Combined cooling and power heat dissipation mechanism based on microfluid fuel cell

By integrating a combined heat dissipation mechanism of microfluidic fuel cells and external heat sources in high-performance electronic devices, and using electrolyte for heat exchange and electrochemical reactions, the problem of low efficiency of traditional cooling methods is solved, and efficient cooling is achieved. Combined power generation solution for thermal management and energy efficiency optimization of high-performance electronic equipment.

CN119324234AInactive Publication Date: 2025-01-17HARBIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) (INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION HARBIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SHENZHEN)

Patent Information

Application Number
CN202411437807.1
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-10-15
Publication Date
2025-01-17
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Traditional cooling methods are inefficient and energy-consuming in high-performance electronic devices, and cannot effectively manage heat, affecting equipment performance and life.

Method used

The combined cooling and power supply and dissipation mechanism based on microfluidic fuel cells is adopted to integrate the microflow channel with an external heat source, and the electrolyte is used for heat exchange and electrochemical reactions to achieve the dual functions of cooling and power generation.

Benefits of technology

It improves the cooling efficiency and energy efficiency of electronic equipment, and provides an efficient thermal management and energy efficiency optimization solution suitable for high-performance electronic equipment.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of heat dissipation, and particularly relates to a combined cooling and power heat dissipation mechanism based on a microfluid fuel cell, which comprises a micro-channel arranged on a non-functional side of an external heat source, the micro-channel exchanges heat with the non-functional side of the external heat source, the micro-channel is used for being connected with an injection pump, the injection pump is used for conveying an electrolyte into the micro-channel, and the injection pump is used for injecting the electrolyte into the micro-channel. The electrolyte can exchange heat with the surface of the micro-channel; and the fuel cell assembly is located in the micro-channel, the internal space of the micro-channel is used for containing the fuel cell assembly, the fuel cell assembly is used for carrying out electrochemical reaction based on the electrolyte, and the power output end of the fuel cell assembly is used for being connected with the power end of electronic equipment. According to the invention, waste heat is utilized to enhance electrochemical reaction in the micro-channel, and meanwhile, the electrolyte is utilized to continuously remove heat, so that the energy efficiency and the cooling efficiency of the coupling system are improved at the same time.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of heat dissipation, and in particular relates to a cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on a microfluidic fuel cell. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of modern science and technology, the power and integration of various high-performance electronic devices (such as chips) are constantly improving. During the operation of these electronic devices, a large amount of heat will be generated. If this heat cannot be effectively managed and dissipated, it will affect the performance and life of the electronic devices, and may even cause system failures. Therefore, how to effectively solve the heat dissipation problem while improving the performance of electronic devices has become one of the important challenges in the current technology field.

[0003] Traditional cooling methods, such as air cooling and water cooling, have been widely used in heat dissipation of various electronic devices. However, with the increasing integration and power consumption of electronic devices, these traditional cooling technologies are becoming less efficient and more energy-intensive. To meet this challenge, microfluidic cooling technology has gradually become an innovative and promising solution. Microfluidic cooling achieves efficient heat transfer and temperature control by integrating microchannels directly onto electronic devices, allowing coolant to flow through them. This approach not only solves the thermal management problem of modern high-performance electronic devices, but also provides the possibility of integrating power generation functions.

[0004] Microfluidic fuel cell (MFC) is a micro electrochemical energy device that converts chemical energy directly into electrical energy. Due to its high efficiency and low cost, it is widely used in portable electronic devices, biomedical devices and micro power systems. MFC is mainly composed of two electrodes in a microchannel. It uses two microfluidic electrolytes (catholyte and anolyte) to provide oxidants and fuels to the cathode and anode respectively, thereby realizing the conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy; thanks to the low Reynolds number of microfluids, the two electrolytes will not mix even if they are in direct contact in the microchannel, thus ensuring the stable operation of MFC.

[0005] After research, it was found that there is currently no technical solution or verification for MFC combined cooling and power. Considering that by integrating MFC with various electronic devices (such as chips), the heat generated by the electronic devices can be used to improve the efficiency of MFC. This combination can significantly reduce the temperature of the electronic devices and provide an additional source of electricity, thereby improving the overall energy efficiency of the system.

[0006] In view of this, we propose a cooling and heat dissipation mechanism for combined cooling and power generation based on microfluidic fuel cells. Summary of the invention

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on a microfluidic fuel cell to solve the above problems.

