Hybrid heat transfer system

Abstract

According to one aspect, a hybrid heat transfer system includes a first thermally conductive path configured to passively transfer heat between a load having a load temperature (T L ) and an ambient environment having an ambient temperature (T A ), and a second thermally conductive path configured to actively transfer heat between the load and the ambient environment, the second path comprising a heat pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hybrid heat transfer system, comprising:
 a first thermally conductive path configured to passively transfer heat between a load having a load temperature (T L ) and an ambient environment having an ambient temperature (T A ); and   a second thermally conductive path configured to actively transfer heat between the load and the ambient environment, the second path comprising a heat pump.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the heat pump is either in an activated state or a deactivated state; 
 when the heat pump is in the activated state, heat is actively transferred through the second thermally conductive path; and 
 when the heat pump is in the deactivated state, heat is not actively transferred through the second thermally conductive path. 
 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second paths comprises its own separate heat exchange component for transferring heat to or from the load. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 3  wherein each of the first and second paths comprises its own separate heat exchange component for transferring heat to or from the ambient environment. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second paths share a common heat exchange component for transferring heat to or from the load. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 5  wherein each of the first and second paths comprises its own separate heat exchange component for transferring heat to or from the ambient environment. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 6  wherein the first thermally conductive path comprises a thermal diode in series between the load and the ambient environment. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 6  wherein the second thermally conductive path includes a thermal diode in series between the load and the heat pump 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 6  wherein the second thermally conductive path includes a thermal capacitor in series between the load and the heat pump. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 6  wherein the second thermally conductive path includes a thermal diode and a thermal capacitor in series between the load and the heat pump. 
     
     
         11 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 10  wherein the first thermally conductive path includes a second heat pump. 
     
     
         12 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 5  wherein the first and second paths share the common heat exchange component for transferring heat to or from the ambient environment. 
     
     
         13 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 12  wherein the first thermally conductive path comprises a thermal diode in series between the load and the ambient environment. 
     
     
         14 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second paths share a common heat exchange component for transferring heat to or from the ambient environment. 
     
     
         15 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second paths comprises its own separate heat exchange component for transferring heat to or from the ambient environment. 
     
     
         16 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein the first thermally conductive path comprises a thermal diode in series between the load and the ambient environment. 
     
     
         17 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 16  wherein the thermal diode comprises a thermosiphon. 
     
     
         18 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein the second thermally conductive path includes a thermal diode in series between the load and the ambient environment. 
     
     
         19 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 18  wherein the thermal diode is in series between the load and the heat pump. 
     
     
         20 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein the second thermally conductive path includes a thermal capacitor in series between the load and the ambient environment. 
     
     
         21 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 20  wherein the thermal capacitor comprises a phase change material and/or a thermal mass. 
     
     
         22 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 1  wherein the second thermally conductive path includes a thermal diode, a thermal capacitor, and the heat pump in series between the load and the ambient environment. 
     
     
         23 . A hybrid heat transfer system, comprising:
 a thermally conductive path for transferring heat from a load having a load temperature (T L ) to an environment having an ambient temperature (T A ), the thermally conductive path comprising:
 a thermal capacitor having a storage temperature (TS); 
 a heat pump having an activated state, during which heat is actively transferred by the heat pump, and a deactivated state during which heat is not actively transferred by the heat pump; and 
 a thermal diode; 
   
       connected in series between the load and the ambient environment. 
     
     
         24 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 23  wherein the thermal capacitor comprises a phase change material and/or a thermal mass. 
     
     
         25 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 23 , wherein a first side of the thermal capacitor is in contact with the load, a first side of the heat pump is in contact with a second side of the thermal capacitor, a first side of the thermal diode is in contact with a second side of the heat pump, and a second side of the thermal diode transfers heat to the ambient environment. 
     
     
         26 . A hybrid heat transfer system, comprising:
 a first component for active heating and/or cooling of a load, an operation of the first component being controlled by at least one control input; and   a control system configured for controlling the operation of the first component via the at least one control input according an algorithm.   
     
     
         27 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 26  further comprising a second component for passive heating and/or cooling of the load. 
     
     
         28 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 26  wherein the control system comprises:
 at least one temperature sensor; and 
 a controller having hardware and configured to receive temperature information from the at least one temperature sensor, to process that information according to the algorithm to determine a desired operation of the first component, and to control the operation of the first component. 
 
     
     
         29 . The hybrid heat transfer system of  claim 28  wherein the controller controls the operation of the first component via activating and switching circuitry between the controller and the first component. 
     
     
         30 . A method for controlling a hybrid heat transfer system having a first thermally conductive path for passively transferring heat between a load having a load temperature (T L ) and an ambient environment having an ambient temperature (T A ) and having a second thermally conductive path for actively transferring heat between the load and the ambient environment where the second path includes a heat pump, the method comprising:
 monitoring values of T L  and T A ;   upon a determination that T L  is greater than a first threshold T LH :
 upon a determination that T A  is greater than or equal to T L , activating the heat pump such that heat is actively transferred from the load to the ambient environment via the second thermally conductive path; and 
 upon a determination that T A  is less than T L , deactivating the heat pump such that heat is not actively transferred from the load to the ambient environment via the second thermally conductive path; 
   upon a determination that T L  is less than a second threshold T LL :
 upon a determination that T A  is less than or equal to T L , activating the heat pump such that heat is actively transferred from the ambient environment to the load via the second path; and 
 upon a determination that T A  is greater than T L , deactivating the heat pump such that heat is not actively transferred from the ambient environment to the load via the second path; and 
   upon a determination that T LL ≦T L ≦T LH , making no change to the current operating state of the heat pump.