Reversible thermal rectifiers, temperature control systems and vehicles incorporating the same

A reversible thermal rectifier for selectively controlling a direction of heat flow, the reversible thermal rectifier comprising:

• a plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects distributed in a fluid medium, each of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects comprising a refractive side and a reflective side, wherein heat flows past the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects when approaching from the refractive side, and heat is reflected from the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects when approaching from the reflective side;
• and
• a bidirectional field actuator system that selectively orients the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects between a first orientation, wherein the reflective sides of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects face a first direction, and a second orientation, wherein the reflective sides of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects face a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction, and wherein
• the bidirectional field actuator system comprises a first field actuator disposed on a first side of the fluid medium and a second field actuator disposed on a second side of the fluid medium, substantially opposite the first side of the fluid medium, wherein the first field actuator and the second field actuator cooperate to selectively orient the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects by controlling a field direction of an applied field.

A temperature control system comprising a reversible thermal rectifier and a temperature monitoring and heat flow control system, wherein:

• the reversible thermal rectifier comprises:
• a plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects distributed in a fluid medium, each of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects comprising a refractive side and a reflective side, wherein heat flows past the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects when approaching from the refractive side, and heat is reflected from the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects when approaching from the reflective side;
• and
• a bidirectional field actuator system that applies a field to the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects to selectively orient the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects between a first orientation, wherein the reflective sides of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects face a first direction, and a second orientation, wherein the reflective sides of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects face a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction;
• and
• the temperature monitoring and heat flow control system is communicatively coupled to the reversible thermal rectifier and comprises:
• an exterior temperature sensor that measures an exterior temperature, the exterior temperature sensor communicatively coupled to a controller;
• an interior temperature sensor that measures an interior temperature, the interior temperature sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein, the controller controls the orientation of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects based on the exterior temperature, the interior temperature, or both the exterior temperature and the interior temperature.

A vehicle with a temperature control system comprising a reversible thermal rectifier and a temperature monitoring and heat flow control system, wherein:

• the reversible thermal rectifier is disposed between an interior of the vehicle and an exterior surface of the vehicle and comprises:
• a plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects distributed in a fluid medium, each of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects comprising a refractive side and a reflective side, wherein heat flows past the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects when approaching from the refractive side, and heat is reflected from the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects when approaching from the reflective side;
• and
• a bidirectional field actuator system that applies a field to the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects to selectively orient the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects between a first orientation, wherein the reflective sides of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects face a first direction, and a second orientation, wherein the reflective sides of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects face a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction;
• and
• the temperature monitoring and heat flow control system comprises:
• an exterior temperature sensor to measure an exterior temperature, the exterior temperature sensor communicatively coupled to a controller;
• an interior temperature sensor to measure an interior temperature, the interior temperature sensor communicatively coupled to the controller;
• and
• wherein, the controller controls whether the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects are in the first orientation or in the second orientation based on the exterior temperature, the interior temperature or both the exterior temperature and the interior temperature.

A temperature control system comprising a reversible thermal rectifier and a temperature monitoring and heat flow control system, wherein:

• the reversible thermal rectifier comprises:
• a plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects distributed in a fluid medium, each of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects comprising a refractive side and a reflective side, wherein heat flows past the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects when approaching from the refractive side, and heat is reflected from the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects when approaching from the reflective side, and wherein the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects comprise a magnetic material;
• and
• a bidirectional field actuator system that selectively orients the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects between a first orientation, wherein the reflective sides of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects face a first direction, and a second orientation, wherein the reflective sides of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects face a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction, and wherein, the bidirectional field actuator system comprises a first electromagnet disposed on a first side of the fluid medium and a second electromagnet disposed on a second side of the fluid medium, substantially opposite the first side of the fluid medium, wherein the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet cooperate to selectively orient the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects by controlling a magnetic field direction of a magnetic field disposed there between;
• and
• the temperature monitoring and heat flow control system is communicatively coupled to the reversible thermal rectifier and comprises:
• an exterior temperature sensor that measures an exterior temperature, the exterior temperature sensor communicatively coupled to a controller;
• an interior temperature sensor that measures an interior temperature, the interior temperature sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein, the controller controls the orientation of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects based on the exterior temperature, the interior temperature, or both the exterior temperature and the interior temperature.