[0008] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following solutions:

[0009] A cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on a microfluidic fuel cell, comprising:

[0010] A microfluidic channel is arranged on a non-functional side of an external heat source, the microfluidic channel is heat exchanged with the non-functional side of the external heat source, the microfluidic channel is used to be connected to a syringe pump, the syringe pump is used to transport an electrolyte into the microfluidic channel, and the electrolyte can exchange heat with the surface of the microfluidic channel;

[0011] A fuel cell assembly is located in the microchannel, the internal space of the microchannel is used to house the fuel cell assembly, the fuel cell assembly is used to perform electrochemical reactions based on the electrolyte, and the power output end of the fuel cell assembly is used to connect to the power supply end of the electronic device.

[0012] Preferably, an upper cover plate is fixedly connected to the top of the microchannel, the fuel cell assembly is arranged on the upper cover plate and is located in the microchannel, three connecting holes are opened on the upper cover plate, and the connecting holes are connected to the microchannel, two of the connecting holes located on the same side serve as electrolyte inlets, and the remaining one of the connecting holes serves as an electrolyte outlet.

[0013] Preferably, the microchannel is etched in the middle of the flow field plate, the top of the flow field plate is fixedly connected to the bottom of the upper cover plate, the bottom of the flow field plate is fixedly connected to a base plate, and the base plate is fixedly connected to the non-functional side of the external heat source.

[0014] Preferably, the microchannel is etched on the non-functional side of the external heat source, and the upper cover plate is fixedly connected to the non-functional side of the external heat source.

[0015] Preferably, the microchannel is etched inside the non-functional side of the external heat source, the liquid inlet end of the microchannel is connected to an anode liquid inlet and a cathode liquid inlet, the liquid outlet end of the microchannel is connected to an electrolyte outlet, the anode liquid inlet, the cathode liquid inlet and the electrolyte outlet are all arranged on the non-functional side of the external heat source, and the fuel cell assembly is installed inside the non-functional side of the external heat source.

[0016] Preferably, the fuel cell assembly comprises a cathode and an anode, and the cathode and the anode are installed in the microchannel.

[0017] Preferably, a placement groove is provided on the upper cover plate, the cathode and the anode are fixedly connected in the placement groove, and the cathode and the anode are located in the microchannel.

[0018] Preferably, a second placement groove is provided at the bottom of the upper cover plate and the middle of the top of the bottom plate, and the cathode and the anode are respectively embedded in the corresponding second placement grooves.

[0019] Preferably, the cathode and the anode are respectively fixed on two oppositely disposed inner side walls of the microchannel.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages and technical effects:

[0021] The present invention is based on the integration of a microfluidic fuel cell (MFC) and an external heat source, and is intended to address the cooling and power requirements of high-performance electronic devices (such as chips). MFC transports reactants through a microfluidic electrolyte, thereby achieving the dual functions of power generation and cooling, namely, combined cooling and power. By integrating the MFC with an external heat source, the waste heat of the latter is used to enhance the electrochemical reaction of the former, while the electrolyte of the former is used to continuously remove the heat of the latter, thereby simultaneously improving the energy efficiency and cooling efficiency of the coupled system. In summary, the present invention provides an efficient combined cooling and power generation solution, which is suitable for thermal management and energy efficiency optimization of high-performance electronic devices (such as chips), and has broad application prospects and practical value. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative labor:

[0023] Figure 1 It is the working principle diagram of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 Create a flow chart for the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 It is a structural diagram of the split form of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the first integrated form of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the second integrated form of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of the first electrode arrangement of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 7 A diagram showing the second electrode arrangement structure of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 8 This is a diagram of the third electrode arrangement structure of the present invention;

[0031] Fig. 9 A diagram of a single cell structure for widening the microchannel 6 of the present invention;

[0032] Fig.10 This is a structural diagram of the present invention using multiple flow channels on the same flow field plate;

[0033] Fig.11 0.1W / cm 2 Line graph showing the effect of different flow rates on battery performance under constant power heating conditions;

[0034] Fig.12 0.15W / cm 2 Line graph showing the effect of different flow rates on battery performance under constant power heating conditions;

[0035] Fig.13 A line graph showing the effect of electrolyte flow rate on cooling effect under different heating powers of the present invention;

