JPH04342698A - Leak detecting method for cold plate - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a leak detecting method for cold plate remarkably improved in both sensitivity and precision in a cold plate disposed to absorb the generated heat from an electric device in a spacecraft. CONSTITUTION:In a heat exchanger cold plate disposed to absorb the generated heat from an electric device in a spacecraft, the circumference of an electric device mounting panel 8 is sealed by a horizontal frame 9, whereby a sealed space 12 having a cold plate body 7 therein is formed, and the internal pressure of the sealed space 12 is monitored.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for detecting leakage from a cold plate of a spacecraft.

0002

[Prior Art] As shown in the system diagram of FIG. 2, a method for detecting the leakage of coolant such as Freon from a cold plate, which is a heat exchanger of a spacecraft, and switching to a backup system is as follows. A method is known in which pressure sensors 4 and 5 are provided at the inlet section 2 and the outlet section 3, respectively, and fluctuations in the differential pressure between upstream pressure and downstream pressure are detected as leakage inside the cold plate.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the biggest problem with such means is that the detection sensitivity is very poor. In other words, the amount of leakage is not directly measured, but the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the cold plate and the amount of leakage within the cold plate are measured by the pressure difference between the top and downstream of the cold plate. The pressure difference cannot be detected unless it is a certain ratio to the flow rate. In addition, at this time, there is also a pressure difference fluctuation due to changes in the temperature of the coolant, which further deteriorates the sensitivity. The next problem is that the system is complex and requires preliminary experimental verification. The leakage amount is detected as an increase in flow rate by measuring the pressure difference between the top and downstream of the cold plate.
It is necessary to experimentally measure the pressure difference when there is no leak, and to determine the borderline of the pressure difference used to detect a leak. Furthermore, in order to compare values from two sensors, a complicated system is inevitable. The present invention was proposed in view of these circumstances.
The purpose of this paper is to provide a cold plate leak detection method with significantly improved sensitivity and accuracy.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] To this end, the present invention provides a heat exchanger cold plate installed in a spacecraft to absorb heat generated from electrical equipment, etc., in which the periphery of the electrical equipment mounting panel is sealed with a horizontal frame. By doing so, a sealed space containing the cold plate body is formed, and the internal pressure of the sealed space is monitored.

[0005]

[Operation] According to such a configuration, a sealed container is formed around the cold plate using the mounting panel, and when coolant leaks from the cold plate body, the coolant evaporates in the sealed container, and the inside of the container is Since the pressure increases, this pressure increase can be easily detected by a pressure sensor.

[0006]

[Example] An example of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a first embodiment thereof, FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the cold plate of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a system diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. First, in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 7 denotes a cold plate main body. A coolant such as Freon flows inside the cold plate main body 7, and absorbs heat input from the surface of the cold plate. Reference numeral 8 denotes a mounting panel for the electrical device.The mounting panel 8 has the function of evenly transmitting the amount of heat generated from the electrical device to the cold plate main body 7, and is placed between the electrical device and the cold plate main body. 9 is a horizontal frame 10, 11 for forming a sealed container 12 by joining two mounting panels 8, 8;
are a pressure sensor and a measuring section, respectively. When Freon coolant leaks from the cold plate main body 7, the coolant evaporates within the closed container 12, and the internal pressure of the container increases. Therefore, the pressure sensor 10 detects the rise, and the measuring section 11 outputs a signal indicating that a leak has occurred. According to such a system, electric devices can be attached to both sides of the cold plate main body 7, and the airtight container 12 can be formed by adding the minimum necessary horizontal frame 9, and the following effects can be achieved. (1) The system is simple. Leakage can be detected with just one pressure sensor, and leakage is detected when pressure is generated, so there is no need for prior experimental verification. (2) Leak detection accuracy is high, and even small leaks can be detected because the pressure increase in the sealed container due to leaked coolant is directly detected.

Next, in a second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as in FIG. The cold plate and backup electrical equipment are separated from each other, and can be switched by operating a valve. If a leak occurs in the cold plate body for normal operation, it will be detected by a pressure sensor, and the flow on the cold plate side for normal operation will be stopped at the upstream and downstream sides of the cold plate for normal operation, and the coolant will be removed. prevent losses. At the same time, the backup side valve is opened and the backup side cold plate is activated.

[0008]

[Effects of the Invention] According to such a method, both the sensitivity and accuracy of leak detection are significantly improved, and it is predicted that the size of sensors and measuring equipment will be reduced to about half. In short, according to the present invention, in a heat exchanger cold plate installed in a spacecraft to absorb heat generated from electrical equipment, etc., the main body of the cold plate is sealed by sealing the periphery of the electrical equipment mounting panel with a horizontal frame. By forming a built-in sealed space and monitoring the internal pressure of the sealed space, a cold plate leak detection method with significantly improved sensitivity and accuracy can be obtained, so the present invention is extremely useful industrially.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the cold plate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a system diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram of a known cold plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Cold plate body 2 Entrance section 3 Exit part 4 Pressure sensor 5 Pressure sensor 7 Cold plate body 8 Mounting panel for electrical equipment 9 Horizontal frame 10 Pressure sensor 11 Measurement part 12 Sealed container

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] In a heat exchanger cold plate installed in a spacecraft to absorb heat generated from electrical equipment, etc., the cold plate body is built in by sealing the periphery of the electrical equipment mounting panel with a horizontal frame. A method for detecting leakage of a cold plate, characterized by forming a sealed space and monitoring the internal pressure of the sealed space.