Enhanced heat transport systems for cooling chambers and surfaces
AssigneePhononic, Inc.
InventorsJesse W. Edwards, Paul B. McCain
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
At least one forced convection unit added to a passive heat transport system is operated during transient heat loading periods but not operated under steady state conditions for cooling and maintaining a set point temperature of a chamber or surface. Forced convection is selectively employed based on temperature data and/or set point temperature values. A reject heat transport system includes first and second reject heat sinks each coupled via main and crossover transport tubes to first and second reject heat exchangers, permitting both heat sinks to dissipate heat from first and second thermoelectric heat pumps regardless of whether the first, the second, or the first and second heat pumps are in operation.
Claims9
A heat transport system arranged to maintain a set point temperature or set point temperature range of a chamber or surface of a refrigeration system, the heat transport system comprising:
- at least one heat exchanger;
- a fluid conduit containing a heat transport fluid in thermal communication with the at least one heat exchanger where the heat transport fluid comprises a liquid phase and a gas phase within the fluid conduit, and is arranged for passive flow within the fluid conduit;
- at least one forced convection unit that is selectively operable to enhance convective heat transfer relative to the at least one heat exchanger;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive temperature data indicative of a temperature of an ambient environment external to the refrigeration system;
- activate the at least one forced convection unit upon detection of a condition indicative that the temperature of the ambient environment external to the refrigeration system exceeds an ambient environment threshold temperature or ambient environment threshold temperature range;
- and
- deactivate the at least one forced convection unit upon detection that the temperature of the ambient environment external to the refrigeration system is below the ambient environment threshold temperature or ambient environment threshold temperature range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.