like, placed in the associated chamber C2, etc.; and each panel C2, etc., delivers heat at the top side thereof which is equivalent to the heat given off by the panel C1, etc., disposed therebeloW p-lus the D.C. power losses in the panel itself plus the heat removed from any food, or the like, stored in the chamber C2, etc., immediately therebelow.
  • thermo-electric pile P3 In the foregoing description of the connection and arrangement of the thermo-electric pile P3, it was explained that all of the semi-conductors 114 and 115 and all of the metallic conductors 121 and 122 are connected in series circuit relationship between the power supply conductors 101 and 102 in the refrigerator 10, and this is an entirely satisfactory arrangement with respect to the pile P3 that comprises only 316 thermocouples.
  • the thermocouples in the pile P4 that comprises 536 thermocouples, the thermocouples may be arranged in two groups that are connected in parallel relationship with respect to each other; and similarly, in the pile P5 that comprises 1150 thermocouples, the thermocouples may bc arranged in four groups that are connected in parallel relationship with respect to each other.
  • thermocouples in appropriate series and parallel groups is dependent upon the total number of thermocouples included in the corresponding thermo-electric pile; and in each thermo-electric pile, the number of thermocouples that are connected in series circuit relationship with each other and thus across the power supply conductors 101 and 102 should be related to the number of thermocouples included in the various piles and selected so as to obtain the required current through the series connected thermocouples so as to produce the desired Peltier effects, as explained above, and as particularly pointed out in the foregoing Tables I and II.
  • thermo-electric piles of the general construction described in conjunction with Figs. 4 and 5 wherein the elements 114 and 115 respectively comprises N-type semi-conductors and P-type semi-conductors of the composition and arrangement set forth; however, the thermo-electric piles incorporated in the refrigerator 10 may be entirely conventional.
  • the elements 114 are formed of metallic bismuth
  • the elements 115 are formed of metallic antimony
  • the conductors 121 and 122 are formed of copper.
  • This conventional construction of the pile provides the required hot and cold junctions; however, the operating efficiency of this arrangement is not as high as that of the preferred arrangement, as previously described in conjunction with Figs. 4 and 5.
  • thermo-electric piles so as to obtain the required cascaded cooling in the several chambers disposed in the tier in the refrigerator cabinet.
  • thermo-electric pile and control circuit therefor of simpliiied connection and arrangement that -is suitable for incorporation in a refrigerator, or related appliance of the character described.
  • thermoelectric piles respectively arranged in said partitions, each of said piles including a plurality of thermocouples each provided with a hot junction and a cold junction, the hot junctions of the thermocouples in each of said piles being arranged on the upper side of the associated partition and the cold junctions of the thermocouples in each of said piles being arranged on the lower side of the associated partition, and means for energizing said piles, whereby cach of said piles produces a Peltier eifect to transfer heat from the adjacent lower one of said chambers into the adjacent upper one of said chambers through the associated partition, so as to produce cascaded heat flow upwardly through the chambers in said tier, said piles including progressively increasing numbers of thermocouples upwardly in said
  • an upstanding hollow heat-insulating cabinet having an open front, an upstanding heat-insulating front door cooperating with the open front of said cabinet, a plurality of substantially horizontally disposed partitions arranged in said cabinet in substantially vertically spaced-apart relation and dening therein a plurality of chambers arranged in a tier and accessible through the open front of said cabinet with said front door in its open position, a plurality of thermo-electric piles respectively arranged in said partitions, each of said piles including a plurality of thermocouples each provided with a hot junction and a cold junction, the hot junctions of the thermocouples in each of said piles being arranged on the upper side of the associated partition and the cold junctions of the thermocouples in each of said piles being arranged on the lower side of the associated partition, and means for energizing said piles, whereby eachy of said piles produces a Peltier eiect to transfer heat from the adjacent lower one of said chambers into the adjacent upper one of said chambers through
