Liquid cooling plate self-pressure relief structure of an active phased array antenna and a phased array antenna

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a self-pressure-relief structure for a liquid-cooled plate of an active phased array antenna and a phased array antenna, which relate to the technical field of microwave and millimeter-wave wireless communication. The structure includes: a liquid-cooled plate; the liquid-cooled plate is provided with a liquid-cooling flow channel and a pressure-relief cavity communicated with the liquid-cooling flow channel; an opening of the pressure-relief cavity is communicated with the outside, and a cover plate is installed on the opening of the pressure-relief cavity, and the thickness of the thinnest part of the cover plate is less than the minimum wall thickness of the liquid-cooling flow channel. The technical solution of the present application controls the bulging position of the liquid-cooled plate by establishing a pressure-relief cavity, and realizes rapid repair of the bulging area through the provided cover plate, thereby preventing the liquid-cooled plate from being scrapped and disassembled, and finally eliminating the large economic and efficiency losses caused by the bulging of the liquid-cooled plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of microwave and millimeter-wave wireless communication technologies. Specifically, it relates to a liquid-cooled plate self-pressure relief structure for an active phased array antenna and a phased array antenna. Background Art

[0002] When a high-power phased array antenna is undergoing liquid-cooling heat dissipation testing, its liquid-cooled plate is connected to an external liquid-cooling source through quick connectors. When the liquid-cooling is disconnected, the quick connectors at its inlet and outlet are in a sealed state (to prevent liquid leakage), resulting in a sealed state inside the liquid-cooled plate filled with coolant. Currently, ethylene glycol antifreeze is commonly used as the coolant in the industry. Although it prevents the problem of cold plate bulging caused by volume expansion due to freezing at low temperatures, its volume expansion pressure at high temperatures cannot be ignored. During testing, accidents often occur where the liquid-cooled plate bulges at the flow channel position due to excessive internal pressure after high-temperature power-on testing and environmental testing. Such bulging is likely to cause the TR module circuit fixed on the cold plate to be damaged or the housing to be severely deformed. The liquid-cooled plate also needs to be replaced and scrapped. Both the TR module and the liquid-cooled plate are high-value components, and a large amount of time is also required for disassembly, installation, and testing when replacing the TR module and the liquid-cooled plate. Such accidents will cause significant losses both economically and in terms of efficiency.

[0003] Although blowing liquid after the liquid-cooling is disconnected can effectively prevent such accidents, such accidents often occur due to human negligence or insufficient blowing. There is an urgent need for a simple method to solve the problem of losses caused by liquid-cooled plate bulging. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present application provide a liquid-cooled plate self-pressure relief structure for an active phased array antenna and a phased array antenna to solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] Other features and advantages of the present application will become apparent through the following detailed description, or will be partially learned through the practice of the present application.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a liquid-cooled plate self-pressure relief structure for an active phased array antenna is provided, including: a liquid-cooled plate;

[0007] The liquid-cooled plate is provided with a liquid-cooling flow channel and a pressure relief cavity communicating with the liquid-cooling flow channel;

[0008] The opening of the pressure relief cavity communicates with the outside, and a cover plate is installed on the opening of the pressure relief cavity. The thickness of the thinnest part of the cover plate is less than the minimum wall thickness of the liquid-cooling flow channel.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present application, based on the foregoing solution, a strain sensor is attached to the upper surface of the cover plate, and the strain sensor is connected to the control motherboard of the phased array antenna.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present application, based on the foregoing solution, the thickness of the middle part of the cover plate is less than the thickness of the periphery of the cover plate.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present application, based on the foregoing solution, the cover plate is hermetically connected to the opening of the pressure relief chamber.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present application, based on the foregoing solution, an installation groove is provided on the periphery of the opening of the pressure relief chamber, and a sealing ring for sealing the cover plate is installed in the installation groove.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present application, based on the foregoing solution, the cover plate is detachably installed on the opening of the pressure relief chamber.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present application, based on the foregoing solution, the cover plate is installed on the opening of the pressure relief chamber by locking screws.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present application, based on the foregoing solution, a liquid cooling quick connector for confining the antifreeze in the liquid cooling flow channel is further provided on the structure.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present application, based on the foregoing solution, the pressure relief chamber is arranged in a blank area on the liquid cooling plate where no components are installed and the upper part is free space.

