3D Printing-Based Monolithic Vapor Chamber, Semi-Finished Product and Processing Method

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the technical field of heat dissipation devices, and particularly relates to a 3D printing-based integrated structure heat pipe, semi-finished product and processing method. It solves the defects such as unreasonable design in the prior art. The 3D printing-based integrated structure heat pipe semi-finished product includes an integrally formed printing plate body, a printing communication port and a printing wick formed by 3D printing in an integrated manner. The integrally formed printing plate body has a cavity inside, and the printing communication port is printed and formed at the edge of the integrally formed printing plate body and communicated with the cavity. The printing wick is located in the cavity and is printed and formed on the inner surface of the condensation plate of the integrally formed printing plate body. A printing flow channel communicating with the printing communication port is formed between the printing wick and the condensation plate and / or on the printing wick. The advantages of this application are: improving production efficiency and enhancing heat dissipation performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of heat dissipation devices, and particularly relates to a 3D printing-based integrated structure heat pipe, semi-finished product and processing method. Background Art

[0002] Traditional heat pipes usually consist of a metal upper cover plate, a lower cover plate, an intermediate wick, support columns and a working fluid cavity, and their manufacturing requires multi-process separate processing:

[0003] Separate manufacturing:

[0004] The cover plate is formed by stamping / etching after being rolled into a thin plate, and support columns are synchronously prepared on the CO condensation plate;

[0005] The wick depends on different processes. The mesh wick is usually prepared by a metal wire weaving process, and some are also prepared by etching or sintering;

[0006] The injection tube is usually a copper tube or a plastic tube;

[0007] Assembly and welding: After positioning each component, it is hermetically welded at high temperature by a brazing process.

[0008] Post-treatment: Insert the injection tube, vacuum injection, primary and secondary degassing, sealing and surface treatment.

[0009] Defects of the prior art:

[0010] Complex process: It involves multiple links such as rolling, etching, weaving, stamping, sintering, brazing, dispensing and curing, etc., and the process is as long as 10-15 processes.

[0011] Material waste: Separate processing results in a raw material utilization rate of less than 60%, and additional filling materials are required for brazing.

[0012] Poor environmental protection: Acidic wastewater is generated during etching, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted during brazing, and a large amount of reducing gas is required at the same time, with high power consumption and high carbon emission intensity.

[0013] Design limitation: The wick is limited to regular groove or sintered particle structures and cannot achieve gradient porosity optimization. Summary of the Invention

[0014] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a 3D printing-based integrated structure heat pipe, semi-finished product and processing method that can solve the above technical problems.

[0015] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0016] The semi-finished product of the 3D printing-based integrated heat pipe includes an integrally formed printed plate body, a printed communication port, and a printed wick formed by 3D printing. The integrally formed printed plate body has a cavity inside, and the printed communication port is printed and formed at the edge of the integrally formed printed plate body and communicates with the cavity. The printed wick is located in the cavity and is printed and formed on the inner surface of the condensation plate of the integrally formed printed plate body. A printed flow channel communicating with the printed communication port is formed between the printed wick and the condensation plate and / or on the printed wick.

[0017] Preferably, the printed wick includes at least one layer of printed wick layers formed by a number of mutually spaced printed forming parts, and the printed flow channels are formed between the mutually spaced printed forming parts.

[0018] Preferably, the printed wick includes two stacked printed wick layers. Each layer of the printed wick layer is respectively formed by a number of mutually spaced printed forming parts. The printed flow channels are formed between the printed forming parts of each layer of the printed wick layer, and the printed flow channels of the two layers of the printed wick layers communicate with each other.

[0019] Preferably, the printed forming parts of the two layers of the printed wick layers are arranged in a staggered distribution or an aligned distribution.

[0020] Preferably, at least part of the printed forming parts of the two layers of the printed wick layers are arranged in a staggered distribution, and the remaining part is arranged in an aligned distribution.

[0021] Preferably, the printed forming part is any one or a combination of a rectangle, a rhombus, and a triangle. The printed wick of the same layer includes a number of printed forming parts with the same structure, and their printed sizes are the same or different.

