Patent ID: 7267086
Filing Date: 2007-09-11
Classification: F01P,F02M

Abstract:
1. A thermal management system for a heat producing system, the thermal management system comprising: a first temperature control fluid for controlling the temperature of at least a portion of the heat producing system; a first temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the first temperature control fluid, and outputting a signal related to the temperature of the first temperature control fluid; a first heat exchanger for transferring heat between the first temperature control fluid and ambient air; a second temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the ambient air, and outputting a signal related to the temperature of the ambient air; a first fan operable to move the ambient air across the first heat exchanger, the first fan being a variable speed electric fan; a first pump operable to pump the first temperature control fluid through the first heat exchanger, the first pump being a variable speed electric pump; and a control system operatively connected to the temperature sensors, the first fan, and the first pump and including at least one controller, the control system being programmed with operation data providing optimized operating speeds for combined operation of the first fan and the first pump, each of the optimized operating speeds corresponding to an amount of heat transfer between the first temperature control fluid and the ambient air via the first heat exchanger at a respective ambient air temperature, and each of the optimized operating speeds providing a minimized combined power input into the first fan and the first pump for the corresponding amount of heat transfer, the control system being configured to operate the first fan and the first pump at the optimized operating speeds based at least in part on the operation data and signals received from the temperature sensors.