US12595937 - Thermal management apparatus
The patent describes a thermal management apparatus designed for vehicles, utilizing multiple phase change heat exchange units that absorb and remove heat from vehicle systems. A controller manages the cyclic operation of these units, ensuring efficient heat absorption during designated heating periods followed by longer cooling periods.
Claim 1
1 . A thermal management apparatus for use with a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of phase change heat exchange units thermally coupled with a vehicle system that requires thermal management, the plurality of phase change heat exchange units being operable to remove heat from the vehicle system, each of the phase change heat exchange units being configured to absorb heat during a heating period until its heat-absorbing capacity is exhausted, and then to re-cool during a cooling period during which heat is not directed to the phase change heat exchange unit, said cooling period being longer than said heating period; and a controller configured to cause a manifold operable under control of the controller to cyclically repeat the following steps: A) direct the heat from the vehicle system to a first of the phase change heat exchange units until the heat-absorbing capacity of the first phase change heat exchange unit is exhausted; B) direct the heat from the vehicle system to a next one of the phase change heat exchange units until the heat-absorbing capacity of the next one of the phase change heat exchange units is exhausted; and C) repeat step B) by directing the heat from the vehicle system to successive next ones of the phase change heat exchange units until the cooling period of the first phase change heat exchange unit has elapsed. a plurality of phase change heat exchange units thermally coupled with a vehicle system that requires thermal management, the plurality of phase change heat exchange units being operable to remove heat from the vehicle system, each of the phase change heat exchange units being configured to absorb heat during a heating period until its heat-absorbing capacity is exhausted, and then to re-cool during a cooling period during which heat is not directed to the phase change heat exchange unit, said cooling period being longer than said heating period; and a controller configured to cause a manifold operable under control of the controller to cyclically repeat the following steps: A) direct the heat from the vehicle system to a first of the phase change heat exchange units until the heat-absorbing capacity of the first phase change heat exchange unit is exhausted; B) direct the heat from the vehicle system to a next one of the phase change heat exchange units until the heat-absorbing capacity of the next one of the phase change heat exchange units is exhausted; and C) repeat step B) by directing the heat from the vehicle system to successive next ones of the phase change heat exchange units until the cooling period of the first phase change heat exchange unit has elapsed. A) direct the heat from the vehicle system to a first of the phase change heat exchange units until the heat-absorbing capacity of the first phase change heat exchange unit is exhausted; B) direct the heat from the vehicle system to a next one of the phase change heat exchange units until the heat-absorbing capacity of the next one of the phase change heat exchange units is exhausted; and C) repeat step B) by directing the heat from the vehicle system to successive next ones of the phase change heat exchange units until the cooling period of the first phase change heat exchange unit has elapsed.
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