HEATING MEDIUM TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE HAVING DEHUMIDIFICATION FUNCTION

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a heating medium temperature control device using a thermoelectric element to control the temperature and circulation of a heating medium. In particular, a heating medium temperature control device is detachably connected to a temperature regulating apparatus that is a temperature control target and controls the temperature of a circulating heating medium to control the state of the temperature regulating apparatus in response to desired conditions of a user.

BACKGROUND

In general, a hot water mat includes a mat with a flow pipe for hot water to flow, a boiler for producing hot water, and a circulation line connecting the boiler and the mat and provides heating by circulating heated water. However, the hot water mat provides only hot water, and thus it has the problem of being difficult to use in hot summer seasons other than winter or when the user wants cold air.

To solve such a problem, a cold and hot water temperature control device that selectively supplies hot water and cold water to a mat to provide a cooling function as well as a heating function is disclosed. As disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2401138, a thermoelectric element having a heating surface and a heat absorbing surface is used in a cold and hot water temperature control device to selectively supply cold water and hot water.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a heating medium temperature control device having a dehumidification function to control the humidity of the environment around the device.

Further, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a heating medium temperature control device capable of preventing overheating of a heating medium during operation in a dehumidification mode.

The technical objects to be achieved by the present disclosure are not limited to the technical objects mentioned above, and other technical objects that are not mentioned will be clear to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of the disclosure below.

The present disclosure provides a heating medium temperature control device having a dehumidification function, which is connected to a temperature regulating apparatus provided with a tube and controls a temperature of the heating medium circulating through the tube. The heating medium temperature control device having a dehumidification function may include a main tank, a heat exchange part, a switching part, and a heating medium circulation part. The main tank may accommodate the circulating heating medium. The heat exchange part may include a thermoelectric element and a heating medium block disposed on one side of the thermoelectric element and provided with a flow path through which the heating medium returned from the temperature regulating apparatus is transferred to the main tank. The switching part may include a bypass inlet supplied with the heating medium from the main tank, a first bypass outlet and a second bypass outlet selectively opened and closed to discharge the heating medium. The heating medium circulation part may include an inflow line connecting the temperature regulating apparatus and the heating medium block, a discharge line connecting the first bypass outlet and the temperature regulating apparatus, and a bypass line connecting the second bypass outlet and the heating medium block.

The heating medium temperature control device having a dehumidification function according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a controller configured to selectively control the thermoelectric element and the switching part in response to a cooling mode, a heating mode, and a dehumidification mode. The controller may control the switching part to open the second bypass outlet in the dehumidification mode.

The heating medium temperature control device having a dehumidification function according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the thermoelectric element or the temperature of the heating medium accommodated in at least one of the main tank and the heating medium block. The controller may control the switching part such that an open state of the second bypass outlet is maintained when a temperature value sensed through the temperature sensor is less than a preset temperature value and the first bypass outlet is open when the temperature value is equal to or greater than the preset temperature value in the dehumidification mode.

The heating medium temperature control device having a dehumidification function according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include an auxiliary tank for receiving condensed water generated in the dehumidification mode, an auxiliary line connecting the auxiliary tank and the main tank, an auxiliary pump for supplying the condensed water from the auxiliary tank to the main tank through the auxiliary line, and a water level sensor configured to sense a water level of the auxiliary tank. The controller may determine whether to operate the auxiliary pump based on water level information from the water level sensor.

The heating medium temperature control device having a dehumidification function according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include an auxiliary heat dissipation part including an auxiliary thermoelectric element, and an auxiliary heating medium block disposed on one side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element. The auxiliary heating medium block may include a flow path for the heating medium, the flow path having an auxiliary block inlet and an auxiliary block outlet formed at one end and the other end thereof. The bypass line may include a first bypass line connecting the second bypass outlet and the auxiliary block inlet, and a second bypass line connecting the auxiliary block outlet and the heating medium block.

The one side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element may be fixed and operated as a cooling surface for performing a cooling action.

