Thermoelectric installation.

The present invention relates, in general, thermoelectric plants including thermocouples (or thermoelectric elements) mounted between the heat exchange walls belonging to hot exchangers through which a hot fluid or to heat and cold exchangers traversed by a cold fluid or cooled.

Such machines may be used for generating a continuous electrical current when the heat exchange walls are kept at different temperatures by the hot fluid and the cold fluid, or, on the contrary, to maintain the heat exchanger walls at temperatures different for heating or cooling a fluid with respect to each other when the continuous electric current flows in the thermoelements, this electric current being supplied to said thermoelements by the exchangers.

The invention applies more particularly, but not exclusively, in these types of facilities, the thermoelements being supplied with DC current to maintain a temperature difference between the heat exchanger walls. Such a facility called "heat pump" can be used for purposes of air conditioning by heating or cooling a fluid from the ambient atmosphere. Indeed, the thermocouples are of two types, namely the type thermocouples P, which transfer the calories in the current direction, and N type thermocouples that transfer calories in the opposite direction of the current.

For the construction of thermal power generation, it has been proposed to make them comprise stacks of hot and cold exchangers alternating with the thermoelements, the exchanger or exchangers on either side of which are the thermoelements being or not electrically isolated , these stacks being arranged side by side or overlapping (according to the electrical connection means of the thermoelements them) so as to constitute a parallelepipedic appearance drawer in which the thermoelements are located in parallel planes and the exchangers facing each other. The elements of this drawer are held together by fixing means and housed in a frame.

However, in such a construction, it often pose implementation problems because we are, of course, in the presence of a large number of thermocouples and must meet sealing requirements between fluids browsing exchangers , free expansion of parts of the installation, and assembly and disassembly of the parts of the installation comprising thermoelements.

A thermoelectric plant of this type is carried out so that the seal between fluids browsing the exchanger is ensured by reliable and simple means that the expansion of the system parts that are subjected to temperature gradients can s 'operate freely and that the removal and installation of parts of the installation bearing the thermocouples are easy and fast.

Therefore, in its patent application No. 75 20343, filed on 27 June 1975 and in its first certificate of addition No. 76 16076, filed May 26, 1976, the Applicant described a thermoelectric plant comprising a gasket at each thermoelement plane, this seal cooperating with a peripheral rim, with a bearing surface of the frame, the support of the rim is obtained by relative movement of the drawer and the frame.

This embodiment, although reliable and practical, does not ensure a perfect seal between the fluids passing through, first, hot exchanger, and, on the other hand, the cold heat-exchange, and, this, in particular at the connections between drawers or with drawers and built.

To remedy this situation, the present invention aims at a thermoelectric plant, designed such that between the drawers or between the drawer and the frame, the hot and cold fluid streams can not exist simultaneously, and this in retaining the advantages, namely: use of reliable and simple means; free expansion of the parts of the plant which are subject to temperature gradients; and dismantling and assembling the quick and easy installation.

According to the invention, the hot and cold fluid streams have perpendicular directions and is expected:<ul><li>- A seal at each plane of thermoelements, this joint being formed by a plate with as many openings as there are thermoelements in the said plane, this seal being clamped between the facing walls of the hot heat exchanger and the cold heat exchanger;</li><li>- Connecting bulkheads joined together at two of their opposite sides, parallel to the direction of fluid flow;</li><li>- At least one sealed removable connection device between the spool and the frame and / or between the drawers.</li></ul>

Thanks to the invention, partitions and seals form sealed channels for the flow of fluids into the tray and provide a seal between the flow channels of the hot and cold fluid streams.

Achieving these sealed channels also facilitates the binding of the drawer and the frame or the binding of drawers them.

The invention consists, apart from the provision in just discussed above, in other provisions which are preferably used at the same time and which will be described in more detail below.

The invention will in any case be well understood using the additional description which follows and the accompanying drawings, which complement and drawings are related to various embodiments and variations of the invention.

<ul><li>Figure 1 of these drawings is a partial schematic view in perspective of an installation according to the invention.</li><li>Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of an installation according to the invention.</li><li>Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view along the line III-III of Figure 2 of an installation according to the invention.</li><li>Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the same type as in Figure 2 of a first installation variant according to the invention.</li><li>Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of the same type as in Figure 2 of a second installation variant according to the invention.</li><li>Figure 6, finally, is a schematic sectional view along VI-VI of Figure 5 of a second installation variant according to the invention.</li></ul>

Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a thermoelectric installation of the type "heat pump" wherein the thermoelements, designated generally by the reference numeral 1, are supplied with direct electric current to maintain a temperature difference between the heat exchanger walls 2 and 3, on either side of each thermoelement 1. These heat exchange walls 2 and 3 belong to hot exchangers through which a hot fluid and cold exchangers through which a fluid cold, the flow direction of the hot and cold fluids being referenced in figures 1 and 2 by the arrows F.

Regarding DC current supply to the thermoelements 1, it may be done through connection 4 fed by son 5, and through the heat exchangers which are driven by the electric current flowing through them thermoelements 1. for the construction of such thermoelectric systems, it has been proposed to make them behave stacks 6 of hot and cold exchangers alternating with the thermoelements 1, the exchanger or exchangers on either side of which the thermoelements are located n 'is not electrically insulated and can form an integral unit these stacks 6 are arranged side by side and the electrical connection of the thermoelements between them is made through the exchangers along a grinding path_- online (mounting column).

However, according to a variant of this construction, the exchanger or exchangers on either side of which the thermoelements are located can be isolated electrically; the stacks being interleaved and then the electrical connection of the thermoelements between them being effected by the base exchangers and following a course in Greek (bridge circuit).