[0036] Fig.14 A line graph showing the influence of different microchannel widths on the cooling effect of the present invention;

[0037] Fig.15 A line graph showing the effect of two single cells connected in series to form an MFC cell stack on cooling performance;

[0038] Fig.16 A line graph showing the effect of connecting two single cells in series to form an MFC cell stack on cell performance;

[0039] Among them, 1. upper cover plate; 2. flow field plate; 3. bottom plate; 4. cathode; 5. anode; 6. microchannel; 7. connecting hole; 8. placement groove; 9. second placement groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0041] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0042] Reference Figures 1 to 16 The present invention discloses a cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on a microfluidic fuel cell, comprising:

[0043] The microfluidic channel 6 is arranged on the non-functional side of the external heat source, and the microfluidic channel 6 is arranged for heat exchange with the non-functional side of the external heat source. The microfluidic channel 6 is used to be connected to a syringe pump, and the syringe pump is used to transport the electrolyte into the microfluidic channel 6, and the electrolyte can exchange heat with the surface of the microfluidic channel 6;

[0044] The fuel cell assembly is located in the microchannel 6. The internal space of the microchannel 6 is used to house the fuel cell assembly. The fuel cell assembly is used to perform electrochemical reactions based on electrolytes. The power output end of the fuel cell assembly is used to connect to the power supply end of the electronic device.

[0045] The present invention is based on the integration of a microfluidic fuel cell (MFC) with an external heat source, and is intended to address the cooling and power requirements of high-performance electronic devices such as chips. Figure 1 As shown, MFC uses microfluidic electrolyte to transport reactants, thereby achieving the dual functions of power generation and cooling, that is, combined cooling and power supply; the blue area in the figure represents the schematic diagram of the MFC electrolyte flow, and the red area represents the external heat source in contact with the MFC bottom plate. By integrating the MFC with the external heat source, the waste heat of the latter is used to enhance the electrochemical reaction of the former, and the electrolyte of the former is used to continuously remove the heat of the latter, thereby improving the energy efficiency and cooling efficiency of the coupled system at the same time. In summary, the present invention provides an efficient combined cooling and power generation solution, which is suitable for thermal management and energy efficiency optimization of high-performance electronic devices (such as chips), and has broad application prospects and practical value.

[0046] Furthermore, the microchannel 6 is a Y-shaped structure.

[0047] In the present invention, there are two main ways of combining the MFC with the non-functional side of the external heat source.

[0048] In the first method, the MFC and the non-functional side of the external heat source exist independently, and the transfer of heat and current is achieved through external connection; this split design has a simple process, is easy to optimize the structure and performance of the MFC, and simplifies the maintenance process of the system; however, this method may lead to a decrease in the heat conduction efficiency between the MFC and the non-functional side of the external heat source.

[0049] The second method is to process the MFC flow channel directly inside the non-functional side of the external heat source, thereby realizing the integrated design of MFC and the non-functional side of the external heat source; this integration method can effectively reduce thermal resistance and transmission loss, and significantly improve the overall energy efficiency and compactness of the system; but this method has higher requirements on the processing technology, and the structural design of MFC is limited by the size of the heat source itself. Based on the above two combination methods, the generalized production process of the combined cooling and power supply structure of the present invention is as follows: Figure 2 shown.

[0050] A further optimized solution is that an upper cover plate 1 is fixedly connected to the top of the microchannel 6, the fuel cell assembly is arranged on the upper cover plate 1 and is located in the microchannel 6, and three connecting holes 7 are opened on the upper cover plate 1, and the connecting holes 7 are connected to the microchannel 6, two of which are located on the same side as electrolyte inlets, and the remaining connecting hole 7 is used as an electrolyte outlet.

[0051] According to a further optimized solution, the microchannel 6 is etched in the middle of the flow field plate 2, the top of the flow field plate 2 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the upper cover plate 1, the bottom of the flow field plate 2 is fixedly connected to the bottom plate 3, and the bottom plate 3 is fixedly connected to the non-functional side of the external heat source.

[0052] According to a further optimized solution, the microchannel 6 is etched on the non-functional side of the external heat source, and the upper cover plate 1 is fixedly connected to the non-functional side of the external heat source.

