Two-phase thermal loop with rotary separation
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsGary A. Adamson, Wei-Lin Cho
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal management loop system may include an accumulator, an evaporator in fluid receiving communication with the accumulator, a condenser in fluid receiving communication with the evaporator, and a rotary separator in fluid receiving communication with the condenser. Gas exiting the rotary separator may recirculate back to the condenser and liquid exiting the rotary separator may flow to the accumulator. The thermal management loop system may be a dual-mode system and thus may be operable in a powered-pump mode or a passive-capillary mode.
Claims8
A thermal management loop system configured to operate in either a powered-pump mode or a passive-capillary mode, the thermal management system comprising:
- an accumulator;
- a pump in fluid receiving communication with the accumulator;
- a pump bypass line in fluid receiving communication with the accumulator;
- an evaporator in selectable fluid receiving communication with the pump and the pump bypass line;
- a condenser in fluid receiving communication with the evaporator;
- and
- a rotary separator in fluid receiving communication with the condenser, the rotary separator configured to recirculate gas to the condenser and to provide liquid to the accumulators;
- wherein:
- the evaporator is a porous media evaporator;
- in the powered-pump mode the pump bypass line is closed and the pump drives fluid circulation through the thermal management loop system;
- in the powered-pump mode a back pressure valve downstream of the evaporator is configured to control liquid back pressure in the evaporator;
- in the passive-capillary mode fluid flow through the pump is closed and the pump bypass line is open;
- and
- in the passive-capillary mode capillary pressure in the evaporator drives fluid circulation through the thermal management loop system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.