System and method for thermal control of different heat loads from a single source of saturated fluids
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0726379
(2010-03-18)
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등록번호 |
US-8453468
(2013-06-04)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Cowans, Kenneth W.
- Cowans, William W.
- Zubillaga, Glenn
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
A system and method for controlling cooling of a thermal load having different cooling requirements in different sections based on direct thermal exchange using a two-phase refrigerant employs the pressure/temperature characteristics of the refrigerant to particular benefit for this multi-level cool
A system and method for controlling cooling of a thermal load having different cooling requirements in different sections based on direct thermal exchange using a two-phase refrigerant employs the pressure/temperature characteristics of the refrigerant to particular benefit for this multi-level cooling system. The two-phase refrigerant is first adjusted to have temperature/enthalpy characteristics chosen as the starting level for different cooling demands at related temperatures. After appropriate generation of a mixture of two-phase refrigerant initial reference temperature and pressure are established. Thereafter, incremental changes in the comprising hot gas and expanded cooled liquid/vapor, an temperature cooling medium area made by lowering the pressure by predetermined amounts, or alternatively by bypassing the pressure drop and proceeding to the next stage.
대표청구항
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1. A method of differentially controlling the temperatures of related but separate thermal loads from a single source of refrigerant in a mix of saturated liquid and vapor comprising the steps of: generating a first flow comprising a mixture of saturated vapor and liquid refrigerant at a chosen temp
1. A method of differentially controlling the temperatures of related but separate thermal loads from a single source of refrigerant in a mix of saturated liquid and vapor comprising the steps of: generating a first flow comprising a mixture of saturated vapor and liquid refrigerant at a chosen temperature and pressure;passing the generated flowing mixture of the first flow into at least two separate paths, each flowing to a different thermal load;adjusting the thermodynamic properties of the flows in the separate paths from the initially chosen temperature and pressure while maintaining the saturated vapor and liquid states in each of the paths; and,passing the thermodynamically adjusted flows in the separate paths in thermal exchange relation to the different but related chosen ones of the thermal loads. 2. The method as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the step of adjusting thermodynamic properties comprises differentially lowering the temperature and pressure of flow in at least one of the separate paths relative to the chosen temperature and pressure in another of the paths. 3. The method as set forth in claim 2 above, wherein the step of adjusting thermodynamic properties is effected by selectively lowering the pressure and thereby the temperature of an individual part of the flow, and the step of passing the thermodynamically adjusted flow is effected serially in the different thermal loads. 4. The method as set forth in claim 3 above, further including the step of selectively bypassing the lowering of pressure and of temperature of flow to at least one specific chosen thermal load, so that such load is not differentially cooled relative to a related thermal load receiving the flowing mixture. 5. The method as set forth in claim 4 above, where there are more than two related thermal loads each with thermal exchange demands within the capability of the initial chosen temperature and mixture, and wherein the steps of passing the flows in thermal exchange relation to the different thermal loads comprise selectively bypassing the pressure drop between two successive thermal loads of the more than two thermal loads while serially supplying flow to the different thermal loads. 6. A thermal energy exchange system employing a single source of controlled temperature refrigerant for individually controlling the temperatures of different but related thermal loads, and comprising: a thermal exchange system generating a controllably variable refrigerant output mix of liquid and saturated vapor that is controllable in pressure and temperature;a coolant distribution system adjacent and serially interactive with each of the different thermal loads being processed; anda refrigerant flow system coupling the output of the thermal exchange system to the coolant distribution system and including a coolant flow adjustment system for selectively lowering the pressure of individual flows to the different thermal loads to lower the temperatures of such flows within the capability of the refrigerant output mix to maintain a mix of liquid and saturated vapor at controlled temperatures for thermal exchange with each of the different thermal loads. 7. The system as set forth in claim 6 above, wherein the coolant flow adjustment system comprises at least two flow branches to the coolant distribution system, and the flow branches further comprise a pressure dropping valve in at least one of the branches to lower the temperature of the flow therein. 8. The system as set forth in claim 7 above, wherein the system also comprises a controller for sending command signals for control of individual flows in the branches of the flow adjustment system, and the coolant distribution system is coupled to flow coolant serially through the different thermal loads. 9. The system as set forth in claim 7 above, wherein the coolant distribution system further comprises a number of flow branches, and including a pressure dropping valve for introducing predetermined increments of temperature variation in the received flow, and also an individual bypass valve shunting the associated pressure dropping valve, both the pressure dropping valve and associated bypass valve in a set being controlled by the controller, such that cooling at different temperature levels can be effected from the single initial source. 10. The system as set forth in claim 9 above, wherein the system has more than two thermal loads to be cooled at different but related temperatures, and wherein the thermal exchange system has separate exchange areas for each thermal load, each including a separate differential pressure valve and a separate shunting valve pair, and the coolant flow is coupled serially through the different thermal loads via the paired valve sets. 11. A system for thermal control from a common source of refrigerant of more than one thermal load, the thermal loads being in proximity to each other and having different but related heat load requirements, the system using a combination providing direct transfer of thermal energy between the liquid and vapor phases of a two-phase refrigerant and different thermal loads, the system comprising: a heat exchange system having at least two different thermal load areas having different load temperature requirements;a temperature control system for the heat exchange system and employing direct control of the vapor and liquid phases of a saturated fluid refrigerant compressed from a gaseous state and divided into a pressurized flow of variable mass and a cooled expanded differential flow;a controller responsive to the cooling needs of the thermal loads for operating the temperature control system to provide a vapor/liquid mix of the mass flow and differential flow at an initial target temperature; anda thermal load temperature control combination receiving the initial target temperature flow output and including at least two thermal exchange flow controls thermally coupled in series to different portions of the thermal loads, said flow controls being responsive to control signals from the controller for providing refrigerant flow at the temperature level received to a first thermal load and at an incrementally lowered temperature level to a second thermal load resulting from a pressure drop. 12. The system as set forth in claim 11 above, wherein the system includes, for each coupling to a different portion of the thermal load, a differential pressure valve for dropping the pressure and therefore the temperature of refrigerant flowing therethrough, and a bypass valve coupled in parallel to the differential pressure valve and responsive to control signals from the controller for shunting flow from the coupled area of the thermal load to the next area of the thermal load. 13. The system as set forth in claim 11 above, wherein the heat exchange system comprises at least three areas of heat exchanger, and wherein the system further includes individual sets of differential pressure valves and parallel-coupled bypass valves each controlled by the controller, so as to provide a desired sequence of pressure and temperature drops in the refrigerant for the different areas of the heat exchanger.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
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Cowans,Kenneth W.; Cowans,William W.; Zubillaga,Glenn W.; Millan,Isaac, Thermal control system and method.
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Cowans,Kenneth W., Thermal control systems for process tools requiring operation over wide temperature ranges.
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