[0053] A further optimized solution is that the microchannel 6 is etched inside the non-functional side of the external heat source, the liquid inlet end of the microchannel 6 is connected to the anode liquid inlet and the cathode liquid inlet, the liquid outlet end of the microchannel 6 is connected to the electrolyte outlet, the anode liquid inlet, the cathode liquid inlet and the electrolyte outlet are all arranged on the non-functional side of the external heat source, and the fuel cell assembly is installed inside the non-functional side of the external heat source.

[0054] According to a further optimized solution, the fuel cell assembly includes a cathode 4 and an anode 5 , and the cathode 4 and the anode 5 are installed in a microchannel 6 .

[0055] According to a further optimized solution, a placement groove 8 is provided on the upper cover plate 1 , the cathode 4 and the anode 5 are fixedly connected in the placement groove 8 , and the cathode 4 and the anode 5 are located in the microchannel 6 .

[0056] According to a further optimized solution, a second placement groove 9 is provided at the bottom of the upper cover plate 1 and the middle of the top of the bottom plate 3 , and the cathode 4 and the anode 5 are respectively embedded in the corresponding second placement grooves 9 .

[0057] According to a further optimized solution, the cathode 4 and the anode 5 are respectively fixed on two oppositely disposed inner side walls of the microchannel 6 .

[0058] For the split design, firstly, the required microchannel 6 is precisely processed on the flow field plate 2, using technologies such as laser cutting, injection molding, soft lithography, micro milling, etc.; secondly, the cathode 4 and anode 5 are installed inside the microchannel 6, using technologies such as direct deposition, screen printing, electroplating, embedding, etc.; then, the current collector is installed at the edge of the cathode 4 and anode 5. The current collector is a key component in the microfluidic fuel cell. Its main function is to evenly collect and conduct the current generated by the electrode to the external circuit, while ensuring that the electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell proceeds normally. The current collector is preferably silver foil. The technologies used are direct deposition, screen printing, electroplating, embedding, etc.; then the entire MFC is packaged, using technologies such as hot pressing packaging, adhesive packaging, injection molding packaging, mechanical packaging, etc.; finally, the MFC is attached to the non-functional side of the external heat source, using technologies such as adhesive bonding, mechanical bonding, etc.

[0059] For the integrated design: first, the required microfluidic channel 6 is precisely processed on the non-functional side of the external heat source, using techniques such as laser cutting, injection molding, soft lithography, micro milling, etc.; secondly, the cathode 4 and the anode 5 are installed inside the microfluidic channel 6, using techniques such as direct deposition, screen printing, electroplating, embedding, etc.; then, the current collector is installed on the edge of the cathode 4 and the anode 5, using techniques such as direct deposition, screen printing, electroplating, embedding, etc.; finally, packaging is performed, using techniques such as hot pressing packaging, adhesive packaging, injection molding packaging, mechanical packaging, etc.

[0060] Figure 3 An implementation case of the split combination of the MFC and the non-functional side of the external heat source in the present invention is demonstrated: in this case, the MFC is first independently manufactured, then fixed to the non-functional side of the external heat source, and heat transfer is achieved through heat conduction through the bottom plate 3.

[0061] Among them, the microfluidic channel 6 adopts a Y-shaped flow channel structure, and the upper cover plate 1 is provided with three connecting holes 7 connected to the microfluidic channel 6, two of which are connected and arranged on one side of the microfluidic channel 6, and are used for the introduction of cathode electrolyte and anode electrolyte respectively, and the remaining connecting hole 7 is connected and arranged on the other side of the microfluidic channel 6, and is used for the outflow of electrolyte.

[0062] The upper cover plate 1 is provided with a placement groove 8, in which the cathode 4 and the anode 5 are placed, and the microchannel 6 is provided in the middle of the flow field plate 2; the bottom plate 3 is not provided but the thickness should be kept relatively low.

[0063] During actual operation, the cathode electrolyte and the anode electrolyte are respectively transported to the microchannel 6 by injection pumps for electrochemical reaction, thereby providing electricity for the external heat source; and when the electrolyte flows through the microchannel 6, the heat is transferred from the external heat source to the electrolyte through the bottom plate 3, thereby reducing the temperature of the external heat source.

