Shared Coolant Loop for Active and Inactive Heat-Generating Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling systems are limited by the number of structures being cooled and the state of each structure (active, inactive, standby), leading to inefficiencies such as thermal shock when inactive structures are activated and unnecessary weight from unused cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with a shared coolant loop that directs fluid coolant to both active and inactive heat-generating structures, using a heat exchanger to manage thermal energy transfer and maintain optimal temperatures, reducing the need for multiple cooling systems and preventing thermal shock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate cooling system is provided for each heat-generating structure, then each structure can be cooled independently, but the system weight increases and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cooling systems into a single shared cooling system that serves multiple heat-generating structures. The cooling system includes a coolant loop with a heat exchanger that can direct cooled coolant to any active structure, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems for each structure and reducing overall system weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple purposes: it can cool any active heat-generating structure, pre-heat inactive structures before activation, and distribute coolant dynamically based on which structures are currently active. This universal approach replaces multiple dedicated cooling systems.
2Productivity
If an inactive structure is activated without pre-heating, then the structure can start operating immediately, but thermal shock occurs damaging the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system performs preliminary heating of inactive structures by directing warm coolant from the heat exchanger to inactive structures before they are activated. This pre-conditioning brings the inactive structures to an appropriate temperature, preventing thermal shock when they are subsequently activated and ensuring structural integrity.
3Reliability
If multiple cooling systems are used to cool multiple structures, then each structure receives dedicated cooling, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent cooling systems into a single integrated cooling system with a shared coolant loop and heat exchanger. The system uses control mechanisms to dynamically direct coolant flow to different structures based on their active state, providing dedicated cooling capability without the complexity of multiple separate systems.
4Device complexity
If a cooling system is designed for active structures only, then the cooling system is simple, but inactive structures experience thermal shock when activated
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is designed with universal functionality to serve both active and inactive structures. While maintaining relative simplicity, it can dynamically adapt its operation: cooling active structures and simultaneously pre-heating inactive structures, thereby preventing thermal shock without requiring complex additional subsystems.
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 system effectively cools multiple structures by maintaining optimal working temperatures for inactive structures and reducing the number of cooling systems required, thereby minimizing weight and thermal shock issues.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid coolant receiving thermal energy from the active heat-generating structure and transfers thermal energy to the inactive heat-generating structure
Implementation Method 2
The cooling loop directs a flow of a fluid coolant to both an active heat-generating structure and an inactive heat-generating structure
Implementation Method 3
The heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the first and second heat-generating structures and is operable to receive the fluid coolant at a first temperature and dispense of the fluid coolant out of the heat exchanger at a second temperature
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a cooling system for heat-generating structures comprises a cooling loop and a heat exchanger. The cooling loop directs a flow of a fluid coolant to both an active heat-generating structure and an inactive heat-generating structure. The fluid coolant receiving thermal energy from the active heat-generating structure and transfers thermal energy to the inactive heat-generating structure when a temperature of the fluid coolant is greater than an ambient temperature of an environment surrounding the heat-generating structures. The active heat-generating structure is operable to switch to an inactive state and the inactive heat-generating structure is operable to switch to an active state. The heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the first and second heat-generating structures and is operable to receive the fluid coolant at a first temperature and dispense of the fluid coolant out of the heat exchanger at a second temperature.