An integrated phase change cold storage liquid cooling system for high energy laser weapon and method of use

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of thermal management technology for high-energy laser weapons, and particularly to an integrated phase-change cold storage liquid cooling system and its usage method for high-energy laser weapons. The system includes a laser heating unit, a main circulation pump, a water tank, a compressor-type refrigeration unit, an integrated phase-change cold storage heat exchanger, a first switching valve, a second regulating valve, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The first switching valve is connected to the outlet of the main circulation pump, the inlet of the refrigeration unit, and the inlet of the laser heating unit; the second regulating valve is connected to the outlet of the laser heating unit, the inlet of the cold storage heat exchanger coolant, and the inlet of the water tank; the outlet of the refrigeration unit is connected to the inlet of the cold storage heat exchanger coolant, and the outlet of the cold storage heat exchanger coolant and the outlet of the water tank are both connected to the inlet of the main circulation pump; the controller is connected to each valve and the temperature sensor. This invention achieves rapid switching between cold storage and cold release modes under single-pump drive through the coordinated control of two three-way valves, realizing closed-loop control of the laser heating unit temperature.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of thermal management technology for high-energy laser weapons, and more specifically, to an integrated phase-change cold storage liquid cooling system and its usage method for high-energy laser weapons. Background Technology

[0002] When high-energy laser weapons are in operation, their core components, such as gain media and optical elements, generate a large amount of waste heat. This heat must be dissipated promptly through an efficient thermal management system to ensure the laser's output performance and operational stability. Liquid cooling technology, due to its strong heat dissipation capacity and high temperature control precision, has become the mainstream thermal management solution for high-energy laser weapons.

[0003] Because laser weapons typically operate in a pulsed mode alternating between short bursts of high-power emission and long periods of intermittent standby, their thermal load is characterized by high instantaneous peak values ​​and low average power. To balance peak load and system energy consumption, existing technologies have introduced phase-change cooling storage technology. This technology utilizes the stored cooling capacity during laser standby and releases it during emission to absorb instantaneous waste heat, thereby achieving "peak shaving and valley filling" of the thermal load and reducing the installed power of compressor-type chiller units.

[0004] To achieve phase change cold storage, existing liquid cooling systems typically employ a multi-loop design. A typical approach involves configuring separate circulation pumps for the cold storage and release cycles, and using multiple valves to switch and isolate the loops. While this dual-pump or multi-pump design can achieve basic cold storage and release functions, the valve assembly structure is complex and the control logic is cumbersome. Other solutions employ multi-layer shell-and-tube cold storage devices, which achieve heat exchange, but are structurally complex and bulky.

[0005] Therefore, it is evident that providing an integrated phase change cold storage liquid cooling system and its control method that is extremely compact in structure, responds quickly, is simple to control, and has a high energy efficiency ratio is a technical challenge faced by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides an integrated phase change cold storage liquid cooling system for high-energy laser weapons, comprising a laser heating unit, a main circulation pump, a water tank, a compressor-type refrigeration unit, an integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger, a first switching valve, a second regulating valve, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The first switching valve is a three-way valve, with its first port connected to the outlet of the main circulation pump, its second port connected to the inlet of the refrigeration unit, and its third port connected to the inlet of the laser heating unit; The second regulating valve is a three-way valve, with its first port connected to the outlet of the laser heating unit, its second port connected to the coolant inlet of the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger, and its third port connected to the inlet of the water tank. The outlet of the refrigeration unit is connected to the coolant inlet of the integrated phase change heat storage heat exchanger; the coolant outlet of the integrated phase change heat storage heat exchanger is connected to the inlet of the main circulation pump; the outlet of the water tank is connected to the inlet of the main circulation pump. The temperature sensor is located at the inlet of the laser heating unit and is used to monitor the temperature of the coolant entering the laser heating unit in real time. The controller is electrically connected to the first switching valve, the second regulating valve, and the temperature sensor, respectively.

[0007] Based on the above scheme, the controller is further configured to control the first switching valve to switch between cold storage mode and cold release mode according to the working state of the laser weapon.

