Method and system for maximizing the thermal properties of a thermoelectric cooler and use therewith in association with hybrid cooling

1. A method for maximizing thermal properties of a thermoelectric element, the method comprising:

thermally insulating the thermoelectric element from an exterior environment;

thermally exposing a cold side of the thermoelectric element to a space to be cooled;

removing heat from the space to be cooled through the thermoelectric element;

discharging the heat removed from the space to be cooled from the thermoelectric element to a heat-transfer fluid contained in a heat pipe;

transmitting the heat from the heat-transfer fluid contained in the heat pipe to an absorption cooling system; and

powering the absorption cooling system with the heat discharged from the heat pipe.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising arranging a heat pipe between a hot side of the thermoelectric element and the absorption cooling system.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising utilizing a heat source to further power the absorption cooling system.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein a heat-transfer loop transfers heat from the heat source to the absorption cooling system.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the absorption cooling system removes heat from the space to be cooled.

6. A cooling system of the type employing a cascading arrangement of cooling cycles, the cooling system comprising:

a plenum having a volume of air moving therethrough;

an absorption cooling system comprising an absorbent and a refrigerant;

a chiller coil disposed within an interior region of the plenum, the chiller coil fluidly coupled to the absorption cooling system;

a heat-transfer fluid, contained in a heat pipe coupled to, and thermally exposed to, the absorption cooling system;

a thermoelectric element comprising a hot side and a cold side, the cold side being thermally exposed to the interior region of the plenum, the hot side being thermally exposed to the heat-transfer fluid contained in the heat pipe; and

wherein heat removed from the interior region of the plenum to the heat-transfer fluid through the thermoelectric element powers the absorption cooling system.

7. The cooling system of claim 6 , comprising a secondary heat source, wherein the secondary heat source is thermally exposed to the absorption cooling system.