A VARIABLE THERMAL RESISTOR SYSTEM

摘要

A variable thermal resistance system having a hermetically sealed enclosure around a component. There may be a gap or space between the internal surface of the enclosure and the external surface of the component. A gas, such as a gas from a low vapor pressure solid placed on the internal surface of the enclosure or liquid on a porous internal surface of the enclosure, may fill the space or gap. The gas may have low thermal conduction at low temperatures and high thermal conduction at high temperatures. This may reduce an amount of energy required by a constant temperature maintaining mechanism for the component. At low temperatures less heat is conducted from the component and at high temperatures more heat is conducted from the component so as to reduce the heating and cooling requirements of the temperature maintaining mechanism.