What is the heating/cooling sup holder

[WapCar] The cup holder can be heated or cooled, that is, a device that can heat and cool the water cup in the cup holder.

The cup holder with this function is covered with a layer of aluminum on its surface (this is the typical feature that is different from the common cup holder), while the cup holder filled with plastic and rubber materials only plays a role of a fixed water cup.

Working principle

The key of the heating/cooling cup holder device uses the Peltier principle, the metal contacts with semiconductor, when electrons enter semiconductor from metal, they need to overcome barriers, and the movement after entering the semiconductor needs a certain amount of energy, so the endothermic phenomenon will occur. On the contrary, when the electrons enter metal from the semiconductor, they will release the same energy.

Element structure

After applying the direct current, one side of the ceramic sheet will heat up, and the other side will cool down. Changing the direction of the current, and then can reverse the heat and cold.

Temperature control cup holder structure

The figure demonstrates the composition of this set of heating/cooling devices, the working characteristic  of  Peltier element have mentioned above. When one side of the element exerts a  cool effect, the other side will generate heat, in order to obtain a  better cool effect, the heat generated by the heating side of the  P eltier element must  be discharged as much as possible. For this reason, a heat sink is installed under the Peltier element, the cooling fans installed nearby are forced to dissipate heat through the ventilation holes opened on the both sides of the center control console.

  Not all drink heating/cooling functions in the car will adopt the Peltier theory, the designer also can provide such convenience for users through the clever arrangement of air conditioning outlet pipe. The glove box has a part-time heating/cooling job. After the air conditioning outlet is led to the glove box, a simple rotating valve is used to control the opening and closing and the switch of the  hot and cold air ducts. In this way, whether in summer or in winter, you can use it to control the temperature of drink. Also some models simply install a foldable cup holder near the original air conditioning outlet, which can also play a role in heating/cooling the  drink.