Conformal Fluid Reservoir for Thermal Management

Abstract

A reservoir for use in a thermal management system includes a first housing joined to a second housing along a dividing plane that defines an interior volume. The first and second housings are asymmetric about the dividing plane and hold a periphery of a barrier that divides the interior volume into a first volume and a second volume. A first port communicates with the first volume and a second port communicates with the second volume. A working fluid contained within the reservoir can be evacuated by releasing gas from a pressurized source through the first port into the reservoir and moving the barrier toward the second port. The working fluid evacuated from the reservoir cools the electronics module before being evacuated from the vehicle.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-provisional Application No. 2017 / 152,083, filed January 19, 2021, by BR Holt, KY Kim and JF Tullius, relating to “CONFORMAL FLUID RESERVOIR FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT.”

[0002] The present invention relates to reservoirs, and more particularly to active drainage reservoirs for use in thermal management systems. [Background technology]

[0003] Modern munitions (e.g., missiles, guided projectiles, torpedoes, rockets, among others) and other disposable or limited use vehicles contain one or more electronic modules that aid in the operation of the vehicle. For example, the electronic modules of the vehicle may be guidance modules, power supplies, or other high-density power devices used during the operation of the vehicle. These devices generate large heat loads within a relatively small space due to the centralized consumption of power. Attempts to distribute the heat loads from medium to low power density devices include using the outer body of the munition or vehicle as a heat sink, routing the heat load of the electronic modules through heat pipes, and absorbing the heat load internally using thermal capacity devices. Currently, these attempts are insufficient to address the heat loads generated by high-density power devices for near-future products. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A method of cooling an electronics module of a vehicle includes venting gas from a pressurized or pressure-generating reservoir through a first port into a reservoir, venting a working fluid contained within the reservoir through a second port by displacing a barrier within the reservoir with the vented gas, and further including cooling the electronics module using the working fluid vented from the reservoir, and venting the working fluid to an exterior of the vehicle through an overboard port.

[0005] The reservoir includes a first housing joined to a second housing along a dividing plane that defines an interior volume of the reservoir. The first and second housings are asymmetric about the dividing plane and hold a periphery of a barrier that divides the interior volume into a first volume and a second volume. The first port communicates with the first volume and the second port communicates with the second volume. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a thermal management system with a reservoir for venting working medium to dissipate high density power loads contained within the interior of the vehicle. [Figure 2A] 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary reservoir incorporated in the thermal management system of FIG. 1. [Figure 2B] 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary reservoir incorporated in the thermal management system of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 13 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary embodiment of a reservoir including one or more localized recesses and / or one or more localized protrusions to further adapt the shape of the reservoir to the space inside the vehicle. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] Disclosed herein is a thermal management system and associated components and methods for high density power devices contained within a disposable or limited use vehicle, such as a munitions article. The thermal management system includes a reservoir fluidly connected in series with a heat exchanger and an external port. In operation, the reservoir releases a fill fluid into the reservoir, driving a working fluid contained therein to reach the heat exchanger, and then discharging the working fluid externally from the vehicle through the external port. The fill fluid may be stored under pressure, and may be pressurized and / or generated using a gas generator. High density power devices, such as electronic modules of the vehicle, reject heat to the working fluid with the heat exchanger to maintain the electronics module within an acceptable temperature range while the vehicle is operating.

[0008] The reservoir includes a housing having multiple portions with a barrier held between two or more housing portions. For example, some embodiments include a housing having two portions formed by a first and second housing mated to one another along a dividing surface. The first and second housings can be symmetrical or asymmetrical about the dividing surface, and the dividing surface itself, along with the mating surfaces of the first and second housings, can be planar, curved, or irregular, depending on the space available inside the vehicle. In some embodiments, the first and second housings delimit an annular portion of the dividing surface. In other embodiments, the first and second housings define a partial or complete toroidal interior volume. In still other embodiments, the first and second housings can form a spherical, cylindrical, or annular interior volume, or a portion thereof.

[0009] Certain embodiments of the reservoir include one or more housings having localized protrusions extending away from the interior volume, localized recesses extending toward the interior volume, or a combination of one or more localized protrusions and localized recesses. Examples of localized protrusions include portions of a bounding housing wall that form a hump, dome, ramp, bulge, bump, protrusion, convex surface, or other deflection of the housing away from the interior volume, while examples of localized recesses include divots, concavities, ingrowths, indentations, hollows, cavities, recessions, or other deflections of the housing wall toward the interior volume. Each of the localized protrusions and / or recesses does not match the shape of the housing as a whole, but is incorporated into the overall shape of the housing using a smooth, continuous transition.

