Rupture-Triggered Refrigerant Composite for Passive Component Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooling systems are inadequate for temperature-sensitive components in vehicles and guidance systems, as they fail to maintain optimal operating temperatures, especially when recharging is not feasible.

Innovation Solution

A composite cooling system using a liquid refrigerant containment composite with a sealant material that ruptures at a threshold pressure differential, releasing evaporating refrigerant to cool temperature-sensitive components via thermal conduction means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional heat exchangers are used to cool temperature-sensitive components, then the cooling system structure is simple, but the components cannot be cooled to predetermined temperatures and temperature ranges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent operating temperatureVSAvoidcooling system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses phase change of refrigerant (liquid to vapor) at specific trigger temperatures to provide cooling. The refrigerant containment composite is designed to release refrigerant when a predetermined trigger temperature is reached, enabling precise temperature control without complex control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The refrigerant undergoes phase transition from liquid to vapor when heated to the trigger temperature, absorbing heat in the process. This phase change provides intensive cooling to the temperature-sensitive components, achieving the desired temperature control through the physical property of the refrigerant

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Reliability

If conventional cooling systems are used, then the system can be recharged, but the system requires complex infrastructure for recharging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidrecharging requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerant containment composite is pre-filled with refrigerant during manufacturing. The sealant material is designed to rupture at a predetermined threshold pressure differential, releasing the pre-stored refrigerant when needed. This eliminates the need for field recharging operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The refrigerant containment composite is designed as a single-use component. When the sealant ruptures or the refrigerant is depleted, the entire composite is replaced rather than recharged, simplifying the system architecture and eliminating recharging infrastructure requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Quantity of substance

If the sealant material remains intact, then refrigerant is contained, but refrigerant cannot be released to provide cooling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant containmentVSAvoidcooling output

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant material transitions from a static containment state to a dynamic release state when the internal pressure exceeds the threshold pressure differential. This dynamic behavior allows the system to automatically switch between refrigerant containment and refrigerant release based on operating conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses pressure differential as a feedback mechanism to control refrigerant release. When the internal pressure of the refrigerant containment composite exceeds the threshold ΔP between internal and external pressure, the sealant automatically ruptures, releasing refrigerant to provide cooling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Effectively cools temperature-sensitive components by releasing refrigerant when internal pressure exceeds a threshold, ensuring efficient heat management without the need for recharging.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid refrigerant containment composite configured to release evaporating refrigerant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

releasing refrigerant evaporating from the composite when the internal composite pressure reaches a threshold pressure differential

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLatent heat: Latent Heat

Implementation Method 3

configured to rupture and/or enable release of refrigerant evaporating from the composite when the internal composite pressure reaches a threshold pressure differential (ΔP) from the pressure outside of the system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 4

thermal conduction means in thermal contact with the system and one or more temperature sensitive components for directing cooling from the system to the temperature sensitive components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS8302416B2Liquid refrigerant composite cooling system

Publication Date: 2012.11.06 ROCKY RES INC

AI summary

A system for cooling components comprises a composite of a sponge or sponge-like material with liquid refrigerant absorbed thereon and encased in a containment material configured to rupture or otherwise release evaporating refrigerant when internal composite pressure reaches a threshold ΔP from the outside pressure and/or at a pre-selected composite temperature, and thermal conduction means in thermal contact with the composite and one or more components for directing thermal energy to cool the components.