System and method of controlling fluid flow through a fluid cooled heat exchanger

Abstract

A vapor compression cooling system having a control unit adapted to receive working fluid pressure or temperature information to control a condenser cooling fluid control valve to minimize flow changes through the valve.

1 . A method of controlling a vapor compression cooling system comprising:
 operating a vapor compression cooling cycle comprising a condenser;   determining a pressure or temperature of a fluid leaving the condenser; and   changing a valve position in response to the pressure or temperature to control a flow of cooling fluid through the condenser.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of:
 changing the valve position using incremental valve repositions at discrete points in time.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the condenser is a paradenser. 
   
   
       4 . A vapor compression cooling system comprising:
 a vapor compression cooling cycle comprising a condenser and a working fluid;   a condenser cooling cycle comprising a fluid control valve adapted to vary a cooling fluid flow through the condenser;   a transducer associated with the condenser and adapted to transduce either pressure or temperature of the working fluid; and   a controller adapted to vary the position of the fluid control valve in response to the transduced pressure or temperature.   
   
   
       5 . The vapor compression cooling system of  claim 4  wherein the controller is adapted to vary the position of the fluid control valve using incremental valve repositions at discrete points in time in response to the transduced pressure or temperature. 
   
   
       6 . A method of controlling a vapor compression cooling system comprising:
 operating a vapor compression cooling cycle comprising one or more condensers;   determining a pressure or temperature of a fluid leaving the one or more condensers; and   changing the heat transfer area in response to the pressure or temperature.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the one or more condensers is one or more paradensers. 
   
   
       8 . A vapor compression cooling system comprising:
 a vapor compression cooling cycle comprising one or more condensers and a working fluid;   a condenser cooling cycle comprising a fluid control valve adapted to vary a cooling fluid flow through the one or more condensers;   a transducer associated with the condenser and adapted to transduce either pressure or temperature of the working fluid;   a system associated with the one or more condensers and adapted to direct cooling fluid flow through one or more condensers; and   a controller adapted to vary the fluid flow through the one or more condensers to change the heat transfer area.   
   
   
       9 . The vapor compression system of  claim 8  wherein the system is a manifold. 
   
   
       10 . A method of controlling a vapor compression cooling system comprising:
 operating a vapor compression cooling cycle comprising one or more condensers;   determining a pressure or temperature of a fluid leaving the one or more condensers;   changing a valve position in response to the pressure or temperature to control a flow of cooling fluid through the on or more condensers; and   changing the heat transfer area in response to the pressure or temperature.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the one or more condensers is one or more paradensers. 
   
   
       12 . A vapor compression cooling system comprising:
 a vapor compression cooling cycle comprising one or more condenser and a working fluid;   a condenser cooling cycle comprising a fluid control valve adapted to vary a cooling fluid flow through the one or more condenser;   a transducer associated with the one or more condenser sand adapted to transduce either pressure or temperature of the working fluid; and   a controller adapted to vary the position of the fluid control valve in response to the transduced pressure or temperature and/or vary the fluid flow through the one or more condensers to change the heat transfer area.