U.S. patent application number 11/187216 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-25 for self-regulating temperature control system.
Invention is credited to John P. Abraham, Robert J. Monson.
Application Number | 20070017239 11/187216 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37677814 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070017239 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Monson; Robert J. ; et
al. |
January 25, 2007 |
Self-regulating temperature control system
Abstract
A self-regulating cooling/heating system employs a variable flow
manifold that allows the automatic re-direction of cooling/heating
fluid (air, water, phase transition medium) to the areas of the
cabinet or enclosure that requires the most cooling/heating. This
enables a more efficient use of cooling/heating capability, sending
the cooled/heated fluid to areas of greatest temperature
differential, which will result in a greater amount of thermal
energy being transferred to the cooling/heating medium. This
technique yields more efficient electronics and systems.
Inventors: |
Monson; Robert J.; (St.
Paul, MN) ; Abraham; John P.; (Minneapolis,
MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON, P.C.
P.O. BOX 2902
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0902
US
|
Family ID: |
37677814 |
Appl. No.: |
11/187216 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 2021/0029 20130101;
F28F 9/02 20130101; F28F 27/02 20130101; F28F 3/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/222 |
International
Class: |
F25B 41/04 20060101
F25B041/04 |
Claims
1. A temperature control system comprising: a first heat transfer
device having at least one fluidic input port and at least one
fluidic output port; a second heat transfer device having at least
one fluidic input port and at least one fluidic output port,
wherein a fluidic medium is allowed to flow freely between the
first and second heat transfer devices, such that thermal energy is
transferred from the first heat transfer device to the second heat
transfer device; and at least one self-regulating element
operational to control the amount of thermal transfer from selected
sections of the first heat transfer device to the second heat
transfer device.
2. The temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein the
at least one self-regulating element is a passively controlled
device that is responsive solely to temperature changes in the
fluidic medium.
3. The temperature control system according to claim 1, further
comprising a fluidic pump operational to maintain the fluidic
medium flow such that a desired heat transfer cycle is
maintained.
4. The temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein the
fluidic medium comprises a liquid.
5. The temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein the
fluidic medium comprises a gas.
6. The temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein the
fluidic medium comprises a substance that undergoes a phase
transition during a heat transfer cycle.
7. The temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein the
first heat transfer device comprises a fluidic manifold.
8. The temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein the
second heat transfer device comprises a heat exchanger.
9. The temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein the
at least one self-regulating element is an actively controlled
device that is responsive to temperature changes in the fluidic
medium.
10. The temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein
the first heat transfer device, second heat transfer device and
self-regulating element operate together to cool selected sections
of a system or device.
11. The temperature control system according to claim 1, wherein
the first heat transfer device, second heat transfer device and
self-regulating element operate together to heat selected sections
of a system or device.
12. A temperature control system comprising: a first heat transfer
device having at least one fluidic input port and at least one
fluidic output port; a second heat transfer device having at least
one fluidic input port in fluidic communication with the at least
one fluidic output port, the second heat transfer device further
having at least one fluidic output port, wherein a fluidic medium
is allowed to flow freely between the first heat transfer device at
least one fluidic output port and the second heat transfer device
at least one fluidic input port, such that thermal energy is
transferred from the first heat transfer device to the second heat
transfer device; and at least one self-regulating element
operational to control a flow rate of fluidic medium expelled from
at least one section of an active system or device into the first
heat transfer device at least one fluidic input port, such that the
amount of thermal transfer from at least one section of the first
heat transfer device to the second heat transfer device is varied
in response thereto, and further such that a desired cooling or
heating effect is achieved within the at least one section of the
active system or device.
13. The temperature control system according to claim 12, wherein
the at least one self-regulating element is a passively controlled
device that is responsive solely to temperature changes in the
fluidic medium.
14. The temperature control system according to claim 12, further
comprising a fluidic pump operational to maintain the fluidic
medium flow such that a desired heat transfer cycle is
maintained.
15. The temperature control system according to claim 12, wherein
the fluidic medium comprises a liquid.
16. The temperature control system according to claim 12, wherein
the fluidic medium comprises a gas.
17. The temperature control system according to claim 12, wherein
the fluidic medium comprises a substance that undergoes a phase
transition during a heat transfer cycle.