The heating medium temperature control device having a dehumidification function according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the thermoelectric element or the temperature of the heating medium accommodated in at least one of the main tank and the heating medium block. In the dehumidification mode, the controller may perform control such that the heating medium circulates in a state in which the auxiliary thermoelectric element does not operate when a temperature value sensed through the temperature sensor is less than a preset temperature value. In the dehumidification mode, the controller may perform control such that the heating medium cooled through heat exchange circulates in a state in which the auxiliary thermoelectric element operates when the temperature value is equal to or greater than the preset temperature value.

The heating medium temperature control device having a dehumidification function according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a circulation pump for inducing circulation of the heating medium.

The heating medium temperature control device according to the present disclosure has the advantage of providing a dehumidification function to control the humidity of the environment around the device. In addition, the heating medium temperature control device according to the present disclosure has the advantages of preventing deterioration in dehumidification function performance and extending the lifespan of the device by preventing overheating of the heating medium that occurs during operation in a dehumidification mode.

The effects that can be obtained from the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects that are not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a heating medium temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating the configuration and operating state of the heating medium temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the interior of the heating medium temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of a heating medium block and a main tank according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing the shape of partition walls according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are diagrams comparing fluid temperature distributions and fluid trajectory distributions when protrusions are formed on the partition walls and when protrusions are not formed thereon.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the heating medium temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and an operating state in a cooling mode or a heating mode.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the heating medium temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and an operating state in a dehumidification mode.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing a structure of an auxiliary heat dissipation part according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In describing embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure, if a detailed description of known techniques associated with the present disclosure would unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure, detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the attached drawings are provided for easy understanding of embodiments of the disclosure and do not limit technical spirits of the disclosure, and the embodiments should be construed as including all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the embodiments.

While terms, such as “first”, “second”, etc., may be used to describe various components, such components must not be limited by the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

When an element is “coupled” or “connected” to another element, it should be understood that a third element may be present between the two elements although the element may be directly coupled or connected to the other element. When an element is “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another element, it should be understood that no element is present between the two elements.

The singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In addition, in the specification, it will be further understood that the terms “comprise” and “include” specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations.

In describing embodiments of the present disclosure, terms meaning directions such as up and down, forward and backward, left and right are only used to present relative standards for describing embodiments of the present disclosure, are not intended to specify any direction or location on an absolute basis, and may vary relatively depending on the location of a target object, the location of an observer, a viewing direction, etc.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a heating medium temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating the configuration and operating state of the heating medium temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the interior of the heating medium temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of a heating medium block and a main tank according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, a heating medium temperature control device 100 having a dehumidification function (hereinafter referred to as heating medium temperature control device) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be a device that is detachably connected to a temperature regulating apparatus 10 that is a temperature control target and adjusts the temperature of a circulating heating medium to control the temperature and humidity of the temperature regulating apparatus 10 and the surrounding environment in response to desired conditions of a user. The temperature regulating apparatus 10 may be a cold and hot water mat including a flow pipe 11 through which a heating medium flows, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The heating medium may preferably be water, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The heating medium temperature control device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a housing 101 that determines the external shape of the device. The housing 101 may have a hexahedral shape as shown, but is not limited thereto. The housing 101 may have various external shapes capable of accommodating components that will be described later. The housing 101 may include a first housing and a second housing that can be assembled and separated according to the user's intention to ensure convenience of assembly.

A user input part 102 may be formed on one surface, preferably the upper surface, of the housing 101. The user input part 102 may generate key input data input by a user to control the operation of the heating medium temperature control device 100. To this end, the user input part 102 may include at least one of a key pad, a dome switch, a touch pad, and a touch screen in which a touch pad and a display panel are combined, or a combination thereof, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. A connector 103 for connecting the heating medium temperature control device 100 and the temperature regulating apparatus 10 may be detachably coupled to one side of the housing 101.