[0010] By selecting the shape of the reservoir and, optionally, incorporating one or more localized protrusions and / or localized recesses, the shape of the reservoir can be adapted to the interior space of the vehicle or munitions bounded by one or more internal components and the outer casing of the vehicle, which may include components of the radar system, guidance system, control surface actuation system, and propulsion system, among other possible internal components.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a thermal management system 10 with a reservoir 12 incorporating one or more of these features to facilitate installation in disposable or limited use vehicles, such as munitions, having high density power loads and, as a result, high thermal loads. The reservoir 12 includes a first housing 14 mated to a second housing 16 and a barrier 18 held between the first housing 14 and the second housing 16 along a dividing plane 20. The first housing 14 and the second housing 16 surround and define an interior volume 22, with the barrier 18 dividing the interior volume 22 into two sub-volumes 22A and 22B. A fill port 24 of the reservoir 12 places the sub-volume 22A in communication with a fill line 26 that fluidly connects the fill port 24 to a storage 28. An exhaust port 30 of the reservoir 12 places the sub-volume 22B in communication with an exhaust line 32 that fluidly connects the exhaust port 30 to an external port 34. A vent port 31 is in communication with subvolume 22A and can facilitate filling of subvolume 22B by evacuating subvolume 22A as the barrier 18 moves within the reservoir 12. A heat exchanger 36 is disposed along the exhaust line 32 between the exhaust port 30 and the external port 34 and places the exhaust line 32 in thermal communication with a heat source 38.

[0012] The barrier 18 is elastically deformable under pressure from the working fluid 40 stored within the subvolume 22B of the reservoir 12, under pressure from the fill fluid 42 contained or generated within the reservoir 28, or under pressure from both the working fluid 40 and the fill fluid 42, depending on the neutral state of the barrier 18. For example, the barrier 18 in some embodiments includes a neutral state that conforms to the inner wall of the reservoir 12 and covers the fill port 24. With this configuration, the working fluid 40 is not pressurized by a restoring force from the barrier 18. Alternatively, the neutral state of the barrier 18 can be selected to divide the interior volume 22 into any proportion of the subvolumes 22A and 22B, with the restoring force of the barrier 18 against the working fluid 40 increasing as the neutral state of the barrier 18 increases the subvolume 22A.

[0013] In the filled state, the shutoff element 44 is positioned anywhere along the exhaust line 32, including the exhaust port 30 or the external port 34, to retain the working fluid 40 inside the reservoir 12. As shown, the shutoff element 44 is downstream of the exhaust port 30 and upstream of the heat exchanger 36. In some embodiments, the shutoff element 44 can be a burst disk that breaks open when a threshold pressure is exceeded, or a squib that breaks open with an explosion after being triggered. In other embodiments, the shutoff element 44 can be a two-position valve, such as a solenoid valve or a needle valve, characterized by an opening area selected to regulate the flow rate Q of the working fluid 40 inside the exhaust line 32. In some embodiments with a valve shutoff element 44, an orifice 45 is positioned along the exhaust line 32 between the shutoff element 44 and the external port 34 and selected to be larger than the opening area of ​​the orifice 45 to regulate the flow rate Q of the working fluid 40, the opening area of ​​the valve, or other shutoff element 44. In yet another embodiment, the shutoff element 44 may be a flow control valve in which the opening area of ​​the valve 44 varies to regulate the flow rate Q within the exhaust line 32, as described further below.

[0014] The reservoir 28 contains the fill fluid 42 necessary to evacuate the actuation fluid 40 from the reservoir 12 through the exhaust line 32 and associated components to the external port 34. In some embodiments, the fill fluid 42 fills the fill line 26 up to the barrier 18, compresses the barrier 18, and is held in the filled state by the shutoff element 44. In other embodiments, the fill line 26 includes a separate shutoff element 46 that, when closed, holds the fill fluid 42 inside the reservoir 28 independent of the actuation fluid 40 and the shutoff element 44. Examples of the shutoff element 46 include a solenoid valve, a burst disk, or a squib, among other potential shutoff elements known in the art. In each configuration, the fill fluid 42 can be stored inside the reservoir 28 under pressure, or can be evacuated from the reservoir 28 without pressure using pressurized gas generated by the gas generator. In still other embodiments, the fill fluid 42 can be a product of the gas generator itself, while the reservoir 28 includes one or more components necessary for the operation of the gas generator's reaction.

