Temperature control system and method TDSF plus
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25B-049/02
F25B-041/04
F25B-041/06
출원번호
US-0181753
(2011-07-13)
등록번호
US-9360243
(2016-06-07)
발명자
/ 주소
Cowans, Kenneth W.
Cowans, William W.
Zubillaga, Glenn
출원인 / 주소
B/E Aerospace, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Fulwider Patton LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
10
초록▼
Versatile temperature control systems adaptable to many different applications employ different states and proportions of a pressurized dual phase medium in direct contact with a thermal load. In one aspect of the invention, thermal energy generated by pressurization of a gaseous medium is stored at
Versatile temperature control systems adaptable to many different applications employ different states and proportions of a pressurized dual phase medium in direct contact with a thermal load. In one aspect of the invention, thermal energy generated by pressurization of a gaseous medium is stored at a selected temperature level so that it is later readily accessible. In addition, in accordance with the invention temperature control of a two-phase medium can be exercised across selectable dynamic ranges and with different resolutions. In accordance with such features, the control can be exerted by varying the input flow rate of a mixture applied to a thermal load, or by controlling the back pressure of the flow through the thermal load. In accordance with another feature of the invention, substantial energy conservation can be effected by employing an ambient temperature evaporator configuration between the thermal load and the input to the compressor. This variant also utilizes the two-phase characteristics of the medium. Moreover, the system can be configured compactly utilizing a thermal reservoir for retaining thermal energy for special purposes. In a food processing system for providing a frozen product, for example, the thermal reservoir can be accessed to utilize the refrigerant itself in different operating modes, such as rapid heating and system cleansing. In the food processing application, target temperatures can be set and maintained on a platen which is to receive food ingredients using energy flows at two different enthalpies, to enable rapid freezing or temperature elevation.
대표청구항▼
1. A control system employing a two-phase refrigerant output from a compressor to control the temperature of a thermal load in different modes so as to provide different selectable dynamic ranges and degrees of temperature resolution, the system comprising: a first control loop receiving the compres
1. A control system employing a two-phase refrigerant output from a compressor to control the temperature of a thermal load in different modes so as to provide different selectable dynamic ranges and degrees of temperature resolution, the system comprising: a first control loop receiving the compressor output and providing a variable temperature level output to the thermal load, the first control loop including flow circuits for mixing a variable proportion of the compressed output of the compressor with a cooled expanded derivative flow of the remainder of the compressed output to control the temperature of the thermal load;a second control loop receiving the output of the thermal load and including an additional flow circuit for alternatively controlling the temperature of the thermal load by regulating the back pressure presented by the thermal load;a controller responsive to mode commands for providing control signals to activate the first and second control loops and establish target temperatures therefore; anda third control loop responsive to the controller and coupled in the output of the thermal load, the third control loop including a thermo-expansion valve and a series-coupled ambient temperature evaporator in circuit therewith and providing an ambient temperature level flow to the compressor input, wherein the thermo-expansion valve is responsive to the temperature at the compressor input. 2. A system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the first control loop includes a first proportional valve and a condenser and thermo-expansion valve in series, wherein the second control loop includes a second proportional valve, the first and second proportional valves being responsive to the controller, and further wherein the controller is coupled to selectively individually activate the first and second control loops. 3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the system includes switchable pathways for the refrigerant flow from the thermal load, the switchable pathways including a first flow switching device responsive to the controller for selectively coupling the thermal load output to the thermo-expansion valve, and a second flow switching device disposed responsive to the controller and coupling the thermo-expansion valve output to the ambient temperature evaporator. 4. A system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the flow circuit in the first control loop includes a pulse duration modulation actuatable flow control device responsive to the controller for varying the proportion of the compressed output of the compressor input to the first control loop and thereby controlling the temperature of the thermal load. 5. A system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the first and second control loops are selected to provide different operating characteristics as to temperature range and resolution, with the first control loop providing greater range and the second control loop providing better resolution. 