[0017] According to the second aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a phased array antenna is provided, including the structure as described in the first aspect.

[0018] The technical solution of the present application controls the bulging position of the liquid cooling plate through the established pressure relief chamber, and realizes the rapid repair of the bulging area through the provided cover plate, thereby preventing the waste disassembly and assembly of the cold plate, and finally eliminating the large economic and efficiency losses caused by the bulging of the liquid cooling plate.

[0019] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are only exemplary and explanatory, and cannot limit the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The accompanying drawings herein are incorporated into the specification and constitute a part of the specification, showing embodiments consistent with the present application, and are used together with the specification to explain the principles of the present application. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and those of ordinary skill in the art can also obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts. In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a liquid cooling plate self-pressure relief structure of an active phased array antenna according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0022] Figure 2 Shows a schematic diagram of the position of the internal pressure relief cavity of the liquid cooling plate relative to the liquid cooling flow channel according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0023] Figure 3 Shows an exploded schematic diagram of the position of the pressure relief cavity according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0024] Figure 4 Shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the position of the pressure relief cavity according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0025] Description of reference numerals

[0026] 1 - Liquid cooling plate, 2 - TR module, 3 - Cover plate, 4 - Strain sensor, 5 - Locking screw, 6 - Liquid cooling quick connector, 7 - Liquid cooling flow channel, 8 - Pressure relief cavity, 9 - Sealing ring, 10 - Installation groove, 11 - Middle part of the cover plate, 12 - Wall of the liquid cooling flow channel. Detailed implementation manners

[0027] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the example embodiments can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this application will be more complete and comprehensive, and will fully convey the concept of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art.

[0028] In addition, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of the embodiments of this application. However, those skilled in the art will realize that the technical solutions of this application can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or other methods, components, devices, steps, etc. can be adopted. In other cases, well-known methods, devices, implementations, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of this application.

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0030] The following will describe in detail some embodiments of this application with reference to the accompanying drawings. Without conflict, the following embodiments and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0031] To solve the technical problems existing in the prior art, an embodiment of the present application provides a self-relieving pressure structure for a liquid cooling plate of an active phased array antenna. Specifically, the structure includes: a liquid cooling plate;

[0032] The liquid cooling plate is provided with a liquid cooling flow channel and a pressure relief cavity communicated with the liquid cooling flow channel;

[0033] The opening of the pressure relief cavity is communicated with the outside, a cover plate is installed on the opening of the pressure relief cavity, and the thickness of the thinnest part of the cover plate is less than the minimum wall thickness of the liquid cooling flow channel.

[0034] It can be understood that the thickness of the thinnest part of the cover plate being less than the minimum wall thickness of the liquid cooling flow channel indicates that inside the liquid cooling plate, the cover plate is the thinnest position. Therefore, when the internal pressure of the liquid cooling plate is too high, the pressure is guided to this cover plate position and relieved through bulging. Thus, the liquid cooling flow channel is protected from pressure relief and no longer bulges, and further ensures that the TR components installed above the liquid cooling flow channel are also prevented from deforming or being damaged.

[0035] In some feasible embodiments, based on the foregoing solution, a strain sensor is attached to the upper surface of the cover plate, and the strain sensor is connected to the control motherboard of the phased array antenna.

[0036] It can be understood that the strain sensor can be connected to the control motherboard of the phased array antenna through leads. When the cover plate bulges, the strain sensor can transmit this information to the control motherboard, so as to realize alarm or shutdown after the cover plate bulges and deforms, and timely protect the whole antenna and perform maintenance (replace the cover plate) of the liquid cooling plate.