[0008] Based on the above scheme, further, in the cold storage mode, the first port of the first switching valve is connected to the second port and the third port is closed, and the first port of the second regulating valve is connected to the third port and the second port is closed, forming a cold storage circulation loop that sequentially passes through the main circulation pump, the refrigeration unit, the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger and returns to the main circulation pump.

[0009] Based on the above scheme, further, in the cooling mode, the first port of the first switching valve is connected to the third port and the second port is closed, and the first port of the second regulating valve is connected to the second port and the third port in proportion, forming a cooling loop that splits into two paths after flowing out of the laser heating unit; The first path flows through the second port of the second regulating valve and the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger before entering the inlet of the main circulation pump, while the second path flows through the third port of the second regulating valve and the water tank before entering the inlet of the main circulation pump.

[0010] Based on the above scheme, further, in the cooling release mode, the opening of the second regulating valve is dynamically adjusted according to the temperature value fed back by the temperature sensor, so as to change the flow ratio between the coolant flowing through the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger and the coolant bypassed to the water tank, thereby realizing closed-loop control of the inlet coolant temperature of the laser heating unit.

[0011] Based on the above scheme, the controller further employs a PID algorithm to dynamically adjust the second regulating valve.

[0012] Based on the above scheme, the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger is further provided with a coolant flow channel and a phase change material cavity, and the phase change material cavity is filled with a composite shaped phase change material.

[0013] Based on the above scheme, the phase transition temperature of the composite shape-stabilized phase change material is further defined as 5°C to 15°C.

[0014] The present invention also provides a method of using the integrated phase change cold storage liquid cooling system as described above, comprising the following steps: Depending on the operating status of the laser weapon, the controller controls the first switching valve to switch modes; When the laser weapon is in standby or off-light state, it switches to cold storage mode, the compressor-type refrigeration unit operates, and the controller controls the first switching valve to switch to cold storage mode, so that the coolant flows through the main circulation pump, the compressor-type refrigeration unit and the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger in sequence, and stores the cold energy in the phase change material. When the laser weapon is in the light-emitting state, the controller controls the first switching valve to switch to the cooling mode, so that the coolant flows through the laser heating unit to absorb waste heat and then enters the second regulating valve. By adjusting the opening of the second regulating valve, a part of the coolant is introduced into the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger to release cold energy and cool down before flowing back, and another part of the coolant is bypassed to the water tank and then flows back. The two flowing coolants are mixed and then enter the laser heating unit again.

[0015] Based on the above scheme, further, in the cooling release mode, the temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the coolant at the inlet of the laser heating unit in real time, and dynamically adjusts the opening of the second regulating valve according to the temperature feedback value. The controller controls the flow ratio between the coolant flowing through the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger and the coolant bypassed to the water tank, so that the temperature of the mixed coolant is stabilized within the operating temperature range required by the laser heating unit.

[0016] Compared with existing technologies, this invention provides an integrated phase change cold storage liquid cooling system for high-energy laser weapons. Through specific connections and coordination of a main circulation pump, a first switching valve, a second regulating valve, an integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger, a temperature sensor, and a controller, a highly integrated "single-pump, dual-valve" liquid cooling system is constructed. During operation, the first switching valve switches the path according to the laser weapon's operating state, allowing the system to switch between cold storage and cold release modes. In cold release mode, the second regulating valve dynamically adjusts its opening based on real-time feedback from the temperature sensor, precisely controlling the ratio of coolant flowing through the cold storage heat exchanger to coolant bypassing the water tank, ensuring that the two recirculations mix to reach the set supply temperature. This solution utilizes the synergistic effect of two three-way valves to achieve both mode switching and precise temperature control with only a single pump. This not only significantly simplifies the piping structure and control logic, improving system response speed and reliability, but also effectively reduces the instantaneous load and overall power consumption of the refrigeration unit through the "peak shaving and valley filling" effect of phase change cold storage. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the integrated phase change cold storage liquid cooling system described in this invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the coolant flow path in the cold storage mode of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the coolant flow path in the cooling release mode of the present invention.