[0022] Preferably, it further includes a microchannel structure printed and integrally formed on the inner surface of the evaporation plate of the integrally formed printed plate body by 3D printing, and a printed support column integrally formed between the evaporation plate and the condensation plate.

[0023] The present application also provides an integrated heat pipe. The integrated heat pipe is obtained by removing and sealing the printed communication port of the semi-finished product of the 3D printing-based integrated heat pipe, and a working medium is provided in the cavity.

[0024] The present application also provides a processing method for the integrated heat pipe, including the following steps:

[0025] S1. The metal powder is printed by 3D printing to obtain an integrally formed printed plate body with a cavity, a printed communication port printed and formed at the edge of the integrally formed printed plate body and communicating with the cavity, and a printed liquid absorption core printed and formed on the inner surface of the condensation plate of the integrally formed printed plate body. A printed flow channel communicating with the printed communication port is formed between the printed liquid absorption core and the condensation plate and / or on the printed liquid absorption core;

[0026] S2. The residual metal powder in the cavity of the integrally formed printed plate body in S1 is discharged outside the cavity by means of air-flow powder discharging;

[0027] S3. The integrally formed printed plate body in S2 is heat-treated and machined to obtain an integrally formed printed plate body without the printed communication port, and a working medium is injected into the cavity by means of vacuum injection and the cavity is sealed;

[0028] S4. The integrally formed printed plate body in S3 is post-treated to obtain the integrally structured heat pipe.

[0029] Preferably, there are two printed communication ports, which are printed and formed at opposite ends in the length direction of the integrally formed printed plate body. One of the printed communication ports is connected to a first powder discharging pipeline, and the other printed communication port is connected to a powder discharging collection container or a second powder discharging pipeline to perform powder discharging treatment on the cavity and the printed flow channel.

[0030] Compared with the existing technology, the advantages of the present application are as follows:

[0031] Integrated structure: The condensation plate, the printed liquid absorption core, the printed support column, and the printed communication port are integrally formed at one time, eliminating assembly errors, eliminating the processes of dispensing and curing to fix the liquid injection pipe, and avoiding the risk of air leakage.

[0032] Free design of the heat pipe micro-structure: The printed liquid absorption core can be customized into a bionic fractal, gradient porous, and high-efficiency phase change structure with a printed flow channel in the integrally formed printed plate body to improve the heat dissipation performance.

[0033] More stable liquid injection and vacuum pumping processes: Prepared by using a separate method for liquid injection and vacuum pumping, avoiding the removal of the injected cooling medium by the subsequent vacuum pumping process, and having high liquid injection stability and consistency.

[0034] Low-carbon process: More than 80% of the production processes are reduced, and the material utilization rate is increased to more than 95%.

[0035] New manufacturing method: Micro-scale 3D printing technology, improving production efficiency. Description of the Drawings

[0036] Figure 1It is a schematic three-dimensional structure diagram of a semi-finished product of an integrated heat pipe based on 3D printing provided by the present invention.

[0037] Figure 2 It is a schematic structure diagram of a semi-finished product of an integrated heat pipe based on 3D printing provided by the present invention.

[0038] Figure 3 Is Figure 2 The schematic cross-sectional structure diagram along the A-A line in

[0039] Figure 4 It is a schematic structure diagram of a rectangular printing wick for printing different-sized printing forming parts provided by the present invention.

[0040] Figure 5 It is a schematic structure diagram of a mixed rectangular and diamond-shaped printing wick provided by the present invention.

[0041] Figure 6 It is a schematic structure diagram of a rectangular printing wick provided by the present invention.

[0042] Figure 7 It is a schematic structure diagram of a diamond-shaped printing wick provided by the present invention.

[0043] Figure 8 It is a schematic structure diagram of a double-layer rectangular printing wick provided by the present invention.

[0044] Figure 9 It is a schematic structure diagram of a double-layer diamond-shaped printing wick provided by the present invention.

[0045] Figure 10 It is a schematic powder discharge structure diagram provided by the present invention.

[0046] Figure 11 It is a schematic structure diagram of an integrated heat pipe provided by the present invention.

