Air separator for low flow rate cooling systems
First Claim
1. An improved low flow rate coolant system comprising:
- a heat exchanger;
at least one electric pump;
at least one component to be cooled;
a coolant reservoir;
piping interconnecting the heat exchanger, the at least one electric pump, the coolant reservoir, and the at least one heat generating component; and
a liquid coolant pumped by the at least one electric pump so as to flow, via the piping through the heat exchanger and remove heat from the at least one heat generating components, wherein said piping has an average piping cross-sectional area per unit length; and
an air separator connected to said piping, said air separator comprising;
a canister having a canister cross-sectional area per unit length, said canister comprising;
at least one coolant inlet connected to said at least one heat generating component via said piping;
a pump outlet connected to an inlet of said at least one electric pump via said piping; and
a coolant reservoir outlet connected to said coolant reservoir via said piping;
wherein said coolant reservoir is located gravitationally higher than said canister, and wherein said canister cross-sectional area per unit length is larger by a predetermined amount than said average piping cross-sectional area per unit length such that coolant in said canister has a dwell time thereinside which allows air bubbles in said coolant to migrate toward said coolant reservoir outlet and thereupon continue to migrate to said coolant reservoir.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air separator for low flow rate coolant systems which removes air from the liquid coolant thereof. The air separator is a closed canister having a bottom wall, a top wall at a gravitationally high location with respect to the bottom wall, and a sidewall sealingly therebetween. A coolant inlet is at the sidewall, a pump outlet is at the bottom wall and a coolant reservoir outlet is at the top wall. The coolant reservoir outlet is connected to a coolant reservoir gravitationally elevated with respect to the canister. A much larger cross-sectional area per unit length of the canister relative to the piping results in a coolant dwell time in the canister that encourages coolant air bubbles to migrate toward the coolant reservoir.
38 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An improved low flow rate coolant system comprising:
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a heat exchanger; at least one electric pump; at least one component to be cooled; a coolant reservoir; piping interconnecting the heat exchanger, the at least one electric pump, the coolant reservoir, and the at least one heat generating component; and
a liquid coolant pumped by the at least one electric pump so as to flow, via the piping through the heat exchanger and remove heat from the at least one heat generating components, wherein said piping has an average piping cross-sectional area per unit length; andan air separator connected to said piping, said air separator comprising; a canister having a canister cross-sectional area per unit length, said canister comprising; at least one coolant inlet connected to said at least one heat generating component via said piping; a pump outlet connected to an inlet of said at least one electric pump via said piping; and a coolant reservoir outlet connected to said coolant reservoir via said piping; wherein said coolant reservoir is located gravitationally higher than said canister, and wherein said canister cross-sectional area per unit length is larger by a predetermined amount than said average piping cross-sectional area per unit length such that coolant in said canister has a dwell time thereinside which allows air bubbles in said coolant to migrate toward said coolant reservoir outlet and thereupon continue to migrate to said coolant reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a low flow rate coolant system comprising a heat exchanger;
- at least one electric pump;
at least one component to be cooled;
a coolant reservoir;
piping interconnecting the heat exchanger, the at least one electric pump, the coolant reservoir, and the at least one heat generating component; and
a liquid coolant pumped by the at least one electric pump so as to flow, via the piping through the heat exchanger and remove heat from the at least one heat generating components, wherein the piping has an average piping cross-sectional area per unit length;
the improvement thereto comprising;an air separator connected to said piping, said air separator comprising; a canister having a canister cross-sectional area per unit length, said canister comprising; a top wall; a bottom wall disposed gravitationally lower than said top wall; a sidewall sealingly connected to each of said top and bottom walls; at least one coolant inlet connected to said sidewall substantially adjacent said top wall and connected to said at least one heat generating component via said piping; a pump outlet connected to said bottom wall and connected to an inlet of said at least one electric pump via said piping; and a coolant reservoir outlet connected to said top wall and connected to said coolant reservoir via said piping; wherein the coolant reservoir is located gravitationally higher than said canister, wherein said canister cross-sectional area per unit length is larger by a predetermined amount than said average piping cross-sectional area per unit length such that coolant in said canister has a dwell time thereinside which allows air bubbles in said coolant to migrate toward said coolant reservoir outlet and thereupon continue to migrate to said coolant reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- at least one electric pump;
Specification