Large capacity heat sink

Abstract

A cooling system includes a first boiler defining a first flow path with a first thermal load. A second heat exchanger defines a second flow path with a second thermal load. A reservoir is configured to communicate a working fluid to at least one of the first boiler and second heat exchanger. A pump is configured to selectively exhaust the working fluid to an ambient environment. A method is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for cooling a thermal load, comprising:
 a reservoir configured to communicate a working fluid to a first boiler defining a first flow path, wherein the first boiler is configured to cool a first load;   a second heat exchanger defining a second flow path and configured to cool a second, different load; and   a first pump configured to selectively exhaust the working fluid from the first boiler to an ambient environment.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is communicated from the reservoir to the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second heat exchanger is a second boiler. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second flow path comprises a second pump positioned downstream of the second heat exchanger, configured to communicate the working fluid from the second flow path to the first flow path upstream of the first pump. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second cooling path is a closed loop vapor cycle system including a condenser configured to reject heat from the second cooling path to the first cooling path. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the condenser is arranged in series with the first boiler. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the condenser is arranged in parallel with the first boiler. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the vapor cycle system includes a refrigerant accumulator arranged between the condenser and an expansion valve. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid includes water. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising at least one flow control valve configured to meter flow between the reservoir and at least one of the first flow path and the second flow path. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a first cooling capacity of the first boiler is different than a second cooling capacity of the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first heat load is a high temperature heat source and the second heat load is a lower temperature heat source. 
     
     
         13 . A method of cooling a thermal load, comprising:
 providing a reservoir configured to communicate a working fluid to a boiler defining a first flow path and with a first cooling capacity, wherein the boiler is thermally coupled to a first load;   providing a heat exchanger defining a second flow path and with a second cooling capacity, wherein the heat exchanger is thermally coupled to a second load; and   selectively exhausting the working fluid to an ambient environment downstream from the boiler.   
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , the working fluid is communicated from the reservoir to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the second flow path is a closed loop vapor cycle system including a condenser configured to reject heat from the second cooling path to the first cooling path.