[0037] In some feasible embodiments, based on the foregoing solution, the thickness of the middle part of the cover plate is less than the thickness of the periphery of the cover plate.

[0038] It can be understood that the purpose of designing the cover plate to be thin in the middle and thick in the surrounding circle is to ensure the connection strength between the cover plate and the pressure relief cavity while guiding the pressure relief bulging position to the middle part of the cover plate.

[0039] In some feasible embodiments, based on the foregoing solution, the cover plate is hermetically connected to the opening of the pressure relief cavity.

[0040] It can be understood that the seal can ensure that the pressure relief cavity does not leak antifreeze.

[0041] In some feasible embodiments, based on the foregoing solution, an installation groove is formed on the periphery of the opening of the pressure relief cavity, and a sealing ring for sealing the cover plate is installed in the installation groove.

[0042] In some feasible embodiments, based on the foregoing solution, the cover plate is installed on the opening of the pressure relief cavity in a detachable manner.

[0043] It is understandable that the cover plate can be detachably installed on the opening of the pressure relief cavity, which is convenient for replacing the cover plate after it bulges, and completing the maintenance of the liquid cooling plate.

[0044] In some feasible embodiments, based on the foregoing solution, the cover plate is installed on the opening of the pressure relief cavity through locking screws.

[0045] In some feasible embodiments, based on the foregoing solution, a liquid cooling quick connector for confining the antifreeze in the liquid cooling flow channel is further provided on the structure.

[0046] In some feasible embodiments, based on the foregoing solution, the pressure relief cavity is arranged in the blank area of the liquid cooling plate where no components are installed and the upper part is free space.

[0047] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the number of pressure relief cavities needs to be determined according to the available area of the liquid cooling plate. The volume of the pressure relief cavity needs to be determined according to the actual liquid storage volume of the liquid cooling flow channel.

[0048] Exemplarily, refer to Figure 1 , which shows a schematic structural diagram of a liquid cooling plate self-pressure relief structure of an active phased array antenna according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0049] Refer to Figure 2 , which shows a schematic diagram of the position of the internal pressure relief cavity of the liquid cooling plate relative to the liquid cooling flow channel according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0050] Refer to Figure 3 , which shows an exploded schematic diagram of the position of the pressure relief cavity according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0051] Refer to Figure 4 , which shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the position of the pressure relief cavity according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0052] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, a liquid cooling plate self-pressure relief structure of an active phased array antenna provided in this example includes a liquid cooling plate 1. A liquid cooling flow channel 7 is arranged inside the liquid cooling plate 1. A plurality of TR modules 2 are arranged on the surface of the liquid cooling plate 1, and the TR modules 2 are located above the liquid cooling flow channel 7. A pressure relief cavity 8 is opened in the blank area of the liquid cooling plate 1 where no devices are installed. In this example, a total of two pressure relief cavities are provided. A cover plate 3 is installed at the opening of the pressure relief cavity 8. The cover plate 3 is detachably installed at the opening of the pressure relief cavity 8 through locking screws 5. A strain sensor 4 is arranged on the upper surface of the cover plate 3 for detecting whether the cover plate 3 is deformed. The lead wire of the strain sensor 4 is connected to the control motherboard of the phased array antenna so as to transmit the deformation information to the control motherboard. A liquid cooling quick connector 6 is further arranged on the liquid cooling plate 1, and the liquid cooling quick connector 6 is used for confining the antifreeze in the liquid cooling flow channel 7.

[0053] As Figure 3 shown, an installation groove 10 for installing a sealing ring 9 is provided around the opening of the pressure relief cavity 8. When installing the installation cover plate 3, first place the sealing ring 9 in the installation groove 10, and then install the cover plate 3 at the opening of the pressure relief cavity 8 through the locking screw 5.

