Cooling charge determination for a local thermal management system
US10955151B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 25, 2019 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/14
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for estimating the state of charge, i.e., the amount of cooling remaining, in a latent heat thermal storage module of a local environmental control system. The local environmental control system stores cooling energy at night by freezing a latent heat phase change material (PCM), and then releasing the stored cooling energy by removing heat from room air flowing through the PCM during the day. Differential temperature sensors are used measure the air temperature drop across the latent thermals storage unit and the fan voltage, which is directly related to fan air flow rate, is sampled. A controller is programmed to determine the charging state from these measurements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.