Thermal management system

Abstract

Simple, compact, lightweight thermal management system offering reduced inventory of heat transfer fluid. The invention provides heat transfer fluid at a very high flow rate to a heat exchanger. A portion of the heat transfer fluid flow downstream of the heat exchanger is separated and pumped by a fluid-dynamic pump back into the heat exchanger. The fluid dynamic pump is operated by a fresh heat transfer fluid supplied at high-pressure. Because a substantial portion of the flow leaving the heat exchanger is recirculated back to the inlet, the amount of fresh heat transfer fluid consumed is substantially reduced compared to a traditional system. Uses of the invention include cooling of devices at very high heat flux including photovoltaic cells, solar panels, semiconductor laser diodes, semiconductor electronics, and laser gain medium. Other uses of the invention include systems, for refrigeration, air conditioning, and gas liquefaction.

1 . A thermal management system comprising:
 (a) a heat exchanger having an inlet for receiving heat transfer fluid and outlet for discharging heat transfer fluid; and   (b) a fluid dynamic pump having a driving nozzle fluidly connected to a source of heat transfer fluid, a suction port fluidly connected to said outlet port of said heat exchanger, and a discharge port fluidly connected to said inlet port of said heat exchanger.   
   
   
       2 . The thermal management system of  claim 1  further comprising a means for releasing excess heat transfer fluid, said means fluidly connected to said outlet of said heat exchanger. 
   
   
       3 . The thermal management system of  claim 2  wherein said means to remove excess heat transfer fluid include a flow-impeding element. 
   
   
       4 . The thermal management system of  claim 2  wherein said flow-impeding element is selected from the group consisting of a backpressure valve, an orifice, and a venturi. 
   
   
       5 . The thermal management system of  claim 1  wherein said heat exchanger is adapted for exchanging heat between said heat transfer fluid and a body. 
   
   
       6 . The thermal management system of  claim 1  wherein said heat exchanger is adapted for exchanging heat between said heat transfer fluid and a second heat transfer fluid. 
   
   
       7 . The thermal management system of  claim 1  wherein said heat transfer fluid is fed to said driving nozzle in a substantially liquid form. 
   
   
       8 . The thermal management system of  claim 1  wherein said heat transfer fluid is fed to said driving nozzle in a substantially gaseous form. 
   
   
       9 . A thermal management system comprising a heat exchanger (HEX), a fluid dynamic pump, and a flow-impeding element;
 (a) said HEX having and inlet port and an outlet port;   (b) said fluid dynamic pump having a driving nozzle, suction port, and a discharge port;   (c) said driving nozzle being fluidly connected to a supply of heat transfer fluid (HTF);   (d) said discharge port being fluidly connected to said inlet port of said HEX;   (e) said suction port of said fluid dynamic pump being fluidly connected to said outlet port of said HEX; and   (f) said flow-impeding element being fluidly connected to said outlet port of said HEX and adapted for releasing excess HTF.   
   
   
       10 . The thermal management system of  claim 9  wherein said flow-impeding element is selected from the group consisting of a backpressure valve, an orifice, and a venturi. 
   
   
       11 . The thermal management system of  claim 9  wherein said HEX is adapted to exchanging heat between said HTF and a body. 
   
   
       12 . The thermal management system of  claim 9  wherein said HEX is adapted to exchanging heat between said HTF and a second heat HTF. 
   
   
       13 . The thermal management system of  claim 9  wherein said HEX is provided to said driving nozzle in a substantially liquid form. 
   
   
       14 . The thermal management system of  claim 9  wherein said HTF is provided to said driving nozzle in a substantially gaseous form and said driving nozzle of said fluid dynamic pump is a supersonic nozzle. 
   
   
       15 . The thermal management system of  claim 9  wherein said HEX is arranged to exchange heat between said HTF and a body selected from the group consisting of photovoltaic cell, thermal photovoltaic cell, solar panel, semiconductor laser diode, semiconductor electronic component, and a laser gain medium. 
   
   
       16 . A system for providing heat transfer fluid (HTF) to a heat exchanger (HEX), said system comprising:
 a supply tank adapted for supplying HTF under pressure;   a HEX having an inlet for receiving HTF and outlet for discharging HTF; and   a fluid dynamic pump having a driving nozzle fluidly connected to said supply tank and adapted to receive HTF therefrom, a suction port fluidly connected to said outlet port of said heat exchanger, and a discharge port fluidly connected to said inlet port of said HEX.   
   
   
       17 . The thermal management system of  claim 16  further comprising a means for releasing excess HTF through a flow-impeding element (FIE), said means fluidly connected to said outlet of said HEX. 
   
   
       18 . The thermal management system of  claim 16  further comprising a means for chilling said HTF provided by said supply tank before it is fed to said driving nozzle. 
   
   
       19 . The thermal management system of  claim 17  wherein said means for chilling said HTF is selected from the group consisting of a vortex tube, turboexpander, a second heat exchanger, and phase change material. 
   
   
       20 . The thermal management system of  claim 16  further comprising a receiving tank fluidly connected to said outlet of said HEX and adapted for receiving excess HTF therefrom. 
   
