WO2012016607A1

WO2012016607A1 - Electrical cooling module having a peltier element for electrically cooling an air stream

Info

Publication number: WO2012016607A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/002850
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ingo Schehr
Original assignee: Ingo Schehr
Priority date: 2010-08-04
Filing date: 2011-06-10
Publication date: 2012-02-09
Also published as: DE202010011016U1; DE202011110352U1

Abstract

The invention proposes an electrical cooling module (1) for cooling an air stream (3), in particular for cooling and ventilating a seat, having improved mechanical and thermal properties. Said electrical cooling module comprises at least one Peltier element and at least one heat exchange region (4) through which air can flow and which has thermally conductive lamellae which form a thermally conductive connection with the Peltier element. The lamellae of the cooling module (1) comprise both at least one lamella strip (5) and at least one fixed lamella profile (6), which lamella strip and lamella profile are arranged in the heat exchange region (4), wherein the lamella strip (5) is arranged in the central region of the heat exchange region (4) within a frame (7) which is arranged transverse to the direction (2) of flow, the lamella profile (6) is arranged in the outer region of the heat exchange region (4), and the cooling module (10) has spring elements (9) which are designed to compress the lamella strip (5), the lamella profile (6) and the Peltier element. The Peltier element is preferably arranged in the frame (7).

Description

Electric cooling module with Peltier element

for electrically cooling an air stream

The invention relates to an electric cooling module with Peltier element for the electric cooling of an air flow. Such a cooling module is provided in particular for cooling and ventilating a seat, in particular in vehicles. It comprises at least one Peltier element and at least one air-throughflowable heat exchange region with heat-conducting lamellae, which are in heat-conducting connection with the Peltier element and are combined with the latter into a module.

Peltier elements are also referred to as thermoelectric elements. A Peltier element is an electrothermal transducer that generates a temperature difference based on the Peltier effect at current flow. The basis for the Peltier effect is the contact of two conductors. If a direct current is passed through two contact points of these materials one contact point becomes warm and the other one cold. For metals, however, the achievable temperature difference is below 1 K, therefore, for the economic use of the Peltier effect n- and p-doped semiconductors, which are connected by a copper bridge.

A Peltier element consists of two or more small cuboids each of p- and n-doped semiconductor material (bismuth telluride, silicon germanium), alternately top and bottom by metal bridges connected to each other. The metal bridges also form the thermal contact surfaces and are insulated by an overlaying foil or a ceramic plate. Always two different cuboids are connected to each other so that they result in a series connection. The supplied electric current flows through all blocks in succession. Depending on the current and direction, the junctions on one side cool, while those on the other heat. The stream thus pumps heat from the cold side to the warm side, ie heat transport takes place and produces a temperature difference between the plates. With the help of electrical power, the Peltier element, as an "electric heat pump", transports the heat from cold to warm.

The most common form of Peltier elements consists of two mostly square plates of alumina ceramic with an edge length of 20 mm to 60 mm and a distance of 3 mm to 5 mm, between which the semiconductor cuboids are soldered. The ceramic surfaces are provided for this purpose on their facing surfaces with solderable metal surfaces.

The biggest advantages of a Peltier element are the small size, the compact design, the low weight and the avoidance of any moving components, gases and liquids; a chiller, on the other hand, always requires a refrigerant and, in most cases, a compressor. Further, with Peltier elements, both cooling and heating are possible by simply reversing the direction of the current. By reversing the polarity of the electric current, the cold and warm sides of the Peltier element are changed. Thus, a temperature control can be achieved when the ambient temperature is above or below the set temperature. In addition, Peltier elements work noiselessly and vibration-free and are position-independent.

The heat transport or the thermal conductivity of all components of the temperature path determines the effectiveness of cooling with a Peltier Element. Special consideration must be given to the heat transfer between the object to be cooled and the Peltier element on the one side and between the Peltier element and the heat sink / liquid cooler / heat transferer on the other side. This can result in huge efficiency losses.

When cooling the warm side of the Peltier element, e.g. By means of an attached heat sink with fan, the cooling side is even colder. Depending on the element and current, the temperature difference between the two sides can be up to approx. 70 Kelvin for single-stage elements. The thermal management on the warm side of the Peltier element is the absolute determining parameter for every application. The cooler the hot side is held, the colder the cold side can become. Therefore, the amount of heat transported from the cold side of the Peltier element to the warm side has to be carried away completely from there in order to maintain a sufficiently low temperature on the cold side and to avoid overheating of the Peltier element. In this case, the amount of heat to be removed from the warm side corresponds to the sum of the heat pumped by the Peltier element plus the heat generated by the electrical operating energy received by the Peltier element.

The optimization of the heat removal on the warm side of the Peltier element is the most important parameter in practical application. The better the warm side cooled, ie the heat generated by the Peltier element waste heat can be dissipated, the colder can be the cold side and the higher the cooling performance achieved. Therefore, care must be taken that the heat transported by the Peltier element from the cold side to the warm side, as well as the electrical operating energy of the Peltier element, is dissipated as best as possible in order to avoid overheating of the Peltier element and on the cold Page to produce the lowest possible temperature or maximum cooling capacity.

The use of Peltier elements for cooling is known in the art. For example, there are Peltier coolers that are placed with their cold side on an electronic component to be cooled. The warm side of the Peltier element is then cooled by means of a stream of air. For the cooling of an air stream in vehicles, the use of Peltier elements is known, for example from the following publications: US 6,119,463, DE 198 29 440 AI, DE 42 07 283 AI, DE 102 18 343 B4, WO 2009/122282 AI, DE 10 2006 046 114 AI, EP 1 660 338 Bl and WO 2009/015235 AI.

From the documents US 2006/0137358 AI, DE 196 51 279 AI and WO 2009/097572 AI electrical cooling devices for cooling an air stream in vehicles are known in which a warm and a cold air flow in adjacent channels and in one of these two air streams separating Interface a Peltier element is arranged. To improve the heat exchange between the Peltier element and the air streams heat-conducting fins are provided in the form of lamellar bands respectively on the cold and warm side of the Peltier element, which are in thermally conductive connection with the Peltier element and impinged by the air or be flowed through. The area around the Peltier element and the lamellae forms a heat exchange area in which, by means of the Peltier element, heat energy from the cold to the warm side, i. is transported from the cooled to the heated air flow.

However, the known cooling devices with Peltier elements have practical disadvantages. On the one hand, their production is often complicated due to their complex structure. On the other hand, in embodiments with lamellae made of metal strip hardly several cooling modules in series be arranged one behind the other, because due to manufacturing tolerances, the folded lamellae are not aligned in a row, so that in the flow direction one behind the other slats are laterally offset from each other, thereby increasing the flow resistance for the air passed through and thus the pressure loss. Furthermore, a significant disadvantage is that the known cooling devices can not be disassembled unaufwendig in disposal, so they must be disposed of as a whole. Finally, their generally rectangular outer shape also requires a rectangular cross-section of the air-flow channel, at least at the point where they are inserted therein, ie in the heat exchange area. But also with regard to the compactness and the achievement of optimum cooling of the air flow to be cooled with high efficiency, the known cooling devices with Peltier elements do not meet the requirements, which is why they are rarely used practically.

It has also been found within the scope of the invention that in embodiments of cooling modules in which the cold side of the Peltier element is in direct heat-conducting contact with a component to be cooled and the warm side of the Peltier element has cooling fins, the function of cooling fins and are cooled by a fan which is mounted on the cooling fins and the cooling fins flows with cooling air, this embodiment has a kind of heat exchange area with a round outer contour, the heat extraction from the Peltier element via the cooling fins to the cooling fins flowing through Air is not optimal, especially if a preferred axial fan is used, so that the theoretically possible with the Peltier element cooling performance is not achieved in practice.

Based on this prior art, the present invention has the object, an electric cooling module of the initially mentioned th way to improve, for example, in terms of ease of installation, in terms of the required installation space, for example in a seat, with regard to the possibility of sequentially arranging several cooling modules, in terms of easy disassembly during disposal, with respect to the Wärmeleitankopplung the Peltier element on the fins to the heat exchange area air flowing through, in terms of a high cooling capacity with low pressure drop and in terms of a free shape design of the heat exchange region, preferably with a round outer contour.

This object is achieved by a cooling module with the features of the attached claim 1. Preferred embodiments, developments and uses of the invention will become apparent from the independent and dependent claims and the following description with accompanying drawings.

A cooling module according to the invention for electrically cooling an air stream, in particular for cooling and ventilating a seat, with at least one Peltier element and at least one heat-exchangeable heat exchange area with heat-conducting fins, which are in heat-conducting connection with the Peltier element and are combined with this to form a module Thus, it has the peculiarity that the lamellae of the cooling module comprise both at least one lamella strip and at least one fixed lamellar profile arranged in the heat exchange area, the lamella strip being arranged in the central area of the heat exchange area within a frame arranged transversely to the flow direction is, the lamellar profile is arranged in the outer region of the heat exchange region and the cooling module has spring elements which si for compressing the lamellar band or lamellar band module, the Lamellenproflls and the Peltier element si nd. The present invention improves the properties of the previously known electric cooling modules of the type mentioned so by a combination of lamellar strips with lamellar profiles and a specific arrangement of these heat-conducting elements, which are held together by means of spring elements with the Peltier element and a frame, wherein different thermal expansions of the components be enabled.

The invention is based on the knowledge that only through an optimized heat transfer, i. from the cold air flow over the fins to the Peltier element and from the Peltier element via the fins to the warm air flow and to the environment, an efficient cooling module can be realized. In the context of the invention it has been found that this is particularly well achieved with the inventive arrangement of lamellar bands in the central region of the heat exchange region within a frame and lamellar profiles in the outer region of the heat exchange region outside the frame, because a particularly good heat transfer between the Peltier element and the heat-emitting or heat-absorbing surfaces of the fins of the cooling module is made possible.