[0047] In the figure, an integrally formed printing plate body 1, a cavity 10, a condensation plate 11, an evaporation plate 12, a microchannel structure 13, a printing support column 14, a printing communication port 2, a printing wick 3, a printing flow channel 30, a printing forming part 31, a printing wick layer 32, a first powder discharge pipe 40, and a powder discharge collection container 41. Specific Embodiments

[0048] The following are specific embodiments of the invention and, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, further describe the technical solutions of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0049] Example 1, 3D printing of metal materials such as copper alloy, aluminum alloy, or titanium alloy or metal composite materials, and micro-scale 3D printing technology, using a 20um spot and a low layer thickness printing process method. As Figure 1 And Figure 2As shown in the figure, the semi-finished product of the 3D printing-based integrated heat pipe includes an integrally formed printed plate body 1, a printed communication port 2, a printed wick 3, a microchannel structure 13, and a printed support column 14 formed by 3D printing in one piece. The integrally formed printed plate body 1 is in the shape of a rectangular sheet.

[0050] That is, each of the above parts is directly integrally formed by 3D printing, eliminating assembly errors, eliminating the processes of dispensing and curing the injection tube, avoiding the risk of air leakage. At the same time, the production process is greatly shortened, which is conducive to mass production.

[0051] As Figure 3 shown, the integrally formed printed plate body 1 has a cavity 10 inside, and the printed communication port 2 is printed and formed at the edge of the integrally formed printed plate body 1 and communicates with the cavity 10. The printed communication port 2 in this embodiment can be understood as a tubular structure, and two printed communication ports 2 are provided at both ends in the length direction of the integrally formed printed plate body 1. The printed communication port 2 is directly printed and formed on the integrally formed printed plate body 1, which can prevent air leakage.

[0052] As Figures 3 - 9 shown, the printed wick 3 is located inside the cavity 10 and is printed and formed on the inner surface of the condensation plate 11 of the integrally formed printed plate body 1. The following are two implementation methods: The first: A printed flow channel 30 communicating with the printed communication port 2 is formed between the printed wick 3 and the inner surface of the condensation plate 11. The second: A printed flow channel 30 communicating with the printed communication port 2 is formed on the printed wick 3.

[0053] The printed flow channel 30 communicates with the printed communication port 2, which can facilitate subsequent powder removal treatment and can polish the inside to make the inside of the cavity 10 clean and meet the corresponding surface roughness requirements, ensuring the smooth flow of the working fluid.

[0054] The structure of the printed wick 3 can be printed into bionic fractal and gradient porous / groove and other structures. The specific surface area of the printed wick 3 increases by 50%-200%, the thermal conductivity increases by more than 30%, and the consistency is high, so that the heat dissipation performance of the heat pipe is greatly improved.

[0055] At the same time, the etching / brazing process is eliminated, and the carbon footprint of a single product is reduced by 65%, with better environmental benefits.

[0056] Specifically, the printed wick 3 in this embodiment has 1-2 layers. The specific introduction is as follows:

[0057] The first structure: As Figures 4 - 7 shown, the printed wick 3 includes at least one printed wick layer 32 formed by a number of mutually spaced printed forming parts 31, and a printed flow channel 30 is formed between the mutually spaced printed forming parts 31.

[0058] The second structure: As Figures 8 - 9 shown, the printing wick 3 includes two layers of stacked printing wick layers 32, and each printing wick layer 32 is respectively formed by a plurality of spaced-apart printing and forming parts 31. Printing channels 30 are formed between the plurality of printing and forming parts 31 of each printing wick layer 32, and the printing channels 30 of the two printing wick layers 32 communicate with each other. That is, the printing channels 30 on one printing wick layer 32 and the printing channels 30 on the other printing wick layer 32 communicate with each other.

[0059] The printing and forming part 31 is any one or a combination of a rectangle, a rhombus, and a triangle. To form a gradient printing channel 30, which is convenient for the thoroughness of powder discharging in the later process.

[0060] For example, as Figure 6 shown, the printing and forming parts 31 of one printing wick layer 32 are all rectangles. Of course, as Figure 5 and Figure 7 shown, they can also all be rhombuses, or a combination of some rectangles and some rhombuses. Further, taking one printing wick layer 32 as an example, such as the printing and forming parts 31 printed as rhombuses in the middle and the printing and forming parts 31 printed as rectangles at both ends. Of course, the positions of the rhombus-shaped printing and forming parts 31 and the rectangle-shaped printing and forming parts 31 here can be interchanged.