The heating medium temperature control device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a main tank 110, a heat exchange part 120, a heating medium circulation part 160, a circulation pump 170, and a controller 180. The main tank 110, the heat exchange part 120, the heating medium circulation part 160, the circulation pump 170, and the controller 180 may be accommodated inside the housing 101. The main tank 110, the heat exchange part 120, and the heating medium circulation part 160 may be interconnected with the flow pipe (or tube) 11 of the temperature regulating apparatus 10 to form a flow path for the heating medium.

The main tank 110 may accommodate a heating medium flowing in from the outside and a circulating heating medium. The main tank 110 may include an inlet that is open to the outside, and the inlet may be open and closed through at least one stopper 111. Preferably, the inlet may be provided to be exposed to the outside of the housing 101, and the stopper 111 may be detachably fastened to the inlet from the outside of the housing 101. The main tank 110 may include an outlet 112 provided at the bottom.

The heat exchange part 120 may be a component for inducing heat exchange with the heating medium under the control of the controller 180 in response to user manipulation and/or preset conditions. The heat exchange part 120 may include a thermoelectric element 130, a heating medium block 140, and a heat dissipation part 150.

The thermoelectric element 130 uses the Peltier effect, and is an element that creates a temperature difference through a potential difference by using the effect that occurs when bipolar semiconductors (for example, N-type semiconductors and P-type semiconductors) are combined. When a voltage is applied to the thermoelectric element 130, a temperature difference occurs on both sides of the element, and one of the one side and the other side can perform a heating action through heat generation, and the other can perform a cooling action through heat absorption. The heating surface and the cooling surface of the thermoelectric element 130 change depending on the direction of current, and the amount of heat generation and heat absorption can be adjusted depending on the amount of current.

The heating medium block 140 may be located on one side of the thermoelectric element 130. Preferably, one side of the heating medium block 140 may be positioned to contact the one side of the thermoelectric element 130. The heating medium block 140 may be located between the thermoelectric element 130 and the main tank 110. Preferably, the other side of the heating medium block 140 may be positioned to contact the main tank 110.

The heating medium block 140 may accommodate a circulating heating medium therein. That is, the heating medium block 140 may include a flow path that can induce heat exchange by the thermoelectric element 130 in the process in which the circulating heating medium flows in from the temperature regulating apparatus 10 and then is discharged to the main tank 110. To this end, the heating medium block 140 may include a block inlet 142, a plurality of partition walls 143, and a block outlet 149. The block inlet 142 may be a portion through which the heating medium returned from the temperature regulating apparatus 10 flows into the heating medium block 140. The plurality of partition walls 143 may form a flow path of the heating medium introduced through the block inlet 142. The block outlet 149 may be a portion that communicates with the main tank 110 such that the heating medium flowing through the flow path formed by the partition walls 143 is discharged to the main tank 110.

One end of the flow path provided by the partition walls 143 may communicate with the block inlet 142, and the other end may communicate with the block outlet 149. The block inlet 142 may be open toward the lower part of the housing 101 in the downward direction, and the block outlet 149 may be open toward the inside of the main tank 110. Accordingly, the flow path of the heating medium within the heating medium block 140 may be formed by the block inlet 142, partition walls 143, and block outlet 149.

The partition walls 143 may guide the flow of the heating medium. The plurality of partition walls 143 extend in the left and right directions (or lateral direction or horizontal direction) within the heating medium block 140 and may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the up and down directions (or vertical direction). The plurality of partition walls 143 may be disposed in a zigzag shape to induce the heating medium to flow in a zigzag shape. This may mean ensuring that the flow path of the heating medium is sufficiently long in a limited space. While the heating medium flows along the flow path inside the heating medium block 140, sufficient heat exchange can occur between the heating medium and the thermoelectric element 130, so the heat exchange efficiency can be significantly improved.

The heating medium block 140 may include a first body 141 and a second body 147 that can be assembled. The external shape of the heating medium block 140 may be determined by the combination of the first body 141 and the second body 147. One side of the first body 141 may be positioned to contact the thermoelectric element 130. The partition walls 143 may be formed on the other side of the first body 141. The first body 141 and the partition walls 143 may be made of the same material and may be made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as a metal material. Accordingly, since the first body 141 and the partition walls 143, which have relatively high thermal conductivity, are in direct contact with the thermoelectric element 130, the efficiency of heat exchange with the heating medium flowing along the flow path provided by the partition walls 143 can be significantly improved.