The construction of a cooling module according to the invention makes it possible in this regard an optimized heat extraction from the cooled air flow in the Peltier element and from the Peltier element in the warm air flow and thus a better cooling performance. The heat transport takes place through the Peltier element from the cold air flow to the warm air flow by means of the lamellar bands and the lamellar profiles, between which the Peltier element is clamped by means of the spring elements. As a result, a symmetrical design of the heat transfer can be achieved, wherein the heat dissipation from the arranged inside the frame lamellar bands to the Peltier elements in about as high as the heat transfer from the Peltier elements to the outside of the frame. mens arranged lamellar profiles and both Wärmeleitvermögen are optimized. The electrical power generated by the operating current of the Peltier element is also dissipated.

Preferably, the Peltier element is arranged or operated in such a way that it cools the lamellar bands in the interior of the frame and heats the lamellar profiles on the outside of the frame. An air stream guided through the lamellar belts can thereby be cooled, and the waste heat arising in the cooling module is dissipated via the lamellar profiles, for example to a further air stream guided by the lamella profiles or to other external components which are in heat-conducting connection with the lamella profiles. Preferred embodiments are those in which the thinner lamellae strips for cooling an airflow and the thicker lamellar profiles serve to dissipate the waste heat, since it has been found that the cooling capacity of the lamellar bands is sufficient and good heat conduction of the lamellar profiles is advantageous.

The good thermal contact of the Peltier elements to the fins, i. the lamellar bands and the lamellar profiles, is of great importance. The Peltier elements are preferably clamped between two rigid, high surface area, thermal contact surfaces, with some material rigidity to prevent bending during assembly. If the surface quality is worse than 10 μm, a leveling layer, such as a thermal compound or a film between the contact surfaces, is generally used. This should also different temperatures on the contact surfaces of the Peltier element can be prevented, which can lead to the destruction of the Peltier element in operation.

According to an advantageous feature, it is therefore proposed that on the cold and / or warm side of a Peltier element a heat-conducting tende compensation layer is arranged, in particular a thermally conductive wax, a heat-conducting phase-change wax, a heat-conducting film, in particular of copper or aluminum, a heat-conducting adhesive film or a heat-conducting phase-change film. Such a leveling layer can improve the thermal contact and bring about a surface compensation. Especially suitable for this are so-called phase-change or phase-changing interface materials. These are generally characterized by the phase change of the material from the solid state to the soft state above a certain temperature, the so-called phase-change temperature. By softening phase change materials when the phase change temperature is exceeded for the first time, air pockets are already expelled from the micropores at the contact surfaces during this process, and the surface is completely and actively wetted by the phase change material. By pressure and softening of the material, the layer thickness is very small. As a result of these processes, the thermal contact resistance becomes minimal. The thermal contact and thus the total thermal contact resistance remain permanently very low over all temperature cycles, even if the temperature drops below the phase change temperature again.

Furthermore, different clamping forces at the different points of the contact surfaces of the Peltier element are to be avoided, because they can result in mechanical or thermal destruction of the Peltier element. On the one hand, this can likewise be achieved by means of such a compensating layer, but in the case of a cooling module according to the invention a uniform clamping force is already provided by the spring elements.

The dimensioning and number of Peltier elements of a cooling module according to the invention and their operating parameters and operating mode can be selected depending on the desired application in the usual way taking into account the cooling capacity, the temperature difference to be achieved, the total heat output and the efficiency. Further, in the design of the cooling module usual quality factors of Peltier elements such as thermal cycle life, life, maximum temperature, compliance with the smallest possible dimensional tolerances, surface quality (flatness, parallelism, waviness, roughness) of the thermal contact surfaces, mechanically stress-free structure and corrosion protection (Coating and / or sealing). If several Peltier elements are arranged in a cooling module, they can be designed the same or different and can be electrically or differently charged in order to achieve a desired temperature or temperature distribution.

It is particularly advantageous if the cooling module is assembled and held together by means of spring elements, preferably clamps, in particular spring clips, which provide a preload. This results in a contact pressure between the slats and the Peltier element, which improves the heat transfer. A particularly efficient and advantageous production of the electric cooling module according to the invention is made possible when the lamellae are held by means of the spring elements clamped in the frame; In addition to a high stability of this compound also results in a very good heat transfer from the lamellar bands to the Peltier elements and from the Peltier elements to the lamellar profiles, the connection can be made quickly and efficiently by machine.

The spring elements may be made of metal or other suitable spring material, such as plastic. In order to avoid an electrical connection or an electrical short circuit between the components mechanically held together by the spring elements in some embodiments, for example with the additional use of an optional PTC heating element, advantageous Proven to be provided that the contact or support points at which the spring elements rest or attack the components of the cooling module are electrically non-conductive or electrically isolated, for example by a coating. Preferred embodiments are those in which the spring elements, which in total or at least in the region of the contact or support points on which they rest on the components of the cooling module or attack, consist of an electrically non-conductive material or are completely or partially electrically isolated, for example by a paint, coating or an insulating coating. In other embodiments, in particular with the additional use of an optional PTC heating element, it may be expedient to achieve an electrical connection between the components mechanically held together by the spring elements by means of the spring elements. In such cases, it can advantageously be provided that the spring elements, including their contact or support points, on which the spring elements rest or act on the components of the cooling module, are electrically conductive.

At the same time, the electrical contacting of an optional PTC heating element via its metallization can take place simultaneously in a simple manner. The optional PTC heating elements can all be electrically connected in parallel in the cooling module if only one heating stage is desired, or at least partially switched on separately if two or more heating stages are desired.

The cooling module according to the invention is held together by a spring element clamping system, wherein a good mechanical stability, an intimate mechanical connection of the Peltier elements to the fins for good heat transfer and an intimate electrical connection of optional PTC heating elements to the fins or electrical contact elements are achieved can. While in operation case with a temperature change, the metal parts of the cooling module are always subject to thermal expansion, the other components, such as a plastic or paper frame or the Peltier elements or optional PTC heating elements, no practically significant thermal expansion. The spring element clamping system according to the invention can absorb or compensate for or compensate for the different thermal expansions occurring in the cooling module and thereby ensure that the good thermal contacting of the Peltier elements and the good thermal and electrical contacting of optional PTC heating elements are maintained. The spring elements thus make it possible for the package of lamellar bands, frames, Peltier elements and lamella profiles held together by them to expand and contract as the temperature changes, thereby ensuring that the thermal contacts are maintained.

The size of the cooling module and its thermal performance can be adjusted by the number and size of the Peltier elements and the slats almost any practical needs. A cooling module according to the invention can be made very flexible, in particular if the Peltier elements are arranged between the lamellar bands and the lamellar profiles by means of a frame surrounding the lamellar bands, preferably of plastic or paper. The electrical contacting of optional PTC heating elements can be done via metallic contact plates.

The invention is further based on the finding that it is advantageous in cooling modules with a round outer contour of the heat exchange area, the heat absorption from the central heat exchange area in which the strip lamellae are arranged, and the heat dissipation to the peripheral outer area of the heat exchange area in which the profile lamellae are arranged are, to the flow profile of each of these to adapt to the flow of air. This is especially true when using the cooling module with an axial fan, which has a higher air flow and a higher flow velocity than in the central region in its radial outer region due to the design. The invention makes it possible by appropriate design of the position, size, shape, extent and number of thinner, less heat-conducting lamellae in the central frame and the thicker, more heat-conducting lamellar profiles in the outdoor area to make a corresponding adjustment of the respective heat dissipation from these areas in order to achieve a uniform, symmetrical or overall high cooling performance of the Peltier elements despite the different air flows. Since, as described above, the optimization of the heat removal on the warm side of the Peltier element has a particularly important significance, the inventive use of good heat-conducting, thick, high wall thickness lamellar profiles on the warm side of the Peltier elements in the outer region of the cooling module is particularly advantageous to be able to deliver the heat to the environment from there. This is especially true in combination with the use of an axial fan whose radially outward high air flow flows through the lamella profiles and cools well, the inner lower air flow of the same axial fan can simultaneously flow through the lying on the cold side of the Peltier elements thinner lamella bands to to be cooled by these.

The series connection of several cooling modules, ie the assembly of several positioning frames with Peltier elements and lamellae to each other, makes it possible to provide a total of multi-stage cooling capacity even when using each one-stage cooling modules. Furthermore, by stringing together even in small spaces, ie in narrow flow channels, a high cooling capacity can be realized with low pressure loss when several cooling modules are cascaded to increase the overall performance in a row. The can one behind the other cooling modules also have common components, for example, a two or more cooling modules connecting, common lamellar profile. In other applications, where it depends on a small depth instead, for example in vehicles, several Peltier elements or cooling modules can be arranged one behind the other or next to each other instead of one behind the other.

A cooling module may be composed of two cooling modules arranged one behind the other in the flow direction, wherein the lamellar bands, the lamella profiles and the frames of the individual cooling modules are aligned in alignment with each other in the flow direction. In general, it may be advantageous in the case of a cooling module according to the invention for achieving a high cooling capacity with narrow cross sections of the air-flowed housing, if it is composed of two or more cooling modules arranged one behind the other in the flow direction, wherein the lamellar bands, the lamella profiles and the frames of the individual cooling modules each in the flow direction aligned in a row to achieve a low flow resistance and a simple structure. It may be advantageous to provide for the series-connected cooling modules a common frame and / or common Peltier elements to save while preserving the flexible, resiliently held together by the spring elements construction components. Furthermore, it may be advantageous for this reason if at least two of the lamellar profiles arranged one behind the other on one side of the frame or of the frame are combined to form a common, one-piece lamella profile. Also in this case, the two other lamellar profiles opposite the combined lamellar profile can carry out thermal compensation movements independently of one another on account of their separate spring elements. An inventive cooling module can be produced inexpensively. This applies both to the simple production and to the components used. In particular, it is possible to construct the cooling module "symmetrically", wherein some parts are installed in an identical form several times in a cooling module, for example, lamellar bands, lamellar profiles, frame parts, Peltier elements or spring elements. This requires a total of a few components for a cooling module and saves manufacturing costs. In addition, a cooling module according to the invention for disposal can be easily disassembled, with reusable components, such as the lamellar bands or lamellar profiles, can be recovered for reuse.