18. The temperature control system according to claim 12, wherein
the first heat transfer device comprises a fluidic manifold.
19. The temperature control system according to claim 12, wherein
the second heat transfer device comprises a heat exchanger.
20. The temperature control system according to claim 12, wherein
the at least one self-regulating element is an actively controlled
device that is responsive to temperature changes in the fluidic
medium.
21. The temperature control system according to claim 12, wherein
the first heat transfer device, second heat transfer device and
self-regulating element operate together to cool selected sections
of a system or device.
22. The temperature control system according to claim 12, wherein
the first heat transfer device, second heat transfer device and
self-regulating element operate together to heat selected sections
of a system or device.
23. A method of controlling a system or device temperature, the
method comprising the steps of: providing a self-regulating,
temperature controlled system; configuring an apparatus such that a
fluidic medium can pass independently and freely through selected
sections or portions of the apparatus; and controlling the flow
rate of fluidic medium passing through each section of the
apparatus via the self-regulating, temperature controlled system in
response to the temperature of the fluidic medium passing through
selected sections of the self-regulating, temperature controlled
system or apparatus.
24. The method of controlling a system or device temperature
according to claim 23, further comprising pumping the fluidic
medium between the self-regulating, temperature controlled system
and the apparatus to maintain a positive fluidic medium
pressure.
25. The method of controlling a system or device temperature
according to claim 23, wherein the step of controlling the flow
rate of fluidic medium comprises passively operating a variable
orifice valve such that the valve orifice size is varied in
response to the temperature of the fluidic medium passing through
the valve.
26. The method of controlling a system or device temperature
according to claim 23, wherein the step of controlling the flow
rate of fluidic medium comprises actively operating a variable
orifice valve such that the valve orifice size is varied in
response to the temperature of the fluidic medium passing through
the valve.
27. The method of controlling a system or device temperature
according to claim 23, wherein the step of controlling the flow
rate of fluidic medium passing through each section of the
apparatus via the self-regulating, temperature controlled system in
response to the temperature of the fluidic medium passing through
selected sections of the self-regulating, temperature controlled
system or apparatus operates to cool the selected sections of the
apparatus.
28. The method of controlling a system or device temperature
according to claim 23, wherein the step of controlling the flow
rate of fluidic medium passing through each section of the
apparatus via the self-regulating, temperature controlled system in
response to the temperature of the fluidic medium passing through
selected sections of the self-regulating, temperature controlled
system or apparatus operates to heat the selected sections of the
apparatus.
29. A temperature control system comprising: a first heat
transferring means for receiving a fluidic medium from selected
sections of a system or device, and expelling the received fluidic
medium there from; a second heat transferring means for receiving
the expelled fluidic medium such that thermal energy is transferred
from the expelled fluidic medium to control the temperature of the
expelled fluidic medium; and self-regulating means for regulating
the amount of thermal transfer in response to fluidic medium
temperature.
30. The temperature control system according to claim 29, further
comprising means for maintaining a positive fluidic medium flow
pressure between the first and second heat transferring means and
selected sections of the system or device such that a desired heat
transfer cycle is maintained.
31. The temperature control system according to claim 29, wherein
the first heat transferring means, second heat transferring means
and self-regulating means together operate to cool selected
sections of the system or device.
32. The temperature control system according to claim 29, wherein
the first heat transferring means, second heat transferring means
and self-regulating means together operate to heat selected
sections of the system or device.
33. The temperature control system according to claim 29, wherein
the fluidic medium is a liquid.
34. The temperature control system according to claim 29, wherein
the fluidic medium is a gas.
35. The temperature control system according to claim 29, wherein
the fluidic medium is a substance that undergoes a phase transition
during a heat transfer cycle.
36. The temperature control system according to claim 29, wherein
the first heat transferring means comprises a fluidic manifold.
37. The temperature control system according to claim 29, wherein
the second heat transferring means comprises a heat exchanger.
38. The temperature control system according to claim 29, wherein
the self-regulating means is passively responsive to fluidic medium
temperature.
