System and method for heating and cooling a thermal accessory

A method of operating a controller for a thermal accessory, the method comprising:

• pumping a thermal liquid from a liquid reservoir through a heating component and a first liquid block, the first liquid block including an internal channel for transferring the thermal liquid;
• pumping the thermal liquid from the first liquid block through the thermal accessory coupled to the controller;
• pumping the thermal liquid from the thermal accessory through the liquid reservoir;
• calculating, for the thermal accessory, a balancing point to reduce oscillation of an actual temperature of the thermal accessory about a target temperature;
• in response to a determination that the controller is in a heating mode, heating, based on the balancing point, the thermal liquid in the heating component, so as to increase the actual temperature of the thermal accessory;
• and
• in response to a determination that the controller is in a cooling mode, cooling, based on the balancing point, the thermal liquid by transferring heat from the first liquid block to a second liquid block, the second liquid block including an internal channel for transferring a coolant liquid.

A controller for a thermal accessory, the controller comprising:

• an output conduit through which a thermal liquid destined for the thermal accessory is able to exit the controller;
• an input conduit at which the thermal liquid returning from the thermal accessory is able to enter the controller;
• a first reservoir that includes a store of the thermal liquid;
• and
• a temperature control system that includes-
• a second reservoir that includes a store of coolant;
• a pair of liquid blocks, the pair of liquid blocks including (i) a first liquid block that includes a first channel defined therethrough and (ii) a second liquid block that includes a second channel defined therethrough;
• a heating component;
• a first pump that is in liquid communication with the input conduit and that, in operation, is configured to move the thermal liquid through the heating component to warm the thermal liquid and then through first channel in the first liquid block;
• a second pump that is in liquid communication with the second reservoir and that, in operation, is configured to move the coolant through the second channel in the second liquid block;
• a heat transfer component that, in operation, is configured to transfer heat from the first liquid block to the second liquid block;
• and
• a control unit configured to manage a temperature of the thermal accessory by either (i) heating the thermal liquid through controlled activation of the heating component or (ii) cooling the thermal liquid through controlled activation of the heat transfer component, in such a manner that oscillation of the temperature about a target temperature is reduced.