Thermal management system including two-phased pump loop and thermal energy storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional two-phase pumped loops fail to maintain a constant evaporator temperature, which is essential for high-energy applications like high-energy lasers, as they vary with ambient temperature, leading to inefficient thermal management.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system integrating a two-phase pump loop, a vapor cycle system, and a thermal energy storage system, where the two-phase pump loop removes heat from the apparatus, the thermal energy storage system provides temperature regulation, and the vapor cycle system transfers heat to the environment, maintaining a constant temperature across multiple thermal loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional two-phase pumped loop is used for cooling, then the system structure is simple, but the evaporator temperature varies with ambient temperature, failing to maintain constant temperature for high-energy applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a two-phase pumped loop with a thermal energy storage system and vapor cycle system into an integrated thermal management system. The thermal energy storage system stores excess thermal energy during low-load periods and releases it during high-load periods, stabilizing the evaporator temperature. This merging of systems resolves the contradiction by achieving constant temperature control while maintaining reasonable system complexity through coordinated operation of multiple subsystems.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal energy storage system performs preliminary action by pre-storing thermal energy in advance before it is needed. The system charges the thermal energy storage during periods when the cooling load is low and the evaporator temperature is stable, then discharges this stored energy when the cooling load increases, preventing temperature fluctuations. This preliminary action allows the system to maintain constant evaporator temperature without requiring continuous active control adjustments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single cooling system is used for multiple thermal loads, then the system complexity is reduced, but the ability to independently regulate different temperature requirements is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the thermal management system into distinct functional modules: a two-phase pumped loop for primary cooling, a thermal energy storage system for temperature stabilization, and a vapor cycle system for heat rejection. Each module can be independently controlled and optimized. The thermal energy storage system specifically addresses multiple thermal loads by providing independent temperature regulation capability, allowing different loads to be maintained at their required temperatures without requiring a completely separate cooling system for each load.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated thermal management system achieves multi-functionality by combining several cooling strategies into a single system that can handle multiple thermal loads with different temperature requirements. The thermal energy storage system serves multiple purposes: stabilizing evaporator temperature, providing supplemental cooling during high-load periods, and reducing the capacity requirements of the vapor cycle system. This universal system design allows one system to perform multiple functions that would otherwise require separate dedicated systems.
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 integrated system effectively regulates dissipation of multiple thermal loads, ensuring a stable temperature for high-energy applications by transferring heat from the apparatus to the two-phase pump loop, storing thermal energy, and releasing it through the vapor cycle system, thus maintaining the apparatus at a constant temperature.
Implementation Method 1
the evaporator configured to absorb heat from the apparatus at a near constant temperature
Implementation Method 2
a condenser thermally coupled to the TPPL that is configured to transfer heat from the TPPL to the TES system
Implementation Method 3
a thermal energy storage (TES) reservoir configured to contain a portion of the fluid or fluid mixture
Implementation Method 4
a compressor configured to compress the coolant supplied to the compressor in a vapor state
Implementation Method 5
a gas cooler configured to cool the coolant compressed by the compressor
Implementation Method 6
an expansion valve configured to maintain the pressure upstream of the expansion valve
Implementation Method 7
a vapor-liquid separator having an inlet, a vapor outlet, and a liquid outlet
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A thermal management system for regulating dissipation of multiple thermal loads during operation of an apparatus includes a two-phase pump loop (TPPL), a vapor cycle system (VCS), and a liquid thermal energy storage (TES) system integrated together to maintain the apparatus at a constant temperature. The TPPL is configured to remove heat from the apparatus; the TES system is configured to provide thermal energy storage and temperature regulation; and the VCS is configured to transfer heat to the environment. The multiple thermal loads include a primary thermal load in the form of heat from the apparatus and a secondary thermal load in the form of at least one of a housekeeping thermal load or a power electronics thermal load. The primary and secondary loads are at different temperatures with each being independently selected to be transient or steady state.