The advantages of a cooling module according to the invention consist in the ease of installation, the low installation space required, the possibility of sequentially arranging several cooling modules, easy disassembly during disposal, the improved heat conduction coupling of the Peltier element on the fins to the heat exchange region air flowing through, achieving a high Cooling capacity with low pressure loss, the free design of the heat exchange area, preferably with a round outer contour, and the adaptability to inhomogeneous air flows, especially when used with a preferred axial fan. Overall, the cooling module according to the invention is very advantageous, flexible, safe and inexpensive. The ability to easily and flexibly adapt and optimize its electrical, thermal and mechanical properties to practical or customer specific requirements creates the basic requirement for a cost-effective cooling module.

Another advantage of cooling modules according to the invention is that they can be designed such that they pass the so-called nail test. The nail test is a practical test for equipment that simulates a user with a nail in the test Device stings. The tested device must not be damaged in order to pass the test.

If the current flow is reversed by the Peltier elements, a cooling module according to the invention can also be used for heating. In addition, a cooling module can also have at least one PTC heating element, which is preferably arranged in the frame or in the interior of the frame between two adjacent lamella tapes.

PTC elements are semiconductor resistors made of ceramic whose ohmic resistance is temperature-dependent. The resistance-temperature characteristic is not linear; the resistance of a PTC heating element initially decreases slightly with increasing component temperature, in order then to rise very steeply at a characteristic temperature (so-called reference temperature). This generally positive slope coefficient (PTC = positive temperature coefficient) results in a PTC heating element having self-regulating properties with respect to the temperature setting at current flow.

If the component temperature is well below the reference temperature, the PTC heating element has a low resistance, so that correspondingly high currents can be passed through. If good heat removal from the surface of the PTC heating element is taken care of, a corresponding amount of electrical power is absorbed and dissipated as heat. However, as the temperature of the PTC heater rises above the reference temperature, the PTC electrical resistance also increases rapidly, limiting the electrical power consumption to a very low level. The component temperature then approaches an upper limit, which depends on the heat release to the environment of the PTC heating element. Under normal ambient conditions, the component temperature of the PTC heating element can therefore not rise above a characteristic maximum temperature, even if in the Incidentally, the desired heat dissipation from the PTC heating element is completely interrupted to the environment.

Because of this property as well as because of the self-regulating property of a PTC heating element, due to which the electrical power absorbed by the PTC heating element corresponds exactly to the output thermal power, PTC heating elements for use in Heizungsbzw. Air conditioning systems or in other applications for air flow heating predestined, especially in vehicles. For safety reasons, vehicles may not cause a flammable temperature in the heating element even in the event of a fault, although a high heat output is nevertheless required in normal operation. For example, since a motor vehicle seat for safety reasons, even in case of failure of the fan on the surface of the seat, a maximum temperature, which is tolerated by humans, must not exceed, heating modules or cooling modules with optional heating option with PTC heating elements are ideal, especially as they with the same security can give much higher heat output than the mats conventionally used in seat heaters with electrical resistance wires whose power consumption must be very limited for safety reasons.

It is noted that when replacing the Peltier element or the Peltier elements by one or more PTC heating elements in a cooling module according to the invention with the features of the attached main claim and / or in a cooling module having the features of one or more dependent claims and or in a cooling module according to the present description, embodiments and drawings with otherwise unchanged or substantially the same structure, the cooling module according to the invention to a heating module with comparable advantages. The structural design of a cooling module according to the invention thus has further advantageous applications as a heating module. Since, in the case of a corresponding heating module, the lamellae serve for heating the air stream flowing through and the heat generated by the PTC heating elements is removed from the air flow, in a cooling module according to the invention the lamellas (in particular the lamella belts) serve to cool the air flow passing through them a cooling module according to the invention of a corresponding heating module characterized in that the cooling module allows heat conduction to dissipate the waste heat of the Peltier element.

Preferably, a cooling module according to the invention is integrated in an air-flowable housing, i. fastened in a housing through which air can flow. In this case, advantageously, a fan may be attached to the housing or inserted into this, preferably an axial fan. Incidentally, the housing can be provided for insertion into a seat, in particular a vehicle seat, or for insertion into an air duct with optionally switchable airflow cooling of a vehicle.

Very particular advantages arise with the electric cooling module according to the present invention, when it is used as a fan in a ventilated seat, in particular in a vehicle seat, or in an air duct, wherein, if necessary, by the Peltier element and the heat-conducting fins enabled airflow cooling can be switched on as seat cooling, if necessary stepwise or continuously.

A cooling module according to the invention can be advantageously used in many fields, for example for cooling lamps, for example halogen or LED lamps, car headlights, seats, chairs, beds, small control cabinets, control panels, screens, flat screens and housings with electrical or electronic parts (eg power supplies, Routers, servers, PCs, industrial PCs). In this case, the cooling module can be flanged on the outside to a corresponding housing whose interior is to be cooled by the cooling module, and the cold air generated by the cooling module is passed by a fan, for example, the fan on the upstream side of the cooling module through a housing opening in the housing. In this case, the waste heat generated by the cooling module and its Peltier element should not be conducted into the space to be cooled, ie not into the interior of the housing to be cooled. In that regard, a cooling module according to the invention can replace a conventional fan, which conveys ambient air into or out of a housing for cooling, with the difference that the cooling module is not housed in the housing because of the required dissipation of its heat output, ie outside heat-dissipating lamellar profiles are outside of the housing, but instead of the ambient air cooled air is conveyed into the housing. With a cooling module according to the invention, the operating temperature of a cooled or tempered room or component can be set in the range between -10 ° C and +50 ° C or regulated to such a temperature.

Incidentally, the cooling module or its housing according to the invention can be provided for insertion into a seat, in particular a vehicle seat, or for insertion into an air duct with optionally switchable airflow cooling or air conditioning of a vehicle. Very particular advantages are obtained with the electric cooling module according to the present invention in applications in vehicles, for example for cooling lamps, in particular LED lamps, headlamps (especially headlights), the engine control, a seat, an electronic control unit, the dashboard, a in the vehicle built-in device or in the close-fitting air conditioning. In the case of close-to-air conditioning, to achieve energy savings, especially in electric vehicles, only a small area around the occupant's body is cooled or conditioned and not the entire vehicle interior. For this purpose, close-fitting air outlet nozzles are used, from which tempered air flows out, for example from in the seat, seat belt, side or door trim, carpet trim and dashboard. In all these cases, the advantage of the small construction of a cooling module according to the invention, which can be used optionally not only for cooling, but also for heating, especially when using a PTC element in the cooling module, comes into play. For example, in the case of LED headlamps of vehicles, it is necessary on cold days to first preheat the headlamps for commissioning of the headlamps and then to cool them during operation. Both are possible with an inventive and space-saving cooling module in an advantageous manner, both with and without a PTC element optionally used therein.

The heat-conducting lamellae serve as heat-dissipating elements, with which the at least one Peltier element with its cold side in heat-conducting compound lintels deprives heat and heated with its warm side in thermally conductive fins, whereby the air flowing through the heat exchange area in the area of the cooled fins cooled and heated in the heated lamellae. The lamellae consist of a good heat-conducting material, preferably of metal, in particular copper, brass or preferably aluminum. The lamellae, in particular the lamellar profiles 6, can also be made of a thermally conductive plastic. Such plastics are available, for example, from Lati Industria Termoplastici SpA, Vedano Olona, Italy. These include, for example, types with an electrically conductive adjustment based on polypropylene (PP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyamide 6 (PA6) and polyurethane (PUR) as well as electrically insulating compounds (basic plastics PP and PA12). With the help of special fillers, for example, up to 70 percent by weight of graphite, the plastics reach a thermal conductivity of up to 15 W / mK and are therefore suitable for heat-conducting Applications that traditionally used metals such as aluminum.

The slats are realized in two different ways, namely either as a deformed, in particular folded and / or bent slat strip, e.g. a meander-shaped, rectangular, z-shaped or s-shaped metal strip metal strip folded to form slats, which forms an elongated heat exchanger lamella belt module, or as ribs of a fixed lamella profile, in particular an aluminum extruded profile. An aluminum extruded part has a particularly high thermal conductivity, so that the heat flow typical of the functioning of the electric cooling module, which takes place from the Peltier element into the heat dissipating fin profiles, is particularly high. A lamellar band according to the invention may also be a fine profile with very thin inner ribs.

A cooling module is preferably arranged in a corresponding airflow-conducting channel and its heat exchange region is flowed through by means of at least one fan, which is also referred to as a fan, with air, which can be cooled by means of the Peltier element. Because of the limited space in vehicles for air-flow channels space are usually used in the art as fans in cooling modules with Peltier elements radial fans. However, they are rather less suitable for this purpose, since they produce a high pressure at correspondingly high outflow velocities. More advantageous are axial fans, which provide a high flow rate of air (high volume flow) with small dimensions. Their lower pressure increase compared to a centrifugal fan is not significant for most automotive applications.

As a rule, the cooling modules comprise a plurality of Peltier elements which are in the air flow with their narrow side and which are thermally conductively connected to lamellae at their flat upper and lower sides. The to the Peltier elements adjacent heat-emitting areas have lamellae, for example, meandering arranged metal fins, which are also with their narrow side in the air flow and thermally contact the Peltier elements on its broad side at regular intervals for heat transfer. In order to achieve a good heat conduction between the Peltier elements and the heat-conducting fins, thermal adhesive or other bonding techniques can be used; However, it has proved to be the most efficient solution to put the Peltier elements and the heat-conducting lamellae in a module summarizing this frame and provide at least one spring element, whereby the heat-conducting fins, frames and the Peltier elements are held together.