[0061] As Figure 4 shown, or printing and forming parts 31 with different lengths and widths. That is, the same layer of printing wick 3 includes a plurality of printing and forming parts 31 with the same structure, and their printing sizes are the same or different. It can be understood that: the printing and forming parts 31 with a longer perimeter are arranged in the middle of one printing wick layer 32, and the printing and forming parts 31 with a relatively shorter perimeter are arranged at both ends. That is, the printing density of the plurality of printing and forming parts 31 in the middle of one printing wick layer 32 is lower than the printing density of the plurality of printing and forming parts 31 at at least one end of one printing wick layer 32.

[0062] Secondly, as Figures 8 - 9 shown, when two printing wick layers 32 are selected, the shapes of the printing and forming parts 31 of the two printing wick layers 32 can be the same or different. For example, the printing and forming parts 31 of one printing wick layer 32 are selected as rectangles, and the printing and forming parts 31 of the other printing wick layer 32 are selected as rhombuses.

[0063] The above are examples of some implementation manners, and the printing and forming part 31 can also be trapezoidal, oval, or circular, etc., which will not be enumerated here.

[0064] Print the flow channels 30 on the printing wicking layer 32, which not only retains internal passages to improve heat dissipation performance, but also provides high efficiency for post-processing. Because, in this embodiment, the flow channels 30 mainly contain liquid and will be in a vacuum state. The existence of the flow channels can reduce thermal resistance, improve heat transfer efficiency, and provide a passage for polishing the internal flow channels.

[0065] Further, the following are different implementation schemes of the two-layer printing wicking layer 32:

[0066] First, as Figures 8 - 9 shown, the printed forming parts 31 of the two-layer printing wicking layer 32 are arranged in a staggered manner. That is, the printed forming parts 31 of one layer of the printing wicking layer 32 and the printed forming parts 31 of the other layer of the printing wicking layer 32 do not overlap in position. For example, the printed forming parts 31 of the other layer of the printing wicking layer 32 at least partially enclose the printing flow channels 30 formed by several printed forming parts 31 of one layer of the printing wicking layer 32. In this state, a larger heat dissipation contact surface can be obtained to further improve heat dissipation performance.

[0067] Second, the printed forming parts 31 of the two-layer printing wicking layer 32 are arranged in an aligned manner.

[0068] Third, at least part of the printed forming parts 31 of the two-layer printing wicking layer 32 are arranged in a staggered manner, and the remaining part is arranged in an aligned manner. That is, at least part of the printed forming parts 31 of one layer of the printing wicking layer 32 and at least part of the printed forming parts 31 of the other layer of the printing wicking layer 32 are arranged in a staggered manner, while the remaining printed forming parts 31 of one layer of the printing wicking layer 32 and the remaining printed forming parts 31 of the other layer of the printing wicking layer 32 are arranged in an aligned manner.

[0069] The above are three different arrangement methods of the printing wicking layer 32, which can not only improve heat dissipation performance, but also ensure the high efficiency of post-processing (such as powder discharging).

[0070] Further, as Figure 3 shown, the microchannel structure 13 of this embodiment is integrally formed on the inner surface of the evaporation plate 12 of the integrally formed printing plate body 1. The microchannel structure 13 is, for example, several longitudinal grooves and several transverse grooves, or a combination of several longitudinal grooves and several transverse grooves.

[0071] The printing support columns 14 are integrally formed on the inner surface of the condensation plate 11 and extend toward the evaporation plate 12 side. That is, the printing support columns 14 are located in the cavity 10 and between the evaporation plate 12 and the condensation plate 11 to improve structural strength.

[0072] This embodiment adopts a 3D printing and integral forming method, which not only makes the products of the heat pipe have a highly consistent structure, but also can shorten the production cycle.

[0073] Example 2, as Figure 10 shown, this example discloses a monolithic structure heat pipe. The monolithic structure heat pipe is obtained by removing and sealing the printing communication ports 2 of the semi-finished monolithic structure heat pipe based on 3D printing in Example 1, and a working fluid is provided in the cavity 10.

