A fluid module for a thermal control system

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a fluid module for a thermal control system, and relates to the technical field of thermal control systems. The fluid module forms a single-machine installation position by integrating a frame-type support on a mounting base, forms a pipeline installation position by integrating a pipeline positioning support on the mounting base, and integrates the circulating pump, the liquid reservoir, the filter, the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor and the one-way valve on the mounting base through the single-machine installation position, and connects the pipeline through the pipeline installation position, so that the circulating pump, the liquid reservoir, the filter, the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor and the one-way valve are communicated to form a circulating fluid channel. Through the structural integrated design of the fluid module, the components are regularly arranged according to the preset installation position, and the pipeline is orderly arranged along the positioning support, so that the circulation efficiency is effectively improved, the performance reduction problem caused by the complex pipeline is improved, and subsequent maintenance is facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of thermal control system technology, and more specifically to a fluid module for a thermal control system. Background Technology

[0002] In a thermal control system, the fluid circulation module is the core component for achieving heat transfer and maintaining stable operating temperature of the equipment. Its performance directly affects the reliability and adaptability of the entire thermal control system.

[0003] However, the existing fluid modules often lack regularity in their structural layout or have disordered component arrangement, leading to complex pipeline connections. This results in performance issues such as increased fluid resistance and reduced circulation efficiency. At the same time, the complex structure also makes subsequent maintenance, component replacement, and functional expansion inconvenient. Utility Model Content

[0004] This disclosure addresses the problems existing in the prior art by providing a fluid module for a thermal control system, which can solve the problems of performance degradation and maintenance inconvenience caused by the lack of regularity in the structural layout of fluid modules in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this disclosure is as follows: This disclosure provides a fluid module for a thermal control system, including a circulating pump, a reservoir, a filter, a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, a check valve, pipelines, a mounting base, a frame bracket, and a pipeline positioning bracket. The frame bracket is integrated into the mounting base to form a single-unit mounting position, and the pipeline positioning bracket is integrated into the mounting base to form a pipeline mounting position. The circulating pump, reservoir, filter, first pressure sensor, second pressure sensor, and check valve are integrated into the mounting base through the single-unit mounting position. A tee is provided in the pipeline mounting position for connecting pipelines. The circulating pump, reservoir, filter, first pressure sensor, second pressure sensor, and check valve are connected through the connecting pipelines to form a circulating fluid channel.

[0006] In some embodiments of this disclosure, a reservoir, a filter, a first pressure sensor, a circulation pump, a one-way valve, and a second pressure sensor are connected in series in the circulation fluid channel.

[0007] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the fluid module is provided with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; the fluid inlet is connected to the inlet of the reservoir and the filter, the outlet of the reservoir is connected to the inlet of the filter, the outlet of the filter is connected to the inlet of the circulation pump, the outlet of the circulation pump is connected to the inlet of the check valve, and the outlet of the check valve is connected to the fluid outlet.

[0008] In some embodiments of this disclosure, a first pressure sensor is disposed between the filter and the circulating pump, and a second pressure sensor is disposed between the check valve and the fluid outlet.

[0009] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the fluid module further includes a filler valve for filling the fluid module with media and discharging residual media; the filler valve includes a first filler valve and a second filler valve, the first filler valve being connected to the fluid inlet and the second filler valve being connected to the fluid outlet.

[0010] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the filter includes a housing and a filter element; the housing is used for pressure bearing, sealing and providing an interface, and the filter element is used for filtering fluid media.

[0011] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the operating temperature range of the fluid module is between -40°C and 60°C.

[0012] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the weight of the fluid module is no more than 10 kg.

[0013] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the module envelope size of the fluid module is no greater than 360 mm × 360 mm × 180 mm.

[0014] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the module leakage rate of the fluid module is no greater than 1×10⁻⁶. -5 Pa·m 3 / s.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, this disclosure has the following beneficial effects: The fluid module provided in this embodiment reduces space occupation through integrated installation, improves the overall compactness of the module, and facilitates assembly, transportation, and mass production; the pipeline is fixed by positioning brackets to avoid pipeline displacement or leakage caused by vibration, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the module; the layout of each component is neat and the pipeline path is clear, reducing maintenance difficulty and facilitating fault diagnosis such as pressure monitoring; the modular design makes component replacement and functional expansion more flexible and adaptable to different working conditions. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fluid module for a thermal control system provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another fluid module for a thermal control system provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 3 This is a diagram of a fluid module loop module system provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 4 This is another fluid module loop module system diagram provided in the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0017] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 1. Circulating pump; 2. Liquid reservoir; 3. Filter; 4. First pressure sensor; 5. Second pressure sensor; 6. Check valve; 7. Piping; 8. Mounting base plate; 9. Frame bracket; 10. Piping positioning bracket; 11. Fluid inlet; 12. Fluid outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The present disclosure will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present disclosure. It should be noted that the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation of this application.

