Vapor cycle cooling system for high powered devices
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsBijan F. Hagh, Joseph Borghese
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example flash tank includes a first inlet configured to receive a superheated vapor refrigerant, a second inlet configured to receive a two-phase refrigerant, a vapor outlet, a liquid collection volume, and a phase separation matrix including a first fluid path fluidically coupled between the first inlet and the liquid collection volume, a second fluid path fluidically coupled between the second inlet and the liquid collection volume, and a third fluid path fluidically coupled between the vapor outlet and the liquid collection volume. The phase separation matrix is configured to radially distribute thermal mixing of a refrigerant flowing within the first, second, and third fluid paths.
Claims18
A flash tank comprising:
- a first inlet configured to receive a superheated vapor refrigerant;
- a second inlet configured to receive a two-phase refrigerant;
- a vapor outlet;
- a liquid collection volume;
- a phase separation matrix comprising:
- a first fluid path fluidically coupled between the first inlet and the liquid collection volume;
- a second fluid path fluidically coupled between the second inlet and the liquid collection volume;
- and
- a third fluid path fluidically coupled between the vapor outlet and the liquid collection volume,
- wherein the phase separation matrix is configured to radially distribute thermal mixing of a refrigerant flowing within the first, second, and third fluid paths, and
- wherein the phase separation matrix is configured to physically separate fluids flowing within the first fluid path, the second fluid path, and the third fluid path such that fluids flowing within one of the first fluid path, the second fluid path, and the third fluid path do not physically mix with fluids flowing in one other of the first fluid path, the second fluid path, or the third fluid path.
A system comprising:
- a subcooler/super-heater;
- and
- a flash tank comprising:
- an inlet configured to receive a superheated vapor refrigerant and a two-phase refrigerant;
- a vapor outlet;
- a liquid collection volume;
- a phase separation matrix disposed between the vapor outlet and the liquid collection volume, wherein the phase separation matrix defines a first fluid path, a second fluid path, and a third fluid path,
- wherein the inlet is fluidically coupled to the liquid collection volume,
- wherein the phase separation matrix is configured to separate a vapor phase and a liquid phase of both the superheated vapor refrigerant and the two-phase refrigerant,
- wherein the subcooler/super-heater is fluidically coupled the vapor outlet, and
- wherein the phase separation matrix is configured to physically separate fluids flowing within the first fluid path, the second fluid path, and the third fluid path such that fluids flowing in one of the first fluid path, the second fluid path, and the third fluid path do not physically mix with fluids flowing in one other of the first fluid path, the second fluid path, or the third fluid path.
A system comprising:
- a flash tank downstream of a heat load to be cooled, the flash tank comprising:
- an inlet configured to receive a superheated vapor refrigerant and a two-phase refrigerant;
- a vapor outlet;
- a liquid collection volume;
- a phase separation matrix disposed between the vapor outlet and the liquid collection volume, wherein the phase separation matrix is configured to separate a vapor phase and a liquid phase of both the superheated vapor refrigerant and the two-phase refrigerant, wherein the phase separation matrix is configured to physically separate fluids flowing within a plurality of different flow paths within the phase separation matrix such that fluids flowing within each flow path of the plurality of flow paths do not physically mix with fluids flowing in the other flow paths of the plurality of flow paths;
- a subcooler/super-heater downstream of the flash tank;
- a compressor downstream of the subcooler/super-heater;
- a condenser downstream of the compressor and upstream of the flash tank;
- an expansion valve intermediate the flash tank and the subcooler/super-heater, the expansion valve configured to discharge a mixture of vapor and liquid refrigerant to the subcooler/super-heater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.