39. The temperature control system according to claim 29, wherein
the self-regulating means is actively responsive to fluidic medium
temperature.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to cooling and heating
systems, and more particularly to a passively or actively
temperature controlled, self-regulating method and system for
cooling a liquid, gas, or phase transition medium to implement
selective cooling of an operationally hot system or device, or
heating of an operationally cold system or device in the same
manner, to increase the system or device operating efficiency.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The cooling of fluids is desirable in many applications.
Internal combustion engines, for example, run more efficiently if
relatively high temperature fuel is cooled before being introduced
into the combustion chamber.
[0005] Hydraulic systems function better with cooler hydraulic
fluid. Oil lubrication systems are more effective when the oil is
cooled. This is true in transmissions and other parts of a power
train as well as for the internal lubrication of an engine.
[0006] More recently, advances in technology related to modern
electronic systems and devices such as radar displays, for example,
demand strategic cooling techniques having greater efficiencies and
lower costs. Known cooling techniques can provide the desired
efficiencies, but at cost parameters that are simply
non-competitive in the modern marketplace. These modern electronic
systems and devices run at faster operating speeds when properly
cooled; and the expected system or device life is increased when
operating temperatures are properly managed.
[0007] Certain radar displays, for example, are very large, and for
strategic reasons that may be related to the operational
environment and the like, require passive cooling techniques. Since
these arrays are so very large, only certain portions of such
displays are used at any given moment in time. It is therefore not
efficient to cool the whole radar array associated with the radar
display unit, when instead, it is only necessary to cool that
portion of the array that is being utilized, and thus is operating
at an elevated temperature.
[0008] In view of the foregoing background, it would be extremely
beneficial and advantageous to provide a cooling system and method
for cooling only that portion of an operationally hot device that
is necessary to achieve a desired level of device operating
efficiency, rather than using a known cooling and/or heat transfer
technique that is limited to cooling the whole device. It would be
further advantageous if the system and method for cooling were
passively controlled and not dependent upon any type of active
controller or control device, but could instead continue to fully
function, even in the absence or failure, for example, of a system
or device computerized controller.
[0009] Consider now an array 10 having four sections such as shown
in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. In FIG. 1A, array 10 can be seen to exhibit
section temperatures of 50.degree. F. and 200.degree. F. in the
upper two sections from left to right respectively; while the lower
two sections exhibit section temperatures of 60.degree. F. and
50.degree. F. from left to right respectively. Consider now also a
convective cooling system; If a conventional uniform cooling
approach is utilized to cool the array 10, only 25% of the coolant
may come into contact with the hot 200.degree. F. area, quickly
reaching the maximum heat flux of the cooling system. Thus, as seen
in FIG. 1B, the hot 200.degree. F. area may cool down to only
150.degree. F. Although better, the efficiency of uniform cooling
falls short of the desired results. Consider now instead, a cooling
system that directs 75% of the coolant fluid through the hot
200.degree. F. zone, with the remaining 25% used for the other
zones. Such a cooling system can be expected to extract heat more
effectively. Smart cooling therefore, results in a more efficient
transfer of thermal energy to yield the array temperatures depicted
in FIG. 1C.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is directed to a passive or active,
self-regulating cooling and/or heating system and method for
providing a desired level of operating efficiency at a minimized
cost level when compared with known cooling/heating systems and
methods. The self-regulating cooling/heating system and method can
direct a cooling/heating medium, e.g. liquid, gas, medium that
changes state or undergoes a phase transition, through only those
portions of a system or device that are operationally hot or cold,
while substantially ignoring those portions of the system or device
that are not operationally hot or cold or are otherwise
operationally cool or hot.
[0011] More specifically, one embodiment of the system or device is
cooled in sections or portions that are independent from one
another such that it is possible to selectively cool any one or
more sections or portions, such as described herein before with
reference to FIGS. 1A-1C. In one embodiment, the coolant or cooling
medium is exhausted from each section of the system or device into
a manifold having a plurality of input ports. Each input port
receives the coolant or cooling medium solely from a predetermined
single section. The manifold has a single output port that
transfers the cooling medium into a heat exchanger wherein the
cooling medium is cooled. Such heat exchangers are well known in
the art, and so will not be discussed in further detail herein to
preserve brevity and enhance clarity. The cooled medium is then
pumped back into the system or device. Each manifold input can
contain a distinct passive or active temperature controlled flow
control device that reacts only to the temperature of the cooling
medium passing through the passive or active flow control device.