The second body 147 may be fixed to the first body 141 while covering the partition walls 143. By combining the first body 141 and the second body 147, the flow path formed by the partition walls 143 may be determined in one direction set in advance. One side of the second body 147 may be in contact with the main tank 110. One surface of the main tank 110 may be fixed to the one side of the second body 147 in an open state. The second body 147 may be formed of the same material as the first body 141. Alternatively, the second body 147 may be made of the same material as the main tank 110, for example, plastic. In this case, the second body 147 and the main tank 110 may be formed integrally.

The heat dissipation part 150 may include a heat sink 151 and a heat dissipation fan 155 that perform a heat dissipation function. The heat sink 151 may be located on the other side of the thermoelectric element 130. The heat sink 151 may include heat dissipation fins formed on the other side thereof opposite one side adjacent to the thermoelectric element 130. The heat dissipation fan 155 may be located on the other side of the heat sink 151 and operate to discharge heat-exchanged air to the outside. The heat dissipation fan 155 may be fixed to the other side of the heat sink 151. If necessary, the heat dissipation fan 155 may operate to allow outside air to flow thereinto. If necessary, a plurality of heat sinks 151 and heat dissipation fans 155 may be provided.

The heating medium circulation part 160 may include flow pipes through which the heating medium flows. The heating medium circulation part 160 may connect some components within the heating medium temperature control device 100, and may connect some components within the heating medium temperature control device 100 and the temperature regulating apparatus 10. The heating medium circulation part 160 may include at least a discharge line 161 and an inflow line 165.

The discharge line 161 may connect the main tank 110 and the temperature regulating apparatus 10. The discharge line 161 may refer to a flow pipe through which the heating medium discharged from the outlet 112 of the main tank 110 flows to the temperature regulating apparatus 10. The inflow line 165 may connect the heating medium block 140 and the temperature regulating apparatus 10. The inflow line 165 may refer to a flow pipe through which the heating medium returned from the temperature regulating apparatus 10 flows to the block inlet 142 of the heating medium block 140. A flow path of the heating medium circulating the heating medium temperature control device 100 and the temperature regulating apparatus 10 may be formed by the inflow line 165 and the discharge line 161. The flow path may be formed as follows, and the heating medium may circulate along the flow path corresponding to user settings and/or predetermined conditions.

<Flow path of circulating heating medium> heating medium block 140 of heat exchange part 120→main tank 110→discharge line 161→temperature regulating apparatus 10→inflow line 165→heating medium block 140 of heat exchange part 120

The circulation pump 170 may induce circulation of the heating medium in the flow path. The circulation pump 170 may be located below the main tank 110 and may be connected to the discharge line 161, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The controller 180 may perform one or more instructions. The controller 180 may control the heating medium temperature control device 100 according to preset conditions including a cooling mode and a heating mode. The preset conditions may include information on device operation by a user, information related to information on surrounding environment information, etc. The preset conditions may be input through the user input part 102. Alternatively, the heating medium temperature control device 100 may further include a communication unit capable of communicating with a user terminal, and the preset conditions may be input through the user terminal. The preset conditions can be stored in advance in a memory.

For example, the controller 180 may apply power to the thermoelectric element 130 and drive the circulation pump 170 in response to a power ON signal. The controller 180 may control the thermoelectric element 130 in response to a cooling mode signal (or temperature setting corresponding to cooling mode). That is, the controller 180 may control the current direction of the thermoelectric element 130 to a preset direction such that one side of the thermoelectric element 130 facing the heating medium block 140 performs a cooling function. The controller 180 may control the thermoelectric element 130 in response to a heating mode signal (or temperature setting corresponding to heating mode). That is, the controller 180 may control the current direction of the thermoelectric element 130 to a preset reverse direction such that the one side of the thermoelectric element 130 facing the heating medium block 140 performs a heating function. The controller 180 may obtain sensing information from a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the heat medium discharged toward the temperature regulating apparatus 10 and control the amount of current of the thermoelectric element such that the heating medium at a temperature set by the user can be discharged.