[0074] Integrated structure: The condensation plate 11, the printed wick 3, the printed support posts 14, and the printing communication ports 2 are formed in one step, eliminating assembly errors, eliminating the processes of dispensing and curing to fix the liquid injection tube, and avoiding the risk of air leakage.

[0075] Free design of the heat pipe micro-structure: The printed wick 3 can be customized into a bionic fractal, gradient porous, and high-efficiency phase change structure with printing channels 30 in the integrally formed printing plate body 1 to improve the heat dissipation performance.

[0076] More stable liquid injection and vacuum pumping processes: Prepared by using a separate method for liquid injection and vacuum pumping, avoiding the removal of the injected cooling medium by the subsequent vacuum pumping process, and having high liquid injection stability and consistency.

[0077] Low-carbon process: Reducing more than 80% of the production processes and increasing the material utilization rate to more than 95%.

[0078] New manufacturing method: Micro-scale 3D printing technology, using a 20um light spot and a low layer thickness printing process method, improving the production efficiency.

[0079] Example 3, as Figures 1 - 10 shown, this example provides a processing method for the monolithic structure heat pipe in Example 2, including the following steps:

[0080] S1. The metal powder is printed by 3D printing to obtain an integrally formed printing plate body 1 with a cavity 10, two printing communication ports 2 printed and formed at the edge of the integrally formed printing plate body 1 and communicating with the cavity 10, a printed wick 3 printed and formed on the inner surface of the condensation plate 11 of the integrally formed printing plate body 1, a micro-channel structure 13 printed and formed on the inner surface of the evaporation plate 12 of the integrally formed printing plate body 1, and printed support posts 14 integrally formed between the evaporation plate 12 and the condensation plate 11. A printing channel 30 communicating with the printing communication ports 2 is formed between the printed wick 3 and the condensation plate 11, or a printing channel 30 communicating with the printing communication ports 2 is formed on the printed wick 3.

[0081] S2. The residual metal powder in the cavity 10 of the integrally formed printing plate body 1 in S1 is discharged outside the cavity 10 by using an air-flow powder discharging method;

[0082] Specifically, as Figure 11As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, two printing communication ports 2 are integrally formed at opposite ends in the length direction of the integrally formed printing plate body 1. One of the printing communication ports 2 is connected to the first powder discharging pipeline 40, and the other printing communication port 2 is connected to the powder discharging and collecting container 41 or the second powder discharging pipeline, and powder discharging treatment is performed on the cavity 10 and the printing flow channel 30.

[0083] When discharging powder, multiple integrally formed printing plate bodies 1 can be connected in parallel for multi-station processing to improve efficiency.

[0084] S3. Perform heat treatment and machining on the integrally formed printing plate body 1 in S2 to obtain an integrally formed printing plate body 1 without a printing communication port 2, and inject a working fluid into the cavity 10 by a vacuum injection method and seal the cavity 10; the working fluid is deionized water.

[0085] Specifically, the machining includes electrical discharge slicing, shaping, and removing the printing communication port 2 by mechanical equipment. The vacuum injection method includes blowing and filling with water, the first degassing, and the second degassing, and the cavity 10 is sealed by resistance welding.

[0086] After removing the printing communication port 2, a small local communication port will still be retained. The working fluid is injected into one of the communication ports, and the other communication port is evacuated. And the communication port is closed, that is, the cavity 10 is sealed. The closing is achieved by squeezing the communication port and welding.

[0087] S4. Perform post-treatment on the integrally formed printing plate body 1 in S3 to obtain an integrally structured heat pipe. The post-treatment includes thickness testing (AOI) and Delta T testing (abbreviated as DT). The temperature difference distribution of the heat pipe in this embodiment is consistent with that of the heat pipe manufactured by the traditional manufacturing process, and the heat dissipation performance of the heat pipe in this embodiment is better than that of the heat pipe manufactured by the traditional manufacturing process.

[0088] The following takes titanium alloy as an example to manufacture an integrally structured heat pipe. Specifically:

[0089] The material selected is gas atomized TC4 powder (particle size <20μm);

[0090] Printing parameters: laser power 300W, layer thickness 15μm, scanning speed 1200mm / s, beam diameter 20μm, argon protection;

[0091] And the processing method steps of Embodiment 3 are adopted.