An inventive cooling module can be realized for example in types that can be referred to simply as a round or square design. The electrical cooling modules of the round design have an annular contour in their outer contour, in particular circular heat exchange region in which the lamellar bands, the frame and the lamellar profiles are arranged. This simplifies assembly, particularly when it is to be automated, and increases the efficiency of the heat transfer from the Peltier element to the airflow routed through the heat exchange region (s). A circular heat exchange region is streamlined and therefore preferred in terms of flow conditions. The electric cooling modules of the angular design have an angularly shaped in their outer contour, in particular rectangular heat exchange region in which the lamellar bands, the frame and the lamellar profiles are arranged. However, the rectangular shape is not optimal in terms of flow for the purpose of controlling air flow, especially when the space for corresponding air-flow channels is very limited, as in a motor vehicle. In contrast, a cooling module of the rectangular type may be preferred because, in comparison with the The design of a particularly large mass of thermally conductive material and thus particularly high heat transport or cooling capacity in the outer region, ie in the region of the lamellar profiles may have.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the figures. The features described therein may be used alone or in combination with each other to provide preferred embodiments of the invention. Identical or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the various figures and usually described only once, although they can be used advantageously in other embodiments. Show it :

1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cooling module according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a further perspective exploded view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the cooling module of FIG. 1 in a housing with a round cross-section and a rectangular air outlet, as seen from the air outlet side,

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an axial view of FIG. 4,

FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section to FIG. 4,

8 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a cooling module according to the invention,

FIG. 9 is an axial view of FIG. 8;

10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a cooling module according to the invention in a housing or air duct with rectangular cross-section,

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 10; FIG. 12 shows an axial view of FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is an axial view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a radial plan view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the spring clip of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 shows a first modification to FIG. 15 and FIG

FIG. 17 shows a second modification to FIG. 15.

1 to 3 show a first exemplary embodiment of a cooling module 1 according to the invention, specifically in FIG. 1 in a perspective view, in FIG. 2 in a perspective exploded view to FIG. 1 and in FIG. 3 in a further perspective exploded view to FIG. 1. FIG 1 is a perspective view of an electric cooling module 1 for electrically cooling an airflow 3 flowing in a flow direction 2, in particular for cooling and ventilating a seat, according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, comprising an air-throughflowable heat exchange region 4 with heat-conducting fins arranged therein. The lamellae comprise two different embodiments in combination, namely two lamellae bands 5, which are formed as lamellar band modules arranged side by side, and two fixed lamellar profiles 6. The lamellae bands 5 can be meandering, rectangular, z-shaped or s-shaped, for example Be folded flap band modules. Particularly advantageous lamellar folds are described in the document WO 2009/087106 A1 and in the German patent application DE 10 2010 033 309.3. The lamellar bands 5 are arranged in the central region of the heat exchange region 4 within a frame 7, which is arranged transversely to the flow direction 2. The lamellar profiles 6 are arranged in the outer region of the heat exchange region 4. In particular, it can be provided as shown, according to a further advantageous feature, that the lamellar profiles 6 outside of Frame 7 are arranged in order to achieve an optimized structure and a good cooling capacity of the cooling module 1.

The lamellar bands 5 and the lamellar profiles 6 are in heat-conducting connection with one or more Peltier elements 10, which can be seen in FIG. 2, and are combined with these and the frame 7 to form the module 1. The electrical contacting of the Peltier elements 10 takes place by means of feed lines 8. The individual parts of the cooling module 1 are held together with spring elements 9 which compress the lamellae bands 5, the lamellar profiles 6 and the Peltier elements 10.

The air flow 3 through the heat exchange region 4 of the cooling module 1 comprises two regions, namely the inner air flow through the inner region, which flows through the lamella belts 5, and the outer air flow through the outer region, which flows through the lamellar profiles 6. In the normal mode of operation of the cooling module 1 for cooling the internal air flow, the Peltier elements 10 are switched so that heat is removed from the lamellar bands 5 and this heat is released via the lamellar profiles 6 to the environment. This cools the inner airflow and heats the outer airflow. The inner air flow will usually be generated by a fan. The outer air flow can be generated by a fan, which may be the same fan as the inner air flow or another fan, but it may also be without a fan due to the thermals of the air formed between the warm ribs of the fin profiles 6 to form automatically.

The inner and the outer air flow can be separated from each other by optional flow guide elements, for example partitions, air ducts, nozzles, air flaps, etc., in particular in order to obtain a spatially firmly delimited inner air flow. If the Peltier Elec- 10 of the cooling module 1 are reversed, the lamellar profiles 6 are cooled and the lamellae 5 is heated. As a result, the inner air flow flowing through the lamellar belts 5 is heated, and the cooling module 1 thus becomes a heating module in this operating mode, since the inner air flow is heated instead of being cooled.

For flow reasons, it is advantageous if the narrow sides of the lamella belts 5 and / or the lamellar profiles 6 point axially upstream or downstream of the air flow 3. Furthermore, it is advantageous if, as shown in FIG. 1, the narrow sides of the lamellar bands 5 and / or the lamellar profiles 6 in the cooling module 1 do not extend in the radial direction (transverse to the flow direction 2) but as a chord or secant in the heat exchange region 4. This means that the narrow sides of the lamellar bands 5 and / or the lamellar profiles 6 do not extend in the radial direction, relative to a center of the heat exchange region 4, but to a certain extent transversely in the heat exchange region 4. As a result, the slats, in particular the slat bands 5 can be arranged with high accuracy at predetermined locations. Another advantage is that in the lamellae bands 5 and / or the lamellar profiles 6 air passage openings with rectangular and at least partially uniformly equal cross-sections can be realized, which is advantageous both for a low air resistance of the cooling module 1 as for a high cooling capacity. In a further advantageous embodiment can be provided as shown to avoid turbulence that the narrow sides of the lamella belts 5 and / or the lamellar profiles 6 are mutually parallel, preferably that the narrow sides of the lamella belts 5 and the lamellar profiles 6 are parallel to each other.

Deflections and turbulences in the airflow 3, which have a pressure-increasing effect, are also avoided according to another advantageous feature shown, when the (in the axial direction, ie in flow direction) mungsrichtung 2 extending) broad sides of the lamella belts 5 and / or the lamellar profiles 6 are not tilted or twisted against the axial direction and thus not against the direct air flow direction 2, but extend axially in the cooling module 1.

A simple construction of the cooling module 1 results when it has a plurality of each lamella band 5 combined into a lamellar band module and the lamellar band modules lying in the frame 7 with their longitudinal sides, which extend transversely and axially to the flow direction 2 in a plane adjacent to each other and / or are arranged with these longitudinal sides in each case standing in thermal connection with each other. The embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 has two such slat band modules.

The frame 7 can in principle have any shape, for example, round, square or polygonal. To simplify the manufacture and assembly, it is preferred if the frame 7 has a rectangular shape. An almost maximum area of the part of the heat exchange area 4 covered by the frame 7 is achieved if, as shown in FIG. 1, the frame 7 is rectangular and the corners of the rectangle are arranged close to the outer contour of the cooling module 1. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the outer contour of the heat exchange region 4 is annular, i. essentially round, circular, elliptical or stadium-shaped.

Ribs of the lamellar profile 6 are in the embodiment of Figure 1 in its outer region open and not connected in pairs. This open, slotted formation of the ribs of the lamellar profile 6 is preferred, for example, when the cooling module 1 is inserted into a housing or a flow channel with a tapering or widening cross-section in the region of the cooling module 1, that is to say into a conical housing. The air flow is namely compressed and namely can, since the flow is not hindered by cross-connections at the end of the ribs, better flow between the fins of the fin profile 6, wherein the fin profile 6 may continue to have a cylindrical or rectangular outer shape. For guiding the cooling module 1 in a housing (not shown), one or more webs (not shown, formed by extensions on the lamellar profiles 6 or by the ribs themselves) may be provided on the outside of the lamellar profile 6 with lamellar profiles 6 open towards the edge be, which engage in corresponding guide grooves in the housing, or the housing has on its inside one or more webs which engage between the ribs, thus forming associated guide grooves.

2 shows in a perspective exploded view of the cooling module 1 further advantageous features of the cooling module 1 of Figure 1. It can be seen here well that the cooling module 1 has two lamellar profiles 6, which are each arranged on opposite sides of the frame 7 outside the frame 7. As a result, heat removal from the lamellar bands 5 of the core to two sides outside the frame 7 is possible. Furthermore, according to a further advantageous feature, the lamellar bands 5 are arranged in the interior of the frame 7 and the lamellar profiles 6 on the outside of the frame 6.

The frame 7 is advantageously made of an electrically non-conductive material, such as plastic. To improve the thermal insulation between the cold and the warm side of the Peltier elements 10, ie between the lamellar bands 5 and the lamella profiles 6, the frame 7 is preferably formed from a thermally insulating material. This serves for the thermal insulation of the cooled core with the lamellar bands 5 and thus also the protection against moisture. Preferred thermally insulating materials from which the frame 7 can be formed and which in particular can also be easily removed. can work, are plastics, preferably deformable soft plastics, high temperature fibers, fiber products (nonwovens), paper products, polystyrene or polypropylene, in particular polystyrene (EPP) -extruded, ie expanded polypropylene (EPP). In addition, such substances compensate for deviations or thermal expansions.

Particularly suitable high-temperature fibers, fiber products or paper products are, for example, Insulfrax® paper products of the manufacturer Unifrax. They are made from virgin fiber, alkaline earth silicate wool and specially selected organic binders. This produces flexible papers with good strength and flexibility, uniform structure with low thermal conductivity, good processing properties, easy stampability, smooth surface, high temperature resistance (up to 1200 ° C), low weight and good thermal and acoustic insulation properties.