[0015] While both the working fluid 40 and the fill fluid 42 can be gases or liquids, the selection of a liquid as the working fluid 40 facilitates the construction of a phase change or mixed phase flow heat exchanger 36, while the selection of a gas as the working fluid 42 facilitates compact storage of the working fluid 42 in a volume and pressure sufficient to evacuate the working fluid 40 from the reservoir 12. Examples of liquid working fluids 40 include water, methanol, and ammonia, while examples of gaseous fill fluids 42 include carbon dioxide, dry or humid air, and nitrogen. However, any non-volatile gas or fluid having thermal properties compatible with the design of the thermal management system 10 can be selected as the working fluid 40 and the fill fluid 42. In yet other embodiments, a gas generator can be used to generate the fill fluid 42 at the start of the reaction of the two or more components or to pressurize a stored fill fluid 42.

[0016] The heat exchanger 36 places the exhaust line 32 in thermal communication with a heat source 38 and rejects heat to the working fluid 40. The heat exchanger 36 can have a variety of configurations, including single channel, multi-channel, microchannel, plate and fin, or plate and frame heat exchanger designs arranged in single or multi-pass configurations, depending on the application. The heat exchanger 36 can be directly coupled to the heat source 38 using a thermally conductive material, or can receive the rejected heat through another medium, such as a gas or liquid, that circulates through the heat source 38 or is contained within a heat pipe configuration. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 36 is configured to partially or fully evaporate the working fluid 40, such that a gas or mixed-phase working fluid 40 exits the heat exchanger 36.

[0017] The heat source 38 may be any component within the vehicle that generates heat. For example, the heat source 38 may be a heat-generating component of a radar system, a guidance system, a control surface actuation system, or a propulsion system, among other possible internal components. In some embodiments, the heat source 38 is an electronic module operatively associated with one or more of the aforementioned systems. The heat generated by the heat source 38 is rejected to the working fluid 40 that exits the heat exchanger 36, flows along the exhaust line 32, and is exhausted to the exterior of the vehicle through the external port 34.

[0018] During operation, the thermal management system 10 drains fill fluid 42 from the storage 28 through the fill port 24 of the reservoir 12 and into the subvolume 22A. The drainage of fluid 42 can be initiated by opening the shutoff element 44 or by opening both the shutoff element 44 and the shutoff element 46. The fill fluid 42 displaces the barrier 18 from a fill position covering the fill port 24 to a drain position covering the drain port 30, thereby draining the working fluid 40 from the reservoir 12 into the drain line 32.

[0019] A shutoff element 44 or orifice 45 regulates the flow rate Q of the working fluid 40 through the exhaust line 32 while the working fluid 40 exits the reservoir 12 through the exhaust port 30. In other embodiments where the shutoff element 44 is a flow control valve, the opening area of ​​the valve is varied to control the flow rate Q of the working fluid 40 within the exhaust line 32. In these embodiments, the shutoff element 44 receives an analog or digital electrical pilot signal 48 that operates to vary the opening area of ​​the valve as known in the art. For example, the signal 48 may be indicative of the temperature T of the heat source 38 and operate to increase the flow rate Q as the temperature T increases or exceeds a threshold temperature, although other application specific temperature sources may be used in other embodiments. In still other embodiments, the valve schedule may be stored within an electronic module contained within the vehicle or munition that varies the opening area of ​​the valve as a function of time or some other time dependent variable via the signal 48. For example, the electronic module may command an initial opening area of ​​the valve that increases during periods known to generate higher heat flux from the heat source 38, for different opening areas.

[0020] 2A is a schematic end view and FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view, each of which illustrates features that may be incorporated into embodiments of the reservoir 12 to conform the shape of the reservoir 12 to a space bounded by an outer casing 50 of a vehicle 52 or munitions 54 and at least one internal component 56A and up to any number of internal components 56n, as indicated by the subscript "n". As shown, the reservoir 12 includes an outer housing 58 mated to an inner housing 60 along a parting plane 62 between respective flanges 64 and 66. Fasteners 67 extend through the flanges 64 and 66, two of which are shown, to secure the outer housing 58 to the inner housing 60. In other embodiments, different mechanical attachments may be implemented. For example, the outer housing 58 may be attached to the inner housing 60 via a suitable welded joint, adhesive or epoxy joint, or V-band clamps, among other possible mechanical attachments.