  • thermo-electric pile arranged in said partition wall and including a plurality of thermocouples each including a cold junction disposed on the lower side of said partition wall in heatexchange relation with said lower chamber and a hot junction disposed on the upper side of said partition wall in heat-exchange relation with said upper chamber, a second thermo-electric pile arranged in said top wall and includnig a plurality of thermocouples each including a cold junction disposed on the lower side of said top wall in heat-exchange relation with said upper chamber and a hot junction disposed on the upper side of said top Wall in heat-exchange relation with the ambient air, and means for energizing said piles, whereby each of said piles produces a Peltier effect, said rst pile transferring heat from said lower chamber into said upper chamber through said partition
  • thermo-electric pile arranged in said wall and including a plurality of thermocouples each including first-type junctions and second-type junctions, the first-type junctions of the thermocouples in said pile being arranged on the inner side of said wall and in heat-exchange relation with the air in said chamber and the second-type junctions of the thermocouples in said pile being arranged on the outer side of said wall and in heat-exchange relation with the air outside of said chamber, means for energizing said pile so that a Peltier effect is produced thereby with the result that heat is transferred in a predetermined direction between the air in said chamber and the air outside of said chamber and through said wall, means including a first screen disposed adjacent to the inner side of said Wall and covering the first-type junctions of the thermocouples in said pile for preventing accidental short-circuiting therebetween, and means. ⁇ including a second screen disposed adjacent to the outer side of said wall and covering the second-type junction
  • thermo-electric pile arranged in said Wall and including a plurality of thermocouples each including first-type junctions and second-type junctions, the first-type junctions of the thermocouples in said pile being arranged on the inner side of said wall and in heat-exchange relation with the air in said chamber and the second-type junctions of the thermocouples in said pile being arranged on the outer side of said wall and in heat-exchange relation with the air outside of said chamber, apparatus selectively operative to produce a variable D.C.
  • thermoelectric pile arranged in said wall and including a plurality of thermocouples each including first-type junctions and second-type junctions, the first-type junctions of the thermocouples in said pile being arranged on the inner side of said wall and in heat-exchange relation with the air in said chamber and the second-type junctions of the thermocouples in said pile being arranged on the outer side of said wall and in heat-exchange relation with the air outside of said chamber, apparatus selectively operative to produce a variable D.-C.
  • means including a reversing switch for selectively connecting said apparatus to said pile and for selectively establishing the polarity of said connection, so that one polarity of said connection causes said pile to produce a Peltier effect with the result that heat is transferred through said wall from the air n said chamber into the air outside of said chamber and so that the other polarity of said connection causes said pile to produce a Peltier eect with the result that heat is transferred through said wall from the air outside of ⁇ said chamber into the 11 plate having a row of holes therethrough that are arranged in substantially equally spaced-apart relation, a plurality of lirst-type elements arranged in odd ones of said holes, a plurality of second-type elements arranged in even ones of said holes, a plurality of substantially identical conductors each including a bridging strap and a heat-exchange fin carried thereby, said conductors being arranged in two groups respectively disposed on opposite sides of said plate, the straps of said conductors arranged on one side of said plate
  • thermo-electric pile comprising a plate formed of heat-insulating and electrical-insulating material, said,
  • a plate having a row of holes therethrough that are arranged in substantially equally spaced-apart relation, a plurality of rst-type elements arranged in odd ones of said holes, a plurality of second-type elements arranged in even ones of said holes, a plurality of substantially identical conductors each including a bridging strap and a heat-exchange iin carried thereby, said conductors being arranged in two groups respectively disposed on opposite sides of said plate.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
US826769A 1959-07-13 1959-07-13 Thermo-electric refrigerators Expired - Lifetime US2986009A (en)