Another preferred material for the frame 7 is polypropylene or polystyrene, especially polystyrene (EPP) extruded, i. expanded polypropylene (EPP), preferably as a molded part. It is a particle foam based on polypropylene. Processing in the so-called molding process takes place in special molding machines. EPP is increasingly gaining importance outside of its initial application areas (automotive and high-quality returnable packaging). It has a good strength, a uniform structure with low thermal conductivity, a smooth surface, is well processed and machinable, a high temperature resistance (up to 200 ° C), a low weight and good thermal and acoustic insulation properties.

The Peltier elements 10 are arranged in the frame 7, that is inserted into openings 11 in the frame 7, and are available both with the arranged inside the frame 7 slats bands 5 as well as arranged on the outside of the frame 7 fin profiles 6 in thermally conductive connection. This can be done by the Peltier element

10 heat flow generated by current flow from the fins on the cold side of the Peltier element 10, i. usually from the lamellar bands 5, to the lamellae on the warm side of the Peltier element 10, i. usually to the lamellar profiles 6, done. The frame 7 accommodates, as it were, the Peltier elements 10 in a dividing plane or dividing wall, which is formed by the frame 7 between the lamellar bands 5 and the lamellar profiles 6.

The frame 7 preferably forms a supernatant in and against the axial flow direction 2 via the Peltier elements 10 inserted therein. As a result, the Peltier elements 10 in the openings

11 of the frame 7 also guided in the axial direction of the cooling module 1, in particular when the frame 7 is formed of a solid material such as plastic or EPP.

The frame 7 is divided into two parts in this embodiment, wherein both frame halves are each U-shaped. The Peltier elements 10 are preferably mounted in the U-back 12 of the frame halves. The U-legs 13 of the frame halves face each other. The U-legs 13 of the frame halves can be displaced in the direction of each other and against each other in order to compensate for thermal expansions, where they can be guided by the insides of the lamellar profiles 6. However, this displaceability is not required in all embodiments, especially when the frame 7 is made of a deformable material. The opposite ends of the frame members may also be interconnected, for example, as shown in Figure 2 by a dovetail guide, wherein a cam of one end engages in a corresponding groove of the opposite end. Such an embodiment may be preferred for round flow cross sections. In the inner corners of the frame 7 grooves may be formed. These can be useful on the one hand in the assembly of the frame 7, for example, if it is made of a fiber or paper product to be able to fold it at the given crimping can. The grooves can also serve as drainage or collecting channel 24, in which accumulates condensate formed during cooling operation. They can also serve for water drainage. If the water is conducted to the lamellar profiles 6, it can evaporate there, resulting in an additional advantageous cooling of the lamellar profiles 6.

The two lamellar profiles 6 are in the form of an arc, ie arc-shaped, arc-shaped or approximately arc-shaped on the outside of the frame 7 is arranged. They are adapted with their inside to the outside of the frame 7 and with its outer edge to the outer contour of the heat exchange region 4 in order to make optimum use of the available space can. The lamellar profiles 6 have on their inner side facing the frame 7 rounded inner corners 15, which make the lamellar profiles 6 stable and stress-free. In the illustrated embodiment are located within the frame 7, two slat bands 5, which are each combined to form a slat band module, which are parallel to each other. For optimum utilization of the available space, embodiments are preferred in which the central area of the heat exchange area 4 enclosed by the frame 7 is completely or almost completely filled with lamellar bands 5. The height of the lamella bands 5 will be less than about 15 mm for manufacturing reasons or because of the stability of the lamella bands 5 usually. Therefore, a plurality of lamellar bands 5 are arranged next to one another in the frame 7, in order to bridge or close the space between the Peltier elements 10 in the frame 7 closely adjacent to the Peltier elements 10. to fill. Further, in each case one of the U-back 12, a Peltier element 10 is arranged (see also Figure 3).

In the exploded view according to FIG. 3 of the cooling module 1, it is shown that between the Peltier elements 10 and the lamellar band 5 or lamellar band module adjoining it, a support element 14 in the form of a support plate is arranged, which is thermally conductive, i. preferably made of metal, and in particular the mechanical adjustment and the distribution of forces is used. An optional PTC heating element can be used in the interior of the frame 7 between two adjacent lamellae bands 5, in particular instead of the middle of the three support elements 14 shown, possibly with associated electrical contact plate, if the cooling module 1 should also serve for heating. However, a PTC heating element can also be arranged in the frame 7, possibly instead of a Peltier element 10 and optionally with electrical contact plates. The electrical connections of the Peltier elements 10, i. their leads 8, or the electrical connections of optional PTC heating elements, i. the terminal lugs associated contact elements, which are formed for example for attaching cable lugs, are arranged in all embodiments advantageously on the air inlet side of the cooling module 1 in order to avoid problems due to their heating.

In a cooling module 1 according to the invention, the thermal expansions can be compensated and compensated by a displacement of lamellar bands 5, lamellar profiles 6 and optionally the Peltier elements 10 and / or the frame 7, wherein both the intimate thermally conductive contact between the Peltier elements 10 and Lamella bands 5 and the intimate thermally conductive contact between the Peltier elements 10 and the lamellar profiles 6 is maintained. This also applies to the good electrical contacting of an optionally used PTC heating element. For this purpose, the cooling module 1 according to the invention Spring elements 9 which are formed for compressing the lamellar bands 5 or lamellar band modules, the lamellar profiles 6 and the Peltier elements 10.

According to a preferred further feature, it is provided, as shown in FIG. 1, that the spring elements 9 engage in the lamellar profiles 6 and compress them under prestress, the lamellar profiles 6 compressed by the spring elements 9 in each case on opposite sides of the frame 7 outside the frame 7 are arranged. As a result, the structure is easy to manufacture and easy to disassemble in the event of disposal, and it will be in a simple and reliable way with few spring elements

9, the required components, including lamellae bands 5, frame 7, lamellar profiles 6, Peltier elements 10, support elements 14 and optional PTC heating elements optional electrical contact elements spring-loaded held together. If the spring elements 9 act, for example, on the frame 7 instead of on the lamella profiles 6, additional spring elements are required in order to hold together the other components in the cooling module 1, which results in a higher manufacturing outlay. The action clamping direction of the spring elements 9 is advantageously opposite to the thermal expansion direction of the components of the cooling module 1 and opposite to the displacement or guide direction, which have the components of the cooling module 1 in thermal expansion in the cooling module 1.

Especially with round flow cross sections, i. at cooling modules

10 of the round design, the spring elements 9 as shown in Figure 1 are arranged transversely to the flow direction 2 adjacent to the frame 7. The spring elements 9 as shown in Figure 1 are preferably formed as a spring clip or spring clip made of a flat spring material and engage at opposite ends of the lamellar profiles 6 at. A particularly advantageous feature, in particular in the case of an annular or round outer contour of the heat exchange region 4, as shown in FIG. 1, is that the Peltier elements 10 are not arranged in the core or flow center of the heat exchange region 4, but are offset transversely to the flow direction 2 to the outside In this way, an optimal bilateral air flow around the Peltier elements 10 is made possible, namely both on its side facing the lamellar bands 5 and on the side of the respective adjacent lamella profile 6. Furthermore, a good double-sided heat coupling of the Peltier elements 10 to the lamellar bands 5 and the lamellar profiles 6 can thereby be realized, which is expedient in particular when using the cooling module 1 with an axial fan.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, according to a further advantageous feature, it can be seen that the cooling module 1 comprises Peltier elements 10 which are arranged in two opposite sides of the frame 7. This results in a symmetrical design of the cooling module 1, which is advantageous in relation to the cooling of the lamella bands 5, the heat dissipation via the lamellar profiles 6 and the pairwise use of the same components in the cooling module 1.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the frame 7 forms a separation between a cold air flow through the central region with the lamellar bands 5 and a warm air flow through the outer region with the lamellar profiles 6, wherein the cold air flow is guided by fins, which in thermally conductive connection with the cold side of the Peltier element 10, and wherein the warm air flow is guided by fins, which are in heat-conducting connection with the warm side of the Peltier element 10. The cooling module 1 is preferably designed such that in the standard mode the lamellar strip 5 is in heat-conducting connection with the cold side of the Peltier element 10 and the lamellar profile 6 is in heat-conducting connection with the warm side of the Peltier element 10. The frame 7 preferably encloses a cold air stream, which can be conducted through fins, which are in heat-conducting connection with the cold side of the Peltier element 10. The cold air flow thus flows axially through the interior of the frame 7, ie perpendicular to the cross-sectional area of the cooling module 1 formed by the frame 7. Accordingly, it is preferred if the cooling module 1 is designed such that a warm air flow can be conducted through a lamellar profile 6 is arranged on the outside of the frame 7, wherein the slat profile 6 is in heat-conducting connection with the Peltier element 10. The warm air flow thus flows through the heat exchange area 4 axially on the outside of the frame.

FIGS. 4 to 7 show the cooling module 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 in a housing 16 with a round cross-section and rectangular air outlet, specifically in FIG. 4 in a perspective view from the air outlet side, in a perspective exploded view to FIG 4, in FIG. 6 in an axial view to FIG. 4 and in FIG. 7 in a longitudinal section to FIG. 4. The cooling module 1 with the lamella tapes 5, the frame 7, the lamellar profiles 6 and the spring elements 9 is integrated into the housing 16 through which air can flow. The housing 16 is fastened with a flange 17 to a component or device to be cooled. The housing 16 may have a non-illustrated protective grid on the air inlet and / or the air outlet side. Further, a fan 18 is attached to the housing 16 or inserted into this. This is preferably an axial fan. The fan 18 is, with respect to the flow direction 2, preferably arranged upstream of the cooling module 1, ie on the air inlet side of the cooling module. 1 The ends of some ribs of the lamellar profiles 6 are formed as webs or serve as such to guide the cooling module 1 against rotation in corresponding guide grooves in the housing 16. The webs engage in corresponding guide grooves on the inside of the housing 16, which can be formed for example by noses or webs. The fan 18 is mounted and fixed in a two-part rubber mounting 19, which rests in two annular halves around the fan 18 and is held with locking cams 20 in corresponding detent openings 21 of the housing 16. The axial positioning of the cooling module 1 in the housing 16 can also be done by means of resiliently deflectable latching hooks, which first spread when inserting the cooling module 1 in the housing 16 by their bevel and then snap back.

