Cooling device boiling and condensing refrigerant

• US 6,026,891 A
• Filed: 06/10/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yukinori, Fujiyoshi, Koji, Maehara, Shigeru, Kadota, Shigeru, Kawaguchi, Kiyoshi, Kishita, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): ATKINSON, CHRISTOPHER MARK
• Application Number:
  US08/872,223
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 165/104.34, 165/299, 165/104.33, 165/300, 361/124
• US Class Current: 165/104.33
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0233 the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/126 consisting of zig-zag shaped fins F28F1/105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2215/04 Assemblies of fins having different features, e.g. with different fin densities
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2265/10 for preventing overheating, e.g. heat shields thermal insulation F28F2270/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/00 Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus control arrangements in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20609 Air circulating in closed loop within cabinets wherein heat is removed through air-to-liquid heat-exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/207 Thermal management, e.g. cabinet temperature control

Abstract

The cooling device of the present invention includes a casing divided into a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage by a fluid separation plate; a heat exchanger disposed to pass through the fluid separation plate, for receiving heat from high-temperature air flowing in the first fluid passage and for radiating the heat to the outside air flowing in the second fluid passage; an inside fan for blowing the high temperature air in the first fluid passage; an outside fan for blowing the outside air to the second fluid passage; and a thermistor for sensing a temperature of the high temperature air flowing in the first fluid passage. A rotational speed of each of the fans of the inside fan and the outside fan is variably controlled in response to a temperature detected by the thermistor with the controller. In this way, it is possible to cooling an interior of a closed box and to reduce the consumed electric power.

Claims

1. A cooling device boiling and condensing refrigerant, said cooling device comprising:

a casing having an interior;

a fluid separation plate for separating said interior into a closed space, a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage;

a heat exchanger disposed to pass through said fluid separation plate, for receiving heat from a first fluid flowing in said first fluid passage and radiating the heat into a second fluid flowing in said second fluid passage;

first fluid generating means for generating a flow of said first fluid in said first fluid passage;

second fluid generating means for generating a flow of said second fluid in said second fluid passage;

a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of said first fluid flowing in said first fluid passage;

a controller for variably controlling a fluid flow generating output of said first fluid generating means and a fluid flow generating output of said second fluid generating means in response to a temperature detected by said temperature sensor; and

a duct for distributing said first fluid discharged from said first fluid generating means through a plurality of openings to said closed space;

wherein said duct is movably disposed to change a ratio between an amount of said first fluid flowing through one of said openings and an amount of said first fluid flowing through another of said openings.

2. A cooling device according to claim 1, wherein said controller controls independently said first fluid generating means and said second fluid generating means.

3. A cooling device according to claim 1, wherein,

said first fluid generating means includes a first fan and a first motor for rotating said first fan;

and

said second fluid generating means includes a second fan and a second motor for rotating said second fan.

4. A cooling device according to claim 3, wherein said controller variably controls a rotational speed of said first motor and a rotational speed of said second motor.

5. A cooling device according to claim 4, wherein said controller variably controls in a stepwise manner a rotational speed of said first motor and a rotational speed of said second motor.

6. A cooling device according to claim 5, wherein,

when a rotational speed of said first motor and a rotational speed of said second motor are variably controlled in a stepwise manner in response to a temperature detected by said temperature sensor, said controller changes a threshold value for variable control respectively in cases when the temperature increases and when the temperature decreases.

7. A cooling device according to claim 1, wherein said controller determines an abnormal state of an operating condition and transmits an alarm signal indicative of the determined abnormal operating condition.

8. A cooling device according to claim 3, wherein said controller drives said first motor and said second motor in a rated output when a temperature detected by said temperature sensor exceeds the maximum temperature for determining an abnormal state.

9. A cooling device according to claim 3, wherein said controller drives said first motor and said second motor in a rated output when said controller itself is troubled.

10. A cooling device accommodated in a housing for forming a closed space therein, for cooling said closed spaced by performing a heat exchange between air in said closed space and air outside said housing, said cooling device comprising:

a casing for forming therein a first heat transfer space communicating with said closed space and a second heat transfer space communicating with an outside of said housing;

a first blower for blowing air circulating between said first heat transfer space and said closed space;

a duct for distributing said blown air from said first blower through a plurality of openings to said closed space, said duct being movably disposed to change a ratio between an amount of said blown air flowing through one of said openings and an amount of said blown air flowing through another of said openings;

a second blower for blowing air outside said housing into said second heat transfer space; and

a heat exchanger having a boiling portion and a condensing portion, said boiling portion receiving heat from air flowing through said first transfer space to boil refrigerant sealed in said heat exchanger, said condensing portion radiating heat of the refrigerant which has been boiled and gasified to the air flowing through said second heat transfer space to condense the refrigerant vapor;

wherein,

at least one of said first blower and said second blower has a fan case having an air path of a scroll shape therein,

said fan case includes an outer case having a box-shaped structure constructed by a wall surface of said casing and outer plates which form at least two parallel surfaces, and a side wall plate sandwiched between said two parallel surfaces to form said air path.

11. A cooling device according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of said side wall plates are disposed in said outer case to define said air path.

12. A cooling device according to claim 10, wherein,

said casing is formed with an air intake port for introducing the air outside said housing into said second heat transfer space,

said wall surface of said casing, which forms outer case with said outer plates, is formed with an air outlet port, and

said housing is formed with a first opening corresponding to said air intake port and a second opening corresponding to said air outlet port.

13. A cooling device according to claim 10, wherein,

one wall surface of said outer plates is constituted as a wall surface which forms said heat transfer space, and

said one wall surface is formed with an air intake port for intaking air from said heat transfer space.

14. A cooling device accommodated in a housing for forming a closed space therein, for cooling said closed space by performing a heat exchange between air in said closed space and air outside said housing, said cooling device comprising:

a first blower for blowing air circulating between said first heat transfer space and said closed space;

a second blower for blowing air outside said housing into said second heat transfer space; and

a heat exchanger having a boiling portion and a condensing portion, said boiling portion receiving heat from air flowing through said first transfer space to boil refrigerant sealed in said heat exchanger, said condensing portion radiating heat of the refrigerant which has been boiled and gasified to the air flowing through said second heat transfer space to condense the refrigerant vapor; and

a duct for distributing air discharged from said first blower to a plurality of areas in said closed space,

wherein said duct is movably disposed to change a ratio of each amount of air blown to said areas.

15. A cooling device according to claim 14, wherein said duct is disposed vertically movably relative to said casing.