Phase change material cooling system for a vehicle
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a vehicle having a gas turbine engine for providing a motive force of the vehicle coupled to an outer surface of the vehicle in a first location;
a first pod coupled to the outer surface of the vehicle in a second location, the first pod having a body extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge, the body defining a cavity therein, wherein the first location of the gas turbine engine is different from the second location of the first pod;
a first work providing device positioned in the cavity of the first pod, the first work providing device configured to generate electrical power in response to a change in a pressure of a first compressed fluid generated by a compressor stage of the gas turbine engine;
a first thermal conditioning system powered by the first work providing device, the first thermal conditioning system including a thermal energy transfer system having a first working fluid and a phase transition material capable of transferring thermal energy with one or more components of the vehicle, wherein thermal energy is transferred between the first thermal energy transfer system and the phase transition material via the first working fluid;
a second thermal conditioning system powered by the first work providing device, the second thermal conditioning system including the phase transition material and a second thermal energy transfer system having a second working fluid configured to transfer thermal energy from the phase transition material;
an electrically driven device positioned in an interior of the vehicle, the electrically driven device having a heat-producing component which generates thermal energy, the heat-producing component being in thermal communication with the phase transition material; and
a third thermal energy transfer system having a third working fluid, the third thermal energy transfer system providing thermal communication between the phase transition material and the heat-producing component, wherein the third working fluid withdraws thermal energy from the heat-producing component and delivers the thermal energy to the phase transition material.
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Abstract
A system is disclosed one form of which is an aircraft that includes a pod capable of housing a work providing device. The pod can also include a thermal conditioning system and a power generation device that can be powered from the work providing device. The pod can provide thermal conditioning services and power services to a payload aboard the aircraft. In one non-limiting form the payload is a directed energy member that can be cooled using the thermal conditioning system and powered using the power generation device.
105 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle having a gas turbine engine for providing a motive force of the vehicle coupled to an outer surface of the vehicle in a first location; a first pod coupled to the outer surface of the vehicle in a second location, the first pod having a body extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge, the body defining a cavity therein, wherein the first location of the gas turbine engine is different from the second location of the first pod; a first work providing device positioned in the cavity of the first pod, the first work providing device configured to generate electrical power in response to a change in a pressure of a first compressed fluid generated by a compressor stage of the gas turbine engine; a first thermal conditioning system powered by the first work providing device, the first thermal conditioning system including a thermal energy transfer system having a first working fluid and a phase transition material capable of transferring thermal energy with one or more components of the vehicle, wherein thermal energy is transferred between the first thermal energy transfer system and the phase transition material via the first working fluid; a second thermal conditioning system powered by the first work providing device, the second thermal conditioning system including the phase transition material and a second thermal energy transfer system having a second working fluid configured to transfer thermal energy from the phase transition material; an electrically driven device positioned in an interior of the vehicle, the electrically driven device having a heat-producing component which generates thermal energy, the heat-producing component being in thermal communication with the phase transition material; and a third thermal energy transfer system having a third working fluid, the third thermal energy transfer system providing thermal communication between the phase transition material and the heat-producing component, wherein the third working fluid withdraws thermal energy from the heat-producing component and delivers the thermal energy to the phase transition material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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an aircraft including a body defining an interior compartment and one or more gas turbine engines to provide a motive force for the aircraft; a phase-change material positioned in the interior compartment of the aircraft, the phase-change material configured to transfer thermal energy between two or more components of the aircraft; a pod coupled to an outer surface of the aircraft, the pod having a body extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge, the body defining a cavity therein, the pod including an engine positioned in the cavity of the pod configured to generate electrical power in response to a change in a pressure of a fluid; a first thermal energy transfer system having a first working fluid configured to transfer thermal energy from the phase-change material; a second thermal energy transfer system having a second working fluid configured to transfer thermal energy from the phase-change material; a device positioned in the interior compartment of the aircraft; and a third thermal energy transfer system having a third working fluid configured to transfer thermal energy between the phase-change material and the device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification