US 12,264,601 B2
Two-phase thermal pump
Eugene Charles Jansen, Stafford, VA (US); and Jeffrey Wen-Yu Chen, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/112,915.
Application 18/112,915 is a continuation of application No. 16/611,932, granted, now 11,619,146, previously published as PCT/US2018/033543, filed on May 18, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/508,074, filed on May 18, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0203970 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. F01K 25/10 (2006.01); F01K 3/02 (2006.01); F01K 3/16 (2006.01); F01K 9/02 (2006.01); F01K 27/00 (2006.01); F17C 7/04 (2006.01)
CPC F01K 25/10 (2013.01) [F01K 3/02 (2013.01); F01K 3/16 (2013.01); F01K 9/02 (2013.01); F17C 7/04 (2013.01); F01K 27/00 (2013.01); F17C 2221/014 (2013.01); F17C 2223/0161 (2013.01); F17C 2250/0626 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermal system comprising:
a fluid storage tank configured to store a first cooling fluid in a liquid state and a gas state;
a first heat exchanger configured to release heat into the fluid storage tank;
a second heat exchanger arranged fluidly downstream of the fluid storage tank and configured to exchange heat between the first cooling fluid and a heat load; and
a pressure control device arranged fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger,
wherein the first cooling fluid that has been heated by the second heat exchanger passes through the first heat exchanger and thereby heats upstream first cooling fluid resident in the fluid storage tank,
wherein the pressure control device is fluidly connected to the second heat exchanger via a first line, and wherein a second line is fluidly connected to the first line between the pressure control device and the second heat exchanger and extending from the first line to the first heat exchanger so as to fluidly transport the first cooling fluid from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger, and
wherein a third line fluidly extends away from the pressure control device, and wherein a fourth line fluidly extends from the first heat exchanger and fluidly connects to the third line downstream of the pressure control device so as to enable the first heat exchanger to expel the first cooling fluid to a location downstream of the pressure control device, wherein the expelled first cooling fluid flows directly through the fourth line to the third line.