Apparatus for heating and cooling at food serving stations
View Patent ↗Systems and apparatus for heating or cooling food to an appropriate temperature for service using a standard food service container, such as a chafing dish or food cart. A thermally conductive plate has a plurality of Peltier chips attached thereto to drive a temperature difference. The Peltier chips are in thermally conductive contact with a heat exchanger. A heat transfer liquid circulates through tubing in the heat exchanger and a separate radiator, perpetuating the temperature difference at the plate. The heat exchanger and radiator may be spaced apart by a gap. One or more fans may be placed to encourage airflow through the radiator. A coolant reservoir and pump may be included.
1. A system for maintaining a serving dish at a desired temperature for serving food, comprising:
a thermally conductive plate;
at least one Peltier element in thermally conductive contact with the thermally conductive plate;
at least one solid-to-fluid heat exchanger in thermally conductive contact with the at least one Peltier element;
at least one fluid-to-air radiator in fluid communication with the solid-to-fluid heat exchanger, the at least one fluid-to-air radiator comprising a fluid circulating tubing attached to a number of cooling fins; and
a fluid reservoir.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive plate comprises a copper sheet.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one Peltier element comprises a plurality of Peltier elements.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one solid-to-fluid heat exchanger comprises a single heat exchanger in thermally conductive contact with the plurality of Peltier elements.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid-to-air radiator comprises a fluid circulating tubing attached to a number of cooling fins.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one fan disposed to circulate air across the at least one fluid-to-air radiator.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pump for circulating coolant.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive plate may be heated or cooled by the at least one Peltier element.
9. A system for maintaining a serving dish at a desired temperature for serving food, comprising:
a thermally conductive plate;
at least one Peltier element in thermally conductive contact with the thermally conductive plate;
at least one solid-to-fluid heat exchanger in thermally conductive contact with the at least one Peltier element by being attached thereto with a thermally conductive epoxy;
at least one fluid-to-air radiator in fluid communication with the solid-to-fluid heat exchanger; and
a fluid reservoir.
10. A system for maintaining a serving dish at a desired temperature for serving food, comprising:
a thermally conductive plate;
at least one Peltier element in thermally conductive contact with the thermally conductive plate;
at least one solid-to-fluid heat exchanger in thermally conductive contact with the at least one Peltier element;
at least one fluid-to-air radiator in fluid communication with the solid-to-fluid heat exchanger, the at least one fluid-to-air radiator comprising at least two radiators disposed opposite one another beneath the at least one solid-to-fluid heat exchanger; and
a fluid reservoir.
11. A portable apparatus for maintaining food at a desired serving temperature, comprising:
a thermally conductive plate;
a plurality of Peltier elements in thermally conductive contact with the thermally conductive plate; and
at least one fluid-to-air radiator in thermally conductive communication with the plurality of Peltier elements, the at least one fluid-to-air radiator comprising a fluid circulating tubing attached to a number of cooling fins;
wherein the thermally conductive plate may be heated by applying a current through the plurality of Peltier elements in a first direction and may be cooled by applying a current through the plurality of Peltier elements in a second direction and removing heat from the plurality of Peltier elements using the at least one fluid-to-air radiator.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising at least one solid-to-fluid heat exchanger attached to the plurality of Peltier elements and in fluid communication with the at least one fluid-to-air radiator.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one fluid-to-air radiator comprises at least two radiators disposed opposite one another beneath the at least one solid-to-fluid heat exchanger.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising at least one fan disposed to circulate air across the at least one fluid-to-air radiator.
15. A portable apparatus for maintaining food at a desired serving temperature, comprising:
a thermally conductive plate;
a plurality of Peltier elements in thermally conductive contact with the thermally conductive plate; and
at least one fluid-to-air radiator in thermally conductive communication with the plurality of Peltier elements;
wherein the thermally conductive plate may be heated by applying a current through the plurality of Peltier elements in a first direction and may be cooled by applying a current through the plurality of Peltier elements in a second direction and removing heat from the plurality of Peltier elements using the at least one fluid-to-air radiator.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising at least one solid-to-fluid heat exchanger attached to the plurality of Peltier elements and in fluid communication with the at least one fluid-to-air radiator.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the at least one fluid-to-air radiator comprises at least two radiators disposed opposite one another beneath the at least one solid-to-fluid heat exchanger.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising at least one fan disposed to circulate air across the at least one fluid-to-air radiator.