[0064] Figure 4The embodiment of the present invention in which the MFC is integrated with the non-functional side of the external heat source is shown: in this case, the microchannel 6 of the MFC is directly processed on the non-functional side of the external heat source, eliminating the flow field plate 2 and the bottom plate 3, thereby forming an integrated structure. Among them, its main features are: the upper cover plate 1 is provided with three connecting holes 7 connected to the microchannel 6, two of which are connected and arranged on one side of the microchannel 6, respectively used as the inlet of the cathode electrolyte and the anode electrolyte, and the remaining connecting hole 7 is connected and arranged on the other side of the microchannel 6, used as the outflow of the electrolyte. A placement groove 8 is provided on the upper cover plate 1, and the cathode 4 and the anode 5 are both placed in the groove. In actual operation, the cathode electrolyte and the anode electrolyte are respectively transported to the microchannel 6 by the injection pump for electrochemical reaction, thereby providing power for the external heat source; and when the electrolyte flows through the microchannel 6, the heat is directly transferred to the electrolyte from the non-functional side of the external heat source, thereby reducing the temperature of the external heat source.

[0065] Figure 5 Another implementation case of the MFC and the non-functional side of the external heat source in the present invention is shown: in this case, the microchannel 6 is directly processed inside the non-functional side of the external heat source, eliminating the upper cover plate 1, the flow field plate 2 and the bottom plate 3, thereby forming an integrated structure. Among them, the microchannel 6 adopts a Y-type channel structure and is processed inside the non-functional side of the external heat source (not visible in the figure). Its main features are: the non-functional side of the external heat source is provided with an anode liquid inlet, a cathode liquid inlet and an electrolyte outlet, and the cathode 4 and the anode 5 are both placed in a placement groove 8 opened in the non-functional side of the external heat source. In actual operation, the cathode electrolyte and the anode electrolyte are respectively transported to the MFC by a syringe pump for electrochemical reaction, thereby providing electricity for the external heat source; and when the electrolyte flows through the Y-type channel of the MFC, the heat is directly transferred from the inside of the non-functional side of the external heat source to the electrolyte, thereby reducing the temperature of the external heat source.

[0066] Taking the MFC in the above split combination as an example, there are three main electrode placement positions:

[0067] Figure 6 The implementation case of placing the positive and negative electrodes on one side of the flow channel in the present invention is demonstrated: in this case, the cathode 4 and the anode 5 are both installed in the placement groove 8 of the upper cover plate 1; when the electrolyte flows in the microchannel 6, it can fully contact the catalytic layer of the cathode 4 and the anode 5, and can fully absorb the waste heat of the external heat source through the bottom plate 3; in addition, when the microchannel 6 is widened, the electrode area can be expanded accordingly, which increases the cooling effect and improves the overall power output of the battery. However, in this design, the electrodes are located in the same plane, and the ion transmission resistance of different reaction sites is different, resulting in uneven reaction on the electrode surface, which will cause a decrease in power density when the electrode is enlarged. Therefore, this configuration is particularly suitable for application scenarios where the microchannel 6 is shallow, the cooling effect is high, and the power supply power requirement is not high.

[0068] Figure 7 The implementation case of placing the positive and negative electrodes on both sides of the flow channel in the present invention is demonstrated: in this case, the cathode 4 and the anode 5 are respectively installed on the two side surfaces of the microchannel 6 in the flow field plate 2, forming a face-to-face layout; when the electrolyte flows in the microchannel 6, it can not only fully contact the catalytic layer of the cathode 4 and the anode 5, but also fully absorb the waste heat of the external heat source through the bottom plate 3; in addition, since the electrode spacing is equal everywhere, the ion transmission resistance of different reaction sites is the same, resulting in uniform electrode surface reaction, which can ensure the stability of power density when the electrode is enlarged. However, in this design, the electrode area is greatly limited by the size of the microchannel 6, especially the thickness. When the microchannel 6 is widened, the electrode area cannot be expanded accordingly. Instead, the internal resistance of the battery will increase due to the increase in the electrode spacing. Therefore, this configuration is particularly suitable for application scenarios where the microchannel 6 is deep, the cooling effect is high, and the power supply power is not high.