Each flow control device could just as easily be positioned at each
input port or output port associated with the system or device to
be cooled. In this manner, each section or portion of the device or
system to be cooled will receive only that amount of cooling medium
or coolant necessary to efficiently cool the respective section or
portion that needs to be cooled. This process then can be seen to
be self-regulating since each passive or active flow control device
reacts to pass or restrict the amount of coolant passing through
its respective section or portion of the system or device. The
operating efficiency is thus improved since the maximum quantity of
return coolant need not necessarily pass through each portion of
the device or system to be cooled. Only those sections or portions
requiring enhanced cooling will see enhanced coolant flow there
through.
[0012] In one aspect of the invention, a self-regulating cooling
system includes a first heat transfer device such as a manifold,
having at least one fluidic input port and at least one fluidic
output port; a second heat transfer device such as a heat
exchanger, having at least one fluidic input port and at least one
fluidic output port, wherein a fluidic medium is allowed to flow
freely between the first and second heat transfer devices, such
that thermal energy is transferred from the first heat transfer
device to the second heat transfer device; and a self-regulating
element operational to control the amount of thermal transfer from
selected sections or portions of the first heat transfer device to
the second heat transfer device. Fluidic flow is most preferably
implemented via a suitable pump or other like device to maintain
the thermal cycle.
[0013] The self-regulating element is most preferably a passively
controlled device, but could just as easily be an actively
controlled device, that operates most preferably in response to
temperature changes associated with the fluidic medium to regulate
the amount of fluidic medium flowing through the selected portions
or sections of the first heat transfer device. A suitable
self-regulating element may comprise a variable orifice valve, for
example, in which the size of the orifice is controlled via a
thermal element such as a thermally responsive spring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Other aspects, features and advantages of the present
invention will be readily appreciated as the invention becomes
better understood by reference to the following detailed
description when considered in connection with the accompanying
drawing figures wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1A depicts a system or device array having four
distinct heat/cool zones;
[0016] FIG. 1B shows the temperature effects of uniform cooling
applied to the distinct heat/cool zones depicted in FIG. 1A;
[0017] FIG. 1C shows the temperature effects of smart cooling
applied to the distinct heat/cool zones depicted in FIG. 1A;
[0018] FIG. 2A is a simplified system diagram illustrating a
self-regulating cooling system according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2B is an exploded view showing more details of the
return manifold depicted in FIG. 2A;
[0020] FIG. 3A is a simplified system diagram illustrating a
self-regulating cooling system according to another embodiment of
the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 3B is an exploded view showing more details of the
return manifold depicted in FIG. 3A;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a simplified system diagram illustrating a
self-regulating cooling system according to yet another embodiment
of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of cooling a
system or device according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating still another application
of a self-regulating element in a cooling/heating system according
to one embodiment of the present invention; and
[0025] FIG. 7 illustrates a self-regulating element in a
cooling/heating system with an active control unit according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] While the above-identified drawing figures set forth
particular embodiments, other embodiments of the present invention
are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion. In all cases,
this disclosure presents illustrated embodiments of the present
invention by way of representation and not limitation. Numerous
other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled
in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles
of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] The embodiments described in detail herein below are
directed to a self-regulating cooling (or heating) system and
method for passively or actively providing a desired level of
operating efficiency at a minimized cost level when compared with
known cooling and heating systems and methods that employ active
control techniques. The self-regulating cooling/heating system and
method, as stated herein before, can direct a cooling or heating
(fluidic) medium, e.g. liquid, gas, medium that changes state or
undergoes a phase transition, through only those portions of a
system or device that are operationally hot or cold, while
substantially ignoring those portions of the system or device that
are not operationally hot or cold or are otherwise operationally
cool or hot.
[0028] Before moving to the Figures, it is important to note that
the system or device to be cooled or heated is cooled or heated in
sections or portions that are independent from one another such
that it is possible to selectively cool or heat any one or more
sections or portions. One embodiment, as stated herein before,
exhausts the coolant or cooling medium from each section of the
system or device into a first heat transfer device such as a
manifold having a plurality of input ports. Each input port
receives the coolant or cooling medium solely from a predetermined
single section. The manifold may have one or more output ports that
transfer the cooling medium into a second heat transfer device such
as a heat exchanger where the cooling medium is cooled. Such heat
exchangers, as stated herein before, are well known in the art, and
so will not be discussed in further herein to preserve brevity and
enhance clarity in describing the embodiments exemplified herein.
