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A thermal management system for a vehicle includes a tank, a heat exchanger, a pump, and a valve located on a conduit. The heat exchanger is located downstream of the tank, the pump is located between the tank and the heat exchanger, and the valve is located downstream of the heat exchanger. The hea

A thermal management system for a vehicle includes a tank, a heat exchanger, a pump, and a valve located on a conduit. The heat exchanger is located downstream of the tank, the pump is located between the tank and the heat exchanger, and the valve is located downstream of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger places the coolant in a heat exchange relationship with a heat load from the vehicle such that the coolant vaporizes. The valve regulates pressure within the heat exchanger and controls exhaustion of the vaporized coolant from the vehicle. Water, used as a coolant, can be replenished in flight by condensing a portion of the heat exchanger exhaust or condensing water as part of the environmental control system function or by condensing a portion of the engine exhaust.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A thermal management system for a vehicle, the system comprising: a tank, on board the vehicle, for storing a coolant;a heat exchanger, located downstream of the tank on a first conduit, for placing the coolant in a heat exchange relationship with a heat load from the vehicle such that the coolan

1. A thermal management system for a vehicle, the system comprising: a tank, on board the vehicle, for storing a coolant;a heat exchanger, located downstream of the tank on a first conduit, for placing the coolant in a heat exchange relationship with a heat load from the vehicle such that the coolant vaporizes;a pump, located between the tank and the heat exchanger on the first conduit, for pumping the coolant from the tank to the heat exchanger;a first valve, located downstream of the heat exchanger on the first conduit, for regulating pressure within the heat exchanger and controlling exhaustion of at least a portion of the vaporized coolant from the vehicle;a compressor, located between the heat exchanger and the first valve on the first conduit, for reducing pressure within the heat exchanger;a condenser for placing a portion of the vaporized coolant in a heat exchange relationship with a cool load from the vehicle to produce condensed coolant;an expansion valve for expanding the condensed coolant for combination with the coolant being pumped from the tank to the heat exchanger;a second conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet fluidly connected to the first conduit downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of the first valve, and the outlet fluidly connected to the first conduit downstream of the pump and upstream of the heat exchanger; anda second valve, located on the second conduit between the inlet and the condenser, for regulating flow of vaporized coolant to the condenser;wherein the second valve is configured to be at least partially open when the vehicle is operating below peak heat load and is configured to be at least partially closed when the vehicle is operating at peak heat load. 2. The thermal management system of claim 1, further comprising: a drain connected to the tank for removing the coolant from the tank during periods of inactivity. 3. The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein the compressor is driven by a motor. 4. The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein the compressor is driven by a turbine. 5. The thermal management system of claim 1, and wherein the condenser is located on the second conduit; andwherein the expansion valve is located on the second conduit between the condenser and the outlet. 6. A method for managing heat for an electronics system onboard an aircraft, the method comprising: storing a liquid coolant in a tank on the aircraft;pumping the liquid coolant to a heat exchanger with a pump;vaporizing the liquid coolant into a gas coolant in the heat exchanger by absorbing a heat load from the electronics system;reducing pressure within the heat exchanger using a compressor;exhausting at least a portion of the gas coolant from the aircraft during a period of peak heat load;condensing a portion of the gas coolant into a high pressure liquid coolant during a period of less than peak heat load; andexpanding the high pressure liquid coolant for combination, at a location downstream of the pump and upstream of the heat exchanger, with the liquid coolant being pumped to the heat exchanger during a period of less than peak heat load. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: modulating the exhaust to acquire a desired temperature of vaporization within the heat exchanger. 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: draining the coolant from the tank during periods of inactivity. 9. The method of claim 6, further comprising: replenishing the liquid coolant on the aircraft by extracting water from an environmental control system, engine bleed air, or engine exhaust. 10. A thermal management system for an electronics system in an aircraft, the system comprising: a tank for storing water onboard the aircraft;a boiler for placing the water in a heat exchange relationship with a heat load from the electronics system such that the water vaporizes into steam;a pump for pumping the water from the tank to the boiler;a compressor for injecting air into the steam, thereby reducing pressure within the boiler;a backpressure valve for regulating pressure within the boiler and controlling exhaustion of at least a portion of the steam from the aircraft;a condenser for condensing a portion of the steam into high pressure water;an expansion valve for expanding the high pressure water for combination with the water being pumped from the tank to the boiler at a location downstream of the pump and upstream of the boiler; anda condenser shutoff valve for modulating steam entering the condenser;wherein the condenser shutoff valve is configured to be at least partially open when the vehicle is operating below peak heat load and is configured to be at least partially closed when the vehicle is operating at peak heat load. 11. The thermal management system of claim 10, further comprising: a drain connected to the tank for removing the water from the tank during periods of inactivity. 12. The thermal management system of claim 10, wherein the water is replenished by extracting water vapor from engine exhaust.