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Title: Passive and compact liquid metal heat switch

Abstract

A passive heat switch device is disclosed that includes a casing defining a closed channel, as well as a passive thermal actuator and liquid slug positioned inside the closed channel. The closed channel includes a heat conducting region made of a heat conducting material and an insulating region made of an insulating material. The passive thermal actuator is thermally coupled to the heat conducting material of the heat conducting region and extends into the insulating region of the closed channel. The passive thermal actuator deforms when an actuator temperature falls within a switching temperature range. The liquid slug is positioned within the closed channel and contacts at least a portion of the passive thermal actuator and the closed channel and is configured to move along the closed channel between the insulating region and the thermally conductive region in response to deformation of the passive thermal actuator.

Inventors:
; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
OSTI Identifier:
1987119
Patent Number(s):
11578929
Application Number:
17/374,916
Assignee:
Washington University (St. Louis, MO)
DOE Contract Number:  
80NSSC20K0072
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 07/13/2021
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats

Weisensee, Patricia, Abolghasemibizaki, Mehran, and Li, Junhui. Passive and compact liquid metal heat switch. United States: N. p., 2023. Web.
Weisensee, Patricia, Abolghasemibizaki, Mehran, & Li, Junhui. Passive and compact liquid metal heat switch. United States.
Weisensee, Patricia, Abolghasemibizaki, Mehran, and Li, Junhui. Tue . "Passive and compact liquid metal heat switch". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1987119.
@article{osti_1987119,
title = {Passive and compact liquid metal heat switch},
author = {Weisensee, Patricia and Abolghasemibizaki, Mehran and Li, Junhui},
abstractNote = {A passive heat switch device is disclosed that includes a casing defining a closed channel, as well as a passive thermal actuator and liquid slug positioned inside the closed channel. The closed channel includes a heat conducting region made of a heat conducting material and an insulating region made of an insulating material. The passive thermal actuator is thermally coupled to the heat conducting material of the heat conducting region and extends into the insulating region of the closed channel. The passive thermal actuator deforms when an actuator temperature falls within a switching temperature range. The liquid slug is positioned within the closed channel and contacts at least a portion of the passive thermal actuator and the closed channel and is configured to move along the closed channel between the insulating region and the thermally conductive region in response to deformation of the passive thermal actuator.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2023},
month = {2}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Electronic Equipment Enclosure with Passive Thermal Vent Door Control
patent-application, July 2007


Thermally Actuated Passive Gas Turbine Engine Compartment Venting
patent-application, May 2011


Thermal Actuator
patent-application, March 2013