The controller 180 may be implemented as a non-volatile computer-readable medium including executable program instructions. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, a ROM, a RAM, a compact disc (CD)-ROMs, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, a flash drive, a smart card, and am optical data storage device.

The controller 180 may be implemented using at least one of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a digital signal processing device (DSPD), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a processor, a microprocessor, and an electrical unit for performing other functions.

The heating medium temperature control device 100 may further include a power supply for supplying power to at least some components of the device. The power supply may receive power from an external source or may include an energy storage device such as a battery.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing the shape of the partition walls according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are diagrams comparing fluid temperature distributions and fluid trajectory distributions when protrusions are formed on the partition walls and when protrusions are not formed thereon.

Referring to FIG. 5, the heating medium block 140 may include the partition walls 143. As described above, the partition walls 143 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction and may be arranged in a zigzag shape to form one flow path. For example, as illustrated, one of adjacent partition walls 143 may be shifted to the left to form a right hole 143a that is open on the right side, and the other may be shifted to the right to form a left hole 143b that is open on the left side. According to such arrangement of the partition walls 143, the heating medium block 140 may have a structure in which right holes 143a and left holes 143b are formed sequentially alternately from bottom to top in at least some areas.

In this structure, at least one of the partition walls 143 may further include a protrusion 135 protruding downward (or in a direction opposite the direction in which the heating medium flows). The partition walls 143 may include a plurality of protrusions 135, and the plurality of protrusions 135 may be arranged at predetermined intervals. The numbers and spacings of the protrusions 135 formed on each of the partition walls 143 may be the same, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the surface area of the heat conductor in contact with the circulating heating medium can be increased by providing the protrusions 135. Accordingly, heat conductivity from the thermoelectric element 130 to the heating medium can be improved, and temperature uniformity depending on the location of the heating medium can be significantly improved. Additionally, by including a resistance structure such as the protrusions 135, the vortex phenomenon of the flowing heating medium can be reduced.

As another example, the protrusions 135b formed on the partition walls 143 may be formed to be tilted at a predetermined angle in the flow direction of the heating medium. For example, at a position where the flow direction of the heating medium is to the right (e.g., in case of protrusions formed on partition walls shifted to the left in FIG. 5(b)), the protrusions in contact with the heating medium may be formed to be tilted to the right at a predetermined angle. At a position where the flow direction of the heating medium is to the left (for example, in case of protrusions formed on partition walls shifted to the right in FIG. 5(b)), the protrusions in contact with the heating medium may be formed to be tilted to the left at a predetermined angle. In this case, it is possible to secure a predetermined thermal conductivity from the thermoelectric element 130 without impeding the flow of the heating medium and significantly reduce the vortex phenomenon.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the heating medium temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and an operating state in a cooling mode or a heating mode. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the heating medium temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and an operating state in a dehumidification mode.

The heating medium temperature control device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be operated in a dehumidification mode in addition to the cooling mode and the heating mode described above. The controller 180 may control the heating medium temperature control device 100 in the dehumidification mode in response to a preset signal. The preset signal may include a signal generated in response to information on device operation of a user and surrounding environment sensing information.

The controller 180 may apply power to the thermoelectric element 130 and operate the circulation pump 170 in response to the preset signal to circulate the temperature-controlled heating medium.

The controller 180 may control the thermoelectric element 130 and the circulation pump 170 in response to a cooling mode signal (or temperature setting corresponding to the cooling mode). The controller 180 may control the current direction of the thermoelectric element 130 to a preset direction such that one side of the thermoelectric element 130 facing the heating medium block 140 performs a cooling action. The controller 180 may operate the circulation pump 170 to supply the heating medium cooled by the heat exchange part 120 to the temperature regulating apparatus 10 through the main tank 110.