[0092] The process of this embodiment is shortened: from the traditional 15 processes to 3-4 processes, and the production cycle is reduced by 70%.

[0093] Compared with the transmission process, the production cycle of the traditional process is 72 hours, while it is 8 hours in this embodiment. The welding yield of the traditional process is 85%, and the welding yield of this embodiment is 100%. The thermal resistance (℃ / W) of the traditional process is 0.15, and the thermal resistance (℃ / W) of this embodiment is 0.09.

[0094] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the spirit of the present invention. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications or supplements to the described specific embodiments or use similar methods for substitution, but they will not deviate from the spirit of the present invention or exceed the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. The semi-finished product of the integrated vapor chamber based on 3D printing is characterized in that It includes an integrally formed printing plate body (1), a printing communication port (2), and a printing wick (3) integrally formed by 3D printing. The integrally formed printing plate body (1) has a cavity (10) inside, and the printing communication port (2) is integrally formed at the edge of the integrally formed printing plate body (1) and communicates with the cavity (10). The printing communication port (2) is provided in two and is located at both ends in the length direction of the integrally formed printing plate body (1). The printing wick (3) is located in the cavity (10) and is integrally formed on the inner surface of the condensation plate (11) of the integrally formed printing plate body (1). A printing flow channel (30) communicating with the printing communication port (2) is formed between the printing wick (3) and the condensation plate (11) and / or on the printing wick (3). The printing wick (3) includes two layers of stacked printing wick layers (32). Each printing wick layer (32) is respectively formed by a plurality of spaced-apart printing formed parts (31). The printing flow channels (30) are formed between the printing formed parts (31) of each printing wick layer (32), and the printing flow channels (30) of the two printing wick layers (32) communicate with each other. The printing formed parts (31) of the two printing wick layers (32) are arranged in a staggered manner.

2. The semi-finished product of the 3D printing-based integrated heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The printing formed part (31) is any one or a combination of a rectangle, a rhombus, and a triangle; the same layer of the printing wick (3) includes a plurality of printing formed parts (31) with the same structure, and their printing sizes are the same or different.

3. The semi-finished product of the 3D printing-based integrated heat pipe according to claim 1, wherein It also includes a microchannel structure (13) integrally formed on the inner surface of the evaporation plate (12) of the integrally formed printing plate body (1) by 3D printing, and a printing support column (14) integrally formed between the evaporation plate (12) and the condensation plate (11).

4. Integrated structure heat pipe, characterized in that, The integrally structured heat pipe is obtained by removing and sealing the printing communication port (2) of the integrally structured heat pipe semi-finished product based on 3D printing according to any one of claims 1-3, and a working medium is provided in the cavity (10).

5. The processing method for the integrated heat pipe of the structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The processing method includes the following steps: S1. Metal powder is printed by 3D printing to obtain an integrally formed printing plate body (1) with a cavity (10), a printing communication port (2) integrally formed at the edge of the integrally formed printing plate body (1) and communicating with the cavity (10), and a printing wick (3) integrally formed on the inner surface of the condensation plate (11) of the integrally formed printing plate body (1). A printing flow channel (30) communicating with the printing communication port (2) is formed between the printing wick (3) and the condensation plate (11) and / or on the printing wick (3). S2. The residual metal powder in the cavity (10) of the integrally formed printing plate body (1) in S1 is discharged outside the cavity (10) by an air-flow powder discharging method. S3. Heat-treat and machine the integrally formed printing plate body (1) in S2 to obtain an integrally formed printing plate body (1) without the printing communication ports (2), and inject a working fluid into the cavity (10) by means of vacuum injection and seal the cavity (10); S4. Post-process the integrally formed printing plate body (1) in S3 to obtain the integrally structured heat pipe.

6. The processing method of the integrated heat pipe according to claim 5, characterized in that There are two of the printing communication ports (2), which are formed by printing at opposite ends in the length direction of the integrally formed printing plate body (1). Connect one of the printing communication ports (2) to the first powder discharge pipe (40), and connect the other printing communication port (2) to a powder discharge collection container (41) or a second powder discharge pipe to perform powder discharge treatment on the cavity (10) and the printing flow channel (30).

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