Systems and methods for thermal management through use of ammonium carbamate
First Claim
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1. An ammonium carbamate-based thermal management system comprising:
- a flow controller comprising a control unit, a coolant fluid for absorbing heat from a thermal load, a coolant fluid circulation pump, a flow valve, and at least one temperature sensor, wherein the coolant fluid circulation pump is fluidly coupled to the thermal load, and wherein the flow controller is configured to regulate a flow of the coolant fluid from the thermal load;
a primary heat exchanger coupled to the flow controller, wherein the primary heat exchanger comprises ammonium carbamate and a non-aqueous heat transfer fluid that is non-reactive with the ammonium carbamate, wherein the primary heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the coolant fluid to the heat transfer fluid and the ammonium carbamate, and wherein the ammonium carbamate endothermically decomposes into ammonia gas and carbon dioxide gas upon the transfer of heat from the coolant fluid;
a vacuum source coupled to the primary heat exchanger, wherein the vacuum source is configured to provide the primary heat exchanger with a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure; and
a pressure controller coupled to the primary heat exchanger and to the vacuum source, wherein the pressure controller is configured to maintain pressures lower than atmospheric pressure in the primary heat exchanger to remove the ammonia gas and the carbon dioxide gas from the primary heat exchanger, thereby regulating an overhead pressure within the ammonium carbamate-based thermal management system.
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Abstract
Ammonium carbamate-based methods and systems for management of thermal loads, particularly low-quality, high-flux thermal loads. The increase in temperature in heat sensitive devices is mitigated by the endothermic decomposition of ammonium carbamate into carbon dioxide and ammonia gases. This process has an energy density an order of magnitude greater than conventional thermal management materials and is particularly useful for temperatures between 20° C. and 100° C. Systems incorporating ammonium carbamate may be controlled by regulating the fluid flow, overhead pressure, temperature, or combinations thereof.
48 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An ammonium carbamate-based thermal management system comprising:
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a flow controller comprising a control unit, a coolant fluid for absorbing heat from a thermal load, a coolant fluid circulation pump, a flow valve, and at least one temperature sensor, wherein the coolant fluid circulation pump is fluidly coupled to the thermal load, and wherein the flow controller is configured to regulate a flow of the coolant fluid from the thermal load; a primary heat exchanger coupled to the flow controller, wherein the primary heat exchanger comprises ammonium carbamate and a non-aqueous heat transfer fluid that is non-reactive with the ammonium carbamate, wherein the primary heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the coolant fluid to the heat transfer fluid and the ammonium carbamate, and wherein the ammonium carbamate endothermically decomposes into ammonia gas and carbon dioxide gas upon the transfer of heat from the coolant fluid; a vacuum source coupled to the primary heat exchanger, wherein the vacuum source is configured to provide the primary heat exchanger with a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure; and a pressure controller coupled to the primary heat exchanger and to the vacuum source, wherein the pressure controller is configured to maintain pressures lower than atmospheric pressure in the primary heat exchanger to remove the ammonia gas and the carbon dioxide gas from the primary heat exchanger, thereby regulating an overhead pressure within the ammonium carbamate-based thermal management system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An ammonium carbamate-based thermal management system comprising:
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a thermal load selected from the group consisting of an electronic component, an avionic system, an antenna, a laser, a battery, and a fuel cell; an ammonium carbamate-based heat exchanger comprising ammonium carbamate and a non-aqueous heat transfer fluid, wherein heat absorbed into the heat transfer fluid causes an endothermic decomposition of ammonium carbamate into ammonia gas and carbon dioxide gas; a circulation loop comprising a coolant fluid and a coolant fluid circulation pump, wherein the circulation loop is fluidly coupled to the thermal load and the ammonium carbamate-based heat exchanger, and wherein the coolant fluid absorbs heat away from the thermal load and transfers heat to the ammonium carbamate-based heat exchanger; and a control system comprising a pressure controller coupled to the ammonium carbamate-based heat exchanger, wherein the pressure controller regulates pressure within the ammonium carbamate-based heat exchanger at a level less than atmospheric pressure, and facilitates transfer of the ammonia gas and carbon dioxide gas formed by the endothermic decomposition of ammonium carbamate out of the ammonium carbamate-based heat exchanger; a flow valve in the circulation loop to regulate a flow of the coolant fluid; and at least one temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the coolant fluid, wherein the control system is configured to control a rate of the endothermic decomposition of ammonium carbamate by controlling operation of the pressure controller, the flow valve, and/or the coolant fluid circulation pump.
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Specification