[0021] The outer housing 58 and the inner housing 60 are asymmetrical with respect to a dividing plane 62 defined along the mating surfaces of the flanges 64 and 66. Collectively, the outer housing 58 and the inner housing 60 enclose an interior volume 68, shown in FIG. 2B. A barrier 70 is held between the outer housing 58 and the inner housing 60, and is shown in a fill position 70A, a drain position, and an intermediate position 70C. The barrier 70 divides the interior volume 68 into sub-volumes 68A and 68B, which are best shown with the barrier 70 in the intermediate position 70C. In the fill position 70A, the barrier 70 conforms to the inner surface of the outer housing 58 and covers a fill port 72. In the drain position 70B, the barrier 70 conforms to the inner surface of the inner housing 60 and covers a drain port 74. The fill port 72 and the drain port 74 communicate with the fill line 26 and the drain line 32, respectively. In operation, fill fluid 42 enters sub-volume 68A and moves barrier 70 from a fill position 70A to a drain position 70B, discharging working fluid 40 from interior volume 68 into drain line 32. In other embodiments, the positions of fill port 72 and drain port 74 can be reversed such that fill fluid 42 moves barrier 70 from inner housing 60 to outer housing 58.

[0022] 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one or more localized recesses 76, one or more localized protrusions 78, and another embodiment of a reservoir 12 with one or more localized recesses 76 and one or more localized protrusions 78. Each localized recess 76 is characterized by a wall of the outer housing 58 or inner housing 60 that is biased inwardly toward the interior volume 68 relative to the overall shape of the outer housing or inner housing. In contrast, each localized protrusion 78 is characterized by a wall of the outer housing 58 or inner housing 60 that deviates from the interior volume 68 relative to the overall shape of the outer housing 58 or inner housing 60.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the reservoir 12 includes a localized recess 76 in the outer housing 58 and a localized protrusion 60 in the inner housing 60. Although the shape of the barrier 70 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, it accommodates the localized recess 76 and the localized protrusion 60, and the barrier 70 conforms to the inner surface of the outer housing 58 or the inner housing 60, similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B. Similarly, the working fluid enters one of the ports 72 and 74 and exits the working fluid 40 from the other port 72 or port 74 depending on the configuration. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a reservoir 12 incorporating one or more localized recesses 76 and / or one or more localized protrusions 78 can have an outer housing 58 and an inner housing 60 that are asymmetric with respect to the dividing plane 62. In this manner, the reservoir 12 can conform to the interior space of the vehicle bounded by the outer casing 50 and one or more of the internal components 56A-56n.

[0024] Discussion of possible embodiments Below is a non-exclusive description of possible embodiments of the invention.

[0025] A reservoir according to the present disclosure includes, among other possibilities, a first housing and a second housing joined to the first housing along a dividing plane to define an interior volume between the first and second housings. A periphery of a barrier held between the first and second housings divides the interior volume into a first volume and a second volume. A first port communicates with the first volume and a second port communicates with the second volume. The first and second housings are asymmetric with respect to the dividing plane.

[0026] The reservoir of the preceding paragraph may additionally and / or alternatively optionally include any one or more of the following features, configurations and / or additional components.

[0027] In a further embodiment of the aforementioned reservoir, the bounding wall of the first housing or the second housing may define a localized protrusion extending away from the interior volume.

[0028] In a further embodiment of any of the aforementioned reservoirs, a bounding wall of the first housing or the second housing may define a localized protrusion extending toward the interior volume.

[0029] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing reservoirs, the first housing and the second housing may define an annular portion of the dividing surface.

[0030] In a further embodiment of any of the aforementioned reservoirs, the interior volume defined by the first housing and the second housing can define at least a portion of a toroid.

[0031] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing reservoirs, the first housing can be joined to the second housing with a non-planar flange.

[0032] A vehicle according to the present disclosure includes, among other possible things, an electronic module and a thermal management system. The thermal management system includes a reservoir, an external port, a first line fluidly connecting the reservoir to the first port, and a second line fluidly connecting the second port to the external port, a location of a heat exchanger along the second line between the second port and the external port, and a burst disk or squib disposed along the second line between the second port and the heat exchanger. The reservoir includes a first housing and a second housing joined to the first housing along a dividing plane and defining an interior volume between the first housing and the second housing. A periphery of a barrier held between the first housing and the second housing divides the interior volume into a first volume and a second volume. The first port communicates with the first volume and the second port communicates with the second volume. The first housing and the second housing are asymmetrical with respect to the dividing plane. The heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the electronic module.

