# US 12,000,679 B2 · Thermal storage for high load short duration cooling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,679 B2 - Document ID: US12000679B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/838,683 - Filed: 2022-06-13 - Published: 2023-12-14 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-06-13 - Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Applicants: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Inventors: Mark G. Vignali; Tony Ho - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000679B2 ## CPC - F41H 13/005: {the high-energy beam being a laser beam} - H05K 7/2029: {using a liquid coolant with phase change in electronic enclosures (in cabinets of standardized dimensions H05K7/20536; in server cabinets H05K7/20709; in vehicle electronic casings H05K7/20845; in power control electronics H05K7/2089; in displays H05K7/20954)} - F28D 21/00: Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00 - H01S 3/04: Arrangements for thermal management - H05K 7/1434: {for electronics exposed to high gravitational force; Cylindrical housings} - H05K 7/20309: {Evaporators} - F28D 2021/0019: {Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for} - F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - H01S: DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL ## Abstract A thermal management system for a directed energy weapon includes a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to the directed energy weapon and a second heat exchanger arranged in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger to form a closed loop. The second heat exchanger is thermally coupled to a secondary system and a thermal management fluid circulates within the closed loop. A thermal storage device is arranged in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The thermal storage device contains a material and a mode of operation of the directed energy weapon is dependent on a condition of the material in the thermal storage device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermal management system for a directed energy weapon comprising: a first heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger being thermally coupled to the directed energy weapon; a second heat exchanger arranged in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger to form a closed loop, wherein the second heat exchanger is thermally coupled to a secondary system and a thermal management fluid circulates within the closed loop; and a thermal storage device arranged in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the thermal storage device containing a material; wherein a mode of operation of the directed energy weapon is dependent on a condition of the material in the thermal storage device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein the directed energy weapon is operable in a firing mode and a charging mode, and during operation in the firing mode, an amount of heat generated by the directed energy weapon exceeds an amount of heat that can be removed from the thermal management fluid at the second heat exchanger. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The thermal management system of claim 2, wherein the thermal storage device is operable as a heat sink when the directed energy weapon is in the firing mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The thermal management system of claim 2, wherein during operation in the charging mode, the amount of heat that can be removed from the thermal management fluid at the second heat exchanger exceeds the amount of heat generated by the directed energy weapon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The thermal management system of claim 4, wherein the thermal storage device releases heat when the directed energy weapon is in the charging mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein the thermal storage device is a reservoir and the material is a liquid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The thermal management system of claim 6, wherein the directed energy weapon is operable in a firing mode and a charging mode and in the charging mode, a temperature of the liquid is a minimum allowable temperature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The thermal management system of claim 6, wherein the liquid within the thermal storage device is the same as the thermal management fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The thermal management system of claim 6, wherein the liquid within the thermal storage device is different than the thermal management fluid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein the material within the thermal storage device is a phase change material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The thermal management system of claim 10, wherein the directed energy weapon is operable in a firing mode and a charging mode, the phase change material transforming to a first state during the charging mode and the phase change material transforming to a second state during the firing mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The thermal management system of claim 11, wherein the first state is a solid and the second state is a liquid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein the secondary system is one of a vapor cycle and an air cycle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The thermal management system of claim 1, further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the thermal storage device, the pump being operable to move the thermal management fluid within the closed loop. ### Claim 15 A method of operating a thermal management system for a directed energy weapon, the method comprising: circulating a thermal management fluid through a closed loop system including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, and a thermal storage device, the first heat exchanger being in thermal communication with the directed energy weapon and the second heat exchanger being in thermal communication with a secondary system; operating the directed energy weapon in a firing mode, wherein in the firing mode, heat from the directed energy weapon is transferred to the secondary system and the thermal storage device; and operating the directed energy weapon in a charging mode, wherein in the charging mode, heat stored within the thermal storage device is transferred to the thermal management fluid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising transforming the directed energy weapon from the firing mode to the charging mode in response to a material within the thermal storage device being equal to or exceeding a maximum allowable temperature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising transforming the directed energy weapon from the firing mode to the charging mode in response to substantially all of a phase change material within the thermal storage device transforming from a first state to a second state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the first state is a solid and the second state is liquid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising transforming the directed energy weapon from the charging mode to the firing mode in response to substantially all of the phase change material within the thermal storage device transforming from the second state to the first state. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising transforming the directed energy weapon from the charging mode to the firing mode in response to a material within the thermal storage device reaching a minimum allowable temperature.