[0054] As Figure 4 shown, the pressure relief cavity 8 and the liquid cooling channel 7 are in a communicating state, and the middle part 11 of the cover plate is thinner than the liquid cooling channel wall 12 at the thinnest part of the liquid cooling channel 7.

[0055] When the antenna is heated (environmental test, repair, etc.), the internal pressure of the liquid cooling channel 7 rises sharply. Since the static pressure inside the cavity is equal everywhere, the internal pressures of the liquid cooling channel 7 and the pressure relief cavity 8 communicating with it are the same. A cover plate 3 is provided on the upper part of the pressure relief cavity 8. Since the middle part 11 of the cover plate is smaller than the liquid cooling channel wall 12, when the internal pressure is large enough, bulging will first occur at the middle part 11 of the cover plate, realizing self-pressure relief after the internal cavity volume expands, thereby avoiding deformation of the liquid cooling channel wall 12. When the cover plate 3 deforms, the strain sensor 4 mounted on its upper part also undergoes tensile deformation at the same time, and the internal resistance value changes. This signal is transmitted to the control motherboard for control and judgment to realize the functions of alarm or shutdown.

[0056] The sealing and assembling method of the pressure relief cavity 8 and the cover plate 3 is not limited to the sealing method of the sealing ring. The principle is that when ensuring that the liquid cooling plate 1 is not damaged, ensuring the sealing of the pressure relief cavity 8 and the connection strength between the edge of the cover plate and the pressure relief cavity, the cover plate 3 can be conveniently replaced multiple times. For example, it can also be laser welding sealing.

[0057] In summary, the liquid cooling plate self-pressure relief structure of an active phased array antenna provided by the embodiment of the present application has the following advantages:

[0058] 1) The material cost of replacement caused by the TR module or device being damaged or severely deformed is eliminated;

[0059] 2) The material cost of replacing the liquid cooling plate is eliminated;

[0060] 3) The time and labor costs brought by replacing the above components and the whole machine test after replacement are eliminated.

[0061] Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiment of the present application also provides a phased array antenna, which includes the liquid cooling plate self-pressure relief structure of an active phased array antenna described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0062] The antenna adopting this structure can save material costs, maintenance costs, labor costs, etc.

[0063] Those skilled in the art will readily conceive of other embodiments of the present application after considering the specification and practicing the embodiments disclosed herein. The present application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present application, which follow the general principles of the present application and include common general knowledge or conventional technical means in the technical field not disclosed in the present application. It should be understood that the present application is not limited to the exact structures described above and shown in the drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the present application is only limited by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A self-pressure-relieving structure of a liquid-cooling plate for an active phased array antenna, characterized in that, Comprising: Liquid cooling plate; The liquid cooling plate is provided with a liquid cooling flow channel and a pressure relief cavity communicated with the liquid cooling flow channel; The opening of the pressure relief cavity is communicated with the outside, a cover plate is installed on the opening of the pressure relief cavity, and the thickness of the thinnest part of the cover plate is less than the minimum wall thickness of the liquid cooling flow channel; A strain sensor is attached to the upper surface of the cover plate, and the strain sensor is connected to the control motherboard of the phased array antenna; The thickness of the middle part of the cover plate is less than the thickness of the periphery of the cover plate; The cover plate is installed on the opening of the pressure relief cavity in a detachable manner; The pressure relief cavity is arranged in the blank area of the liquid cooling plate where no component is installed and the upper part is free space.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein The cover plate is hermetically connected to the opening of the pressure relief cavity.

3. The structure according to claim 2, wherein An installation groove is formed in the periphery of the opening of the pressure relief cavity, and a sealing ring for sealing the cover plate is installed in the installation groove.

4. The structure according to claim 1, wherein The cover plate is installed on the opening of the pressure relief cavity through a locking screw.

5. The structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, A liquid cooling quick connector for confining the antifreeze in the liquid cooling flow channel is further arranged on the structure.

6. A phased array antenna, characterized in that, Comprising the structure according to any one of claims 1-5.

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