[0069] Figure 8 Another implementation case in which the positive and negative electrodes are placed on both sides of the flow channel in the present invention is shown: in this case, the cathode 4 or the anode 5 is installed in the second placement groove 9 of the upper cover plate 1, and the other anode 5 or the cathode 4 is installed in the second placement groove 9 of the bottom plate 3, forming a face-to-face layout; when the electrolyte flows in the microchannel 6, it can not only fully contact the catalytic layer of the electrode, but also fully absorb the waste heat of the external heat source through the bottom plate 3; because the electrode spacing is equal everywhere, the ion transmission resistance of different reaction sites is the same, resulting in uniform electrode surface reaction, which can ensure the stability of power density when the electrode is enlarged; in addition, when the microchannel is widened, the electrode area can be expanded accordingly, increasing the cooling effect while increasing the overall power output of the battery. However, in this design, the embedded electrodes on the bottom plate 3 will affect the heat conduction between the electrolyte and the external heat source, thereby reducing the cooling effect. Therefore, this configuration is particularly suitable for application scenarios that do not require high cooling effects but have high power requirements.

[0070] Taking the MFC with the positive and negative electrodes located on one side of the flow channel as an example, there are two main ways to improve its cooling effect:

[0071] Fig. 9 An implementation example of widening the flow channel of a single cell is shown: in this example, by increasing the width of the microchannel 6, the contact area between the electrolyte and the non-functional side of the external heat source can be increased, thereby more widely absorbing the waste heat generated by the external heat source and reducing its heat accumulation; in addition, through this design, the electrolyte temperature in the flow channel can be more evenly distributed, thereby preventing the occurrence of local overheating. However, this design of widening the flow channel will also lead to an increase in the electrode area of ​​the single cell, especially for the design where the positive and negative electrodes are located on one side of the flow channel, which will significantly increase the ion transfer resistance between the electrodes, thereby reducing the battery performance.

[0072] Fig.10 An implementation case using multiple flow channels on the same flow field plate 2 is shown: in this case, by increasing the number of flow channels, the contact area between the electrolyte and the non-functional side of the external heat source can also be increased, thereby more widely absorbing the waste heat generated by the external heat source and reducing its heat accumulation; in addition, through this design, it is possible to avoid increasing the electrode area of ​​a single cell and ensure battery performance, while also enabling multiple cells to be connected in series to form a high-voltage MFC stack. However, this multi-channel design requires multiple electrolyte inlets and outlets, which inevitably increases the complexity of the entire system.

[0073] 4) Performance:

[0074] The performances in the present invention are respectively shown as follows: 1) chip cooling performance; 2) battery power generation performance. Here, an implementation case in which the MFC is combined with an external heat source in a split manner and the electrode is located on one side of the MFC upper cover plate 1 is used for detailed explanation.

[0075] The standard microchannel 6 has a width of 8 mm, a channel thickness of 0.5 mm, and a cathode catalyst of Pt / C (2 mg / cm 2 ,40%Pt), the anode catalyst is Pt-Ru (10mg / cm 2 ,1:1), the cathode electrolyte is 3M KOH, the anode electrolyte is 3M KOH+2M ethanol, and the electrolyte flow rate range is 100-1000μL / min. The external heat source used is a constant power heating chip to simulate the heating of a real chip.

[0076] Fig.11 Demonstrated at 0.1W / cm 2 The effect of different flow rates on battery performance under constant power heating conditions. The experimental results show that as the flow rate increases, the performance of the MFC decreases slightly, but is still significantly higher than that under normal temperature conditions overall; when the flow rate is 100 μL / min, the maximum current density reaches 121.5 mA / cm 2 , the maximum power density is 20.8mW / cm 2 , which are 52.3% and 63.3% higher than the results of the normal temperature test. This is mainly because the heating effect of the external heat source on the electrolyte enhances the catalyst activity, ion transmission speed and reactant supply process, thereby improving the overall performance of the battery; and when the electrolyte flow rate is smaller, the longer the time heated by the external heat source, the higher its temperature, thus obtaining better battery performance.

[0077] Fig.12 Demonstrated at 0.15W / cm 2The effect of different flow rates on battery performance under constant power heating conditions. The experimental results show that as the heat source power increases, the performance of the MFC is further improved, and it still follows the rule that the lower the flow rate, the higher the performance; when the flow rate is 100μL / min, the maximum current density reaches 178.1mA / cm 2 , the maximum power density is 27.3mW / cm 2 , which were 123.2% and 114.3% higher than the results at room temperature; as the flow rate increased to 1000μL / min, the battery performance decreased, but still remained at a high level. This is mainly because high-power heating significantly increases the electrolyte temperature, further enhancing the kinetics of the electrochemical reaction and improving the overall output of the battery.