A two-piece ring as a rubber mount 19 is easier to manufacture and assemble than a one-piece, closed ring. To simplify the assembly, the housing ring of the fan 18 may be slightly conical. The rubber mounting 19 serves both the vibration-damped mounting of the fan 18 in the housing 16 and the prevention of backflow of air against the flow direction 2 due to a flow resistance on the air outlet side by the rubber mounting the annular gap around the fan 18 between the housing 16 and the fan 18 seals.

The axial fan 18 is arranged in such a way that its radially inner air stream flows through the lamellar belts 5 and its radially outer air flow passes through the lamellar profiles 6. Thus, in the standard mode of operation of the cooling module 1 for cooling, the outer air flow is heated and the inner air flow is cooled. In the cooling module 1, these two air streams are separated by the frame 7. On the outlet side of the cooling module 1, the housing 16 has a partition wall 22 formed here by a rectangular connecting piece, which forms a separation between a hot and a cold air flow, whereby the separating wall 22 in the flow direction 2 downstream of the frame 7 connects or the frame 7 forms part of the partition 22. The cold air flows out of the housing 16 within the nozzle and the warm air outside. The warm air is thereby deflected by a housing part, so that they do not get together with the cold air from the nozzle in the cooled air flow or in the space to be cooled. For this purpose, the flange 17, through which the warm air is deflected and flows through outlet openings 23, which have the shape of annular gaps, flows out of the housing 16. The outlet openings 23 are thus upstream of the flange 17, through which the cold air emerges.

The housing 16 thus has outlet openings 23 for discharging hot air from the housing 16. They are preferably arranged on the outlet side of the cooling module 1. The size, arrangement and extent of the outlet openings 23 can be adapted to the respective practical requirements. In some applications, they can also be arranged directly around the lamellar profiles 6, ie the housing 16 arranged around the lamellar profiles 6 can be open there, in order to enable good heat dissipation to the environment. This can be expedient, for example, in small embodiments in which a cooling module 1 with fan 18 and a housing 16 is arranged directly above a component to be cooled, for example by means of stud bolts over an electronic power element. It differs from the cooling module 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3, characterized in that the U-legs 13 of the opposite frame halves not fixed by dovetail guides, but by the step-like design of the interlocking ends can be displaced in the direction of one another and against one another in order to be able to compensate for thermal expansions, whereby they can be guided through the insides of the lamellar profiles 6.

FIGS. 10 to 14 show a third exemplary embodiment of a cooling module 1 according to the invention in an air duct or housing 16 with a rectangular cross section, FIG. 10 is a perspective view, FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 10, FIG. 12 is an axial view of FIG. 11, FIG 13 is an axial view of FIG. 10, and FIG. 14 is a radial plan view of FIG. 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the outer contour of the heat exchange region 4 is rectangular. Accordingly, the outer contour of the heat exchange region 4 may be generally rectangular or polygonal.

Like the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9, the cooling module 1 according to FIGS. 10 to 14 is provided for electrically cooling an air stream 3 flowing through the lamellar bands 5 in a flow direction 2, in particular for cooling and ventilating a seat, and comprises a heat-exchanging area through which air can flow 4 arranged therein with heat-conducting fins. The lamellae comprise two different embodiments in combination, namely two lamellar bands 5, which are formed as a side-by-side lamellar band modules, and two fixed lamellar profiles 6. The lamella bands 5, for example, meander-shaped, rectangular, z-shaped or s-shaped folded into slat band modules be, for example, as described in WO 2009/087106 AI or in the German patent application DE 10 2010 033 309.3. The lamellar bands 5 are arranged in the central region of the heat exchange region 4 within a frame 7, which is arranged transversely to the flow direction 2. The lamellar profiles 6 are arranged in the outer region of the heat exchange region 4. In particular, according to a further advantageous feature, as shown, it can be provided that the lamellar profiles 6 are arranged outside the frame 7 in order to achieve an optimized structure and a good cooling capacity of the cooling module 1.

In contrast to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9, the rectangular frame 7 of FIGS. 10 to 14 comprises two longitudinal frame members of a solid plastic extending in the longitudinal direction of a lamellar band module, each forming a frame half, each frame half comprising a U Back 12 and two short U-legs 13 includes. The frame longitudinal members can be displaced relative to one another under the bias of the spring elements 9 transversely to the flow direction of the air stream 3, wherein by means of a detent between the adjoining U-legs 13 may possibly be ensured that the U-back 12 can not exceed a maximum distance ie the frame 7 can only be opened up to a maximum size. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the frame halves are connected at the opposite ends of the U-legs 13 by a detent at a fixed distance from each other, i. The frame halves are not mutually displaceable. However, the thermal expansion of the lamellar bands 5 and the lamellar profiles 6 can be done in round and angular embodiments of the cooling module 1 even with a rigid, non-movable frame, since the Peltier elements 10 in openings in the frame longitudinal parts, the U-back 12 of the embodiments Figures 1 to 9 correspond, are housed and attack the spring elements on the lamellar profiles 6 and thus compress the lamellar bands 5, the Peltier elements 10 and the lamellar profiles 6. This design is particularly advantageous for very compact cooling modules 1 and cooling modules 1 for rectangular flow cross sections or housing 16.

According to a further advantageous feature, the frame 7 in the angular or round design of a cooling module 1 could also be rectangular and have four straight frame parts, comprising two in longitudinal direction. tion of a lamellar belt module extending, opposite longitudinal frame members and two frame longitudinal parts connecting at their ends frame connecting parts, wherein the frame longitudinal members under the bias of the spring elements 9 against each other slidably guided in the frame connecting parts. In order to enable this cohesion of the frame 7 with play and easy installation, the frame connecting parts may for example have locking lugs, which engage behind corresponding webs in the frame longitudinal parts. Furthermore, the cooling module 1 may advantageously comprise two straight lamellar profiles 6, which are arranged on the outside of the frame 7 and are adapted with their inside to the outside of the frame 7 and with its outer edge to the outer contour of the heat exchange region 4.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 10, ribs of the lamellar profile 6 are closed in pairs in their outer region, so that a particularly high stability of the ribs results here. This embodiment is preferred, for example, when the cooling module 1 is placed in a housing 16 or a flow channel with constant, i. is used in the region of the cooling module 1 is not used in the flow direction 2 tapered or widening cross-section, i. in the round design, for example, in a cylindrical housing or in a cylindrical flow channel. For guiding the cooling module 1 in the housing 16, one or more webs can be provided, for example, on the outside of the lamellar profile 6, which engage in corresponding guide grooves in the housing 16, or the housing 16 has on its inside one or more webs 18 which engage between the ribs, which thus form associated guide grooves.

Particularly in the case of a rectangular construction according to FIGS. 10 to 14, the spring elements 9 can advantageously be arranged offset in the flow direction 2 in front of and / or behind the frame 7 in order to provide a good clamping effect of the spring elements 9 and a compact, the space available well-exploiting structure to achieve. Both in Figures 1 to 9 and in Figures 10 to 14, the spring elements 9 as a spring clip, flat spring or spring clip of a flat spring material (shown in Figures 1 to 9) or of a round spring material (shown in Figures 10 to 14) may be formed. FIG. 15 shows the spring element of FIGS. 10 to 14, FIGS. 16 and 17 modified embodiments.

The further embodiment of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 14 can be carried out as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. This applies in particular to the following features.

The lamellar bands 5 and the lamellar profiles 6 are in thermally conductive connection with one or more Peltier elements 10 and are combined with these and the frame 7 to form the module 1. The individual parts of the cooling module 1 are held together with spring elements 9, which compress the lamellar bands 5, the lamellar profiles 6 and the Peltier elements 10.

The air flow 3 through the heat exchange region 4 of the cooling module 1 comprises two regions, namely the inner air flow through the inner region, which flows through the lamella belts 5, and the outer air flow through the outer region, which flows through the lamellar profiles 6. In the normal mode of operation of the cooling module 1 for cooling the internal air flow, the Peltier elements 10 are switched so that heat is removed from the lamellar bands 5 and this heat is released via the lamellar profiles 6 to the environment. This cools the inner airflow and heats the outer airflow. The inner air flow will usually be generated by a fan. The outer air flow can be generated by a fan, which is the same fan as the inner air flow or another fan can act, but it can also form without a fan due to the formed between the warm ribs of the lamellar profiles 6 thermals of the air automatically.

The inner and outer air flow can be separated from each other by optional flow guide elements, for example partitions, air guide channels, nozzles, louvers, etc., in particular in order to obtain a spatially firmly delimited inner air flow. When the Peltier elements 10 of the cooling module 1 are reversed, the lamellar profiles 6 are cooled and the lamella belts 5 are heated. As a result, the inner air flow flowing through the lamellar belts 5 is heated, and the cooling module 1 thus becomes a heating module in this operating mode, since the inner air flow is heated instead of being cooled.

For flow reasons, it is advantageous if the narrow sides of the lamella belts 5 and / or the lamellar profiles 6 point axially upstream or downstream of the air flow 3. Furthermore, it is advantageous if, as shown in FIG. 1, the narrow sides of the lamellar bands 5 and / or the lamellar profiles 6 in the cooling module 1 do not extend in the radial direction (transverse to the flow direction 2) but as a chord or secant in the heat exchange region 4. This means that the narrow sides of the lamellar bands 5 and / or the lamellar profiles 6 do not extend in the radial direction, relative to a center of the heat exchange region 4, but to a certain extent transversely in the heat exchange region 4. As a result, the slats, in particular the slat bands 5 can be arranged with high accuracy at predetermined locations. Another advantage is that in the lamellae bands 5 and / or the lamellar profiles 6 air passage openings with rectangular and at least partially uniformly equal cross-sections can be realized, which is advantageous both for a low air resistance of the cooling module 1 as for a high cooling capacity. In a further advantageous embodiment can be as shown to avoid be provided by turbulence that the narrow sides of the lamella belts 5 and / or the lamellar profiles 6 are each parallel to each other, preferably that the narrow sides of the lamella belts 5 and the lamellar profiles 6 are parallel to each other.