In systems and/or devices that may run too cold, the process can be
easily modified such that the liquid, gas, or phase transition
medium is heated rather than cooled. Subsequent to cooling/heating,
the cooled/heated fluidic medium is then pumped back into the
system or device. Each manifold input can contain a distinct
passive or active flow control device that reacts only to the
temperature of the cooling/heating fluidic medium passing through
the distinct flow control device. Each passive/active flow control
device could just as easily be positioned at each input port or
output port associated with the system or device to be cooled to
selectively re-direct or restrict the coolant or heating medium
flow through the individual sections of the device or system to be
cooled or heated. In this manner, each section or portion of the
device or system to be cooled or heated will receive only that
amount of cooling/heating fluidic medium necessary to efficiently
cool or heat the respective section or portion that needs to be
cooled or heated. This process then can be seen to be
self-regulating since each passive or active, self-regulating flow
control device reacts to pass or restrict the amount of coolant or
heating medium passing through its respective section or portion of
the system or device, focusing on maximum efficiency i.e. maximum
output for a given minimum input. The operating efficiency is thus
improved since the maximum quantity of return coolant or heating
medium need not necessarily pass through all portions of the device
or system to be cooled or heated. Only those sections or portions
requiring enhanced cooling will see enhanced coolant while those
section or portions requiring enhanced heating will see less
coolant flow there through respectively.
[0029] Looking now at FIG. 2A, a simplified block diagram
illustrates a self-regulating cooling/heating system 100 according
to one embodiment of the present invention. Self-regulating
cooling/heating system 100 operates to cool or heat selected
portions 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 of a radar array 110. Each portion
112-120 of the radar array 110 is cooled or heated independently of
any other portion as described below. Self-regulating
cooling/heating system 100 can be seen to include a first heat
transfer device 130 such as a manifold, having a plurality of input
ports 132, 134, 136, 138, 140. Each input port 132-140 is connected
to a single unique portion or section 112-120 of the radar array
110. Manifold 130 can be seen to also have a single output port
122. Cooling/heating system 100 has a second heat transfer device
142, such as a heat exchanger, that operates to cool or heat the
coolant or heating medium that is employed to cool or heat the
sections of the radar array 110. Any suitable coolant or heating
medium such as a liquid medium, gaseous medium, or coolant/heating
medium, such as, but not limited to Freon, that changes state in
response to temperature changes, can be employed, so long as the
desired heat transfer characteristics are achieved. Heat exchanger
140 has a single input port 144 that receives coolant/heating
medium from the single output port 122 of the manifold 130.
Subsequent to cooling or heating, the coolant or heating medium is
exhausted via a single heat exchanger output port 146, wherein the
coolant or heating medium is redirected back to a coolant/heating
medium input port associated with the radar array 110.
[0030] Looking now at FIG. 2B, each of the output manifold input
ports 132, 134, 136, 138, 140 can be seen to most preferably employ
a passive self-regulating element 133, 135, 137, 139, 141. Each
passive self-regulating element 133-141 may, for example, comprise
a variable orifice valve in which the orifice increasingly opens or
closes in response to changes in the fluidic temperature. In this
manner, each valve will continue to successfully operate, even in
the absence of any type of active control, such as that which may
be provided via a computerized control unit or system. The present
invention is not so limited however, and it shall be understood
that an actively controlled self-regulating element can also be
employed to implement the smart cooling/heating described herein
and thus provide the desired system or device operating
efficiencies.
[0031] In summary explanation, and with continued reference now to
FIG. 2B, a self-regulating cooling/heating system 100 can be seen
to comprise a first heat transfer device (e.g. manifold) 130, a
second heat transfer device (e.g. heat exchanger) 142, and at least
one self-regulating element 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, to cool or
heat selected portions of a device or system (e.g. radar array)
110. A suitable coolant or heating medium which may be in the form
of a gas, liquid, or medium that undergoes a phase transition
during the heat transfer process, passes through each section of
the device or system (e.g. radar array) 110. Only certain portions
or sections 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, of the array 110 may be
operational at any given time; thus only those sections that are
operational may have a need to be cooled or heated. Further, some
sections of the array 110 may operate hotter or cooler than other
sections of the array 110, thus demanding more or less coolant or
heating medium flow to achieve a desired cooling or heating effect.
Coolant or heating medium is exhausted from each section of the
radar array 100 into a unique input port of the manifold 130,
wherein a self-regulating element 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, monitors
the temperature of the exhausted coolant or heating medium. If the
fluidic temperature is too high, the respective self-regulating
element will operate in a non-restrictive mode to increase the size
of an orifice that allows more of the coolant to pass through its
associated section of the array 110 and quickly return that
respective array section to a suitable operating temperature. If
the fluidic temperature is not too high, the respective
self-regulating element will operate in its restrictive mode to
decrease the size of an orifice to decrease the amount of coolant
passing through its associated section of the array 110. The
self-regulating elements 133, 135, 137, 139, 141 will operate
continuously to variably increase and decrease the respective
orifice openings in response to individual array section coolant
temperatures to maintain a desired and substantially constant range
or operational array temperatures. Alternatively, if the fluidic
temperature is too low, the respective self-regulating element will
operate in a restrictive mode to decrease the size of an orifice to
allow less coolant to pass through its associated section of the
array 110, quickly returning that respective array section to a
more suitable operating temperature.
[0032] Those skilled in the cooling and heating arts will readily
appreciate that the cooling principles described herein can just as
easily be inversely applied to provide desired heating effects.
Thus, a particular section of a system or device that may be
operating too cool, may be more efficiently heated to a more
suitable operating temperature by directing a larger percentage of
a heating medium through that section, or alternatively, as
described herein before, by directing a smaller percentage of a
cooling medium through that section. In this manner, the overall
system or device operating efficiency can thus be optimized by
using a smart heating system rather than a more conventional
uniform heating system that is familiar to those skilled in the
heating art.
[0033] FIG. 3A is a simplified cooling system diagram illustrating
a self-regulating cooling system 200 according to another
embodiment of the present invention. Self-regulating cooling system
200 is similar to the cooling system 100 described herein before
with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B; except the self-regulating
elements 133, 135, 137, 139, 141 can now be seen with reference to
FIG. 3B, to be positioned at the output ports of the input manifold
202 such that each self-regulating element 133-141 is positioned
directly in line with an input port associated with any one of the
array sections 112, 114, 116, 118, 120. Each element 133, 135, 137,
139, 141 is thus in direct contact with the coolant flowing through
an associated section of the radar array 110, and therefore
passively or actively "re-directs" and controls the rate at which
coolant flows through its associated array section 112-120.
[0034] Moving now to FIG. 4, a simplified system diagram
illustrates a self-regulating cooling system 300 according to yet
another embodiment of the present invention. Self-regulating
cooling system 300 can be seen to also include a first heat
transfer device (e.g. manifold) 330, a second heat transfer device
(e.g. heat exchanger) 142, and at least one self-regulating element
133, 135, 137, 139, 141, to cool selected portions of a device or
system (e.g. radar array) 110. Unlike manifold 130 discussed herein
before however, the manifold 330 in cooling system 300 can be seen
to have only a single input port 332. The entire coolant medium
flowing through array 110 is therefore exhausted into the manifold
330 via the manifold single input port 332. The array coolant
medium is transmitted to the heat exchanger 142 where the medium is
re-cooled. The re-cooled medium is pumped back to the array 110 via
a suitable pump 310, where at least one self-regulating element
133, 135, 137, 139, 141 operates as described herein before to
variably and passively control the amount of coolant flowing
through its associated section of the array 110. Cooling system 300
thus operates to continuously cool the entire volume of coolant
medium, while simultaneously, continuously and variably restricting
the flow rate of re-cooled medium passing through each section of
the array 110.
[0035] The present invention is not so limited however, and it
shall be understood that each self-regulating element may be
passively controlled or controlled via an active controller of some
type. Passive control is most preferred, since the passive,
self-regulating element will continue to function in its normal
temperature sensing mode to control the variable orifice valve
regardless of whether the control system or device remains
operational. Further, as stated herein before, the inverse
principles easily apply to implement a self-regulating heating
system in contradistinction to the self-regulating cooling system
described in detail herein before.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 400 of
cooling or heating sections or portions of a system or device
according to one embodiment of the present invention. Method 400 is
implemented by first providing a self-regulating cooling/heating
system, as shown in block 402; and also providing as shown in block
404, a system or device such as a radar display having sections or
portions to be cooled or heated, and that is configured such that a
coolant or heating medium can pass independently and freely through
selected sections or portions of the system or device to be cooled
or heated. The self-regulating cooling/heating system is then
interfaced to the system or device sections or portions to be
cooled/heated such that the flow rate of coolant or heating medium
passing through each section is most preferably passively
controlled in response to the temperature of the coolant or heating
medium (fluidic medium) passing through the selected sections or
portions of the self-regulating cooling/heating system and/or
selected sections and/or portions of the system or device to be
cooled/heated, as shown in block 406.
[0037] The self-regulating element, as stated herein before, may be
implemented, for example by, but not limited to, a passively
controlled variable orifice valve. The valve may include a thermal
spring element immersed in the coolant or heating medium (fluidic
medium) such that the thermal spring operates in response to a
temperature differential to variably open and close the valve
orifice to control the rate of coolant or heating medium passing
through the valve. The self-regulating element can be placed within
predetermined portions of the cooling/heating system itself, or
alternatively, within predetermined portions of the system or
device to be cooled/heated, such as discussed in detail herein
before. As also stated herein before, the self-regulating element
may optionally be an actively controlled element.
[0038] Looking at FIG. 6, there is illustrated another application
of a self-regulating element in a cooling/heating system according
to one embodiment of the present invention. A manifold section 500
can be seen to employ a self-regulating element 502 having a
thermal sensing spring 503 in one section of the manifold 500;
while the plunger portion 504 of the self-regulating element 502 is
positioned within a different section of the manifold 500. Such a
configuration is useful to control system or device temperatures in
adjacent sections or portions of a system or device in certain
applications that may require more stable overall environmental
conditions to enhance operational stability.
[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates a manifold portion 702 of a
cooling/heating system 700 with an actively controlled
self-regulating temperature sensing element 710 according to one
embodiment of the present invention. The actively controlled
self-regulating temperature sensing element 710 can be seen to have
its thermal sensing wire 712 strategically positioned within a
first manifold through port, while its associated plunger unit 714
is strategically positioned within a second manifold through port.
It shall be understood that such active sensing element control can
be applied to any embodiment described herein before in which only
passive control principles were discussed. A computerized control
unit 720 having requisite algorithmic software monitors a change in
resistance of the thermal sensing wire 712 as fluidic medium passes
over the thermal sensing wire 712. A control signal from the
computerized control unit 700 that is responsive to this change in
resistance is sent to the plunger unit 714 to vary the movement of
the plunger unit 714. Movement of the plunger unit 714 then
operates in response to this control signal to vary the amount of
coolant or heating medium passing through the second manifold
through port. This invention is not so limited however, and it
shall be understood that the thermal sensing wire 712 and the
plunger unit 714 can just as easily be positioned together within a
single manifold through port, such as discussed herein before with
reference to other particular embodiments of the present
invention.
[0040] In view of the above, it can be seen the present invention
presents a significant advancement in the art of cooling and
heating system techniques. Further, this invention has been
described in considerable detail in order to provide those skilled
in the heat transfer arts with the information needed to apply the
novel principles and to construct and use such specialized
components as are required. In view of the foregoing descriptions,
it should be apparent that the present invention represents a
significant departure from the prior art in construction and
operation. However, while particular embodiments of the present
invention have been described herein in detail, it is to be
understood that various alterations, modifications and
substitutions can be made therein without departing in any way from
the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the
claims which follow. The cooling/heating system, for example, may
employ any number of different manifold configurations, so long as
cooling or heating for the system or device to be cooled or heated
is self-regulating and passively or actively controlled in
accordance with the principles described herein before. Further,
the requisite self-regulating element(s) employed may be placed in
any variety of appropriate locations to implement individual
section cooling and/or heating to passively or actively achieve the
desired self-regulating sectional cooling and/or heating in
response to particular system or device cooling or heating medium
temperature(s).
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