High-efficiency power conversion architecture for driving a thermoelectric cooler in energy conscious applications

• Main Authors: Therrien Robert Joseph, Stanley Marshall, Edwards Jesse W, Barus Daniel, Rodriguez Ricardo E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.02.2017
• Subjects: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC,OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWERSUPPLY SYSTEMS; BLASTING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF; CONTROLLING; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUTPOWER; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRICITY; GENERATION; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PHYSICS; REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; REGULATING; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; WEAPONS

Systems and methods are disclosed herein relating to an Alternating Current-Direct Current (AC-DC) power conversion system for supplying power to one or more Thermoelectric Coolers (TECs). In some embodiments, a system comprises one or more TECs and an AC-DC power conversion system configured to supply power to the one or more TECs for a high efficiency mode of operation and a high heat pumping mode of operation. The AC-DC power conversion system comprises a first AC-DC power converter configured to convert an AC input to a DC output at a first output power level for the high efficiency mode of operation of the one or more TECs. The AC-DC power conversion system further comprises a second AC-DC power converter configured to convert the AC input to a DC output at a second output power level for the high heat pumping mode of operation of the one or more TECs.