Deflections and turbulence in the air stream 3, which increase pressure, are also avoided according to another advantageous feature shown, when the (in the axial direction, ie extending in the direction of flow 2) broad sides of the lamella belts 5 and / or the lamellar profiles 6 not against the axial Direction and thus are not tilted or twisted against the direct air flow direction 2, but axially in the cooling module 1 run.

A simple construction of the cooling module 1 results when it has a plurality of each lamella band 5 combined into a lamellar band module and the lamellar band modules lying in the frame 7 with their longitudinal sides, which extend transversely and axially to the flow direction 2 in a plane adjacent to each other and / or are arranged with these longitudinal sides in each case standing in thermal connection with each other. The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 14 has two such slat band modules.

The frame 7 can in principle have any shape, for example, round, square or polygonal. To simplify the manufacture and assembly, it is preferred if the frame 7 has a rectangular shape. An almost maximum area of the portion of the heat exchange portion 4 covered by the frame 7 is achieved when, as shown in FIG. 10, the frame 7 is rectangular and the corners of the rectangle are arranged close to the outer contour of the cooling module 1.

The cooling module 1 has two lamellar profiles 6 which are arranged on opposite sides of the frame 7 outside the frame 7 in each case. are net. As a result, heat removal from the lamellar bands 5 of the core to two sides outside the frame 7 is possible. Furthermore, according to a further advantageous feature, the lamellar bands 5 are arranged in the interior of the frame 7 and the lamellar profiles 6 on the outside of the frame 6.

The frame 7 is advantageously made of an electrically non-conductive material, such as plastic. To improve the thermal insulation between the cold and warm sides of the Peltier elements 10, i. between the lamellar bands 5 and the lamellar profiles 6, the frame 7 is preferably formed of a thermally insulating material. This serves for the thermal insulation of the cooled core with the lamellar bands 5 and thus also the protection against moisture. Preferred thermally insulating materials from which the frame 7 can be formed and in particular also easy to process are plastics, preferably deformable soft plastics, and high-temperature fibers or paper products. In addition, deformable plastics and high-temperature fibers or paper products compensate for dimensional deviations or thermal expansions.

The Peltier elements 10 are arranged in the frame 7, ie inserted into openings 11 in the frame 7, and are in heat-conducting both with the arranged inside the frame 7 slats bands 5 and arranged on the outside of the frame 7 fin profiles Connection. As a result, the heat transfer generated by the Peltier element 10 during current flow from the fins on the cold side of the Peltier element 10, ie usually from the lamella tapes 5, to the fins on the warm side of the Peltier element 10, ie usually to the lamellar profiles 6, take place. The frame 7 accommodates, as it were, the Peltier elements 10 in a dividing plane or dividing wall, which is formed by the frame 7 between the lamellar bands 5 and the lamellar profiles 6. The frame 7 is divided into two parts in this embodiment, wherein both frame halves are each U-shaped. The Peltier elements 10 are preferably mounted in the U-back 12 of the frame halves. The U-legs 13 of the frame halves face each other. The U-legs 13 of the frame halves can be displaced in the direction of each other and against each other in order to compensate for thermal expansions, where they can be guided by the insides of the lamellar profiles 6. The frame can also be rigid.

In the illustrated embodiment are located within the frame 7, two slat bands 5, which are each combined to form a slat band module, which are parallel to each other. For optimum utilization of the available space, embodiments are preferred in which the central area of the heat exchange area 4 enclosed by the frame 7 is completely or almost completely filled with lamellar bands 5. The height of the lamella bands 5 will be less than about 15 mm for manufacturing reasons or because of the stability of the lamella bands 5 usually. Therefore, in the frame 7 a plurality of lamellar bands 5 are arranged side by side to closely adjacent to the Peltier elements 10, the space between the Peltier elements 10 in the frame 7 to bridge or fill.

Between the Peltier elements 10 and the respective adjacent lamellar band 5 or lamellar band module is still a support element 14 is arranged in the form of a support plate which is thermally conductive, ie preferably consists of metal, and in particular the mechanical adjustment and the distribution of Serves forces. An optional PTC heating element can be used in the interior of the frame 7 between two adjacent lamellar bands 5, in particular instead of the support element 14, possibly with an associated electrical contact plate, if the cooling module 1 should also serve for heating. However, a PTC heating element can also be arranged in the frame 7, possibly instead of a Peltier element 10 and optionally with electrical contact plates.

The thermal expansions can be compensated and compensated by a displacement of lamellar bands 5, lamellar profiles 6 and optionally the Peltier elements 10 and / or the frame 7, wherein both the intimate thermally conductive contact between the Peltier elements 10 and the lamellae 5 and the intimate thermally conductive contact between the Peltier elements 10 and the lamellar profiles 6 is maintained. This also applies to the good electrical contacting of an optionally used PTC heating element. For this purpose, the cooling module according to the invention 1 on spring elements 9, which are designed for compressing the lamellar bands 5 or lamellar band modules, the lamellar profiles 6 and the Peltier elements 10.

The spring elements 9 engage in the lamellar profiles 6 and push them under bias loaded together, wherein the pressed together by the spring elements 9 lamellar profiles 6 are each arranged on opposite sides of the frame 7 outside of the frame 7. As a result, the structure is easy to manufacture and easy to disassemble in the event of disposal, and there are in a simple and reliable way with a few spring elements 9, the required components, including lamellae 5, frame 7, lamellar profiles 6, Peltier elements 10, support members 14 and for optional PTC heating elements optional electrical contact elements spring-loaded movably held together. If the spring elements 9 act, for example, on the frame 7 instead of on the lamella profiles 6, additional spring elements are required in order to hold together the other components in the cooling module 1, which results in a higher manufacturing outlay. The action clamping direction of the spring elements 9 is advantageously opposite to the thermal expansion direction of the components of the cooling module 1 and opposite to the displacement or guide direction, which have the components of the cooling module 1 in the thermal expansion in the cooling module 1.

The Peltier elements 10 are not arranged in the core or flow center of the heat exchange region 4, but are offset transversely to the flow direction 2 to the outside, namely in the U-back 12. This is an optimal two-sided air flow around the Peltier elements 10 allows, namely both their side facing the lamellar bands 5 side as well as on the respective adjacent lamellar profile 6 side facing. Furthermore, a good double-sided heat coupling of the Peltier elements 10 to the lamellar bands 5 and the lamellar profiles 6 can thereby be realized.

Another advantageous feature may consist in that the Peltier element 10 is cuboid-shaped and arranged in the cooling module 1 such that its longitudinal side extends transversely to the flow direction 2. As a result, the Peltier element 10 is parallel to the lamellar bands 5 and the U-back 12 of the frame 7 and the narrow sides of the thermal contact surfaces of the Peltier element 10 are axially in the flow direction 2. This results in a very small overall depth of the cooling module 1 in its axial flow direction 2, which is very advantageous for use in confined spaces.

The cooling module 1 comprises Peltier elements 10 which are arranged in two opposite sides of the frame 7. This results in a symmetrical design of the cooling module 1, which is advantageous in relation to the cooling of the lamella bands 5, the heat dissipation via the lamellar profiles 6 and the pairwise use of the same components in the cooling module 1. The frame 7 forms a separation between a cold air flow through the central region with the lamellar bands 5 and a warm air flow through the outer region with the lamellar profiles 6, wherein the cold air flow is guided by fins, in heat-conducting connection with the cold side of the Peltier Elements 10 are, and wherein the warm air flow is guided by fins, which are in heat-conducting connection with the warm side of the Peltier element 10.

The cooling module 1 is preferably designed such that in the standard mode the lamellar strip 5 is in heat-conducting connection with the cold side of the Peltier element 10 and the lamellar profile 6 is in heat-conducting connection with the warm side of the Peltier element 10. The frame 7 preferably encloses a cold air stream, which can be conducted through fins, which are in heat-conducting connection with the cold side of the Peltier element 10. The cold air flow thus flows axially through the interior of the frame, i. perpendicular to the cross-sectional area of the cooling module 1 formed by the frame. Accordingly, it is preferred if the cooling module 1 is designed so that a warm air flow through a slat profile 6 can be conducted, which is arranged on the outside of the frame 7, wherein the slat profile 6 in heat-conducting Connection with the Peltier element 10 is. The warm air flow thus flows through the heat exchange area 4 axially on the outside of the frame.

The cooling module 1 with the lamellar bands 5, the frame 7, the lamellar profiles 6 and the spring elements 9 of Figures 10 to 14 is integrated into a luftdurchströmbares housing 16 with rectangular cross section and rectangular air outlet. The ends of some ribs of the lamellar profiles 6 are formed as webs or serve as such to guide the cooling module 1 in corresponding guide grooves in the housing 16. The webs engage in corresponding guide grooves on the Inside the housing 16, which can be formed for example by noses or webs.

