Patent ID: 7975492

Claim:
A method for cooling a display case ( 10 ) having an open face ( 25 ) comprising: providing air flow ( 30 ) across the open face ( 25 ); directing a first portion ( 40 ) of said air flow ( 30 ) into an air return ( 35 ) in fluid communication with a vapor-compression refrigeration system ( 20 ); providing a thermoelectric heat pump ( 60 ) in thermal communication with said first portion ( 40 ); cooling said first portion ( 40 ) with said thermoelectric heat pump ( 60 ); rejecting heat from said first portion ( 40 ) via a first heat exchanger ( 160 ) in thermal communication with a cold side ( 65 ) of said thermoelectric heat pump ( 60 ); rejecting the heat into a second portion ( 45 ) of said air flow ( 30 ) via a second heat exchanger ( 160 ′) in thermal communication with a warm side ( 70 ) of the thermoelectric heat pump ( 60 ); returning said first portion ( 40 ) to said vapor-compression refrigeration system ( 20 ) for cooling; and returning said first portion ( 40 ) to said air flow ( 30 ) across the open face ( 25 ).