[0019] All terms used in this disclosure have the same meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains, unless otherwise specifically defined. It should also be understood that terms defined in general dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the relevant art, and not as idealized or highly formalized, unless expressly defined herein.

[0020] To ensure convenience and maintainability of the fluid module, the circulating pump, liquid receiver, filter, pressure sensor, check valve, and corresponding piping are modularly integrated to form an integrated fluid module. In addition to the aforementioned individual units and piping, a mounting base and bracket are added for mounting and securing the units and piping, and to provide mounting interfaces for the entire circuit.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fluid module for a thermal control system provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the fluid module includes a circulating pump 1, a reservoir 2, a filter 3, a first pressure sensor 4, a second pressure sensor 5, a check valve 6, a pipeline 7, a mounting base plate 8, a frame bracket 9, and a pipeline positioning bracket 10. The frame bracket 9 is integrated into the mounting base plate 8 to form a single-unit mounting position, and the pipeline positioning bracket 10 is integrated into the mounting base plate 8 to form a pipeline mounting position. The circulating pump 1, reservoir 2, filter 3, first pressure sensor 4, second pressure sensor 5, and check valve 6 are integrated into the mounting base plate 8 through the single-unit mounting positions. A tee is provided within the pipeline mounting position for connecting the pipeline 7. The connecting pipeline 7 connects the circulating pump 1, reservoir 2, filter 3, first pressure sensor 4, second pressure sensor 5, and check valve 6 to form a circulating fluid channel.

[0023] By integrating frame-type supports and pipeline positioning supports into the mounting base plate in a modular layout, the various components of the fluid module (pumps, liquid reservoirs, valves, sensors, etc.) are centrally installed and the pipelines are arranged in an orderly manner, thus constructing a structured circulating fluid channel.

[0024] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the liquid reservoir 2, filter 3, first pressure sensor 4, circulation pump 1, one-way valve 6, and second pressure sensor 5 are connected in series in the circulation fluid channel.

[0025] In some embodiments of this disclosure, such as Figure 2 As shown, the fluid module has a fluid inlet 11 and a fluid outlet 12. Combined with... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, fluid inlet 11 is connected to the inlet of reservoir 2 and filter 3, the outlet of reservoir 2 is connected to the inlet of filter 3, the outlet of filter 3 is connected to the inlet of circulation pump 1, the outlet of circulation pump 1 is connected to the inlet of check valve 6, and the outlet of check valve 6 is connected to fluid outlet 12.

[0026] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the fluid module constructs a regular circulation channel of "fluid inlet 11-liquid reservoir 2-filter 3-circulation pump 1-one-way valve 6-fluid outlet 12" through the connecting pipe 7 to realize the circulation of the fluid medium.

[0027] In some embodiments of this disclosure, a first pressure sensor 4 is disposed between the filter 3 and the circulating pump 1, and a second pressure sensor 5 is disposed between the check valve 6 and the fluid outlet 12.

[0028] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the fluid module further includes a filler valve for filling the fluid module with media and discharging residual media; the filler valve includes a first filler valve and a second filler valve, the first filler valve being connected to the fluid inlet 11 and the second filler valve being connected to the fluid outlet 12.

[0029] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the operating temperature range of the fluid module is between -40°C and 60°C.

[0030] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the weight of the fluid module is no more than 10 kg.

[0031] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the module leakage rate of the fluid module is no greater than 1×10⁻⁶. -5 Pa·m 3 / s.

[0032] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the module envelope size of the fluid module is no greater than 360 mm × 360 mm × 180 mm.