Anyway, and whatever the type of installation adopted, the exchangers or nested stacks arranged side by side constitute a drawer 7 rectangular shape in which the thermocouples are located in parallel planes and exchangers facing each others. The elements of this drawer are held together by fastening means such, for example, a central pull 8, and housed in a frame 9 in which are formed passages 9a allowing flow of hot fluid or cold fluid .

A seal 10 is provided at each plane of thermoelements, this joint being formed by a plate having many openings 11 as there are thermoelements 1 in said plane, this seal being clamped between the walls 2 and 3 opposite the hot and cold heat exchangers and further comprising a peripheral rim 12 provided on its upper and lower sides with a continuous groove 13, the raised peripheral flange, from the girdle exchangers arranged at the periphery of the slide 7 .

Each seal 10 may advantageously comprise, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, the central ribs in relief 14 which come between the heat exchangers of the slide 7, on the one hand, ensure sealing between the heat exchangers and, secondly, act as spacers ensuring the relative positioning of these exchangers with an effect of suspension and damping vibrations.

Of course, the two seals 10, located at both ends of the spool 7, are arranged differently to cooperate respectively with two end pieces 15, 16 biased toward each other by the central bolt 8.

binding of the partitions 17, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, connect the joints 10, by their peripheral rim 12 where the connecting bulkheads 17 are embedded in the continuous groove 13, on two of their opposite sides, parallel to the direction of fluid flow. Thus, these connecting partitions 17 form, with the seals 10 and the heat exchange walls 2 and 3, sealed conduits for circulation of hot or cold fluids into the drawer 7.

Connecting devices between the drawer 7 and frame 9 are provided to ensure the continuity of passage 9a of the frame 9 with spaces corresponding exchangers drawer 7. Thus, as shown in Figures 1 to 6 and in particularly in Figure 3, a first support plate 18 is applied against a lateral face of the slide 7 and secured thereto by an adhesive strip of material 19 surrounding and from adhering to the edges of seals 10 and on the connecting walls 17. the support plate 18 includes openings 18a, corresponding to the passages 9a of the frame, and a groove 18b, generally elliptical, surrounding the openings 18a and opening 18c by a window. Faced with this first bearing plate 18, a second support plate 20 with openings 20a and 20c windows, the same is fixed on the frame 9. A collar 21, metal or composite (metal and elastic material), is introduced through the windows 18c and 20c of the plates 18 and 20, the two grooves 18b and 20b for connection baseplates = 8 and 20 therebetween. Thus, there is a seal between the ducts of the drawers and the corresponding passages of the frame. Under these conditions, the hot fluid can not mix with the cold fluid.

For sealing the other two side faces of the drawer 7, a gasket 22, fixed to the frame 9, surrounds all passages 9a. Thus, when the drawer 7, suspended by two supporting profiles 23 integral with the end piece 15 cooperating with two slides 24 integral with the frame 9, is placed in the frame, it is pushed against the seal 22, as shown in Figure 3.

It is also possible to place several valves side by side in the same housing 9. Such an arrangement is shown in Figures 1, 4 and 6. In this case, the seal between drawers is achieved by adhesive material strip 19 surrounding the two adjacent ends of the neighboring drawers and from adhering to the edges of seals 10 and the connecting walls 17 of each of the drawers. Only the two extreme sides of the drawers, near the frame, are provided with support plates 18 designed to be secured to the support plates 20 of the frame 9. Similarly, it is possible to provide, in the same housing, several sets drawers interconnected by an adhesive material tape 19, the series being connected together by support plates and a collar identical to those of the extremities.

then finally understood that it has a thermoelectric plant in which the seal between the hot fluid and cold fluid is ensured by reliable and simple ways since, in the frame, there can be no contact between hot and cold fluids, one of the fluids being fully channeled in the drawers through the joints 10 and the connecting bulkheads 17; between the drawers 19 by adhesive tape; between drawers and built by the support plates 18 and 20 and collar 21.

Furthermore, the arrangement of the slide in the frame allows the spool to expand freely since the links are provided by an adhesive strip 19 and a collar 21.

In addition, the rigidity of the slide is enhanced by the presence of connecting walls between joints.

Finally, ease of assembly and disassembly of the slide, by attaching or removing the clamp 21, allows easy maintenance and replacement thereof.

The connection between the drawer and / or between a tray and its support plate 18, being ensured by an adhesive-material web, it is possible to provide a certain space between drawers or between the drawer and the frame. This space can be used to receive the water contained in the air and condensed in contact with heat exchange surfaces. Thus, this water can be easily discharged by gravity into the "well" formed between drawers and / or between the drawer and the frame.

Moreover, to facilitate the removal of the condensation water formed in contact with heat exchange surfaces, it is possible to tilt the drawer in the frame 9 and to ensure the evacuation of the water by a duct 25 opening at bottom center in the space between drawers and / or drawer and the frame. Such an installation is shown in Figures 5 and 6.

The present invention thus has a particularly advantageous application in air conditioning (heating and cooling) of railway cars that can then comprise, in their frame, a series of buildings each housing a drawer. In such an application, it is conceivable that the sealing problems, free expansion and ease of assembly and disassembly are particularly important and that the benefits of the invention will be even more appreciated. Moreover, the effect of suspension and damping vibrations caused by joints and drawer suspension system enable the facility to better withstand the conditions of use in railway cars.

As is evident and as it follows moreover from the foregoing, the invention is not limited to those of its modes of application, nor for those embodiments of its various parts, having been particularly envisaged; it embraces, on the contrary, all variants.