Systems and methods for cooling X-ray tubes and detectors

Inventors

Karlstedt, Dan Martin Gustav

Assignees

Tark Thermal Solutions Inc

Abstract

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems that may be used for cooling objects, such as X-ray tubes and detectors, etc. Also disclosed are exemplary embodiments of methods for cooling objects, such as X-ray tubes and detectors, etc. For example, an exemplary embodiment includes a system that can be used to cool an X-ray tube and detector with one chiller. As another example, an exemplary embodiment of a method includes using one chiller to cool an X-ray tube and detector.

Core Innovation

The disclosure relates to cooling systems and methods for an object, including an X-ray image detector, using a direct to liquid (DL) thermoelectric assembly (TEA) situated on the object. A coolant is cooled outside an operating environment of the object using an active or passive chiller and is circulated from the chiller toward the object, with a portion diverted to pass through the DL TEA so that the DL TEA is usable for actively cooling the object and for controlling temperature of the object.

The disclosure further enables cooling of at least one additional object by allowing at least a portion of remaining undiverted coolant to flow to another object for cooling. The coolant returning from the DL TEA and from the another object is returned back to the active or passive chiller, and in described embodiments the diverted and undiverted coolant flows are recombined prior to return to the chiller.

When cooling is performed using a passive chiller, the disclosure specifies use of uninsulated hoses to circulate the coolant from the passive chiller to the another object and the DL TEA and back. The disclosure also describes temperature control using polarity reversal, including using the DL TEA to cool and heat the object by reversing polarity of one or more thermoelectric modules.

Claims Coverage

The provided independent claims cover a method and a system for cooling an object using a DL TEA on the object and diverting coolant from an active or passive chiller, with additional coverage for cooling an additional object and returning coolant to the chiller. Across the independent claims, the inventive features focus on coolant cooled outside the object environment, diverting coolant through the DL TEA for active temperature control, routing remaining coolant to another object, and using passive chiller uninsulated hose circulation, with optional polarity-reversal temperature control and system application to an X-ray arrangement.

Across the independent method and system claims, the core coverage is a coolant-cooled-by-a-chiller architecture in which coolant is diverted to a DL thermoelectric assembly situated on the object for active temperature control, while remaining coolant continues to another object for cooling, and then both return to the same active or passive chiller. The independent claims further specify passive-chiller operation with uninsulated hose circulation, and dependent claim members emphasize polarity-reversal for cooling and heating and relate the approach to an X-ray system using an X-ray image detector plate.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications