Thermal management systems

A thermal management method, comprising:

• transporting a refrigerant fluid through a thermal management system that comprises:
• a receiver that comprises a first receiver port and a second receiver port and that is configured to store the refrigerant fluid,
• an evaporator comprising a first evaporator port and a second evaporator port,
• a liquid separator that comprises an inlet, a vapor-side outlet, and a liquid-side outlet,
• a pump comprising an inlet configured to receive the refrigerant from the liquid-side outlet of the liquid separator and an outlet that is coupled to the first evaporator port,
• a condenser comprising a first port and a second port,
• a compressor comprising a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet,
• a heat pump circuit comprising a closed-circuit fluid path that includes a four-way valve, the receiver, the liquid separator, the pump, the condenser, the compressor, and the evaporator, and
• an open-circuit refrigeration system configured to receive the refrigerant fluid from the receiver, with the open-circuit refrigeration system comprising an open-circuit fluid path that extends from the first receiver port to the evaporator to an exhaust line, and that includes the receiver, the evaporator, the pump, the heat pump circuit, and the liquid separator;
• operating the thermal management system according to one of three operational modes;
• configuring the four-way valve to operate the thermal management system in a closed-circuit heating mode;
• during operation of the thermal management system in the closed-circuit heating mode, transporting the refrigerant fluid through the closed-circuit fluid path while inhibiting flow of the refrigerant fluid through the open-circuit fluid path.

A thermal management system, comprising:

• a receiver that comprises a first receiver port and a second receiver port and that is configured to store a refrigerant fluid;
• an evaporator comprising a first evaporator port and a second evaporator port;
• a liquid separator that comprises an inlet, a vapor-side outlet, and a liquid-side outlet;
• a pump comprising an inlet configured to receive the refrigerant from the liquid-side outlet of the liquid separator and an outlet that is coupled to the first evaporator port;
• a condenser comprising a first port and a second port;
• a compressor comprising a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet;
• a first by-passable expansion device that couples the first receiver port to the first evaporator port;
• a second by-passable expansion device configured to couple the second receiver port to the second port of the condenser, wherein the first and the second by-passable expansion devices each comprise:
• an expansion valve device;
• and
• a check valve coupled in shunt with the expansion valve device;
• a heat pump circuit comprising a closed-circuit fluid path that includes the receiver, the liquid separator, the pump, the condenser, the compressor, and the evaporator;
• and
• an open-circuit refrigeration system configured to receive the refrigerant fluid from the receiver, with the open-circuit refrigeration system comprising an open-circuit fluid path that extends from the first receiver port to the evaporator to an exhaust line, and that includes the receiver, the evaporator, the pump, the heat pump circuit, and the liquid separator.

A thermal management system, comprising:

• a receiver that comprises a first receiver port and a second receiver port and that is configured to store a refrigerant fluid;
• an evaporator comprising a first evaporator port and a second evaporator port;
• a liquid separator that comprises an inlet, a vapor-side outlet, and a liquid-side outlet;
• a pump comprising an inlet configured to receive the refrigerant from the liquid-side outlet of the liquid separator and an outlet that is coupled to the first evaporator port, where the pump outlet is coupled in a first path that has the first evaporator port coupled to the outlet of the pump, and is further coupled in a second path that has the second port of the condenser coupled to the outlet of the pump;
• a condenser comprising a first port and a second port;
• a compressor comprising a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet;
• a junction device comprising a first input port of the junction device coupled to an outlet of the first check valve;
• a by-passable expansion device that couples a flow of the refrigerant fluid from the first receiver port to a second input port of the junction device, with the by-passable expansion device configured to expand liquid refrigerant from the first receiver port into the mixed liquid-vapor refrigerant flow that mixes with the secondary refrigerant flow in the junction device;
• a heat pump circuit comprising a closed-circuit fluid path that includes the receiver, the liquid separator, the pump, the condenser, the compressor, the evaporator, the first path, and the second path;
• and
• an open-circuit refrigeration system configured to receive the refrigerant fluid from the receiver, with the open-circuit refrigeration system comprising an open-circuit fluid path that extends from the first receiver port to the evaporator to an exhaust line, and that includes the receiver, the evaporator, the pump, the heat pump circuit, and the liquid separator, wherein
• a third port of the junction device is configured to deliver the mixed liquid-vapor refrigerant flow into the first evaporator port during either the open-circuit cooling mode or the closed-circuit cooling mode,
• the system is configured to operate the heat pump circuit in the closed-circuit cooling mode to cool a first heat load in proximity to the evaporator or in a closed-circuit heating mode to heat a second heat load in proximity to the evaporator, or to operate the open-circuit refrigeration system in the open-circuit cooling mode to cool a third heat load in proximity to the evaporator,
• when operating in the open-circuit cooling mode, the pump pumps a secondary refrigerant flow from the liquid-side outlet of the liquid separator into the first path to the first port of the junction device to mix with a flow of the refrigerant fluid from the receiver, with the second path being closed to the flow of the refrigerant fluid.

A thermal management system, comprising:

• a receiver that comprises a first receiver port and a second receiver port and that is configured to store a refrigerant fluid;
• an evaporator comprising a first evaporator port and a second evaporator port;
• a liquid separator that comprises an inlet, a vapor-side outlet, and a liquid-side outlet;
• a pump comprising an inlet configured to receive the refrigerant from the liquid-side outlet of the liquid separator and an outlet that is coupled to the first evaporator port, where the pump outlet is coupled in a first path that has the first evaporator port coupled to the outlet of the pump, and is further coupled in a second path that has the second port of the condenser coupled to the outlet of the pump;
• a condenser comprising a first port and a second port;
• a compressor comprising a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet;
• a first by-passable expansion device that couples a flow of the refrigerant fluid from the first receiver port to a second input port of the junction device, with the first by-passable expansion device configured to expand liquid refrigerant from the first receiver port into the mixed liquid-vapor refrigerant flow that mixes with the secondary refrigerant flow in the junction device, the first by-passable expansion device comprising:
• an expansion valve device comprising an inlet coupled to the second port of the condenser, and an outlet coupled to the second receiver port;
• and
• a check valve coupled in shunt with the expansion valve device;
• a second by-passable expansion device that couples the second receiver port to the first port of the condenser during a closed-circuit heating mode;
• a heat pump circuit comprising a closed-circuit fluid path that includes the receiver, the liquid separator, the pump, the condenser, the compressor, the evaporator, the first path, and the second path;
• and
• an open-circuit refrigeration system configured to receive the refrigerant fluid from the receiver, with the open-circuit refrigeration system comprising an open-circuit fluid path that extends from the first receiver port to the evaporator to an exhaust line, and that includes the receiver, the evaporator, the pump, the heat pump circuit, and the liquid separator.

A thermal management system, comprising:

• a receiver that comprises a first receiver port and a second receiver port and that is configured to store a refrigerant fluid;
• an evaporator comprising a first evaporator port and a second evaporator port;
• a liquid separator that comprises an inlet, a vapor-side outlet, and a liquid-side outlet;
• a pump comprising an inlet configured to receive the refrigerant from the liquid-side outlet of the liquid separator and an outlet that is coupled to the first evaporator port;
• a condenser comprising a first port and a second port;
• a compressor comprising a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet;
• a heat pump circuit comprising a closed-circuit fluid path that includes the receiver, the liquid separator, the pump, the condenser, the compressor, the evaporator;
• and
• an open-circuit refrigeration system configured to receive the refrigerant fluid from the receiver, with the open-circuit refrigeration system comprising an open-circuit fluid path that extends from the first receiver port to the evaporator to an exhaust line, and that includes the receiver, the evaporator, the pump, the heat pump circuit, and the liquid separator, wherein
• the system is configured to operate the heat pump circuit in a closed-circuit cooling mode to cool a first heat load in proximity to the evaporator or in a closed-circuit heating mode to heat a second heat load in proximity to the evaporator, or to operate the open-circuit refrigeration system in the open-circuit cooling mode to cool a third heat load in proximity to the evaporator,
• the heat pump circuit further comprises a four-way valve that is disposed in both the closed-circuit fluid path and the open-circuit fluid path, and
• the inlet of the liquid separator is coupled to a first port of the four-way valve, the vapor-side outlet of the liquid separator is coupled to a second port of the four-way valve, and the liquid-side outlet of the liquid separator is coupled to the inlet of the pump.