Cooling system and method for cooling a heat producing system
First Claim
1. A cooling system for cooling a plurality of heat producing systems, the cooling system comprising:
- a heat exchanger including first and second cooling zones, the first cooling zone including a first inlet for receiving a first temperature control fluid from a first of the heat producing systems and a first outlet for returning the first temperature control fluid to the first heat producing system, the second cooling zone including a second inlet for receiving a second temperature control fluid from a second of the heat producing systems and a second outlet for returning the second temperature control fluid to the second heat producing system;
a first fan assembly disposed proximate the first zone and including a first fan operable to move air across the first zone substantially independently of air moving across any other zone of the heat exchanger, thereby facilitating cooling of the first temperature control fluid as it passes through the first zone;
a second fan assembly disposed proximate the second zone and including a second fan independently operable from the first fan to move air across the second zone substantially independently of air moving across any other zone of the heat exchanger, thereby facilitating cooling of the second temperature control fluid as it passes through the second zone;
a first shroud disposed proximate the first fan and configured to direct the air moved by the first fan through the heat exchanger, and further configured to inhibit mixing of the air moved by the first and second fans;
a second shroud disposed proximate the second fan and configured to direct the air moved by the second fan through the heat exchanger, at least one of the shrouds including a heat conductive material; and
a control system for controlling operation of the first and second fans and including a controller attached to a portion of the heat conductive material for dissipating heat from the controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cooling system for cooling a plurality of heat producing systems includes a heat exchanger having a plurality of cooling zones, each of which has a respective inlet and outlet for facilitating flow of a respective temperature control fluid therethrough. Each of the respective temperature control fluids facilitates temperature control of a respective heat producing system. A plurality of fans cool the temperature control fluids flowing through the heat exchanger, and a fan or fans are disposed proximate each zone of the heat exchanger to provide air flow substantially independently from the air flow over the other cooling zones.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A cooling system for cooling a plurality of heat producing systems, the cooling system comprising:
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a heat exchanger including first and second cooling zones, the first cooling zone including a first inlet for receiving a first temperature control fluid from a first of the heat producing systems and a first outlet for returning the first temperature control fluid to the first heat producing system, the second cooling zone including a second inlet for receiving a second temperature control fluid from a second of the heat producing systems and a second outlet for returning the second temperature control fluid to the second heat producing system; a first fan assembly disposed proximate the first zone and including a first fan operable to move air across the first zone substantially independently of air moving across any other zone of the heat exchanger, thereby facilitating cooling of the first temperature control fluid as it passes through the first zone; a second fan assembly disposed proximate the second zone and including a second fan independently operable from the first fan to move air across the second zone substantially independently of air moving across any other zone of the heat exchanger, thereby facilitating cooling of the second temperature control fluid as it passes through the second zone; a first shroud disposed proximate the first fan and configured to direct the air moved by the first fan through the heat exchanger, and further configured to inhibit mixing of the air moved by the first and second fans; a second shroud disposed proximate the second fan and configured to direct the air moved by the second fan through the heat exchanger, at least one of the shrouds including a heat conductive material; and a control system for controlling operation of the first and second fans and including a controller attached to a portion of the heat conductive material for dissipating heat from the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A cooling system for a vehicle including a plurality of vehicle systems, the cooling system comprising:
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a heat exchanger including a plurality of cooling zones, each of the cooling zones having a respective inlet and outlet for facilitating the flow of a respective temperature control fluid therethrough, each of the respective temperature control fluids facilitating temperature control of a respective vehicle system, the heat exchanger being configured such that each of the temperature control fluids are separated from the other temperature control fluids; a plurality of fans for cooling the temperature control fluids flowing through the heat exchanger, at least one of the fans being disposed proximate each of the cooling zones for moving air across a respective cooling zone substantially independently of air moving across any of the other cooling zones, thereby facilitating independent temperature control for each cooling zone; a plurality of shrouds disposed proximate respective fans for directing, and inhibiting mixing of, the air moved by the respective fans; and a control system for controlling operation of the fans and including a controller, the controller being disposed on a portion of at least one of the shrouds in an air flow path of at least one of the fans, thereby being cooled by the air moved by the respective fan. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A cooling system for cooling a plurality of heat producing systems, the cooling system comprising:
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a heat exchanger including first and second cooling zones, the first cooling zone including a first inlet for receiving a first temperature control fluid from a first of the heat producing systems and a first outlet for returning the first temperature control fluid to the first heat producing system, the second cooling zone including a second inlet for receiving a second temperature control fluid from a second of the heat producing systems and a second outlet for returning the second temperature control fluid to the second heat producing system; a first fan assembly disposed proximate the first zone and including a first fan operable to move air across the first zone substantially independently of air moving across any other zone of the heat exchanger, thereby facilitating cooling of the first temperature control fluid as it passes through the first zone; and a second fan assembly disposed proximate the second zone and including a second fan independently operable from the first fan to move air across the second zone substantially independently of air moving across any other zone of the heat exchanger, thereby facilitating cooling of the second temperature control fluid as it passes through the second zone, and wherein the first and second fans are disposed on one side of the heat exchanger, and the first fan is configured to push air through the heat exchanger and the second fan is configured to pull air through the heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A cooling system for cooling a plurality of heat producing systems, the cooling system comprising:
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a heat exchanger including first and second cooling zones, the first cooling zone including a first inlet for receiving a first temperature control fluid from a first of the heat producing systems and a first outlet for returning the first temperature control fluid to the first heat producing system, the second cooling zone including a second inlet for receiving a second temperature control fluid from a second of the heat producing systems and a second outlet for returning the second temperature control fluid to the second heat producing system; a first fan assembly disposed proximate the first zone and including a first fan operable to move air across the first zone substantially independently of air moving across any other zone of the heat exchanger, thereby facilitating cooling of the first temperature control fluid as it passes through the first zone; a second fan assembly disposed proximate the second zone and including a second fan independently operable from the first fan to move air across the second zone substantially independently of air moving across any other zone of the heat exchanger, thereby facilitating cooling of the second temperature control fluid as it passes through the second zone; and a valve operable to allow selective mixing of the first and second temperature control fluids, thereby facilitating heat transfer between the first and second temperature control fluids. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification