IP Library Granted Patent US 9,109,843
Granted Patent B1
US 9,109,843 · App. 12/826,625 · Granted Aug 18, 2015

Radiator systems

Inventor: Christine Schroeder Iacomini (Tucson, AZ)
Assignee: PARAGON SPACE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
F28D15/06F28D15/00F28D15/0266
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,109,843
App. No.
12/826,625
Granted
Aug 18, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

Radiator systems utilizing controlling features for shutdown and restart for varying heat load applications.

Claims (46)

1. A radiator system, related to reducing heat emissions while maintaining at least one fluid flow path, comprising:

a) at least one thermal loop structured and arranged to collect heat from at least one heat source and transport such collected heat, the at least one thermal loop including a thermal transport fluid to transport such collected heat;

b) at least one heat radiator structured and arranged to radiate, into an external environment, such collected heat transported by the at least one thermal loop;

c) at least one thermal connector structured and arranged to thermally connect the at least one thermal loop to the at least one heat radiator; and

d) a fluid flow control system configured to control a flow rate of the thermal transport fluid;

e) wherein, when the thermal transport fluid decreases in temperature, the thermal transport fluid becomes locally more viscous proximate the thermal connection with the at least one thermal loop and the at least one heat radiator;

f) wherein, when the thermal transport fluid becomes locally more viscous, the locally more viscous fluid becomes more thermally insulative and at least one fluid flow path through the at least one thermal loop is maintained based at least in part on the controlled flow rate of the thermal transport fluid; and

g) wherein thermal conduction from the at least one thermal loop is reduced as the at least one thermal transport fluid becomes locally more viscous.

2. The radiator system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one thermal loop further comprises at least one distributing thermal transfer tubing structured and arranged to distribute the at least one thermal loop across the at least one heat radiator to increase thermal transfer from the at least one thermal loop to the at least one heat radiator.

3. The radiator system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid flow control system comprises a flow rate controller, wherein the flow rate controller is configured to reduce the flow rate of the thermal transport fluid in response to the decreased temperature of the thermal transport fluid.

4. The radiator system according to claim 1 wherein the viscosity of the thermal transport fluid is inversely related to the flow rate of the thermal transport fluid through said at least one thermal loop.

5. The radiator system according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the thermal transport fluid becomes stagnant proximate the thermal connection with the at least one thermal loop and the at least one heat radiator.

6. The radiator system according to claim 5 wherein the fluid flow control system adjusts the flow rate of the thermal transport fluid to maintain at least a minimum flow of the thermal transport fluid through the at least one fluid flow path when the at least some of the thermal transport fluid becomes stagnant.

7. The radiator system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one thermal loop comprises at least two thermal transfer tubes, the at least two thermal transfer tubes structured and arranged to distribute the at least one thermal loop across the at least one heat radiator to increase thermal transfer from the at least one thermal loop to the at least one heat radiator.

8. The radiator system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one thermal loop traverses through at least one human-life-supporting enclosed environment.

9. The radiator system according to claim 1 wherein the thermal transport fluid comprises at least one perfluoropolyether.

10. The radiator system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid flow control system comprises a fluid pump capable of adjusting the flow rate of the thermal transport fluid.

11. A radiator system, related to reducing heat emissions while maintaining at least one fluid flow path, comprising:

a) at least one thermal loop structured and arranged to collect heat from at least one heat source and transport such collected heat, the at least one thermal loop including a thermal transport fluid to transport such collected heat;

b) at least one heat radiator structured and arranged to radiate, into an external environment, such collected heat transported by the at least one thermal loop;

c) at least one thermal connector structured and arranged to thermally connect the at least one thermal loop to the at least one heat radiator; and

d) a fluid flow control system configured to control a flow rate of the thermal transport fluid;

e) wherein the at least one thermal loop further comprises at least one distributing thermal transfer tubing structured and arranged to distribute the at least one thermal loop across said at least one heat radiator to increase thermal transfer from the at least one thermal loop to the at least one heat radiator;

f) wherein the at least one thermal transport fluid changes viscosity in the at least one distributing thermal transfer tubing due to changes in heat load of such collected heat;

g) wherein the viscosity of the thermal transport fluid is inversely related to the flow rate of the thermal transport fluid through the at least one thermal loop;

h) wherein, when the thermal transport fluid decreases in temperature, the thermal transport fluid becomes locally more viscous proximate the thermal connection with the at least thermal loop and the at least one heat radiator;

i) wherein, when the thermal transport fluid becomes locally more viscous, the locally more viscous fluid becomes more thermally insulative and at least one fluid flow path through said at least one thermal loop is maintained based at least in part on the controlled flow rate of the thermal transport fluid; and

wherein thermal conduction from the at least one thermal loop is reduced as the at least one transport fluid becomes locally more viscous.

12. The radiator system according to claim 11 wherein the at least one thermal loop traverses through at least one human-life-supporting enclosed environment.

13. The radiator system according to claim 11 wherein the thermal transport fluid means comprises at least an organo-flourine.

14. The radiator system according to claim 13 wherein the thermal transport fluid comprises perfluoropolyether.

15. A radiator system, related to reducing heat emissions while maintaining at least one fluid flow path, comprising:

a) thermal loop means for collecting heat from at least one heat source and transporting such collected heat, the thermal loop means including a thermal transport fluid means to transport such collected heat;

b) heat radiator means for radiating such collected heat transported by the thermal loop means into an external environment;

c) thermal connector means for thermally connecting said thermal loop means to the heat radiator means;

d) fluid flow control means for controlling a flow rate of the thermal transport fluid means;

e) wherein, when the thermal transport fluid means decreases in temperature, the thermal transport fluid means becomes locally more viscous proximate the thermal connection with the thermal loop means and the heat radiator means;

f) wherein, when the transport fluid means becomes locally more viscous, the locally more viscous fluid becomes more thermally insulative, wherein at least one fluid flow path through the thermal loop means is maintained based at least in part on the controlled flow rate of the thermal transport fluid means; and

g) wherein thermal conduction from the thermal loop means is reduced as the thermal transport fluid means becomes locally more viscous.

16. The radiator system according to claim 15 wherein the thermal loop means further comprises distributing thermal transfer means for distributing the thermal loop means across the heat radiator means to increase thermal transfer from the thermal loop means to the heat radiator means.

17. The radiator system according to claim 15 wherein the fluid flow control means comprises a flow rate controller means configured to reduce the flow rate of the thermal transport fluid means in response to the decreased temperature of the thermal transport fluid means.

18. The radiator system according to claim 15 wherein the viscosity of the thermal transport fluid means is inversely related to the flow rate of the thermal transport fluid means through the thermal loop means.

19. The radiator system according to claim 15 wherein at least some of the thermal transport fluid means becomes stagnant proximate the thermal connection with the thermal loop means and the at least one heat radiator means.

20. The radiator system according to claim 19 wherein the fluid flow control means adjusts the flow rate of the thermal transport fluid means to maintain at least a minimum flow of the thermal transport fluid means through the at least one fluid flow path when the at least the some of the thermal transport fluid becomes stagnant.

21. The radiator system according to claim 15 wherein the thermal loop means traverses through at least one human-life-supporting enclosed environment.

22. The radiator system according to claim 15 wherein the thermal transport fluid means comprises perfluoropolyether.

Assignments (3)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jun 8, 2012
From: PARAGON SPACE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
To: NASA
Reel/Frame 028399/0433 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2011
From: IACOMINI, CHRISTINE S.
To: PARAGON SPACE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025649/0236 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2010
From: IACOMINI, CHRISTINE
To: PARAGON SPACE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024763/0572 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 61221535 · Jun 29, 2009