The controller 180 may control the thermoelectric element 130 and the circulation pump 170 in response to a heating mode signal (or temperature setting corresponding to the heating mode). The controller 180 may control the current direction of the thermoelectric element 130 to a preset reverse direction such that one side of the thermoelectric element 130 facing the heating medium block 140 performs a heating action. The controller 180 may operate the circulation pump 170 to supply the heating medium heated by the heat exchange part 120 to the temperature regulating apparatus 10 through the main tank 110.

The controller 180 may control the thermoelectric element 130 and the circulation pump 170 in response to a dehumidification mode signal. The controller 180 may control the current direction of the thermoelectric element 130 to a preset reverse direction such that the other side of the thermoelectric element 130 performs a cooling action. As the other side of the thermoelectric element 130 performs a cooling action, outside air flowing into the housing 101 can be cooled. As moisture contained in the outside air condenses and separates from the outside air, the humidity of the surrounding environment may decrease. Although not shown, the housing 101 may further include a vent portion having vent holes through which outside air can flow into the housing 101. It may be desirable for the vent portion to be formed at a position facing the other side of the thermoelectric element 130. If necessary, the controller 180 may operate the heat dissipation fan 155 in the reverse direction to introduce outside air into the housing.

In the dehumidification mode, one side of the thermoelectric element 130 may perform the heating action. Accordingly, the temperature of the heating medium accommodated in the heating medium block 140 and the main tank 110 in communication with the heating medium block 140 may increase. If the temperature of the heating medium accommodated in the heating medium block 140 increases excessively, heat conduction may occur in the opposite direction due to the temperature difference between one side and the other side of the thermoelectric element 130, and the increase in heat conduction in the opposite direction may cause the amount of heat absorption on the other side of the thermoelectric element 130 to decrease. This may mean a decrease in the performance of the dehumidification function in the dehumidification mode.

In order to solve this problem, the heating medium temperature control device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a bypass circulation structure for circulating the heating medium to lower the temperature of the heating medium accommodated in the heating medium block 140 in the dehumidification mode. The bypass circulation structure may include a switching part 301 that switches the flow path of the heating medium, and a bypass line 303 connecting the switching part 301 and the heating medium block 140. The bypass line 303 may be defined as a component of the heating medium circulation part 160.

In the dehumidification mode, the overheated heating medium may be cooled while circulating through the bypass circulation structure and then flow back into the heating medium block 140. Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure can prevent one side of the thermoelectric element 130 from overheating in the dehumidification mode.

More specifically, the switching part 301 may include a bypass inlet 301a connected to the main tank 110, through which the heating medium is supplied from the main tank 110, and a first bypass outlet 301b and a second bypass outlet 301c that are selectively opened and closed to discharge the heating medium. The switching part 301 may be a three-way valve. The main tank 110 and the bypass inlet 301a may be connected through a circulation line.

The first bypass outlet 301b may be a part through which the introduced heating medium is supplied to the temperature regulating apparatus 10 in response to the cooling mode or the heating mode. The first bypass outlet 301b may be connected to the temperature regulating apparatus 10 through the discharge line 161. The second bypass outlet 301c may be a part through which the introduced heating medium is supplied to a bypass inlet 304 of the heating medium block 140 in response to the dehumidification mode. The second bypass outlet 301c may be connected to the heating medium block 140 through the bypass line 303.

The bypass inlet 304 of the heating medium block 140 may be provided independently from the block inlet 142. The block inlet 142 may be selectively opened in the cooling mode or the heating mode, and bypass inlet 304 may be selectively opened in the dehumidification mode. The heating medium block 140 may further include a check valve to prevent backflow through the bypass inlet 304 and the block inlet 142.

