Capacitor Entropic Cooling for Electrical Load Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management systems for electrical components in vehicles face inefficiencies in cooling, particularly with excessive heat generation from electrical loads, and the need for alternative cooling methods that reduce noise and fluid leakage risks.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system incorporating a capacitor in thermal contact with electrical loads, controlled to selectively discharge at a current where entropic cooling exceeds Joule heating, and charged at a lower current to minimize heating, with a voltage converter for optimized voltage levels, enhancing cooling efficiency and reducing thermal management system complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant lines and heat exchangers are used to cool electrical loads, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but system complexity and potential for fluid leakage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling function from the electrical load itself by utilizing the capacitor's inherent electrochemical cooling effect during discharge. Instead of adding external cooling systems, the capacitor naturally absorbs heat from the electrical load during its discharge process, eliminating the need for separate coolant lines and heat exchangers.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor serves multiple functions: it provides electrical energy storage, enables entropic cooling during discharge, and acts as a thermal management device. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by combining what would traditionally be separate components into a single integrated element.
2Temperature
If discharge current is increased to enhance entropic cooling, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but Joule heating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the discharge current parameter to achieve the optimal balance between entropic cooling and Joule heating. By carefully controlling the discharge current within a specific range, the system maximizes the cooling effect while minimizing the harmful heating effect, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing effects.
3Productivity
If charge current is increased to quickly recharge the capacitor, then energy storage capability is improved, but heating of the capacitor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the charge current parameter to be lower than the discharge current, optimizing the recharge process to minimize heating while maintaining acceptable energy storage capability. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between fast recharge and heat generation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides effective cooling of electrical loads by leveraging entropic cooling, reducing Joule heating effects, and minimizing system complexity and noise, while potentially resizing other thermal management devices.
Implementation Method 1
selectively discharge the capacitor at a discharge current at which entropic cooling of the capacitor is greater than joule heating of the capacitor
Implementation Method 2
joule heating of the capacitor
Data Source
AI summary
A capacitor is configured to be in thermal contact with an electrical load. A controller is configured to charge and discharge the capacitor to change a temperature of the capacitor. The controller is configured to selectively discharge the capacitor at a discharge current at which entropic cooling of the capacitor is greater than Joule heating of the capacitor to provide cooling for the electrical load.