[0078] From the above results, we can see that for battery power generation performance, the lower the electrolyte flow rate, the better; however, too low a flow rate may also cause fuel crossover, especially under high temperature conditions, thereby weakening battery performance. Therefore, in practical applications, it is necessary to find a suitable minimum flow rate according to specific working conditions.

[0079] Fig.13 The effect of electrolyte flow rate on cooling effect under different heating power is demonstrated. The experimental results show that as the flow rate increases, the temperature of the heat source decreases more, proving that the cooling effect is better. 2 Taking heating power as an example, at a low flow rate (100μL / min), the heat source temperature can be reduced from 79.4℃ to 64.2℃; at a medium flow rate (500μL / min), the chip temperature is reduced to 58.5℃; and at a high flow rate (1000μL / min), the cooling effect is the best, and the chip temperature is further reduced to 54.0℃. However, as discussed in the previous article, high flow rates are not conducive to the power generation performance of MFC; on the other hand, high flow rates will also reduce the fuel utilization rate of MFC. Therefore, other methods are needed to enhance the cooling performance of MFC, such as increasing the contact area between the electrolyte and the external heat source.

[0080] Fig.14 The effect of MFC with different channel widths on the cooling effect is shown. The channel widths used in the experiment are 8 mm, 16 mm, and 24 mm, respectively. To ensure a constant linear flow rate, the flow rates are 100 μL / min, 200 μL / min, and 300 μL / min, respectively. The constant heating power condition is 0.05 W / cm 2 , 0.1W / cm 2 and 0.15W / cm 2. The experimental results show that increasing the flow channel width significantly improves the cooling effect. With a flow channel width of 8mm, the heat source temperature drops from the initial 79.4℃ to 64.2℃; with a flow channel width of 16mm, the heat source temperature drops to 54.5℃; and with a flow channel width of 24mm, the cooling effect is the best, with the heat source temperature dropping to 52.0℃. This is mainly because the wider flow channel can accommodate more electrolyte, providing a larger heat conduction area, thereby significantly improving the cooling effect.

[0081] Fig.15 The effect of two single cells connected in series to form an MFC stack on the cooling performance is demonstrated. The single cell flow channel width used in the experiment is 8mm. To ensure a constant linear flow rate, the total flow rate of the stack is set to 200μL / min, and the constant heating power condition is 0.05W / cm 2 , 0.1W / cm 2 and 0.15W / cm 2 The experimental results show that the series battery stack significantly improves the cooling effect. 2 Under the heating power, the heat source temperature dropped to 53.9°C, and the cooling effect was between the 16mm flow channel width MFC and the 24mm flow channel width MFC.

[0082] Although both widening the flow channel width and stacking multiple batteries in series can improve the cooling effect at low flow rates, the corresponding battery performance is very different. Fig.16 The effects of the two on battery performance were demonstrated. The results showed that when the flow channel width was directly expanded to 24 mm, the maximum current density was only 30.7 mA / cm 2 , the maximum power density is only 4.8mW / cm 2 The battery power density loss caused by this method is serious, which is due to the significant increase in ion transfer resistance caused by directly widening the flow channel. The second method uses a series battery stack with a maximum power density of 20.6mW / cm 2 , the maximum current density reaches 67.4mA / cm 2 Although the performance of the MFC is lower than that of the standard 8mm flow channel, it is still better than the single cell design with widened flow channel. This is because the series battery stack has high requirements for the performance consistency of the single cells, and its total current is determined by the single cell with the lowest current; therefore, the high consistency of the performance of each single cell must be ensured during the battery stack manufacturing process.

[0083] Compared with other prior arts, the advantages of the present invention are as follows:

[0084] (1) Dual optimization of battery performance and cooling effect: The present invention combines a microfluidic fuel cell with an external heat source, which not only effectively utilizes waste heat to improve the electrochemical reaction efficiency of the battery, thereby improving battery performance, but also can continuously remove heat and reduce the temperature of the heat source; it is very suitable for the thermal management and energy supply requirements of various high-performance electronic devices (such as chips).

[0085] (2) High energy efficiency and reduced energy consumption: Traditional cooling methods such as air cooling and water cooling can only provide cooling, and will become increasingly inefficient and energy-consuming as the power consumption of electronic equipment increases. The present invention achieves combined cooling and power generation through microfluidic fuel cells, which can provide power while providing cooling, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the system.

