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.

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.