High efficiency architecture and control scheme for solid-state HVAC applications

1 . A method of controlling a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of thermoelectric coolers to provide conditioned air, the method comprising:

receiving system measurements indicative of one or more of the group consisting of:

a temperature of a accept-side of a first thermoelectric cooler;

a temperature of a reject-side of the first thermoelectric cooler;

a temperature of a accept-side of a second thermoelectric cooler;

a temperature of a reject-side of the second thermoelectric cooler;

and

an indication of a relative humidity value; and

selectively controlling two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers in the plurality of thermoelectric coolers based on the received system measurements;

wherein a direction of air flow in the heat exchanger comprises counter air flow where an accept-side flow of mass proceeds from a hottest to a coldest of the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers, and a reject-side flow of mass proceeds from the coldest to the hottest of the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers;

wherein selectively controlling the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers comprises: being able to provide more equal power to the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the system measurements further comprise an indication of a volume of air flow.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively controlling the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers comprises: optimizing a system-level efficiency of the heat exchanger.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively controlling the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers comprises: providing an overall temperature difference by providing a smaller temperature difference over each of the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively controlling the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers comprises: adjusting the relative humidity in one or more of: the reject-side; and accept-side.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of controllers to selectively control the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each subset of thermoelectric coolers includes one or more different thermoelectric coolers from the plurality of thermoelectric coolers.

8 . A controller for controlling a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of thermoelectric coolers to provide conditioned air, the controller being capable of:

receiving system measurements indicative of one or more of the group consisting of:

a temperature of a accept-side of a first thermoelectric cooler;

a temperature of a reject-side of the first thermoelectric cooler;

a temperature of a accept-side of a second thermoelectric cooler;

a temperature of a reject-side of the second thermoelectric cooler;

and

an indication of a relative humidity value; and

selectively controlling two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers in the plurality of thermoelectric coolers based on the received system measurements;

wherein a direction of air flow in the heat exchanger comprises counter air flow where the accept-side flow of mass proceeds from a hottest to a coldest of the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers, and the reject-side flow of mass proceeds from the coldest to the hottest of the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers;

wherein selectively controlling the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers comprises: being able to provide more equal power to the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers.

9 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein the system measurements further comprise an indication of a volume of air flow.

10 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein selectively controlling the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers comprises: optimizing a system-level efficiency of the heat exchanger.

11 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein selectively controlling the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers comprises: providing an overall temperature difference by providing a smaller temperature difference over each of the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers.

12 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein selectively controlling the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers comprises: adjusting the relative humidity in one or more of: the reject-side; and accept-side.

13 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of controllers to selectively control the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers.

14 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein each subset of thermoelectric coolers includes one or more different thermoelectric coolers from the plurality of thermoelectric coolers.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

increasing a humidity of the reject-side of the heat transport system to increase the heat carrying capacity of the reject-side.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively controlling two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers comprises:

operating the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers in a master/slave configuration, where a single subset determines the system-level optimal operating point and dictates the control commands to the remaining subsets.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively controlling two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers comprises:

operating the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers in an all-primary configuration, where each subset independently calculates its own control command while communicating its operating status to the other subsets.

18 . The controller of claim 8 , further being capable of:

increasing a humidity of the reject-side of the heat transport system to increase the heat carrying capacity of the reject-side.

19 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein selectively controlling two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers comprises:

operating the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers in a master/slave configuration, where a single subset determines the system-level optimal operating point and dictates the control commands to the remaining subsets.

20 . The controller of claim 8 , wherein selectively controlling two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers comprises:

operating the two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers in an all-primary configuration, where each subset independently calculates its own control command while communicating its operating status to the other subsets.