In the cooling mode, heating mode and the dehumidification mode, the circulation path of the heating medium may be formed as follows, and the circulation pump 170 may be operated under the control of the controller 180 to cause the heating medium to selectively circulate to a main path or a bypass path. The circulation pump 170 may be connected to the circulation line that connects the main tank 110 and the bypass inlet 301, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

<Main Path: Cooling Mode or Heating Mode>

Heating medium block 140→main tank 110→switching part 301→discharge line 161→temperature regulating apparatus 10→inflow line 165→block inlet 142→heating medium block 140

<Bypass Path: Dehumidification Mode>

Heating medium block 140→main tank 110→switching part 301→bypass line 303→bypass inlet 304→heating medium block 140

The heating medium temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include an auxiliary tank 305 for receiving water condensed in the dehumidification mode, an auxiliary line 307 connecting the auxiliary tank 305 and the main tank 110, and an auxiliary pump for supplying condensed water from the auxiliary tank 305 to the main tank 110 through the auxiliary line 307. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, condensed water generated in the dehumidification mode may be reused as a heating medium.

The heating medium temperature control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a sensing unit 310 for sensing environmental information. The sensing unit 310 may include a temperature sensor 311 for sensing the temperature at least at a preset position, a water level sensor 313 for sensing the water level, and a humidity sensor 315 for sensing the humidity of the surrounding environment. The controller 180 may control at least some components of the heating medium temperature control device 100 based on sensing information obtained from the sensing unit 310.

As an example, the temperature sensor 311 may sense the temperature of the thermoelectric element 130 (i.e., the temperature of the other side of the thermoelectric element) or the temperature of the heating medium accommodated in at least one of the main tank 110 and the heating medium block 140 in the dehumidification mode. The controller 180 may control the switching part 301 based on temperature information sensed through the temperature sensor 311 in the dehumidification mode.

When a temperature value sensed through the temperature sensor 311 in the dehumidification mode is less than a preset temperature value, the controller 180 may open the second bypass outlet 301c to maintain a state in which the heating medium circulates through the bypass path. If the temperature value sensed in the dehumidification mode is equal to or greater than the preset temperature value, the controller 180 may control the switching part 301 to open the first bypass outlet 301b such that the heating medium circulates to the main path.

The dehumidification mode may be mainly used in hot and humid environments such as summer. In a case where the heating medium is circulated through the main path in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, the temperature of the temperature regulating apparatus 10 increases, which may cause discomfort to the user using the temperature regulating apparatus 10. Therefore, when the temperature value sensed by the temperature sensor 311 is equal to or greater than the preset temperature value, the controller 180 may additionally detect whether the user is positioned on the temperature regulating apparatus 10 through the sensing unit 310. The controller 180 may control the switching part 301 such that the heating medium circulates through the main path when the user is not positioned on the temperature regulating apparatus 10. In order to detect whether the user is positioned on the temperature regulating apparatus 10, the sensing unit 310 may further include at least one of a proximity sensor and a pressure sensor, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

As another example, the water level sensor 313 may sense the water level of condensed water contained in the auxiliary tank 305. The controller 180 may control whether to operate the auxiliary pump based on water level information sensed through the water level sensor 313. The controller 180 may not operate the auxiliary pump when the water level value sensed by the water level sensor 313 is less than a preset water level value. When the water level value sensed by the water level sensor 313 is equal to or greater than the preset water level value, the controller 180 may operate the auxiliary pump to supply condensed water contained in the auxiliary tank 305 to the main tank 110.

As another example, the humidity sensor 315 may sense the humidity of the surrounding environment. The controller 180 may determine whether to operate the dehumidification mode based on humidity information sensed through the humidity sensor 315.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing a structure of an auxiliary heat dissipation part according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The auxiliary heat dissipation part 400 may include an auxiliary heating medium block 401, an auxiliary thermoelectric element 403, an auxiliary heat dissipation block 407, and an auxiliary heat dissipation fan 408.

The auxiliary heating medium block 401 may be located on one side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element 403. Preferably, the one side of the auxiliary heating medium block 401 may be positioned to contact one side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element 403. The one side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element 403 may be fixed and operated as a cooling surface for performing a cooling action.

The auxiliary heating medium block 401 may accommodate the heating medium circulating through the bypass path in the dehumidification mode. The auxiliary heating medium block 401 may be connected to the bypass line 303. The bypass line 303 is a first bypass line 303a connecting the switching part 301 and the auxiliary heating medium block 401, and a second bypass line 303b connecting the auxiliary heating medium block 401 and the heating medium block 140.

