Variable pressure thermal insulating jacket
AssigneeThe University of Chicago
InventorsPaul A. Nelson, Richard F. Malecha, Albert A. Chilenskas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for controlled insulation of a thermal device. The device includes a thermal jacket with a closed volume able to be evacuated to form an insulating jacket around the thermal source. A getter material is in communcation with the closed volume of the thermal jacket. The getter material can absorb and desorb a control gas to control gas pressure in the volume of the thermal jacket to control thermal conductivity in the thermal jacket.
Claims20
A device for controlled insulation of a thermal source, comprising:
- a thermal jacket having a closed volume capable of being evacuated to form an insulating jacket for control of temperature of the thermal source;
- and
- a getter material in communication with the closed volume of said thermal jacket, said getter material for absorbing and desorbing a control gas to control gas pressure in the volume of said thermal jacket, thereby enabling control of thermal conductivity of said thermal jacket and in turn the rate of heat loss from, and the temperature of, said thermal source.
A method of controlling temperature of a thermal source, comprising the steps of:
- (a) installing about said thermal source a thermal jacket having a closed thermal shield volume;
- and
- (b) coupling a getter material to said closed thermal shield volume, said getter material absorbing and desorbing a control gas upon decrease and increase, respectively, of the temperature of said getter material, and the changing of gas pressure in said closed thermal shield volume changing the thermal conductivity of said thermal jacket to control the temperature of said thermal source.
A method for enabling temperature control of a battery, comprising the steps of:
- (a) coupling a thermal jacket to said battery, said thermal jacket having a closed thermal shield volume able to be evacuated;
- and
- (b) coupling a getter to said closed thermal shield volume, said getter able to absorb and desorb a control gas from said closed thermal shield volume upon causing a decrease and increase, respectively, of the temperature of said getter thereby causing a change of gas pressure in said closed thermal shield volume and consequent change of thermal conductivity of said thermal jacket to control the temperature of the battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.