Thermoelectric cooled torque motor

1. A method comprising:

controlling operation of a valve with a valve controller, wherein the valve controller is a torque motor;

applying heat to the valve controller in a first mode of operation, wherein heat is supplied by a working fluid entering the valve controller;

receiving a temperature signal that is a function of a temperature of the valve controller;

creating a control signal as a function of the temperature signal and a desired valve controller temperature;

operating a thermoelectric device that surrounds the valve controller based on the control signal to transfer heat between the valve controller and an ambient environment, wherein a valve controller housing surrounds the valve controller and wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a plurality of thermoelectric tiles mounted to the valve controller housing and rejects heat from the housing to the ambient environment; and

filling a void between the valve controller and the valve controller housing with a thermally conductive grease.

2. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising:

transferring heat from the valve controller to the valve controller housing; and

transferring heat from the valve controller housing to the thermoelectric device.

3. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising:

transferring heat from the valve controller to the ambient environment in the first mode of operation; and

transferring heat to the valve controller from the ambient environment in a second mode of operation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a temperature of the working fluid supplied to the valve controller reaches or exceeds 538 degrees Celsius (1000 degrees Fahrenheit).

5. A valve system for a gas turbine engine, the valve system comprising:

a control device comprising:

a working fluid inlet; and

a working fluid outlet;

a valve element positioned in the control device and configured to open and close the control device in response to a working fluid;

a valve controller mounted to the control device and configured to receive a portion of the working fluid and to control the flow of the working fluid through the control device, wherein the valve controller is a torque motor;

a thermoelectric device comprising a plurality of thermoelectric tiles and surrounding the valve controller for transferring heat between the valve controller and an ambient environment;

a valve controller housing surrounding the valve controller, wherein the plurality of thermoelectric tiles of the thermoelectric device are mounted to the valve controller housing and reject heat from the housing to the ambient environment and wherein a void between the valve controller and the valve controller housing is filled with thermally conductive grease;

a system controller for directing a current to drive the thermoelectric device; and

a temperature sensor mounted in the valve controller for sending a temperature signal to the system controller as a function of an operating temperature of the valve controller;

wherein the system controller directs current to the thermoelectric device to transfer heat away from the valve controller in a first mode of operation and to transfer heat to the valve controller in a second mode of operation, wherein the mode of operation is determined by the system controller based on the temperature signal.

6. The valve system of claim 5 , wherein the thermoelectric device includes five thermoelectric tiles.

7. The valve system of claim 5 and further comprising fins extending from a surface of the thermoelectric device to the ambient environment.

8. The valve system of claim 5 , wherein the system controller controls the operation of the thermoelectric device and the valve controller.

9. The valve system of claim 8 , wherein in the second mode of operation, the system controller directs flow of the current driving the thermoelectric device to cause heat to be transferred into the valve controller from the ambient environment.

10. The valve system of claim 5 , wherein the system controller performs a calculation to determine a calculated operating temperature of the valve controller as a function of the temperature signal, and wherein the system controller adjusts an amount of heat rejected by the thermoelectric device to maintain a desired calculated operating temperature of the valve controller.

11. The valve system of claim 5 , wherein the valve controller is separated from the control device by a thermal insulator.

12. A gas turbine engine system including the valve system of claim 1 , wherein the valve system is a servo valve responsive to a working fluid of a gas turbine engine.

13. The gas turbine engine system of claim 12 , wherein the working fluid is bleed air from the gas turbine engine.

14. The valve system of claim 5 , wherein the valve system is configured for operation in an environment wherein a temperature of the working fluid reaches or exceeds 538 degrees Celsius (1000 degrees Fahrenheit).