[0033] The vehicle of the preceding paragraph may additionally and / or alternatively optionally include any one or more of the following features, configurations and / or additional components.

[0034] In a further embodiment of the aforementioned vehicle, a bounding wall of the first housing or the second housing may define a localized protrusion extending away from the interior volume.

[0035] In a further embodiment of any of the aforementioned vehicles, a bounding wall of the first housing or the second housing may define a localized protrusion extending toward the interior volume.

[0036] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicles, the first housing and the second housing may define an annular portion of the dividing surface.

[0037] In a further embodiment of any of the aforementioned vehicles, the interior volume defined by the first housing and the second housing may define at least a portion of a toroid.

[0038] Further embodiments of any of the aforementioned vehicles may include one or more components adjacent a reservoir that at least partially bounds a space within the vehicle interior.

[0039] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicles, the first housing and the second housing may be capable of conforming to the shape of the space.

[0040] In a further embodiment of any of the aforementioned vehicles, one of the first housing and the second housing may include a localized protrusion extending away from the interior volume or a localized recess extending towards the interior volume.

[0041] In further embodiments of any of the aforementioned vehicles, the localized protrusions may conform to one or more components.

[0042] In further embodiments of any of the aforementioned vehicles, the localized recess may accommodate one or more components.

[0043] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicles, one of the first housing and the second housing of the reservoir may fit against an interior surface of a body of the vehicle.

[0044] In a further embodiment of any of the aforementioned vehicles, the first housing may be joined to the second housing with a non-planar flange.

[0045] A method of cooling an electronics module of a vehicle according to the present disclosure includes, among other possibilities and / or steps, venting gas from a storage section to a reservoir through a first port, venting a working fluid contained within the reservoir through a second port by displacing a barrier within the reservoir with the vented gas, The method further includes cooling the electronics module using the working fluid vented from the reservoir, and venting the working fluid to an exterior of the vehicle through a third port.

[0046] The above methods may additionally and / or alternatively optionally include any one or more of the following features, configurations, and / or additional components.

[0047] Further embodiments of the aforementioned method may include cooling the electronics module by discharging the working fluid through a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the electronics module.

[0048] Further embodiments of any of the aforementioned methods may include regulating the flow rate of the working fluid from the second port to the heat exchanger using one of the orifices or valves disposed along a line fluidly connecting the second port of the reservoir to the heat exchanger.

[0049] In a further embodiment of any of the preceding methods, the flow rate of the working fluid from the second port to the heat exchanger is regulated by a solenoid valve, an orifice, or a needle valve.

[0050] Further embodiments of any of the aforementioned methods may include actuating a squib, thereby displacing gas from the storage and displacing actuating fluid from the reservoir.

[0051] Further embodiments of any of the aforementioned methods may include regulating a flow rate of the working fluid from the second port to the heat exchanger by varying an opening area of ​​a valve disposed along a line fluidly connecting the second port of the reservoir to the heat exchanger.

[0052] Further embodiments of any of the foregoing methods may include sensing a parameter of the heat exchanger or the electronic module.

[0053] In a further embodiment of any of the aforementioned methods, the electronic module can vary the opening area of ​​the valve based on the parameter.

[0054] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, the opening area of ​​the valve may be varied according to a schedule stored in an electronic module that defines the opening area of ​​the valve as a function of a time-dependent variable.

[0055] In a further embodiment of any of the preceding methods, the schedule may define at least a first opening area and a second opening area.

[0056] In a further embodiment of any of the aforementioned methods, each of the first opening area and the second opening area may be zero.

[0057] In a further embodiment of any of the preceding methods, cooling the electronics module includes using heat removed from the electronics module to cause a phase change of at least a portion of the working fluid.

[0058] In a further embodiment of any of the aforementioned methods, venting gas from the reservoir may include opening a solenoid valve.

[0059] In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, venting gas from the reservoir may include rupturing a burst disk by exceeding a threshold pressure inside the fill line.