The cooling module 1 is flown by an air flow, which is generated by a fan. The inner air flow flows through the lamellar bands 5 and the radially outer air flow through the lamellar profiles 6. In the standard mode of operation of the cooling module 1 for cooling, the outer air flow is thus heated and the inner air flow is cooled. In the cooling module 1, these two air streams are separated by the frame 7. On the outlet side of the cooling module 1, the housing 16 may have a partition which forms a separation between a hot and a cold air flow, wherein the partition in the flow direction 2 downstream of the frame 7 connects or the frame 7 forms part of the partition. The cold air flows out of the center of the cooling module 1 and the warm air flows out of the edge area. The warm air can be deflected by a housing part, so that they do not get along with the cold air in the cooled air flow or in the space to be cooled.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 cooling module

2 flow direction

3 airflow

4 heat exchange area

5 slat band

6 lamellar profile

7 frames

8 supply line

9 spring element

10 peltier element

11 opening

12 U-backs

13 U-thighs

14 supporting element

15 inside corner

16 housing

17 flange

18 fans

19 rubber storage

20 locking cams

21 latching opening

22 partition wall

23 outlet opening

24 collecting trough

Claims

claims

Electric cooling module (1) for electrically cooling an air stream (3), in particular for cooling and ventilating a seat, having at least one Peltier element (10) and at least one heat-exchanging heat exchange area (4) with heat-conducting lamellae which are connected to the Peltier Element (10) are in thermally conductive connection and are combined with this into a module, characterized in that

the lamellae of the cooling module (1) comprise both at least one lamella band (5) and at least one fixed lamellar profile (6) arranged in the heat exchange area (4), the lamellar band (5) being located in the central area of the heat exchange area (4) within a frame (7) is arranged, which is arranged transversely to the flow direction (2),

the fin profile (6) is arranged in the outer region of the heat exchange region (4) and

the cooling module (1) has spring elements (9) which are designed to compress the lamellar strip (5), the lamellar profile (6) and the Peltier element (10).

Cooling module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the narrow sides of the slat strip (5) and / or the slat profile (6) axially upstream or downstream of the air flow (3) have.

3. cooling module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the narrow sides of the slat strip (5) and / or the lamellar profile (6) not in the radial direction, but as a chord or secant in the heat exchange area (4) run duri fen ,

4. cooling module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the narrow sides of the slat strip (5) and / or the slat profile (6) are mutually parallel.

5. cooling module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the narrow sides of the slat strip (5) and the slat profile (6) are parallel to each other.

6. cooling module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the broad sides of the slat strip (5) and / or the lamellar profile (6) are not tilted against the axial direction and thus not against the direct air flow direction (2) or twisted but axially in the cooling module (10).

7. cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one lamellar profile (5) outside the frame (7) is arranged.

8. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that ribs of the lamellar profile (6) are open in their outer region.

9. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that ribs of the lamellar profile (6) are closed in pairs in their outer region.

10. cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slat profile (6) on its the frame (7) facing the inside rounded inside corners (15).

11. cooling module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of each lamella band module combined lamellar bands (5) and the lamellar band modules in the frame (7) with their longitudinal sides, in a plane across and axially to the flow direction (2), juxtaposed and / or are arranged with these longitudinal sides each standing in thermal connection with each other.

12. cooling module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that of the frame (7) enclosed central region of the heat exchange region (4) is completely or almost completely filled with lamellar bands (5).

13. cooling module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two lamellar profiles (6), which are each arranged on opposite sides of the frame (7) outside of the frame (7).

14. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (7) is rectangular and the corners of the rectangle are arranged close to the outer contour of the cooling module (10).

15. Cooling module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (7) is rectangular and two extending in the longitudinal direction of a slat belt module, opposite longitudinal frame members, wherein the frame longitudinal members under the bias of the spring elements (9) transversely to the flow direction (2) of the air flow are mutually displaceable.

16. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (7) consists of an electrically non-conductive material, for example made of plastic.

17. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (7) is formed of a thermally insulating material.

18, cooling module (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (7) made of plastic, a high-temperature fiber, a fiber product, a paper product or styrofoam or polypropylene, preferably made of expanded polypropylene (EPP) is formed.

19, cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the cold and / or the warm side of a Peltier element (10) is arranged a heat-conducting compensating layer, in particular a heat-conductive wax, a heat-conducting phase-change wax, a heat-conducting film, in particular of copper or aluminum, a heat-conductive adhesive film or a heat-conducting phase-change film.

20. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lamellar bands (5) are arranged in the interior of the frame (7) and the lamellar profiles (6) on the outside of the frame (7).

21. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Peltier elements (10) in the frame (7) are arranged and with both the inside of the frame (7) arranged slat bands (5) and with the on the outside of the frame (7) arranged slat profiles (6) are in heat-conducting connection.

22. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises Peltier elements (10) which are arranged in two opposite sides of the frame (7).

Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (7) forms a separation between a cold air flow and a warm air flow, wherein the cold air flow is guided by fins, in heat-conducting connection with the cold side of the Peltier -Iements (10) are, and wherein the warm air flow is guided by fins, which are in heat-conducting connection with the warm side of the Peltier element (10).

24. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed so that in standard operation, the slat strip (5) in heat-conducting connection with the cold side of the Peltier element (10) and the slat profile (6) in heat-conducting connection with the warm side of the Peltier element (10).

25, cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (7) encloses a cold air flow, which is guided by fins, which are in heat-conducting connection with the cold side of the Peltier element (10).

26. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed such that a warmer Air flow through a blade profile (6) is guided, which is arranged on the outside of the frame (7), wherein the blade profile (6) is in heat-conducting connection with the Peltier element (10).

27, cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (7) is divided into two, wherein both frame halves are each U-shaped.

28, cooling module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the U-legs (13) of the frame (7) face each other and are mutually displaceable.

29. Cooling module (1) according to any one of claims 27 to 28, characterized in that the Peltier elements (10) mounted in the U-back (12) of the frame halves

Cooling module (1) according to any one of claims 27 to 29, characterized in that it comprises two sheets in the form of a bow, i. arcuate, arcuate or approximately arcuate lamellar profiles (6), which are arranged on the outside of the frame (7) and adapted with its inside to the outside of the frame (7) and with its outer edge to the outer contour of the heat exchange region (4) are.

31, cooling module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (7) is rectangular and has four straight frame parts comprising two extending in the longitudinal direction of a slat belt module, opposite longitudinal frame members and two verbin the frame longitudinal members at their ends - Dende frame connecting parts, wherein the frame longitudinal members under the bias of the spring elements (9) against each other slidably guided in the frame connecting parts.

32. Cooling module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that there are two straight lamellar profiles

(6), which are arranged on the outside of the frame (7) and are adapted with its inside to the outside of the frame (7) and with its outer edge to the outer contour of the heat exchange region (4).

33. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring elements (9) engage in lamellar profiles (6) and squeeze biased under bias, wherein the of the spring elements (9) compressed lamellar profiles (6) each on opposite Sides of the frame

(7) are arranged outside the frame (7).

34. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring elements (9) transversely to the flow direction (2) offset from the frame (7) are arranged.

35. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring elements (9) in the flow direction (2) offset from and / or behind the frame (7) are arranged.

36. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring elements (9) are designed as a spring clip or spring clip made of a flat spring material.

37. Cooling module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring elements (9) are designed as a spring clip or spring clip made of a round spring material.

38. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is composed of two or more downstream in the flow direction (2) arranged cooling modules, the lamellar bands (5), the lamellar profiles (6) and the frame ( 7) of the individual cooling modules are each aligned in alignment in the flow direction (2).

39. Cooling module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cooling modules connected in series have a common frame (7) and / or common Peltier elements (10).

40. Cooling module (1) according to one of claims 38 to 39, characterized in that at least two of the frame (7) on one side of the frame (7) arranged one behind the other lamellar profiles (6) to a common, one-piece lamellar profile (6) summarized are.

41. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one PTC heating element.

42. Cooling module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the PTC heating element in the frame (7) is arranged.

43. Cooling module (1) according to claim 41, characterized in that the PTC heating element is arranged in the interior of the frame between two adjacent lamellar bands (5).

44. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer contour of the heat exchange region (4) is annular, ie substantially round, circular, elliptical or stadium-shaped.

45. Cooling module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 43, characterized in that the outer contour of the heat exchange region (4) is rectangular or polygonal.

46. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Peltier element (10) is not arranged in the core or flow center of the heat exchange region (4), but is offset transversely to the flow direction (2) to the outside.

47. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Peltier element (10) is cuboid and is arranged in the cooling module (1) such that its longitudinal side extends transversely to the flow direction (2).

48. Cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is integrated in an air-flowable housing (16).

49. Cooling module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a fan (18) attached to the housing (16) or inserted into this.

50. Cooling module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fan (18) is an axial fan.

51. Cooling module (1) according to claim 49 or 50, characterized in that the fan (18), with respect to the flow direction (2), upstream of the cooling module (1) is arranged.

Cooling module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the axial fan (18) is arranged such that its radially inner air flow through the lamellar bands (5) and its radially outer air flow through the lamellar profiles (6).

53. Cooling module (1) according to one of claims 48 to 52, characterized in that the housing (16) has a partition which forms a separation between a hot and a cold air Ström, wherein the partition (22) in the Flow direction (2) downstream of the frame (7) connects or the frame (7) forms a part of the partition wall (22).

54. Cooling module (1) according to one of claims 48 to 53, characterized in that the housing (16) outlet openings (23) for discharging hot air from the housing (16).

55. Cooling module (1) according to one of claims 48 to 54, characterized in that the housing (16) is provided for insertion into a seat, in particular a vehicle seat, or for insertion into an air duct with optionally switchable air flow cooling or air conditioning of a vehicle ,

56. Use of an electric cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims in a ventilated seat as a fan with optionally switchable airflow cooling, in particular in a vehicle seat, or in an air duct with, if necessary, switchable airflow cooling of a vehicle.

57. Use of an electric cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims in a vehicle, in particular for cooling a lamp, in particular an LED lamp, a headlight fers, the engine control, a seat, an electronic control unit, the dashboard, a built-in vehicle or in the body-mounted air conditioning.

Use of an electric cooling module (1) according to one of the preceding claims for cooling a lamp, for example a halogen or LED lamp, a car headlight, seat, chair, bed, small control cabinet, control panels, screen, flat screen or a housing with electrical or electronic Share, for example, a power supply, router, server, PCs or industrial PCs.