[0033] The operating temperature range is set between -40℃ and 60℃, adaptable to various temperature environments such as aerospace and industrial control, ensuring stable operation without freezing at low temperatures or failing at high temperatures. Through weight and envelope size limitations, lightweight and miniaturized module design is achieved, meeting the stringent requirements of satellites and mobile devices regarding space and weight of onboard components, thus improving installation adaptability. The specified module leakage rate is ≤1×10⁻⁶. -5Pa With a flow rate of m³ / s, the system can strictly control the risk of fluid leakage, ensure system sealing reliability, and avoid performance degradation or safety hazards caused by leakage. The overall parameter design takes into account environmental adaptability, installation compatibility, and operational safety, ensuring that the module can stably perform its fluid circulation function under limited constraints.

[0034] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the circulating pump 1 can be a general-purpose centrifugal circulating pump or a shielded centrifugal circulating pump. The shielded centrifugal circulating pump adopts an integrated shaft structure with the motor shaft and pump shaft integrated. The motor rotor and pump rotor are arranged coaxially. The motor coil is provided with a potting and encapsulation layer on the outside and an isolation sleeve is provided between the motor and the fluid medium to achieve isolation between the motor and the fluid medium. The centrifugal circulating pump has a fluid medium outlet channel in the high-pressure area of ​​the centrifugal impeller outlet. A central hole is provided axially inside the integrated shaft. The outlet channel is connected to the bearing, the cooling path of the motor and the central hole in sequence. The end of the central hole away from the outlet channel is connected to the low-pressure area of ​​the pump inlet to form a circulation loop for cooling the fluid medium.

[0035] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the reservoir 2 includes a diaphragm assembly and a cylinder. The diaphragm assembly includes a liquid-side end cap, a bellows, an end cap, and a guide ring. The outer side of the diaphragm assembly is filled with a perfluorocyclic ether, and the gas side of the diaphragm assembly is encapsulated with a mixture of helium and nitrogen. The mixed gas achieves elastic changes in gas-side volume through its compressibility, forming a gas spring structure to buffer pressure fluctuations in the circulating fluid channel or compensate for volume fluctuations in the fluid medium.

[0036] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the filter 3 includes a housing and a filter element; the housing is used for pressure bearing, sealing and providing an interface, and the filter element is used for filtering fluid media.

[0037] It should be noted that in one possible implementation, the fluid module is applied to a ground-based scenario; therefore, designing a single circulation pump is sufficient to meet ground-based requirements, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the fluid module consists of two filler / drain valves (also called filler / drain valves), a reservoir, a filter, two pressure sensors, a circulation pump, and a check valve. In another possible implementation, the fluid module is used in aerospace applications, and the circulation pump 1 may include two circulation pumps, one as the main circulation pump and one as a backup circulation pump, such as... Figure 4As shown, the fluid module consists of two filling and drain valves, a reservoir, a filter, two circulation pumps, two check valves, and two pressure sensors. Through the redundant configuration of parallel dual pumps and series check valves, the system can maintain normal operation through the other branch in the event of a single pump failure, effectively improving system reliability. Furthermore, the check valves precisely prevent backflow, avoiding pump idling and branch crossflow issues, ensuring independent and stable operation of both branches. Simultaneously, this structure supports flexible switching between single and dual pump operation, increasing circulation flow to adapt to high-load conditions when both pumps work together, and reducing system energy consumption when a single pump is running, significantly enhancing adaptability to different operating conditions.

[0038] The series connection of the reservoir and filter enables fluid replenishment, pressure stabilization, and impurity filtration, effectively preventing impurities from causing wear on core components such as the pump body and valves, and extending the service life of the equipment. The layout of the first and second pressure sensors monitoring the pressure before and after the circulating pump can accurately capture the system pressure conditions, providing data support for the rapid troubleshooting of blockages, leaks, and other faults. Combined with a simple pipeline connection, it can reduce fluid resistance and dead volume, and improve circulation efficiency.

[0039] The following describes the overall design specifications of the fluid module and the design specifications of some individual units.

[0040] The fluid module is the core equipment of the thermal control fluid loop system, providing power, pressure stabilization, and parameter monitoring for the fluid loop system. Its main design specifications are as follows: 1) Operating temperature range: -40~60℃; 2) Refilling Capacity: The module must have the ability to refill the working fluid, with at least two refill ports; 3) Weight requirement: Weight not exceeding 10kg; 4) Size requirements: Module envelope size ≤ 360 mm × 360 mm × 180 mm; 5) Leakage rate requirement: The module leakage rate shall not exceed 1×10 -5 Pa m 3 / s.

