Thermoelectric arrangement for use in a cooling system of a motor vehicle and cooling system having such a thermoelectric arrangement
A thermoelectric arrangement for use in a cooling system ( 4, 6 ) of a motor vehicle has a thermocouple ( 8 ) with a first, heat-outputting thermal element ( 10 ), a second, heat-absorbing thermal element ( 12 ) and a conductor element ( 14 ) through which current flows. At least two cooling circuits ( 16, 18, 20 ) are provided. The first thermal element ( 10 ) is arranged in at least one cooling circuit ( 16, 18, 20 ), and the second thermal element ( 12 ) is arranged in at least one heating circuit ( 48 ). The first thermal element ( 10 ) is arranged in a first connecting line ( 22 ) that is connected fluidically to the respective cooling circuits ( 16, 18, 20 ) via valve arrangements ( 24, 26; 28, 30; 32, 34 ) on the input and output sides of the first thermal element ( 10 ). A cooling system having such a thermoelectric arrangement also is described.
1. A thermoelectric arrangement for a cooling system ( 4 , 6 ) of a motor vehicle comprising: a thermocouple ( 8 ) with a first, heat-outputting thermal element ( 10 ) having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a second, heat-absorbing thermal element ( 12 ) having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a conductor element ( 14 ) through which current flows, the second thermal element ( 12 ) being arranged in at least one heating circuit ( 48 ), a fluid inlet line ( 22 ) that is fluidically connected to the inlet of the first thermal element ( 10 ) and a fluid outlet line that is fluidically connected to the fluid outlet of the first thermal element ( 10 ), at least first and second cooling circuits ( 16 , 18 , 20 ), first and second upstream connecting lines ( 36 , 40 ) connecting the respective first and second cooling circuits ( 16 , 18 ) to the fluid inlet line ( 22 ), first and second upstream valve arrangements ( 24 ; 28 ; 32 ) in the respective first and second upstream connecting lines ( 36 , 40 ), first and second downstream connecting lines ( 38 , 40 ) connecting the fluid outlet line from the first thermal element ( 10 ) respectively to the first and second cooling circuits ( 16 , 18 ), and first and second downstream valve arrangements ( 26 ; 30 ; 34 ) in the respective downstream connecting lines, wherein the respective upstream and downstream valve arrangements ( 24 , 26 ; 28 , 30 ; 32 , 34 ) are configured so that, in first positions of the respective upstream and downstream valve arrangements ( 24 , 26 ; 28 , 30 ; 32 , 34 ), the corresponding cooling circuit ( 16 , 18 , 20 ) is in communication with the first thermal element ( 10 ) and in second positions of the respective upstream and downstream valve arrangements ( 24 , 26 ; 28 , 30 ; 32 , 34 ), the corresponding cooling circuit ( 16 , 18 , 20 ) bypasses the first thermal element ( 10 ).
2. The thermoelectric arrangement of claim 1 , wherein each of the upstream valve arrangements ( 24 , 28 , 32 ) is a 2/2-way valve ( 24 , 28 , 32 ) incorporated into the respective upstream connecting line ( 36 , 40 , 44 ), and each of the downstream valve arrangements ( 26 , 30 , 34 ) is a 3/2-way valve ( 26 , 30 , 34 ) arranged in the downstream connecting line ( 38 , 42 , 46 ) at the respective cooling circuit ( 16 , 18 , 20 ).
3. The thermoelectric arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the heating circuit ( 48 ) has a heating-type heat exchanger ( 56 ), a second connecting line ( 50 ) with an upstream section extending from the heating-type heat exchanger ( 56 ) to an input side of the second thermal element ( 12 ) and a downstream section extending from an output side of the second thermal element ( 12 ) to the heating-type heat exchanger ( 56 ), a bypass line ( 52 ) connecting the upstream section of the second connecting line ( 50 ) to the downstream section of the second connecting line ( 50 ), and a 3/2-way valve ( 54 ) incorporated into the bypass line ( 52 ) and the second connecting line ( 50 ) so that in a first operative position, the 3/2-way valve ( 54 ) directs a flow through the second thermal element ( 12 ) and in a second operative position, the 3/2-way valve ( 54 ) causes a bypass of the second thermal element ( 12 ).
4. The thermoelectric arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the thermocouple ( 8 ) is a Peltier element.
5. A cooling system comprising the thermoelectric arrangement ( 2 ) of claim 1 , wherein each of the cooling circuits communicates with at least one component of the vehicle that requires cooling, the first cooling circuit ( 16 ) cooling an electric drive ( 62 ) and power electronics ( 64 ), the second cooling circuit ( 18 ) cooling a high-voltage battery ( 74 ), and further comprising a third cooling circuit ( 20 ) that exchanges heat with external air.
6. The cooling system of claim 5 , further comprising a valve arrangement ( 68 , 70 ) connecting the first cooling circuit ( 16 ) to the third cooling circuit ( 20 ) at a position downstream of the thermoelectric arrangement ( 2 ) and upstream of the at least one component of the vehicle that requires cooling.
7. The cooling system of claim 5 , wherein the heating circuit ( 48 ) has a heat exchanger ( 56 ) for heating a passenger compartment.
8. The cooling system of claim 7 , wherein the heating circuit ( 48 ) has an electrical supplementary heater ( 60 ).