Temperature control apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a temperature control apparatus having a new structure capable of enhancing efficiency by reducing evaporation of a thermal medium at a high temperature and extending a life span of a heat exchanger. In the temperature control apparatus according to the present invention, the reserve tank ( 40 ) in which the thermal medium is stored is separately provided from the circulation pipe ( 10 ) through which the high temperature thermal medium is circulated, and the thermal medium stored in the reserve tank ( 40 ) is cooled to the low temperature using the heat exchanger ( 70 ), and then when the temperature of the thermal medium passing through the circulation pipe ( 10 ) is increased to more than the preset temperature, the low temperature thermal medium stored in the reserve tank ( 40 ) is supplied to the circulation pipe ( 10 ) so that the low temperature thermal medium is mixed with the high temperature thermal medium, and thus the temperature of the thermal medium circulated through the circulation pipe ( 10 ) may be lowered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature control apparatus which is connected with equipment ( 1 ) to control temperature of the equipment ( 1 ), comprising:
 a circulation pipe ( 10 ) of which both ends are connected to the equipment ( 1 ) and in which a thermal medium is stored;   a circulation pump ( 20 ) disposed at a middle portion of the circulation pipe ( 10 ) to enable the thermal medium in the circulation pipe ( 10 ) to be circulated to the equipment ( 1 );   a heater ( 30 ) disposed at the middle portion of the circulation pipe ( 10 ) to heat the thermal medium circulated through the circulation pipe ( 10 );   a reserve tank ( 40 ) configured to store the thermal medium therein;   a subsidiary circulation pipe ( 51 ,  52 ) of which both ends are connected to the reserve tank ( 40 );   a subsidiary circulation pump ( 60 ) disposed at a middle portion of the subsidiary circulation pipe ( 51 ,  52 ) so that the thermal medium stored in the reserve tank ( 40 ) is circulated through the subsidiary circulation pipe ( 51 ,  52 );   a heat exchanger ( 70 ) disposed at the middle portion of the subsidiary circulation pipe ( 51 ,  52 ) to cool the thermal medium circulated through the subsidiary circulation pipe ( 51 ,  52 );   a supplement pipe ( 80 ) branched from the subsidiary circulation pipe ( 51 ,  52 ) and connected to the circulation pipe ( 10 );   an electronic control valve ( 90 ) provided at a connection portion of the subsidiary circulation pipe ( 51 ,  52 ) or the supplement pipe ( 80 ) so that the thermal medium circulated through the subsidiary circulation pipe ( 51 ,  52 ) is supplied to the circulation pipe ( 10 ) through the supplement pipe ( 80 );   a temperature sensor ( 100 ) disposed at the middle portion of the circulation pipe ( 10 ) to measure a temperature of the thermal medium circulated through the circulation pipe ( 10 ); and   a control unit ( 110 ) configured to receive a signal of the temperature sensor ( 100 ) and control an operation of the electronic control valve ( 90 ),   wherein the heat exchanger ( 70 ) cools the thermal medium circulated through the subsidiary circulation pipe ( 51 ,  52 ) to a lower temperature than the thermal medium circulated through the circulation pipe ( 10 ), and when the temperature of the thermal medium circulated through the circulation pipe ( 10 ) is increased to more than the preset temperature, the control unit ( 110 ) controls the electronic control valve ( 90 ) so that the low temperature thermal medium circulated through the subsidiary circulation pipe ( 51 ,  52 ) is supplied to the circulation pipe  10  through the supplement pipe ( 80 ), and the temperature of the thermal medium circulated through the circulation pipe  10  is lowered to the preset temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a connection pipe ( 41 ) configured to connect the circulation pipe ( 10 ) with the reserve tank ( 40 ),
 wherein the connection pipe ( 41 ) is connected to the circulation pipe ( 10 ) which is located at a front side of a position connected with the circulation pump ( 20 ), and the supplement pipe ( 80 ) is connected to the circulation pipe ( 10 ) between a position connecting the circulation pump ( 20 ) and the heater ( 30 ) and a position connected with the connection pipe ( 41 ).