[0019] Figure label: 1-Laser heating unit; 2-Main circulation pump; 3-Water tank; 4-Compressor-type refrigeration unit; 5-Integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger; 5a-Coolant flow channel; 5b-Phase change material cavity; 6-First switching valve; 7-Second regulating valve; 8-Temperature sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0022] The present invention provides, for example Figure 1-3 The integrated phase change cold storage liquid cooling system for high-energy laser weapons shown includes a laser heating unit 1, a main circulation pump 2, a water tank 3, a compressor-type refrigeration unit 4, an integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger 5, a first switching valve 6, a second regulating valve 7, a temperature sensor 8, and a controller.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, in terms of connection, the first switching valve 6 is a three-way valve, with its first port connected to the outlet of the main circulation pump 2, its second port connected to the inlet of the compressor-type refrigeration unit 4, and its third port connected to the inlet of the laser heating unit 1. The second regulating valve 7 is also a three-way valve, with its first port connected to the outlet of the laser heating unit 1, its second port connected to the coolant inlet of the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger 5, and its third port connected to the inlet of the water tank 3. The outlet of the compressor-type refrigeration unit 4 is connected to the coolant inlet of the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger 5, the coolant outlet of the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger 5 is connected to the inlet of the main circulation pump 2, and the outlet of the water tank 3 is also connected to the inlet of the main circulation pump 2. The two systems converge at the inlet of the main circulation pump 2 and then enter the main circulation pump 2. Through the above connection method, the system only uses one main circulation pump 2 as the circulation power source, and with the help of two three-way valves, it can realize the complete circulation of both cold storage and cold release modes. There is no need to set up multiple circulation pumps or complex valve group structures, which greatly simplifies the system architecture, reduces equipment costs and failure probability, and improves the system integration and reliability.

[0024] Temperature sensor 8 is located at the inlet of laser heating unit 1 to monitor the temperature of the coolant entering laser heating unit 1 in real time. The controller is electrically connected to the first switching valve 6, the second regulating valve 7, and temperature sensor 8.

[0025] During system operation, the controller switches the first switching valve 6 between cold storage mode and cold release mode based on the laser weapon's operating status. The entire system's operating mode can be switched rapidly with a single action of the first switching valve 6, avoiding control delays caused by the coordinated action of multiple valves.

[0026] When the laser weapon is in standby or off-light mode, the system operates in cooling mode. At this time, the controller controls the first switching valve 6 to connect the first port to the second port and close the third port, while simultaneously controlling the second regulating valve 7 to connect the first port to the third port and close the second port.

[0027] Preferably, the controller is selected from a microcontroller, an ARM processor, or a PLC programmable logic controller.

[0028] like Figure 2As shown, the flow path of the coolant is as follows: the main circulation pump 2 pumps the coolant out, which enters the compressor-type refrigeration unit 4 through the first and second ports of the first switching valve 6. After being cooled, it flows into the coolant channel 5a of the integrated phase change heat storage heat exchanger 5, where it exchanges heat with the phase change material in the phase change material cavity 5b, storing the cold energy in the phase change material. The cooled coolant flows out from the coolant outlet of the integrated phase change heat storage heat exchanger 5, merges with the coolant flowing out from the outlet of the water tank 3, and returns to the inlet of the main circulation pump 2, completing the cold storage cycle. In this mode, the compressor-type refrigeration unit 4 runs continuously, gradually cooling the phase change material below the phase change temperature, causing it to solidify and store cold energy. This cold storage cycle completely isolates the laser heating unit 1 from the cycle, avoiding unnecessary cold energy loss during standby, while ensuring that all the cold energy generated by the refrigeration unit 4 can be used for cold storage, thus improving the cold storage efficiency.

[0029] like Figure 3 As shown, when the laser weapon is in the light-emitting state, the system quickly switches to the cooling release mode. At this time, the controller controls the first and third ports of the first switching valve 6 to connect and the second port to close. The flow path of the coolant is as follows: the main circulation pump 2 pumps the coolant out, which enters the laser heating unit 1 through the first and third ports of the first switching valve 6. After absorbing the waste heat generated by the laser, it becomes a high-temperature coolant and flows out from the outlet of the laser heating unit 1 into the first port of the second regulating valve 7. The second regulating valve 7 connects the first and second ports and the first and third ports in a certain proportion, dividing the high-temperature coolant into two paths: the first path flows into the coolant channel 5a of the integrated phase change heat storage heat exchanger 5 through the second port of the second regulating valve 7, where it exchanges heat with the phase change material in a melting and heat-absorbing state, releasing cold energy and lowering its temperature; the second path bypasses to the water tank 3 through the third port of the second regulating valve 7. After the two coolants mix at the inlet of the main circulation pump 2, they are pumped back to the laser heating unit 1 by the main circulation pump 2 to complete the cooling release cycle. This cooling cycle utilizes the characteristic of phase change materials to absorb a large amount of heat during the melting process, providing instantaneous high-power cooling for the laser heating unit 1. This achieves "peak shaving and valley filling" of the laser's peak heat load, significantly reducing the instantaneous cooling power requirement of the compressor-type refrigeration unit 4.

