Thermal control unit for casting processes

Abstract

A thermal system for casting process includes a set of centralized infrastructure components. The centralized infrastructure components include a central fluid reservoir providing fluid to the entire system. A control system for the thermal system is configured to supply fluids to a plurality of fluid lines corresponding to a plurality of casting circuits at various temperatures. The control system generates fluids for a plurality of casting circuits at various temperatures by mixing a plurality of fluid sources at different ratios.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A casting system, the system comprising:
 a plurality of fluid sources, wherein individual fluid sources from the plurality are configured to provide a fluid at specified operating parameters, the specified operating parameters including at least a specified temperature; and   a plurality of casting circuits, wherein individual casting circuits in the plurality include an input fluid having a specified temperature parameter for fluid utilized in a casting process, wherein the input fluid corresponds to a mixing of the plurality of fluid sources.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluid sources include a central fluid reservoir supplying fluid corresponding to a first specified temperature and wherein the central fluid reservoirs provided fluid at least one additional fluid source of the plurality of fluid sources. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fluid sources comprising the first fluid source at a first specified temperature, a second fluid source at a second specified temperature, and a third fluid source at a third specified temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fluid sources includes a heat exchanger configured to generate fluid at the second specified temperature based on the first fluid source, wherein the second specified temperature is lower than the first specified temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fluid sources include a heater configured to generate fluid at the third specified temperature based on the first fluid source, wherein the third specified temperature is higher than the first specified temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of casting circuits include one or more fluid source outlet valves configured to control a mixing ratio of the plurality of fluid sources. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a return line configured to direct used fluid from the plurality of casting circuits to the central fluid reservoir, and an outlet valve configured to control attributes of fluid in the return line. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of feedback sensors to monitor attributes of fluids in one or more of the plurality of fluid sources and/or the plurality of fluid lines and provide feedback signals. 
     
     
         9 . A thermal management system, the system comprising:
 a set of shared thermal infrastructure equipment for use in casting processing, the set of shared thermal infrastructure equipment including a fluid reservoir providing fluid at a first specified temperature, a heat exchanger providing fluid at a second specified temperature, and a heater providing fluid at a third specified temperature; and   a plurality of casting circuits, wherein individual fluid lines supply to a die casting circuit, and at least one of the plurality of casting circuits has a specified temperature, and wherein the plurality of casting circuits are associated with a combination of a plurality of fluid lines, wherein individual fluid lines receive three fluid inputs corresponding to the fluid at the first specified temperature, the fluid at the second specified temperature, and the fluid at the third specified temperature, and wherein the individual fluid lines generate an output fluid corresponding to a combination of the fluids based on individual control parameters; and   a controller configured to specify the control parameters for the plurality of fluid lines.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller executes the control parameters for the plurality of fluid lines by controlling one or more valves configured to mix and direct the three fluid inputs according to a mixing ratio. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller determines the mixing ratio of the three fluid inputs based at least in part on input information corresponding to desirable operating parameters for the system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller monitors attributes of one or more of the three fluid inputs and the plurality of fluid lines, and makes adjustments to the control parameters based at least in part on the attributes. 
     
     
         13 . A controller for a thermal management system, the controller configured to:
 receive input information corresponding to one or more casting circuits, individual casting circuits corresponding to a fluid line, and individual fluid lines corresponding to a combination of a plurality of fluid sources;   receive feedback signals for individual fluid sources and individual fluid lines;   determine individual control parameters for the individual fluid lines based at least in part on the one or more inputs, the control parameters comprising at least a ratio of the plurality of fluid sources in the combination of the plurality of fluid sources.   
     
     
         14 . The controller of  claim 13 , wherein the input information comprises desirable operating temperatures for the one or more casting circuits, and wherein at least one of the plurality of casting circuits has a desired temperature different from that of the rest of the plurality of casting circuits. 
     
     
         15 . The controller of  claim 14 , wherein the feedback signals comprise temperature information for the individual fluid sources, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust temperatures of the individual fluid sources based at least in part on the temperature information for the fluid sources. 
     
     
         16 . The controller of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust temperatures of the individual fluid sources by controlling a pump, a heater, and/or a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The controller of  claim 13 , wherein the feedback signals comprise temperature information for the fluid lines, wherein the controller is configured to adjust temperatures of the individual fluid lines based at least in part on the temperature information for the fluid lines. 
     
     
         18 . The controller of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of fluid sources are combined by one or more fluid source outlet valves, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust temperatures of the individual fluid lines by controlling one or more fluid source outlet valves to adjust the ratio of the plurality of fluid sources in the combination of the plurality of fluid sources.