[0041] The function of the circulating pump is to provide driving power for the working medium (i.e., the fluid medium, also known as the working fluid or medium) of the fluid loop. To consider the 5-year on-orbit lifespan requirement of the single-phase fluid loop, a backup redundancy design can be adopted. Considering the requirements for long lifespan and high reliability of the circulating pump, and combining the design characteristics of circulating pumps that have been verified in space missions such as Tiangong and spacecraft, a DC brushless driven centrifugal circulating pump can be used as the main solution in aerospace applications, with a shielded circulating pump as the drive technology solution, featuring speed feedback functionality.

[0042] The circulating pump adopts a shielded pump structure integrating the pump and motor. The motor shaft and pump shaft are integrated, and the motor rotor and pump rotor are arranged coaxially. The motor coil is isolated from the medium by potting and insulating sleeve structure. A medium cooling bearing and motor are led out from the high-pressure area of ​​the centrifugal impeller outlet, and then return to the low-pressure area of ​​the pump inlet through the shaft center hole to realize the circulation of cooling medium. A throttling channel is set between the pump and the motor to control the flow rate of cooling medium and ensure that the circulating pump has high volumetric efficiency. A split pump housing structure is adopted to control and adjust the clearance between the housing and the front side of the centrifugal impeller.

[0043] The main design specifications of the circulating pump are as follows: 1) Rated flow rate: 8.0 ± 10% L / min; 2) Head: Not less than 200 kPa; 3) Rotation speed: Adjustable according to actual conditions, unit is rpm; 4) Power consumption: ≤50W; 5) Leakage rate: 1×10 -6 Pa.m 3 / s; 6) Pressure resistance: ≥0.45MPa; 7) Operating temperature range: -40℃~60℃; 8) External dimensions: not exceeding 150mm × 100mm × 80mm; 9) Lifespan: Continuous operation for no less than 3 years.

[0044] As a pressure-stabilizing element in the system, the receiver needs to provide the inlet pressure of the circulating pump to ensure it operates within its normal pressure range. Secondly, the receiver can absorb pressure fluctuations in the system, ensuring smooth operation and preventing vibration. Thirdly, when system operating conditions change, it compensates for changes in the volume of the working fluid due to temperature variations and maintains pressure stability. Considering its main functions and the system's long lifespan requirement, a diaphragm-type receiver is adopted.

[0045] The reservoir mainly consists of a diaphragm assembly (including a liquid-side end cap, bellows, end cap, and guide ring) and a cylindrical body. The diaphragm assembly is filled with perfluorocyclic ether, and a certain amount of a mixture of helium and nitrogen is sealed on the gas side. The compressibility of the gas allows for changes in the gas-side volume, essentially acting as a gas spring. The specific working principle is as follows: when the liquid working fluid in the fluid loop contracts due to a decrease in temperature or decreases due to leakage, the liquid-side portion of the reservoir is forced into the fluid loop under the pressure of the gas side, participating in the fluid loop circulation. Conversely, when the liquid working fluid in the fluid loop expands due to an increase in temperature, some of the liquid working fluid is forced back into the reservoir, and the gas on the gas side is compressed. This effectively controls the operating pressure range of the fluid loop, ensuring its safe and stable operation.

[0046] The main design specifications of the liquid reservoir are as follows: 1) Operating temperature: -40℃~60℃; 2) Working medium: perfluorocyclic ether; 3) Leakage rate: ≤1.0×10 -7 Pa m 3 / s; 4) Pressure resistance: not less than 0.45MPa 5) Membrane pressure resistance: not less than 0.6MPa.

[0047] The check valve is located at the outlet of the circulating pump and is used to prevent fluid short-circuiting when multiple pumps are connected in parallel. Normally, the check valve only opens in the forward direction when the circulating pump is operating; otherwise, it remains closed. Its performance specifications are as follows: 1) Working pressure: 0 kPa~450 kPa (absolute pressure); 2) Working medium: perfluorocyclic ether; 3) Flow resistance: not greater than 10 kPa at a flow rate of 8 L / min; 4) Pressure resistance: not less than 1 MPa; 5) External leakage rate: ≤1×10 at 0.5MPa -7 Pa·m 3 / s; 6) Compatibility: It should meet the compatibility requirements of the working fluid.

