Liquid valving condenser header

Abstract

A closed loop cooling system can include a first condenser having a first inlet to receive a cooling media for removing heat from a heat source, a second condenser having a second inlet to receive the cooling media, and a header for being plumbed between a heat source and the condensers. The second condenser can be plumbed in parallel with the first condenser. The header can receive the cooling media from the heat source and selectively distribute the cooling media to either or both of the condensers. The header can have a first outlet fluidically coupled to the first inlet and a second outlet fluidically coupled to the second inlet. The second outlet can be located on the header at a lower elevation than the first outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for extracting heat from a heat source with a cooling media, the system comprising:
 a first condenser having a first inlet configured to receive the cooling media;   a second condenser plumbed in parallel with the first condenser and having a second inlet configured to receive the cooling media; and   a header configured to be plumbed between the heat source and the condensers, the header having a first outlet configured to be fluidically coupled to the first inlet and a second outlet configured to be fluidically coupled to the second inlet, wherein the second outlet is located on the header at a lower elevation than the first outlet;   wherein the header is configured to receive the cooling media from the heat source and selectively distribute the cooling media to at least one of the first and second condensers.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a controller configured to control a liquid level in the header by controlling a fan of the second condenser, such that the second outlet is selectively covered with the cooling media in liquid form thereby selectively preventing vapor from exiting the second outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a controller configured to control a liquid level in the header by controlling a fan of the heat source, such that the second outlet is selectively covered with the cooling media in liquid form thereby selectively preventing vapor from exiting the second outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a controller configured to control a liquid level in the header by controlling a prime mover plumbed between the condensers and the heat source, such that the second outlet is selectively covered with the cooling media in liquid form thereby selectively preventing vapor from exiting the second outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the header comprises an angled pipe sloping downward from the first outlet to the second outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the header comprises a pipe having a first horizontal section, a second horizontal section, and an angled section between the first horizontal section and the second horizontal section; wherein the first outlet is in the first horizontal section and the second outlet is in the second horizontal section; and wherein the second horizontal section is located at a lower elevation than the first horizontal section. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the header comprises a pressure vessel having a header inlet at a higher elevation than the first outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the header comprises a pressure vessel having a liquid outlet at a lower elevation than the second outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid outlet is located in a removable tank at a bottom of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the tank is configured to be exchanged with a larger tank to lower a liquid level in the header. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the tank is configured to be exchanged with a smaller tank to raise a liquid level in the header. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the header comprises a pressure vessel having an internal cross sectional area that decreases with elevation within the header. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the header comprises a pressure vessel having an internal conical post with a larger lower diameter and a smaller higher diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the header comprises a pressure vessel having an internal helix with spacing that remains constant along a length of the helix or decreases as elevation decreases within the header. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the header is configured to prevent vapor from exiting the second outlet when the system is in a first cooling mode and to allow vapor to exit the second outlet when the system is in a second cooling mode; and wherein the second cooling mode provides a higher cooling rate than the first cooling mode. 
     
     
         16 . A system for extracting heat from a heat exchanger with a cooling media, the system comprising:
 a first condenser having a first inlet configured to receive the cooling media;   a second condenser plumbed in parallel with the first condenser and having a second inlet configured to receive the cooling media; and   a header configured to be plumbed between the heat exchanger and the condensers and having
 a header inlet configured to be fluidically coupled to the heat exchanger; 
 a first outlet configured to be fluidically coupled to the first inlet, wherein the first outlet is located on the header at a lower elevation than the header inlet; and 
 a second outlet configured to be fluidically coupled to the second inlet, wherein the second outlet is located on the header at a lower elevation than the first outlet; 
   wherein the header is configured to receive the cooling media from the heat exchanger, retain a portion of the cooling media therein in liquid form, and selectively distribute the cooling media to at least one of the first and second condensers.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further including a controller configured to control a liquid level in the header by controlling a fan of the second condenser, such that the second outlet is selectively covered with the cooling media in liquid form thereby selectively preventing vapor from exiting the second outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further including a controller configured to control a liquid level in the header by controlling a fan of the heat exchanger, such that the second outlet is selectively covered with the cooling media in liquid form thereby selectively preventing vapor from exiting the second outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , further including a controller configured to control a liquid level in the header by controlling a pump configured to pump the cooling media from the condensers to the heat exchanger, such that the second outlet is selectively covered with the cooling media in liquid form thereby selectively preventing vapor from exiting the second outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the header is configured to prevent vapor from exiting the second outlet when the system is in a first cooling mode and to allow vapor to exit the second outlet when the system is in a second cooling mode; and wherein the second cooling mode provides more cooling capacity than the first cooling mode.