ABB Switzerland Secures Patent for Two-Phase Cooling Equipment Testing Method and Controller
Time:2026-10-26 Browse: 2
ABB Two-Phase Cooling Patent Highlights Temperature-Based Testing and Overfill Detection
ABB Schweiz AG, the Swiss subsidiary of ABB, has obtained a Chinese patent for a technology designed to test two-phase cooling devices, according to the patent information provided. The invention, titled “Method and Controller for Testing a Two-Phase Cooling Device, Computer Program, and Computer-Readable Medium,” is associated with Chinese patent publication number CN117716197B and an application filed in June 2022.
The technology focuses on evaluating two-phase cooling devices by monitoring temperature changes during phase transitions of the internal cooling medium. It may be relevant to manufacturers and engineers working with thermal management systems for power electronics and industrial equipment.
How ABB's Two-Phase Cooling Testing Technology Works
Two-phase cooling devices transfer heat through the evaporation and condensation of a working fluid. Examples include heat pipes and vapor chambers, which are used to manage heat in applications where effective thermal transfer is essential.
According to the corresponding international patent publication, ABB's proposed testing method uses controlled ambient-air temperature to cause the cooling medium inside a device to transition between liquid and solid states, or vice versa. During this process, the system monitors the device's temperature and evaluates the resulting measurements against predefined criteria.
If the monitored temperature behavior meets the specified criterion, the method determines that the cooling device is overfilled with cooling medium.
This approach uses temperature behavior as an indicator of a potential filling-related issue, rather than relying solely on a direct measurement of the internal fluid quantity.
Key Technical Features of the Patent
The patent describes several interconnected technical elements:
Controlled temperature testing: Ambient-air temperature is regulated to induce phase transitions in the cooling medium.
Temperature monitoring: The device's temperature is recorded throughout the test.
Criterion-based evaluation: Measured temperature behavior is assessed against predefined conditions.
Overfill detection: The controller can identify an overfilled cooling device when the specified temperature criterion is satisfied.
Software-based implementation: The invention also covers a computer program for operating the controller and a computer-readable medium storing the program.
These features combine thermal testing, measurement analysis and controller-based decision-making in a single testing method.
Why This Technology Matters for Industrial Automation
Thermal management is an important consideration in industrial power electronics. Excessive heat can affect component performance, operational stability and equipment service life. Cooling-device manufacturing and quality assurance therefore require reliable methods for evaluating thermal behavior and identifying potential defects.
ABB's patented approach is relevant to this process in three main areas.
1. Cooling-device quality control
A temperature-based test may help manufacturers identify certain filling-related issues during production inspection. Its practical effectiveness will depend on the device design, test conditions and validation of the detection criteria.
2. Controller-assisted testing
The use of a controller and predefined evaluation criteria provides a structured way to analyze temperature measurements. Such an approach can support repeatable testing procedures when properly implemented and validated.
3. Thermal management for power electronics
Heat pipes and vapor chambers are used in various thermal management designs, including some power electronic applications. Improved methods for testing these devices can be relevant to manufacturers seeking consistent thermal performance and product quality.
The patent does not, by itself, establish a specific improvement in cooling efficiency, testing speed or product reliability. Those outcomes would require supporting technical or application data.
Patent Information and Development Timeline
The related international patent record identifies ABB Schweiz AG as the original assignee. The patent family includes the international publication WO2023011780A1, published on February 9, 2023, and the Chinese application CN117716197A, published on March 15, 2024.
The international application was filed on June 8, 2022, and claims priority to a European application dated August 5, 2021.
The Chinese patent number cited in the announcement is CN117716197B. The grant date and current legal status of this specific Chinese patent should be confirmed through the official Chinese patent register before being reported as independently verified.
What Industrial Equipment Manufacturers Should Know
For industrial automation engineers, power electronics manufacturers and thermal management specialists, this patent illustrates how temperature monitoring and programmed control logic can be applied to cooling-device inspection.
It also highlights the importance of considering the internal working-fluid charge when evaluating two-phase cooling components. However, the disclosed method should not be interpreted as a universal test for every cooling device. Applicability depends on the device's construction, working fluid, operating conditions and the specific criteria defined for the test.
As industrial systems continue to require effective thermal management, developments in cooling-device testing remain relevant to equipment design, manufacturing quality control and power electronics engineering.
For industrial equipment professionals, understanding advances in thermal testing technology can help inform cooling-system evaluation and equipment quality assurance.
