Fluid-cooled heat shield and system

Abstract

A fluid-cooled heat shield and closed loop system is provided to continuously transfer heat away from an object or area to be cooled. The system utilizes a coolant fluid that is pumped through the system by a circulating pump. Heat from a heat source is conveyed to a heat conductor shield and then to a heat sink and transferred by convection to the coolant fluid. The coolant fluid is pumped to a radiator where a fan is used to help transfer heat from the fluid and into the ambient air. The cooled water is then recirculated to the heat sink. The shields may be configured as mats and may be used flat or wrapped around an object to be cooled.

1 . A fluid-cooled heat shield comprising: 
 a conductive sheet layer;    a facing sheet layer positioned on a first side of the conductive sheet and adapted to protect the conductive sheet layer while allowing heat transfer through the facing sheet;    an insulating sheet layer positioned on a second side of the conductive sheet and adapted to prevent heat transfer from the second side of the conductive sheet to the insulating sheet layer;    a heat sink conductively attached to the conductive sheet layer and positioned between the facing sheet layer and the insulating sheet layer;    wherein the heat sink comprises a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid passageway, wherein heat from the conductive sheet layer and the heat sink is transferred to a fluid traveling through the fluid passageway.    
   
   
       2 . The fluid-cooled heat shield of  claim 1  further comprising an outer protective sheet layer positioned on a side of the insulating layer opposite the conductive sheet layer.  
   
   
       3 . The fluid-cooled heat shield of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive sheet layer is a thin foil made of a conductive metallic material.  
   
   
       4 . The fluid-cooled heat shield of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive sheet layer is at least partially copper or aluminum.  
   
   
       5 . The fluid-cooled heat shield of  claim 1 , wherein the heat sink is made of a conductive metallic material.  
   
   
       6 . The fluid-cooled heat shield of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating sheet layer is a high temperature silica or fiberglass felt.  
   
   
       7 . The fluid-cooled heat shield of  claim 2 , wherein the outer protective sheet layer is made of an aluminum foil fiberglass lamination.  
   
   
       8 . The fluid-cooled heat shield of  claim 1 , wherein the protective facing is a Mylar fiberglass laminate.  
   
   
       9 . The fluid-cooled heat shield of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passageway of the heat sink is “U” shaped or in the form of a grid.  
   
   
       10 . The fluid-cooled heat shield of  claim 1  further comprising at least one fastening aperture through at least the facing sheet layer and the insulating layer.  
   
   
       11 . A closed-loop heat removal system for an automotive vehicle comprising: 
 a fluid-cooled heat shield comprising a heat sink conductively attached to a conductive sheet layer positioned between an insulating sheet layer and a facing sheet layer;    a radiator; and    a fluid pump adapted to move a heated fluid from the fluid-cooled heat shield to the radiator where the fluid is cooled.    
   
   
       12 . The closed-loop heat removal system of  claim 11  further comprising an expansion tank for allowing the thermal expansion of the heated fluid.  
   
   
       13 . The closed-loop heat removal system of  claim 11 , wherein the radiator further comprises a fan.  
   
   
       14 . The closed-loop heat removal system of  claim 11  wherein the fluid-cooled heat shield is positioned in a footwell of the automotive vehicle.  
   
   
       15 . The closed-loop heat removal system of  claim 11 , wherein the radiator is positioned in the vehicle at a location open to ambient air.  
   
   
       16 . The closed-loop heat removal system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid-cooled heat shield further comprises an outer protective sheet layer positioned on a side of the insulating layer opposite the conductive sheet layer.  
   
   
       17 . The closed-loop heat removal system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid is water.  
   
   
       18 . A method of removing heat from a portion of a vehicle comprising the steps of: 
 providing a fluid-cooled heat shield comprising a heat sink conductively attached to a conductive sheet layer positioned between an insulating sheet layer and a facing sheet layer;    positioning the facing sheet layer of the fluid-cooled heat shield toward a source of heat of the vehicle;    pumping a fluid through the heat sink wherein heat from the conductive sheet layer and the heat sink is transferred to the fluid; and    pumping the fluid through a radiator wherein the heat is transferred from the fluid to an ambient air.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a fluid thermal expansion tank; and    allowing the fluid to expand in the thermal expansion tank as needed.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a fan associated with the radiator; and    activating the fan to cause air flow through the radiator to transfer heat from the fluid to the air.