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US826769A US2986009A (en) 1959-07-13 1959-07-13 Thermo-electric refrigerators
FR832866A FR1264197A (fr) 1959-07-13 1960-07-13 Perfectionnements aux réfrigérateurs
OA50707A OA00618A (fr) 1959-07-13 1964-12-02 Perfectionnement aux réfrigérateurs.

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Cited By (18)

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US3100970A (en) * 1961-03-14 1963-08-20 Thore Matin Elfving Thermoelectrically refrigerated apparatus
US3100969A (en) * 1960-08-03 1963-08-20 Thore M Elfving Thermoelectric refrigeration
US3111008A (en) * 1962-11-14 1963-11-19 Energy Conversion Inc Thermoelectric control system
US3125860A (en) * 1962-07-12 1964-03-24 Thermoelectric cooling system
US3131545A (en) * 1962-08-29 1964-05-05 Borg Warner Control devices for thermoelectric means
US3149471A (en) * 1962-02-09 1964-09-22 Borg Warner Water chiller
US3174291A (en) * 1959-05-11 1965-03-23 Whirlpool Co Temperature regulating apparatus
US3177670A (en) * 1963-05-17 1965-04-13 Borg Warner Thermoelectric refrigerator
US3206937A (en) * 1962-11-24 1965-09-21 Braun Melsungen Ag Arrangement for precise control of the constant temperature of a circulating liquid thermostat
US3220198A (en) * 1961-01-19 1965-11-30 Siemens Elektrogeraete Gmbh Thermoelectric refrigerating appliances
US3254494A (en) * 1964-11-10 1966-06-07 E H Sargent & Co Temperature control apparatus
US3956902A (en) * 1975-03-25 1976-05-18 Fields Jr Joe C Heating and cooling system
US4011104A (en) * 1973-10-05 1977-03-08 Hughes Aircraft Company Thermoelectric system
US4148194A (en) * 1977-09-15 1979-04-10 Kells John D Refrigerator temperature controls
US5232516A (en) * 1991-06-04 1993-08-03 Implemed, Inc. Thermoelectric device with recuperative heat exchangers
WO1994019833A1 (fr) * 1993-02-16 1994-09-01 Aharon Zeev Hed Dispositifs thermoelectriques associes avec des echangeurs de recuperation de chaleur
WO2001048431A1 (fr) 1999-12-29 2001-07-05 Tatter Jordan B Controleur de conditions de conservation
EP1253387A1 (fr) * 2001-04-24 2002-10-30 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Boíte de stockage

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US2903857A (en) * 1956-09-24 1959-09-15 Rca Corp Thermoelectric heat pump

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US2903857A (en) * 1956-09-24 1959-09-15 Rca Corp Thermoelectric heat pump

Cited By (19)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3174291A (en) * 1959-05-11 1965-03-23 Whirlpool Co Temperature regulating apparatus
US3100969A (en) * 1960-08-03 1963-08-20 Thore M Elfving Thermoelectric refrigeration
US3220198A (en) * 1961-01-19 1965-11-30 Siemens Elektrogeraete Gmbh Thermoelectric refrigerating appliances
US3100970A (en) * 1961-03-14 1963-08-20 Thore Matin Elfving Thermoelectrically refrigerated apparatus
US3149471A (en) * 1962-02-09 1964-09-22 Borg Warner Water chiller
US3125860A (en) * 1962-07-12 1964-03-24 Thermoelectric cooling system
US3131545A (en) * 1962-08-29 1964-05-05 Borg Warner Control devices for thermoelectric means
US3111008A (en) * 1962-11-14 1963-11-19 Energy Conversion Inc Thermoelectric control system
US3206937A (en) * 1962-11-24 1965-09-21 Braun Melsungen Ag Arrangement for precise control of the constant temperature of a circulating liquid thermostat
US3177670A (en) * 1963-05-17 1965-04-13 Borg Warner Thermoelectric refrigerator
US3254494A (en) * 1964-11-10 1966-06-07 E H Sargent & Co Temperature control apparatus
US4011104A (en) * 1973-10-05 1977-03-08 Hughes Aircraft Company Thermoelectric system
US3956902A (en) * 1975-03-25 1976-05-18 Fields Jr Joe C Heating and cooling system
US4148194A (en) * 1977-09-15 1979-04-10 Kells John D Refrigerator temperature controls
US5232516A (en) * 1991-06-04 1993-08-03 Implemed, Inc. Thermoelectric device with recuperative heat exchangers
WO1994019833A1 (fr) * 1993-02-16 1994-09-01 Aharon Zeev Hed Dispositifs thermoelectriques associes avec des echangeurs de recuperation de chaleur
WO2001048431A1 (fr) 1999-12-29 2001-07-05 Tatter Jordan B Controleur de conditions de conservation
US6601394B2 (en) 1999-12-29 2003-08-05 Jordan B. Tatter Storage condition controller
EP1253387A1 (fr) * 2001-04-24 2002-10-30 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Boíte de stockage

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