Pumped loop driven vapor compression cooling system

Abstract

A cooling system is provided that combines a two-phase refrigerant pumped loop cooling circuit and a vapor compression loop circuit in a complete electronics cooling package for use in high ambient temperature applications. Specific applications may include, but are not limited to, power electronics converter and inverter drives, and hybrid electric vehicles. In hybrid electric vehicle applications, the primary pumped two-phase refrigerant cooling system is used for providing high-temperature cooling to the inverter drive. The secondary vapor compression system is used to provide low-temperature cooling to the battery module (i.e. such as Li-ion cells) or passenger compartment cooling, thereby eliminating the need for a special cooling solution for the battery module which requires lower temperature cooling.

1 . A cooling system comprising:
 a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit;   the first fluid circuit having a condenser, a pump, and a plurality of electronic heat sources thermally coupled to a plurality of cold plates;   the second fluid circuit having a compressor, an evaporator, and an expansion valve; and   a liquid to liquid heat exchanger positioned in the first and second fluid circuits such that a second fluid flowing through the second fluid circuit is cooled by a first fluid flowing through the first fluid circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first loop further comprises a liquid reservoir between the condenser and the pump. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cold plates of the first fluid circuit are fluidly connected in parallel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cold plates of the first fluid circuit are fluidly connected in series. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the liquid to liquid heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the first circuit in parallel with the plurality of cold plates. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the liquid to liquid heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the first circuit in series with the plurality of cold plates. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a source of hot ambient air is directed through the evaporator of the second fluid circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the source of hot ambient air is obtained from air surrounding the electronic heat sources. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a source of cool ambient air is directed through the condenser of the first fluid circuit. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the source of cool ambient air is obtained from a source of air outside the cooling system. 
     
     
         11 . An electric hybrid vehicle cooling system comprising:
 a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit;   the first fluid circuit having a condenser, a pump, and an inverter drive thermally coupled to a cold plate;   the second fluid circuit having a compressor, an evaporator, and an expansion valve, wherein the second fluid circuit provides cooling to a battery module of the vehicle; and   a liquid to liquid heat exchanger positioned in the first and second fluid circuits such that a second fluid flowing through the second fluid circuit is cooled by a first fluid flowing through the first fluid circuit.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first loop further comprises a liquid reservoir between the condenser and the pump. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a source of hot ambient air is directed through the evaporator of the second fluid circuit. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the source of hot ambient air is obtained from air surrounding the battery module. 
     
     
         15 . An electric hybrid vehicle cooling system comprising:
 a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit;   the first fluid circuit having a condenser, a pump, and an inverter drive thermally coupled to a cold plate;   the second fluid circuit having a compressor, an evaporator, and an expansion valve, wherein the second fluid circuit cools the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and   a liquid to liquid heat exchanger positioned in the first and second fluid circuits such that a second fluid flowing through the second fluid circuit is cooled by a first fluid flowing through the first fluid circuit.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first loop further comprises a liquid reservoir between the condenser and the pump. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a source of hot ambient air is directed through the evaporator of the second fluid circuit.