   
       21 . The thermal management system of  claim 20  wherein said released HTF is flowing to said receiving tank through a flow-impeding element. 
   
   
       22 . A system for providing heat transfer fluid (HTF) to a heat exchanger (HEX), said system comprising:
 a pump adapted for supplying HTF under pressure;   a HEX having an inlet for receiving HTF and outlet for discharging HTF, said outlet being fluidly connected to the suction port of said pump; and   a fluid dynamic pump having a driving nozzle fluidly connected to said pump and arranged for receiving HTF therefrom, a suction port fluidly connected to said outlet port of said heat exchanger, and a discharge port fluidly connected to said inlet port of said heat exchanger.   
   
   
       23 . The thermal management system of  claim 22  further comprising a flow-impeding element installed in said fluid connection between said HEX outlet and said suction port of said pump; said flow-impeding element arranged to maintain the HTF pressure at said HEX outlet higher than the HTF pressure at said suction port of said pump. 
   
   
       24 . The thermal management system of  claim 22  further comprising a secondary heat exchanger installed between said pump and said driving nozzle, said secondary heat exchanger adapted for exchanging heat with the HTF prior to supplying to said driving nozzle. 
   
   
       25 . A system for recirculation of heat transfer fluid through a heat exchanger, said system comprising:
 (a) a source of heat transfer fluid arranged to provide heat transfer fluid under pressure;   (b) a heat exchanger having an inlet for receiving heat transfer fluid and outlet for discharging heat transfer fluid;   (c) a fluid dynamic pump having a driving nozzle fluidly connected to said source of heat transfer fluid, a suction port fluidly connected to said outlet port of said heat exchanger, and a discharge port fluidly connected to said inlet port of said heat exchanger; and   (d) a means for releasing a portion of heat transfer fluid from said outlet of said heat exchanger, said means arranged to maintain a predetermined back pressure at said outlet of said heat exchanger.   
   
   
       26 . A method for supplying heat transfer fluid to a heat exchanger comprising the acts of:
 (a) presenting a source of heat transfer fluid;   (b) presenting a heat exchanger having an inlet for receiving heat transfer fluid and outlet for discharging heat transfer fluid;   (c) presenting a fluid dynamic pump having a driving nozzle fluidly connected to said source of heat transfer fluid, a suction port fluidly connected to said outlet port of said heat exchanger, and a discharge port fluidly connected to said inlet port of said heat exchanger;   (d) presenting a means for releasing heat transfer fluid from said outlet of said heat exchanger;   (e) feeding heat transfer fluid under pressure into said driving nozzle to produce a pumping action in said fluid dynamic pump;   (f) admitting heat transfer fluid into said suction port;   (g) pumping said heat transfer fluid with said fluid dynamic pump;   (h) feeding heat transfer fluid from said discharge port to said inlet port of said heat exchanger;   (i) exchanging heat between said heat transfer fluid and said heat exchanger;   (j) flowing said heat transfer fluid from said heat exchanger through said outlet port; and   (k) feeding a portion of said heat transfer fluid flowing from said heat exchanger through said outlet port into said suction port of said fluid dynamic pump.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  further including the act of releasing excess heat transfer fluid through a flow impeding device. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26  further including the act of controlling the temperature of said heat transfer fluid flowing from said heat exchanger through said outlet port by adjusting the pressure of said heat transfer fluid at said outlet of said heat exchanger. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26  further including the act of controlling the temperature of said heat transfer fluid flowing from said heat exchanger through said outlet port by adjusting the pressure of said heat transfer fluid fed to said driving nozzle. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26  further including the act of controlling the temperature of said heat transfer fluid flowing from said heat exchanger through said outlet port by adjusting the temperature of said heat transfer fluid fed to said driving nozzle. 
   
   
       31 . A method for supplying heat transfer fluid to a heat exchanger comprising the acts of:
 (a) presenting a source of heat transfer fluid;   (b) presenting a heat exchanger having an inlet for receiving heat transfer fluid and outlet for discharging heat transfer fluid;   (c) presenting a fluid dynamic pump having a driving nozzle fluidly connected to said source of heat transfer fluid, a suction port fluidly connected to said outlet port of said heat exchanger, and a discharge port fluidly connected to said inlet port of said heat exchanger;   (d) presenting a means for releasing heat transfer fluid from said outlet of said heat exchanger;   (e) feeding heat transfer fluid under pressure into said driving nozzle to produce a pumping action in said fluid dynamic pump;   (f) admitting heat transfer fluid into said suction port;   (g) pumping said heat transfer fluid with said fluid dynamic pump;   (h) feeding heat transfer fluid from said discharge port to said inlet port of said heat exchanger;   (i) exchanging heat between said heat transfer fluid and said heat exchanger;   (j) evaporating a portion of said heat transfer fluid;   (k) flowing a mixture of liquid and vapor of said heat transfer fluid from said heat exchanger through said outlet port;   (l) separating said mixture of liquid and vapor of said heat transfer fluid into a portion containing substantially liquid and another portion containing substantially vapor; and   (m) feeding said portion of said heat transfer fluid containing substantially liquid into said suction port of said fluid dynamic pump.