Thermal management systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional closed-circuit refrigeration systems are heavy and power-intensive, making them unsuitable for mobile platforms and applications requiring precise temperature control, especially for high heat flux and temperature-sensitive loads.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system integrating a closed-circuit heat pump with an open-circuit refrigeration system, utilizing a four-way valve and a by-passable expansion device to manage refrigerant flow, allowing for both cooling and heating modes, and featuring a controller to optimize operation based on thermal loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a conventional closed-circuit refrigeration system is used to handle large amounts of absorbed thermal energy, then the cooling capacity is sufficient, but the system weight and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent circuits: an open-circuit refrigeration system for handling high heat loads and a closed-circuit heat pump system for handling low heat loads. This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized for its specific function, with the open-circuit system using a lighter pump-based architecture instead of a heavy compressor-condenser assembly, thereby reducing overall system weight while maintaining sufficient cooling capacity for large thermal energy loads.
2Quantity of substance
If a conventional closed-circuit refrigeration system is used to handle large amounts of absorbed thermal energy, then the cooling capacity is sufficient, but the power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the refrigeration system into open and closed circuits, the power-intensive compressor and condenser are eliminated from the high heat load handling path. The open-circuit system uses a pump that consumes significantly less power, while the closed-circuit heat pump handles only the residual low heat load, thereby dramatically reducing overall power consumption while maintaining adequate cooling capacity for large thermal energy loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor and condenser components that consume the most power are extracted from the main refrigeration circuit. The open-circuit system handles the bulk of the thermal energy load without these power-intensive components, using instead a simple pump and direct evaporation/condensation process, thereby reducing power consumption while preserving cooling capacity.
3Productivity
If a conventional closed-circuit refrigeration system is used, then the system can cool heat sources, but it lacks adaptability for different operating modes and heat load types
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by integrating two circuits that can operate independently or in combination: the open-circuit refrigeration system can handle high heat loads, the closed-circuit heat pump can handle low heat loads and provide heating functionality, and they can work together for moderate loads. This universal design allows the system to adapt to different operating modes (cooling only, heating only, or combined) and different heat load types, greatly enhancing versatility while maintaining effective cooling capability.
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 system enables efficient cooling and heating of high heat flux loads with reduced size, weight, and power consumption, suitable for mobile applications and precise temperature control, while accommodating both high and low heat loads effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid separator that has an inlet, a vapor-side outlet and a liquid-side outlet
Implementation Method 2
a liquid separator that has an inlet, a vapor-side outlet and a liquid-side outlet
Implementation Method 3
a pump having an inlet configured to receive the refrigerant from the liquid-side outlet of the liquid separator and having an outlet that is coupled to the first evaporator port
Implementation Method 4
a heat absorption exchanger (i.e., an evaporator)... Refrigeration systems absorb thermal energy from heat sources
Implementation Method 5
an expansion device, and a heat absorption exchanger (i.e., an evaporator)... Compressors are used to compress vapor from the evaporation
Implementation Method 6
a heat rejection exchanger (i.e., a condenser)... discharge thermal energy into the surrounding environment
Implementation Method 7
condensers are used to condense the vapor to cool the vapor into a liquid
Implementation Method 8
compressors are used to compress vapor from the evaporation... Compressors are used to compress vapor from the evaporation and condensers are used to condense the vapor
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system includes an integrated open-circuit refrigeration system and closed-circuit heat pump system. The thermal management system includes a receiver having a first receiver port and a second receiver port, the receiver configured to store a refrigerant fluid, an evaporator having a first evaporator port and a second evaporator port, the heat pump circuit having a closed-circuit fluid path with the receiver and the evaporator and an open-circuit refrigeration system configured to receive refrigerant from the receiver, with the open-circuit refrigeration system having an open-circuit fluid path that includes the receiver and the evaporator.