The auxiliary heating medium block 401 may include a flow passage that can induce heat exchange by the auxiliary thermoelectric element 403 in the process in which the circulating heating medium flows in from the second bypass outlet 301c of the switching part 301 and then is discharged to the bypass inlet 304 of the heating medium block 140. To this end, the auxiliary heating medium block 401 may include an auxiliary block inlet 402a, auxiliary partition walls, and an auxiliary block outlet 402b. The auxiliary block inlet 402a is connected to the first bypass line 303a and may be a portion through which the heating medium returned from the switching part 301 is introduced. The plurality of auxiliary partition walls may form a flow path for the heating medium introduced through the auxiliary block inlet 402a. The auxiliary partition walls may guide the flow path of the heating medium. The auxiliary partition walls may have substantially the same structure as the partition walls 143 of the heating medium block 140, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The auxiliary block outlet 402b is connected to the second bypass line 303b, and may be a portion through which the heating medium flowing through the flow path formed by the auxiliary partition walls is discharged to the heating medium block 140. One end of the flow path provided by the auxiliary partition walls may communicate with the auxiliary block inlet 402a, and the other end may communicate with the auxiliary block outlet 402b.

<Bypass Path: Dehumidification Mode>

Heating medium block 140→main tank 110→switching part 301→first bypass line 303a→auxiliary block inlet 402a→auxiliary heating medium block 401→auxiliary block outlet 402b→second bypass line 303b→bypass inlet 304→heating medium block 140

The heating medium circulating through the bypass path may be cooled through heat exchange with the auxiliary thermoelectric element 403 within the auxiliary heating medium block 401 and introduced into the heating medium block 140 in a cooled state.

The auxiliary heat dissipation block 407 may be located on the other side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element 403. The auxiliary heat dissipation block 407 may include auxiliary heat dissipation fins formed on the surface opposite the surface in contact with the auxiliary thermoelectric element 403. The auxiliary heat dissipation fan 408 may be located on the other side of the auxiliary heat dissipation block 407 and operate to discharge heat-exchanged air to the outside. The auxiliary heat dissipation fan 408 may be fixed on the other side of the auxiliary heat dissipation block 407.

The auxiliary heat dissipation part 400 cools the heating medium accommodated in the heating medium block 140 in the dehumidification mode and may be operated under the control of the controller 180. The auxiliary heat dissipation part 400 may be driven independently of the heat dissipation part 150 under preset conditions. The auxiliary heat dissipation part 400 may be selectively operated under preset conditions. The embodiment according to the present disclosure has the advantage of reducing power consumption because the auxiliary heat dissipation part 400 can be selectively operated under the control of the controller 180 as necessary.

For example, the controller 180 may monitor the temperature at a preset location within the heating medium temperature control device 100 at a preset period or in real time and selectively control the auxiliary heat dissipation part 400 based on monitoring information.

More specifically, the controller 180 may detect at least one of the temperature of the thermoelectric element 130 or the temperature of the heating medium circulating inside at least one of the main tank 110 or the heating medium block 140 through the temperature sensor 311.

If the temperature value sensed through the temperature sensor 311 in the dehumidification mode is less than a preset temperature value, the controller 180 does not operate the auxiliary thermoelectric element 403 and may operate the circulation pump 170 such that the heating medium circulates along the bypass path. If the temperature value sensed through the temperature sensor 311 in the dehumidification mode is equal to or greater than the preset temperature value, the controller 180 may operate the auxiliary thermoelectric element 403 and operate the circulation pump 170 such that the heating medium cooled through heat exchange with the auxiliary thermoelectric element 403 circulates along the bypass path. The controller 180 can reduce power consumption by selectively operating the auxiliary heat dissipation part 400 under preset conditions.

Although the embodiments have been described with reference to limited drawings as described above, those skilled in the art can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above description. For example, even if the described techniques are performed in a different order from that in the described method, and/or components of the described system, structure, device, and circuit are combined in a different manner from that in the described method or replaced with other components or equivalents, appropriate results can be achieved.