System and method for enhanced convection cooling of temperature-dependent power producing and power consuming electrical devices

摘要

A cooling system for cooling a temperature-dependent power device includes an active cooling device and a controller to generate and transmit a drive signal thereto to selectively activate the device. The controller receives an input from sensors regarding the cooling device power consumption and measured operational parameters of the power equipment—including the power device output power if the device is a power producing device or the power device input power if the device is a power consuming device. The controller generates and transmits a drive signal to the cooling device based on the cooling device power consumption and the measured power device input or output power in order to cause the active cooling device to selectively cool the heat producing power device. A net system power output or total system power input can be maximized/minimized by controlling an amount of convection cooling provided by the cooling device.

主权项

1. A cooling system comprising:
a low power active cooling device; a controller electrically coupled to the active cooling device, the controller configured to generate and transmit a drive signal to the active cooling device to selectively activate the active cooling device; and a plurality of sensors configured to measure power consumption of the active cooling device and to measure one or more operational parameters associated with operation of a heat producing electrical device being cooled by the active cooling device, the heat producing electrical device comprising one of a temperature-dependent power producing device and a temperature-dependent power consuming device; wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive an input from the plurality of sensors of the power consumption of the active cooling device and of the one or more measured operational parameters, the input including a device output power if the heat producing electrical device is a power producing device or a device input power if the heat producing electrical device is a power consuming device; andgenerate and transmit a drive signal to the active cooling device based on the received input of the power consumption of the active cooling device and of the measured operational parameters in order to cause the active cooling device to selectively cool the heat producing electrical device;wherein, in generating and transmitting the drive signal to the active cooling device, the controller controls an amount of convection cooling provided by the active cooling device in order to maximize a net system power output if the device is a power producing device or minimize a total system power input if the device is a power consuming device, with the maximizing of the net system power output comprising maximizing a net power defined by the power generated by the power producing device minus the power consumed by the active cooling device and with the minimizing of the total system power input comprising minimizing a total power defined by the power consumed by the power consuming device plus the power consumed by the active cooling device.