Phononic Devices, Inc.

Phononic, Inc.

Phononic Device, Inc.

M Sean June

Jesse W Edwards

Robert Joseph Therrien

Abhishek Yadav

Iii James Barton Summers

A method of controlling a heat exchanger including thermoelectric coolers to maintain set point temperature of a chamber. The method includes receiving temperature data indicative of a temperature of the chamber and selectively controlling two or more subsets of thermoelectric coolers based on the temperature of the chamber. Selectively controlling the two or more subsets includes operating each thermoelectric cooler in a first subset at or near the point where the coefficient of performance is maximized (Q) by providing a current or voltage with amplitude corresponding to Q(I, V) when the temperature of the chamber is within a predefined steady state range including the set point temperature.

Thermoelectric refrigeration system control scheme for high efficiency performance

A thermoelectric refrigeration system including at least one cooling chamber and a thermoelectric heat exchange system. The thermoelectric heat exchange system includes cascaded heat sinks. The cascaded heat sinks include cascaded cold side heat sinks and a hot side heat sink. The cascaded cold side heat sinks include a first cold side heat sink and a second cold side heat sink. The thermoelectric heat exchange system also includes a first plurality of thermoelectric coolers disposed between the first cold side heat sink and the second cold side heat sink and a second plurality of thermoelectric coolers disposed between the second cold side heat sink and the hot side heat sink. Each thermoelectric cooler is a module including multiple thermoelectric devices.

Thermoelectric heat exchange system comprising cascaded cold side heat sinks

A thermoelectric refrigeration system includes a heat exchanger that includes a cold side heat sink and a hot side heat sink. The thermoelectric refrigeration system also includes a heat exchange loop coupled to one of the cold side heat sink and the hot side heat sink, the heat exchange loop operating according to thermosiphon principles to provide passive two-phase transport of a working fluid through the heat exchange loop. The thermoelectric refrigeration system also includes thermal insulation that thermally insulates the heat exchanger from a cooling chamber of the thermoelectric refrigeration system or an environment that is external to the thermoelectric refrigeration system.

Systems and methods to mitigate heat leak back in a thermoelectric refrigeration system

A two-phase heat exchanger includes a hot side heat sink, a cold side heat sink, and one or more thermoelectric modules disposed between the hot side heat sink and the cold sink heat sink such that hot sides of the one or more thermoelectric modules are thermally coupled to the hot side heat sink and cold sides of the one or more thermoelectric modules are thermally coupled to the cold side heat sink. The two-phase heat exchanger is configured to be mounted at an angle from vertical.

Two-phase heat exchanger mounting

A thermoelectric system includes a cooling chamber and a thermoelectric heat exchange system. The thermoelectric heat exchange system includes a hot side heat sink, a cold side heat sink that is physically separated from the hot side heat sink, and a heat conduit that thermally couples the hot side heat sink and the cold side heat sink.

Physically separated hot side and cold side heat sinks in a thermoelectric refrigeration system

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to controlling multiple Thermoelectric Coolers (TECs) to maintain a set point temperature of a chamber. In one embodiment, a controller receives temperature data corresponding to a temperature of the chamber. Based on the temperature data, the controller selectively controls two or more subsets of the TECs to maintain the temperature of the chamber at a desired set point temperature. In this manner, the controller is enabled to control the TECs such that the TECs operate to efficiently maintain the temperature of the chamber at the set point temperature. In another embodiment, the controller selects one or more control schemes enabled by the controller based on temperature data and a desired performance profile. The controller then independently controls one or more subsets of the TECs according to the selected control scheme(s).

Parallel thermoelectric heat exchange systems

A thermoelectric heat exchanger component includes a circuit board and multiple thermoelectric devices attached to the circuit board. Heights of at least two of the thermoelectric devices are different due to, for example, tolerances in a manufacturing process for the thermoelectric devices. The thermoelectric heat exchanger component also includes a first heat spreading lid over a first surface of the thermoelectric devices and a second heat spreading lid over a second surface of the thermoelectric devices. A thermal interface material is present between each one of the thermoelectric devices and the first and second heat spreading lids. The first heat spreading lid and the second heat spreading lid are oriented such that the thickness of the thermal interface material, and thus a thermal interface resistance, is optimized for the thermoelectric devices.

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Raleigh, NC, United States of America

M Sean June