Thermal Bypass Valves
Humanity’s ambitions to reach the farthest stars in the sky and the deepest parts of the oceans have naturally resulted in a gradual increase in the technological complexity of the vehicles designed to carry them there.
These innovative machines for modern times inevitably result in ever-increasing demands on thermal management system capabilities. From the need for almost instantaneous warm-up times to thermal relief to protect delicate components from overheating, thermal management is evolving to keep up with growing system complexity.
To meet the market’s demand for efficient and accurate temperature control, ThermOmegaTech® developed the thermal bypass valve (TBV), which can and has been implemented in a variety of groundbreaking Aerospace & Defense applications where precise thermal management is critical to project success.
How It Works
Thermal bypass valves (TBV) are, when boiled down, a temperature solution to a temperature problem. Designed with our exclusive Thermoloid® thermostatic actuator technology, the TBV automatically maintains fluid temperature within a narrow and pre-defined temperature range to ensure optimal system operation, reduce system wear, minimize warm up times, and extend component life.
The TBV’s internal thermal actuator continuously monitors the inlet flow’s temperature and directs it accordingly throughout the system. If the fluid temperature is above the valve’s set-point, the TBV automatically self-modulates to divert flow to the system’s cooler or heat exchanger. If the fluid temperature is below the set-point, the flow is bypassed directly to the reservoir and continues to circulate through the system.
Innovatively designed to suit a variety of applications, the 3-way thermal bypass valve can be used to precisely proportion flow in response to fluid temperature variations in both mixing and diverting applications.
Our TBVs can monitor and control any system-critical fluid including coolant, glycol, oil, hydraulic fluid, water, air, and more.
Benefits
- Self-Operating: No need for external power source
- Dynamic: Used in both mixing and diverting applications
- Compact and Low Mass: Fits into most designs
- Thermostatic Element: Responds to temperature changes and is unaffected by pressure variations
- Self-Contained: No or minimal maintenance requirements
- Few Moving Parts: Eliminates component complications or failure
- Large Temperature Range: Standard valves available in temperatures from 35°F to 210°F (1.7°C to 98.9°C)
Mixing and Diverting Thermal Valves (mouse over images to animate)
Thermal Diverting
In a 3-way diverting application, the TBV diverts a single inlet flow to one of two outlet ports, depending on fluid temperature. Cooler fluid is shifted to the reservoir while hotter fluid goes through the heat exchanger.
Thermal Bypassing
The TBV cartridge can be integrated into a 4-way manifold to monitor inlet flow and divert the fluid based on temperature. Cooler fluid goes through the valve bypass, while hotter fluid goes through the system’s cooler.
Thermal Mixing
In a 3-way mixing application, the TBV modulates between “hot” and “cold” inlet feeds to proportionately mix the fluid to the desired outlet temperature.
Applications
In simple terms, the thermal bypass valve is used in the Aerospace & Defense field to maintain system temperatures within an optimal operation range. The types of systems this applies to, however, is both varied and far-reaching across each corner of the globe, under the sea, and up among the stars.
Typical applications that utilize the TBV include but are certainly not limited to:
- Electronics system cooling
- Hydraulic fluid cooling systems
- Hydraulic thermal bypass
- Lube oil cooling control
- Lube oil thermal bypass
- Fuel/oil cooler
- Cooling water control for radiators & heat exchangers
- Direct cooling with water
- Engine and compressor cooling systems
- Space vehicle cabin air control
- Loop-type circulation systems
- Direct injection water heating
- Process control
- Make-up water
- Mobile oil coolers
- Battery cooling
For additional applications for the TBV in industrial facilities, please visit: thermomegatech.com/product-categories/thermal-bypass-valves/.
Cartridge Integration
For bypass applications with unique designs and strict space requirements, we offer thermal bypass valve cartridges to ease integration into pre-existing systems. The TBV cartridge allows for the implementation of the same thermal actuator control element as our standard TBVs, but lacks the housing with its predetermined 3-way setup to allow for greater freedom when integrating the cartridge into manifold designs.
Our in-house engineers can work with your team to design a manifold housing for the TBV cartridge to integrate into your system if you don’t have a current design specified. We can also manufacture the manifolds in our state-of-the-art machine shop along with the cartridges if desired. Reach out to our team of product experts to discuss your design if you’re looking for a cartridge-style TBV.
Customizations
As standard, our thermal bypass valves are offered in ½”, 1” and 2” NPT threads, brass or stainless-steel housings, and temperatures ranging from 35°F to 210°F (1.7°C to 98.9°C) depending on your applications needs.
If one of our standard valve offerings does not meet your individual project’s requirements, our engineers and project managers will work with you to design a solution that solves your thermal control challenge. Changes can be made to a valve’s opening/closing temperatures, flow rates, threads, materials, and number of ports, their size, and configuration. If you require lower temperatures than our standard offering please inquiry with our team.
To discuss additional customizations and your design needs, we offer personalized Lunch & Learn consultations with ThermOmegaTech’s® Aerospace & Defense product specialists and design engineers.
Past Projects
Our TBVs have been implemented into dozens of systems throughout the Aerospace & Defense industry and their precise thermal control is relied on by engineers, scientists, and military personnel to ensure project success, no matter where on earth, sea, or sky it takes place.
Examples include hydraulic fluid temperature control on the Patriot missile system radar set, thermostatic control for heat exchangers on nitrogen generating carts for on-ground aircraft servicing, FMTV, and various other military tactical land vehicles. Our cartridges have been implemented into designs for hydraulic fluid temperature control on self-propelled military tactical vehicles, electronics cooling on F-16 Fighting Falcon & SABR AESA radar, environmental temperature control on manned and unmanned spacecraft, and liquid cooling on unmanned UAVs.
Many of these projects required modifications to our standard products including both lower/higher wax melting temperatures, manual overrides, diffusers, and manifold integrations.