[0030] In the cooling release mode, temperature sensor 8 monitors the coolant temperature at the inlet of laser heating unit 1 in real time and feeds the temperature signal back to the controller. Based on the deviation between this temperature feedback value and the set target temperature, the controller dynamically adjusts the opening of the second regulating valve 7, changing the flow ratio between the coolant flowing through the integrated phase change heat storage exchanger 5 and the coolant bypassing to the water tank 3. When the inlet temperature is too high, the controller increases the opening of the second end of the second regulating valve 7, allowing more coolant to flow through the heat storage exchanger to obtain more cooling capacity; when the inlet temperature is too low, the controller decreases the opening of the second end, increasing the bypass flow. Through this closed-loop regulation, the temperature of the mixed coolant is stabilized within the operating temperature range required by laser heating unit 1. This regulation method offers rapid response, high control precision, and adaptability to real-time fluctuations in laser output power, ensuring that the laser always operates within its optimal temperature range.

[0031] As a preferred embodiment, the controller can use a PID algorithm to dynamically adjust the second regulating valve 7 to improve temperature control accuracy and response speed, eliminate steady-state errors, and further enhance the temperature control stability of the system.

[0032] It should be noted that the PID algorithm used in this invention is a classic control algorithm widely used in the field of industrial process control. Its basic principle is to generate a control quantity based on the deviation between the set value and the actual output value through a linear combination of proportional, integral, and derivative components, thereby adjusting the controlled object. The parameter tuning method and digital implementation of the PID controller are existing technologies well known to those skilled in the art and are not the innovation of this invention. This invention only applies the PID algorithm as a specific control means to the opening adjustment of the second regulating valve 7 to achieve closed-loop control of the coolant temperature, and does not involve any improvement to the PID algorithm itself.

[0033] The integrated phase change heat storage heat exchanger 5 has a coolant flow channel 5a and a phase change material cavity 5b, which is filled with a composite shaped phase change material. This composite shaped phase change material is prepared using hydrated salts or paraffin as a base material, with the addition of a thermal conductivity enhancer and an encapsulation support material. The thermal conductivity enhancer is expanded graphite or metal powder, and the encapsulation support material is porous ceramic or silicone rubber. It possesses high latent heat of phase change and good thermal conductivity. Its phase change temperature matches the optimal operating temperature range of the laser heating unit 1, preferably 5°C to 15°C.

[0034] The coolant flow channel 5a has been optimized with internal fins and turbulence columns to enhance heat exchange, adapting to the flow resistance and heat exchange requirements under single-pump circulation, ensuring heat exchange efficiency during cold storage and release. This integrated design combines cold storage and heat exchange functions into a single component, reducing piping connections and intermediate heat exchange links, further minimizing system size and improving overall energy efficiency.

[0035] Although this document frequently uses terms such as laser heating unit, main circulation pump, water tank, compressor-type refrigeration unit, integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger, first switching valve, and second regulating valve, the possibility of using other terms is not excluded. These terms are used merely for the convenience of describing and explaining the essence of the invention; interpreting them as any additional limitation would contradict the spirit of the invention.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An integrated phase-change cryogenic liquid cooling system for high-energy laser weapons, characterized in that: It includes a laser heating unit, a main circulation pump, a water tank, a compressor-type refrigeration unit, an integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger, a first switching valve, a second regulating valve, a temperature sensor, and a controller; The first switching valve is a three-way valve, with its first port connected to the outlet of the main circulation pump, its second port connected to the inlet of the refrigeration unit, and its third port connected to the inlet of the laser heating unit; The second regulating valve is a three-way valve, with its first port connected to the outlet of the laser heating unit, its second port connected to the coolant inlet of the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger, and its third port connected to the inlet of the water tank. The outlet of the refrigeration unit is connected to the coolant inlet of the integrated phase change heat storage heat exchanger; the coolant outlet of the integrated phase change heat storage heat exchanger is connected to the inlet of the main circulation pump; the outlet of the water tank is connected to the inlet of the main circulation pump. The temperature sensor is located at the inlet of the laser heating unit and is used to monitor the temperature of the coolant entering the laser heating unit in real time. The controller is electrically connected to the first switching valve, the second regulating valve, and the temperature sensor, respectively.

2. The integrated phase-change cryogenic liquid cooling system for high-energy laser weapons according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller is configured to control the first switching valve to switch between a cold storage mode and a cold release mode according to the working state of the laser weapon.

3. The integrated phase-change cryogenic liquid cooling system for high-energy laser weapons according to claim 2, characterized in that: In cold storage mode, the first port of the first switching valve is connected to the second port and the third port is closed, and the first port of the second regulating valve is connected to the third port and the second port is closed, forming a cold storage circulation loop that sequentially passes through the main circulation pump, the refrigeration unit, the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger, and returns to the main circulation pump.

4. The integrated phase-change cryogenic liquid cooling system for high-energy laser weapons according to claim 2, characterized in that: In the cooling mode, the first port of the first switching valve is connected to the third port and the second port is closed. The first port of the second regulating valve is connected to the second port and the third port in proportion, forming a cooling loop that splits into two paths after flowing out of the laser heating unit. The first path flows through the second port of the second regulating valve and the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger before entering the inlet of the main circulation pump, while the second path flows through the third port of the second regulating valve and the water tank before entering the inlet of the main circulation pump.

5. The integrated phase-change cryogenic liquid cooling system for high-energy laser weapons according to claim 4, characterized in that: In the cooling release mode, the opening of the second regulating valve is dynamically adjusted according to the temperature value fed back by the temperature sensor, so as to change the flow ratio between the coolant flowing through the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger and the coolant bypassed to the water tank, thereby realizing closed-loop control of the inlet coolant temperature of the laser heating unit.

6. The integrated phase-change cryogenic liquid cooling system for high-energy laser weapons according to claim 5, characterized in that: The controller uses a PID algorithm to dynamically adjust the second regulating valve.

7. The integrated phase-change cryogenic liquid cooling system for high-energy laser weapons according to claim 1, characterized in that: The integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger has a coolant flow channel and a phase change material cavity inside, and the phase change material cavity is filled with composite shaped phase change material.

8. The integrated phase-change cryogenic liquid cooling system for high-energy laser weapons according to claim 7, characterized in that: The phase transition temperature of the composite shaped phase change material is 5°C to 15°C.

9. A method of using the integrated phase change cold storage liquid cooling system based on any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Depending on the operating status of the laser weapon, the controller controls the first switching valve to switch modes; When the laser weapon is in standby or off-light state, it switches to cold storage mode, the compressor-type refrigeration unit operates, and the controller controls the first switching valve to switch to cold storage mode, so that the coolant flows through the main circulation pump, the compressor-type refrigeration unit and the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger in sequence, and stores the cold energy in the phase change material. When the laser weapon is in the light-emitting state, the controller controls the first switching valve to switch to the cooling mode, so that the coolant flows through the laser heating unit to absorb waste heat and then enters the second regulating valve. By adjusting the opening of the second regulating valve, a part of the coolant is introduced into the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger to release cold energy and cool down before flowing back, and another part of the coolant is bypassed to the water tank and then flows back. The two flowing coolants are mixed and then enter the laser heating unit again.

10. The method of using the integrated phase change cold storage liquid cooling system according to claim 9, characterized in that: In the cooling release mode, the temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the coolant at the inlet of the laser heating unit in real time, and dynamically adjusts the opening of the second regulating valve according to the temperature feedback value. The controller controls the flow ratio between the coolant flowing through the integrated phase change cold storage heat exchanger and the coolant bypassed to the water tank, so that the temperature of the mixed coolant is stabilized within the operating temperature range required by the laser heating unit.

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