6. A system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the controller provides control signals to operate both the first and second control loops concurrently in cooperative mode. 7. A system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the first and second control loops include first and second proportional valves, respectively each responsive to separate control signals from the controller. 8. A temperature control system using a two-phase refrigerant in direct thermal interchange relation with a thermal load and comprising: a compressor receiving a two-phase refrigerant which has predetermined pressure-temperature transitions between pure gas, intermediate gas and liquid mixture and pure liquid phases, the compressor providing the refrigerant as a pressurized gas output at an elevated temperature;a thermal capacitor having at least two internal thermal exchange passageways dispensing within an internal volume of fluid that remains liquid within the operating temperature range, a first of the passageways receiving the elevated temperature output from the compressor such that the internal volume of fluid is with time elevated in temperature to the stable level at which the refrigerant output received in the first passageway is in pure hot gas phase;a temperature control system receiving the hot gas output from the first passageway of the thermal capacitor and including a direct thermal transfer combination including first and second branch circuits for respectively generating, from the hot gas output, a primarily adjusted pressurized hot gas flow and a derivatively controllable condensed and expanded flow of the remainder, and including a combining circuit receiving the flows from the twobranch circuits for application to the thermal load, the temperature control system further including a controller for adjusting the combined flow by varying the hot gas flow, thus derivatively varying the cooled and expanded flow, such that the recombined flow is at a selectable temperature level;a thermal load receiving the combined flow at the selected temperature and providing a thermal load output for recycling the refrigerant; anda flow switching system receiving the thermal load output and responsive to the controller for alternatively directing the thermal load output to (a) the compressor for recycling or (b) to the second of the passageways in the thermal capacitor in reverse direction to the flow in the first of the passageways before recycling to the compressor input. 9. A temperature control system as set forth in claim 8 above, wherein the system further includes a countercurrent heat exchanger receiving, in one countercurrent path, the flow from the derivatively controllable cooled and expanded flow, and in the other countercurrent path, the output from the thermal load for return to the compressor input, and further includes a pressure dropping valve in the flow path of the condensed expanded flow before combination of the two branch circuits. 10. A temperature control system as set forth in claim 8 above, wherein the thermal capacitor further includes an internal heater responsive to the controller for raising the temperature of the volume of fluid. 11. In a system using a refrigerant in direct contact with a thermal load to maintain the thermal load at a selectable temperature within a predetermined range, the refrigerant having both gaseous and mixed gas and liquid phases, with known temperature/pressure transitions therebetween, the combination, including a refrigerant compressor and a control system providing first and second control signals, for controlling the temperature of the thermal load with the refrigerant comprising: a first control loop coupling flow of the refrigerant received from the compressor output into separate branch paths, in a first of the separate branch paths compressed hot gas flow is variable in response to a first control signal, and the second of the separate branch paths receives the differential in flow from the received flow and comprises serial condenser means and subsequent expander means for condensing and thereafter cooling by expanding the differential flow, the first control loop also including a mixer for combining the compressed hot gas flow and cooled expanded differential flow for transfer through the thermal load to the compressor; anda second control loop coupling the output of the thermal load to the input of the compressor, said second control loop comprising a controllable proportioning valve receiving the output from the thermal load and responsive to a second control signal to vary the back pressure of flow through the thermal load, and thus the temperature of the thermal load; anda control system responsive to the temperature of the thermal load for controlling the temperature of the mixed flow through the thermal load by varying the temperature of the thermal load by applying a first or second control signal to a selected individual one of the control loops while maintaining the status of the other control loop substantially constant;wherein the control system operates the control loops in distinct separate modes spaced apart by a dead band, and wherein the first control loop includes in series an externally equalized thermo-expansion valve, one side of a counterflow heat exchanger having one side coupled to receive flow from the thermo-expansion valve, and a pressure dropping valve before the thermal load, and wherein the output flow from the thermal load is directed through the second side of the counterflow heat exchanger. 12. A system as set forth in claim 11 above, wherein the control system controls the temperature of the thermal load within a relatively broad temperature range by directly varying the hot gas flow in the first control loop and concurrently maintaining the controllable proportioning valve in the second control loop substantially constant, and alternatively managing the flow in the first control loop substantially constant while varying the flow through the controllable proportioning valve in the second control loop to adjust the thermal load pressure and thereby its temperature within a relatively narrow temperature range. 13. In a temperature control system for maintaining a thermal load at a selectable temperature within a range of temperatures, a combination using a refrigerant having controllable two-phase properties within predetermined temperature and pressure spans for operating in either of two control modes of different ranges, comprising: a compressor having an input receiving the refrigerant and providing a hot gas output for processing and delivery to the thermal load, with subsequent return to the compressor input;a controller responsive to the temperature of the thermal load for providing (a) temperature control signals (b) to control the temperature of the thermal load by varying the temperature of refrigerant delivered to the thermal load and (c) control of the temperature of the thermal load by varying the back pressure of refrigerant received in the thermal load;a first, direct flow, refrigerant control system receiving the compressor output and providing, in response to first temperature control signals from the controller, a mixed flow refrigerant at selected pressure and temperature to the thermal load, the mixed flow comprising both a hot gas flow and a cooled expanded flow, the direct flow output being returned after passage through the thermal load to the compressor input; anda second, return flow, refrigerant control system receiving the output from the thermal load and second temperature control signals from the controller,said second, return flow, refrigerant control system, when activated by the controller, controlling the temperature at the thermal load by varying the back pressure against flow through the thermal load before return to the compressor input;wherein the controller in a first mode activates the first direct flow system while holding the second return flow control system at a first selected operating point, and in a second mode activates the return flow control system while holding the first direct flow control system at a second selected operating point, and wherein there is a selected dead band of operation between the operation points. 14. A temperature control system of the type employing a two-phase refrigerant in direct thermal interchange with a thermal load and configured to provide a variety of operating modes of thermal interchange with the thermal load, comprising: a compressor having an input receiving the refrigerant and providing a pressurized hot gas output;a controller responsive to operating temperatures in the system and providing commands for mode selection and temperature adjustment;a first mode thermal energy to temperature level conversion and control system receiving the refrigerant as hot gas output from the compressor and generating a variable temperature control mixture for the thermal load, said first mode control system comprising two flow branches for the hot gas from the compressor, a first flow branch comprising a signal controllable first proportional valve responsive to commands from the controller and adjusting the flow of hot gas, and the second flow branch receiving the differential in hot gas flow from the compressor and comprising condensation and serial expansion devices in series to provide a cooled two-phase flow, the first mode control system also including a pressure dropping valve receiving the output of the condensation-expansion series, and a junction mixing the controlled hot gas flow from the first branch with the differential flow from the second branch to provide a first temperature controlled input to the thermal load in the first control mode; anda second mode thermal energy to temperature level control system coupled to the output from the thermal load and providing return flow to the compressor input in response to commands from the controller, the second mode control system including a return proportional valve coupled between the output of the thermal load and the input to the compressor and responsive to second mode commands from the controller for varying the back pressure to flow at the thermal load and thereby the temperature of the thermal load in the second mode;wherein in the first mode the controller varies the flow through the first proportional valve to control the thermal load temperature while the return flow to the compressor input from the thermal load is substantially independent and wherein in the second mode the flow the temperature of the thermal load is adjusted by controlling the return proportional valve to vary the back pressure in flow from the thermal load to the compressor input and thereby the temperature of the thermal load; andwherein the system further comprises a thermal capacitor including a liquid heat sink and comprising at least first and second flow channels therein in heat exchange relation with the liquid in the heat sink, a first of the flow channels receiving the hot compressed output to heat the liquid sink, and providing hot compressed gas to the first and second flow branches, and a second of the flow channels receiving return flows from the thermal load output in response to commands from the controller and providing the return flows as accessible energy sources for the system. 15. A temperature control system of the type employing a two-phase refrigerant in direct thermal interchange with a thermal load and configured to provide a variety of operating modes of thermal interchange with the thermal load, comprising: a compressor having an input receiving the refrigerant and providing a pressurized hot gas output;a controller responsive to operating temperatures in the system and providing commands for mode selection and temperature adjustment;a first mode thermal energy to temperature level conversion and control system receiving the refrigerant as hot gas output from the compressor and generating a variable temperature control mixture for the thermal load, said first mode control system comprising two flow branches for the hot gas from the compressor, a first flow branch comprising a signal controllable first proportional valve responsive to commands from the controller and adjusting the flow of hot gas, and the second flow branch receiving the differential in hot gas flow from the compressor and comprising condensation and serial expansion devices in series to provide a cooled two-phase flow, the first mode control system also including a pressure dropping valve receiving the output of the condensation-expansion series, and a junction mixing the controlled hot gas flow from the first branch with the differential flow from the second branch to provide a first temperature controlled input to the thermal load in the first control mode; anda second mode thermal energy to temperature level control system coupled to the output from the thermal load and providing return flow to the compressor input in response to commands from the controller, the second mode control system including a return proportional valve coupled between the output of the thermal load and the input to the compressor and responsive to second mode commands from the controller for varying the back pressure to flow at the thermal load and thereby the temperature of the thermal load in the second mode;wherein in the first mode the controller varies the flow through the first proportional valve to control the thermal load temperature while the return flow to the compressor input from the thermal load is substantially independent and wherein in the second mode the flow the temperature of the thermal load is adjusted by controlling the return proportional valve to vary the back pressure in flow from the thermal load to the compressor input and thereby the temperature of the thermal load; andwherein the system further comprises a thermal capacitor including a liquid heat sink and comprising at least first and second flow channels therein in heat exchange relation with the liquid in the heat sink, a first of the flow channels receiving the hot compressed output to heat the liquid sink, and providing hot compressed gas to the first and second flow branches, and a second of the flow channels receiving return flows from the thermal load output in response to commands from the controller and providing the return flows as accessible energy sources for the system. 16. A system as set forth in claim 15 above, wherein the flow path between the output of the return thermo-expansion valve is coupled to bypass the thermal capacitor and includes an ambient temperature evaporator and controller responsive flow switching means coupled to direct the flow to the ambient temperature evaporator, said evaporator comprising a fluid cooled heat exchanger disposed in the path to the compressor input and acting as a heat pump on flow returned to the compressor. 17. A system as set forth in claim 16 above, wherein the system further includes a two-way valve having an input coupled to the output of the thermal load, one output of the two-way valve being coupled to the reverse input of the countercurrent heat exchanger and the second output being coupled to the return thermo-expansion valve, and wherein the system further includes a sensor bulb inoperative relation to the path between the thermal capacitor and the compressor input and controlling the return thermo-expansion valve. 18. A system set forth in claim 17 above, wherein the thermal load includes exterior heat exchanger elements and the system also includes a separate container for storing fluid at controlled temperature related to the temperature then maintained in the thermal load, and air flow circuits interchanging thermal energy with the exterior heat exchanger elements at the thermal load, the air flow circuits including an air flow control and a temperature sensor responsive to the temperature of the separate container and responsive to the controller, for controlling of the temperature of the fluid in the separate container such that it has a temperature differentially above the temperature of the thermal load. 19. A system as set forth in claim 16 above, wherein said system further includes an open on rise in temperature (ORIT) valve in the coupling between the ambient temperature evaporator and the compressor input, wherein the thermal capacitor further comprises an internal electrical heater and a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature level of the thermal capacitor coupled to the controller, wherein the system further comprises a pressure sensor at the compressor input and the return path between the ORIT valve and the compressor input comprises a close on rise (COR) valve, and wherein the controller further receives pressure signals from the sensor at the compressor input and temperature signals from the sensor responsive to the temperature in the thermal capacitor.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (10)
Hoyt Earl E., Combination cap and material tooling device.
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