[0060] Although the invention has been described with respect to an exemplary embodiment(s), those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and equivalents may be substituted for its elements. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A method for cooling an electronic module of a vehicle, comprising: venting gas from a storage portion through a first port into a reservoir, the reservoir including a first housing and a second housing joined together along a parting surface and a barrier having a periphery retained between the first housing and the second housing; displacing the barrier within the reservoir using gas exhausted from the storage; displacing the barrier to expel the hydraulic fluid contained within the reservoir through a second port; cooling the electronics module using the working fluid discharged from the reservoir; and Discharging the working fluid to an exterior of the vehicle through a third port; and The method includes:

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein cooling the electronics module comprises draining the working fluid through a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the electronics module.

3. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising regulating a flow rate of the working fluid from the second port of the reservoir to the heat exchanger using one of an orifice or a valve disposed along a line fluidly connecting the second port of the reservoir to the heat exchanger.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising actuating a squib, thereby discharging the gas from the storage and discharging the working fluid from the reservoir.

5. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising adjusting a flow rate of the working fluid from the second port of the reservoir to the heat exchanger by varying an opening area of ​​a valve disposed along a line fluidly connecting the second port of the reservoir to the heat exchanger.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising sensing a parameter of the heat exchanger or the electronic module, the electronic module varying the opening area of ​​the valve based on the parameter.

7. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the opening area of ​​the valve is varied according to a schedule stored in the electronic module that defines the opening area of ​​the valve as a function of a time-dependent variable.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the schedule defines at least a first opening area and a second opening area, each of the first opening area and the second opening area being non-zero.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein cooling the electronics module comprises using heat removed from the electronics module to cause a phase change of at least a portion of the working fluid.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein venting the gas from the reservoir comprises exceeding a threshold pressure within the fill line, thereby rupturing a burst disk.

11. A reservoir comprising: a first housing and a second housing joined to each other along a dividing surface; a barrier having a periphery retained between the first housing and the second housing; a first port fluidly connected to the reservoir; a second port fluidly connected to the external port; The reservoir uses gas discharged from the storage portion through the first port to move the barrier inside the reservoir, thereby discharging the working fluid contained inside the reservoir through the second port.

12. An internal volume defined between the first housing and the second housing is divided by the barrier into a first volume and a second volume, the first port communicates with the first volume; the second port communicates with the second volume; the first housing and the second housing are asymmetric with respect to the dividing plane; The reservoir of claim 11.

13. The reservoir of claim 12 , wherein a bounding wall of the first housing or the second housing defines a localized protrusion extending away from the interior volume of the reservoir.

14. The reservoir of claim 12 , wherein a boundary wall of the first housing of the second housing defines a localized recess extending toward the interior volume of the reservoir.

15. The reservoir of claim 11 , wherein the first housing and the second housing define an annular portion of the parting surface.

16. The reservoir of claim 12 , wherein the interior volume defined by the first housing and the second housing defines at least a portion of a toroid.

17. A vehicle comprising an electronic module and a thermal management system, The thermal management system includes: A storage section; a reservoir; The reservoir comprises: a first housing and a second housing joined to each other along a dividing surface; a barrier having a periphery retained between the first housing and the second housing; a first port fluidly connected to the reservoir; a second port fluidly connected to the external port; The reservoir uses gas discharged from the storage section through the first port to move the barrier inside the reservoir, thereby discharging the working fluid contained within the reservoir through the second port.

18. An internal volume defined between the first housing and the second housing is divided into a first volume and a second volume by the barrier, the first port communicates with the first volume; the second port communicates with the second volume; the first housing and the second housing are asymmetric with respect to the dividing plane, The reservoir comprises: an external port communicating with an external space surrounding the vehicle; a first line fluidly connecting the reservoir to the first port; a second line fluidly connecting the second port to the external port; and a heat exchanger along the second line between the second port of the reservoir and the external port and in thermal communication with the electronic module; a burst disk or squib disposed along the second line between the second port of the reservoir and the heat exchanger; 20. The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising:

19. 20. The vehicle of claim 18, further comprising one or more components adjacent the reservoir that at least partially bound a space within the interior of the vehicle, the first housing and the second housing conforming to a shape of the space.

20. 20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein one of the first housing and the second housing includes a localized protrusion extending away from the interior volume or a localized recess extending toward the interior volume, the localized protrusion or localized recess conforming to the one or more components.

21. 20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein one of the first and second housings of the reservoir conforms to an interior surface of a body of the vehicle.

22. 20. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the first housing joins the second housing with a non-planar flange.

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