Active cooling assembly for sensor module

Abstract

An actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module is provided. The actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module includes a sensor unit comprising at least one of the nitrous oxide sensor and at least a portion of circuitry associated with the at least one nitrous oxide sensor. The actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module also includes an active cooling assembly thermally coupled to the sensor unit. The active cooling assembly includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. The active cooling assembly also includes a coolant path disposed between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet. The active cooling assembly is configured to control a temperature of the sensor unit based, at least in part, on a circulation of a coolant flow therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module comprising:
 a sensor unit comprising at least one nitrous oxide sensor and at least a portion of circuitry associated with the at least one nitrous oxide sensor; and   an active cooling assembly thermally coupled to the sensor unit, the active cooling assembly comprising:
 a coolant inlet; 
 a coolant outlet; and 
 a coolant path disposed between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, 
 wherein the active cooling assembly is configured to control a temperature of the sensor unit based, at least in part, on a circulation of a coolant flow therethrough. 
   
     
     
         2 . The actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module of  claim 1 , wherein the active cooling assembly includes a housing having a hollow configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module of  claim 1 , wherein the active cooling assembly is provided in conductive thermal contact with the sensor unit. 
     
     
         4 . The actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module of  claim 1 , wherein the active cooling assembly is disposed such that the coolant path is in conductive thermal contact with at least a portion of one face of the sensor unit. 
     
     
         5 . The actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module of  claim 1  further comprising one or more mounting legs extending from at least one of the sensor unit and the active cooling assembly, the one or more mounting legs configured to control conduction of heat from a mounting surface to the sensor unit. 
     
     
         6 . The actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant path has a serpentine configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an aftercooler in fluid communication with the active cooling assembly such that at least a portion of the coolant flow is received into the active cooling assembly therefrom. 
 
     
     
         8 . The actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module of  claim 1 , wherein the active cooling assembly is made of at least one of a metal and a polymer. 
     
     
         9 . An engine system comprising:
 an engine having an exhaust conduit;   a reductant injector coupled to the exhaust conduit;   a selective catalytic reduction module in fluid communication with the reductant injector, the selective catalytic reduction module positioned downstream of the reductant injector with respect to an exhaust gas flow; and   an actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module comprising:
 a sensor unit provided in association with the selective catalytic reduction module, the sensor unit comprising at least one nitrous oxide sensor and at least a portion of circuitry associated with the at least one nitrous oxide sensor; and 
 an active cooling assembly thermally coupled to the sensor unit, the active cooling assembly comprising:
 a coolant inlet; 
 a coolant outlet; and 
 a coolant path disposed between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, 
 wherein the active cooling assembly is configured to control a temperature of the sensor unit based, at least in part, on a circulation of a coolant flow therethrough. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The engine system of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor unit is disposed at an inlet of the selective catalytic reduction module. 
     
     
         11 . The engine system of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor unit is disposed at an outlet of the selective catalytic reduction module. 
     
     
         12 . The engine system of  claim 9 , wherein the coolant inlet is in fluid communication with an aftercooler associated with the engine system. 
     
     
         13 . The engine system of  claim 9 , wherein the coolant outlet is in fluid communication with an aftercooler associated with the engine system. 
     
     
         14 . The engine system of  claim 9 , wherein the actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module is mounted on the exhaust conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The engine system of  claim 14 , wherein the actively cooled nitrous oxide sensor module further includes one or more mounting legs extending from at least one of the sensor unit and the active cooling assembly, the one or more mounting legs configured to control conduction of heat from the exhaust conduit into the sensor unit. 
     
     
         16 . The engine system of  claim 9 , wherein the active cooling assembly is provided in conductive thermal contact with the sensor unit. 
     
     
         17 . The engine system of  claim 9 , wherein the active cooling assembly is disposed such that the coolant path is in conductive thermal contact with at least a portion of one face of the sensor unit. 
     
     
         18 . A method for cooling a nitrous oxide sensor, the method comprising:
 providing an active cooling assembly in association with a sensor unit for the nitrous oxide sensor;   receiving a coolant flow into a coolant inlet of the active cooling assembly from an aftercooler;   circulating the coolant flow through a coolant path of the active cooling assembly; and   controlling a temperature of the sensor unit based, at least in part, on the circulation of the coolant flow therethrough.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 discharging the coolant flow from the active cooling assembly. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 controlling conduction of heat from a mounting surface into the sensor unit by using one or more mounting legs.