[0086] (3) Flexibility in design and optimization: The present invention provides a combined cooling and power system that can be flexibly adjusted and optimized. By selecting the electrolyte composition and flow rate, the power generation performance and cooling effect of the system can be significantly regulated, thereby quickly and flexibly adapting to the needs of external heat sources.

[0087] (4) Compact and sustainable solution: The system proposed in this invention is compact and suitable for integration into various electronic devices. By using multiple units in series, the cooling capacity of the system can be further improved without affecting battery performance, providing an efficient and sustainable solution to meet the dual needs of thermal management and energy supply for the next generation of high-performance AI chips.

[0088] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside" and "outside" etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0089] The embodiments described above are only descriptions of the preferred modes of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the design spirit of the present invention, various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present invention by ordinary technicians in this field should all fall within the protection scope determined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on a microfluidic fuel cell, characterized in that: include: A microfluidic channel (6) is arranged on a non-functional side of an external heat source, the microfluidic channel (6) is heat exchanged with the non-functional side of the external heat source, the microfluidic channel (6) is connected to a syringe pump, the syringe pump is used to transport an electrolyte into the microfluidic channel (6), and the electrolyte can exchange heat with the surface of the microfluidic channel (6); A fuel cell assembly is located in the microchannel (6); the internal space of the microchannel (6) is used to house the fuel cell assembly; the fuel cell assembly is used to perform an electrochemical reaction based on the electrolyte; and the power output end of the fuel cell assembly is used to connect to the power supply end of the electronic device.

2. According to claim 1, a cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on a microfluidic fuel cell is characterized in that: An upper cover plate (1) is fixedly connected to the top of the microchannel (6); the fuel cell assembly is arranged on the upper cover plate (1) and is located in the microchannel (6); three connecting holes (7) are opened on the upper cover plate (1); the connecting holes (7) are connected to the microchannel (6); two of the connecting holes (7) located on the same side serve as electrolyte inlets, and the remaining connecting hole (7) serves as an electrolyte outlet.

3. A cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on a microfluidic fuel cell according to claim 2, characterized in that: The microchannel (6) is etched in the middle of the flow field plate (2); the top of the flow field plate (2) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the upper cover plate (1); the bottom of the flow field plate (2) is fixedly connected to a bottom plate (3); and the bottom plate (3) is fixedly connected to the non-functional side of the external heat source.

4. A cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on a microfluidic fuel cell according to claim 2, characterized in that: The microchannel (6) is etched on the non-functional side of the external heat source, and the upper cover plate (1) is fixedly connected to the non-functional side of the external heat source.

5. The cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on microfluidic fuel cells according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microchannel (6) is etched inside the non-functional side of the external heat source, the liquid inlet end of the microchannel (6) is connected to an anode liquid inlet and a cathode liquid inlet, the liquid outlet end of the microchannel (6) is connected to an electrolyte outlet, the anode liquid inlet, the cathode liquid inlet and the electrolyte outlet are all arranged on the non-functional side of the external heat source, and the fuel cell assembly is installed inside the non-functional side of the external heat source.

6. A cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on a microfluidic fuel cell according to any one of claims 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that: The fuel cell assembly comprises a cathode (4) and an anode (5), wherein the cathode (4) and the anode (5) are installed in the microchannel (6).

7. A cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on a microfluidic fuel cell according to claim 6, characterized in that: The upper cover plate (1) is provided with a placement groove (8), the cathode (4) and the anode (5) are fixedly connected in the placement groove (8), and the cathode (4) and the anode (5) are located in the microchannel (6).

8. The cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on microfluidic fuel cells according to claim 6, characterized in that: A second placement groove (9) is provided at the bottom of the upper cover plate (1) and the middle of the top of the bottom plate (3), and the cathode (4) and the anode (5) are respectively embedded in the corresponding second placement grooves (9).

9. The cooling and power cogeneration heat dissipation mechanism based on microfluidic fuel cells according to claim 6, characterized in that: The cathode (4) and the anode (5) are respectively fixed on two oppositely disposed inner side walls of the microchannel (6).

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Microfluid-based self-breathing photocatalytic film-free fuel battery

    CN103199294A

  • Bendable micro-fluid no-film fuel cell

    CN107195922A

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