[0048] The fluid loop system is designed with a filter installed at the pump inlet to remove any impurities that may remain in the working fluid, thereby ensuring the safe operation of components such as the pump in the loop. The filter's technical specifications are as follows: 1) Operating temperature: -40℃~60℃; 2) Working medium: perfluorocyclic ether; 3) Leakage rate: ≤1.0×10 -7 Pa m 3 / s; 4) Pressure resistance: Not less than 0.45 MPa; 5) Filtration accuracy: not greater than 75μm; 6) Rated flow resistance: not greater than 5 kPa.

[0049] It should be noted that the index parameters and design index values ​​designed in the embodiments of this disclosure are merely examples and are not intended to limit the fluid module of this disclosure.

[0050] These embodiments are provided to make the disclosure thorough and complete, and to fully express the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement of components and steps, material composition, numerical expressions, and values ​​set forth in these embodiments should be interpreted as exemplary only and not as limiting.

[0051] It should be noted that, in the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationship, are only for the convenience of describing this disclosure and 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this disclosure. When the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0052] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different parts. Terms such as "including" or "contains" mean that the element preceding the word covers the element listed after the word, and do not exclude the possibility of covering other elements as well.

[0053] It should also be noted that, in the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure depending on the specific circumstances. When a particular device is described as being located between a first device and a second device, an intermediary device may or may not be present between the particular device and the first or second device.

[0054] Finally, it should be noted that the above content is only used to illustrate the technical solution of this disclosure, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure. Simple modifications or equivalent substitutions made by those skilled in the art to the technical solution of this disclosure do not depart from the substance and scope of the technical solution of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A fluid module for a thermal control system, characterized in that, Includes a circulating pump (1), a liquid reservoir (2), a filter (3), a first pressure sensor (4), a second pressure sensor (5), a check valve (6), pipelines (7), a mounting base plate (8), a frame bracket (9), and a pipeline positioning bracket (10). A frame bracket (9) is integrated on the mounting base plate (8) to form a single-unit mounting position, and a pipeline positioning bracket (10) is integrated on the mounting base plate (8) to form a pipeline mounting position; The circulating pump (1), the reservoir (2), the filter (3), the first pressure sensor (4), the second pressure sensor (5), and the check valve (6) are integrated on the mounting base plate (8) through the single-unit mounting position; a tee is provided in the pipeline mounting position for connecting the pipeline (7); the circulating pump (1), the reservoir (2), the filter (3), the first pressure sensor (4), the second pressure sensor (5), and the check valve (6) are connected through the connecting pipeline (7) to form a circulating fluid channel.

2. The fluid module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reservoir (2), filter (3), first pressure sensor (4), circulation pump (1), check valve (6), and second pressure sensor (5) are connected in series in the circulating fluid channel.

3. The fluid module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fluid module is provided with a fluid inlet (11) and a fluid outlet (12); the fluid inlet (11) is connected to the inlet of the reservoir (2) and the filter (3), the outlet of the reservoir (2) is connected to the inlet of the filter (3), the outlet of the filter (3) is connected to the inlet of the circulating pump (1), the outlet of the circulating pump (1) is connected to the inlet of the check valve (6), and the outlet of the check valve (6) is connected to the fluid outlet (12).

4. The fluid module according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first pressure sensor (4) is located between the filter (3) and the circulating pump (1), and the second pressure sensor (5) is located between the check valve (6) and the fluid outlet (12).

5. The fluid module according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fluid module also includes a filler valve for filling the fluid module with the medium and discharging residual medium; the filler valve includes a first filler valve and a second filler valve, the first filler valve is connected to the fluid inlet (11), and the second filler valve is connected to the fluid outlet (12).

6. The fluid module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filter (3) includes a housing and a filter element; the housing is used for pressure bearing, sealing and providing an interface, and the filter element is used for filtering fluid media.

7. The fluid module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fluid module operates in a temperature range of -40°C to 60°C.

8. The fluid module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The weight of the fluid module is no more than 10 kg.

9. The fluid module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The module envelope size of the fluid module is no greater than 360 mm × 360 mm × 180 mm.

10. The fluid module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The module leakage rate of the fluid module is no greater than 1×10⁻⁶. -5 Pa·m 3 / s.

Images