Satellite Thermal Damper Stabilizes Capillary Loop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capillary fluid loops used for thermal regulation in equipment face significant temperature and pressure variations due to changes in the thermal environment, leading to detrimental fluctuations in equipment temperature, which existing solutions fail to adequately address without high power consumption, complexity, or stability constraints.
Innovation Solution
A passive thermal regulation device incorporating a sealed variable-volume enclosure, known as a thermal damper, which deforms passively to compensate for volume and fluid distribution changes within the capillary fluid loop, maintaining stable operating points by varying its volume in response to temperature changes, thus reducing pressure and temperature differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a capillary fluid loop is used for thermal regulation, then heat transfer from heat source to heat sink is achieved, but temperature and pressure variations occur due to thermal environment changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a variable-volume enclosure that dynamically adjusts its volume in response to temperature changes. This dynamic element compensates for fluid volume variations in the capillary loop, maintaining stable operating conditions despite environmental temperature fluctuations. The enclosure's volume changes passively respond to pressure variations, keeping the fluid loop operating point stable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the enclosure volume to compensate for temperature-induced variations in the fluid loop. By allowing the enclosure volume to vary with temperature, the system maintains constant pressure and operating conditions in the capillary fluid loop, effectively decoupling the operating point from environmental temperature changes.
2Stability of the object's composition
If active thermal regulation systems are used, then temperature stability is improved, but power consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The variable-volume enclosure operates passively without requiring external power or active control. It automatically adjusts its volume in response to pressure changes caused by temperature variations, providing self-regulating thermal compensation. This eliminates the need for powered actuators, sensors, or control systems while maintaining temperature stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces active mechanical or electronic thermal control systems with a passive mechanical compensation mechanism. The enclosure's elastic or deformable structure provides automatic volume adjustment without motors, pumps, or electronic controls, significantly reducing power consumption and system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the fluid loop operates in varying thermal environments, then adaptability is improved, but pressure and temperature fluctuations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The variable-volume enclosure dynamically adapts its volume to compensate for thermal environment changes. As temperature varies, the enclosure expands or contracts to maintain constant fluid pressure in the loop, allowing the system to adapt to different thermal conditions without experiencing pressure fluctuations.
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
The thermal damper effectively stabilizes the operating point of the capillary fluid loop, reducing temperature and pressure variations, and preventing equipment undercooling, while avoiding the limitations of active systems and phase change materials, such as high power consumption and operational constraints.
Implementation Method 1
a sealed variable volume enclosure (71) having a volumetric stiffness adapted so that the sealed variable volume enclosure deforms passively within a given operating range of the capillary fluid loop according to the variation in volume and distribution of the fluid
Implementation Method 2
The evaporator contains a liquid reservoir and a capillary structure that pumps the liquid heat transfer fluid to a vaporization zone by capillary action
Implementation Method 3
the liquid/vapor phase change as the means of energy transport
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~6
AI summary
The invention essentially relates to a cooling device (30) suitable for regulating the temperature of a heat source of a satellite, comprising at least one fluid loop (35) formed by: - an evaporator (40) comprising a tank, - at least one condenser (45), - two conduits connecting the evaporator (40) to the condenser (45), - a heat transfer fluid flowing inside the fluid loop (35), characterised in that it further comprises a device for pressurising the fluid loop, called a hydraulic damper, comprising a variable volume device, said variable volume device having a volume which varies on the basis of the operating temperature of the fluid loop (35) in such a way as to provide a substantially constant temperature inside the fluid loop (35).