Sectional type moldable self-adaptive flexible heat pipe

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of heat transfer, in particular to a sectional type moldable self-adaptive flexible heat pipe. Comprising a flexible attaching heat absorption end, a moldable flexible connecting pipe and a rigid transmission section which are connected in sequence. A main body of the flexible fitting heat absorption end is made of a flexible heat conduction material, and a high-heat-conduction heat collection layer is arranged at the rear end of the flexible heat conduction material; the moldable flexible connecting pipe is of a multi-layer tubular structure and sequentially comprises a moldable shell, a liquid absorption core and a supporting framework from outside to inside. And the condensation section is used for condensing the steam. The heat absorption, flexible positioning, efficient transmission and heat dissipation functions of the heat pipe are decomposed into specifically designed modules, and therefore precise, efficient and stable heat dissipation of a complex heat source is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of heat transfer technology, specifically to a segmented, shape-adaptive, flexible heat pipe. Background Technology

[0002] A heat pipe is a highly efficient passive two-phase heat transfer device that utilizes the latent heat of vaporization of a working fluid to achieve efficient heat transfer. Its basic structure includes a sealed container (outer shell), a small amount of working fluid, and a capillary structure (wick). During operation, heat is applied to the evaporation section, causing the working fluid in the wick to evaporate and absorb its latent heat of vaporization. The resulting vapor is driven by the pressure difference to flow to the lower-temperature condensation section. In the condensation section, the vapor condenses, releasing its latent heat, and through capillary action or gravity, the condensate flows back to the evaporation section along the wick, forming a continuous heat transfer cycle.

[0003] However, traditional heat pipes are mostly rigid structures, which limits their application in complex spaces or dynamic scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a segmented, shape-adaptive, flexible heat pipe that can adapt to complex spaces and irregular heat source surfaces, achieving close contact and efficient, flexible heat transfer.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows:

[0006] A segmented, shape-adaptive, flexible heat pipe includes a flexible heat-absorbing end, a shape-adaptive flexible connecting tube, and a rigid transmission section connected in sequence.

[0007] The main body of the flexible heat-absorbing end is a flexible thermally conductive material, and a high thermal conductivity heat collection layer is located at the rear end of the flexible thermally conductive material.

[0008] The malleable flexible connecting tube has a multi-layered tubular structure, consisting of a malleable outer shell, a liquid-absorbing core, and a supporting frame from the outside to the inside. The malleable outer shell can be shaped as needed. The liquid-absorbing core is used to transport liquid through capillary action. The supporting frame has a cavity inside, which serves as a steam channel for steam circulation. The supporting frame can deform synchronously with the malleable outer shell, while preventing the steam channel from becoming "dead bends" or flattened.

[0009] The condensation section is used to condense the steam from the flexible bonding heat absorption end, and at the same time, the condensed liquid is transferred back to the flexible bonding heat absorption end through the liquid absorption core.

[0010] Furthermore, it also includes a transition connector, which is used to connect the malleable flexible connecting pipe and the condensing section. The outer layer of the transition connector is a rigid shell, the inner side of the rigid shell is the liquid suction core of the connecting section, and the inner side of the liquid suction core of the connecting section is the vapor channel of the connecting section. A flexible corrugated pipe positioning groove with the same material as the malleable shell is provided at the front end of the transition connector, and a rigid pipe section positioning groove with the same material as the shell of the condensing section is provided at the rear end of the transition connector.

[0011] Furthermore, the front end of the flexible thermally conductive material features a concave central contact button.

[0012] Furthermore, the side of the flexible thermally conductive material has a flexible skirt.

[0013] Furthermore, within the flexible thermally conductive material, a metal thermally conductive pillar is provided to connect the central contact button and the high thermal conductivity heat collection layer.

[0014] Furthermore, the high thermal conductivity heat collection layer is graphite fiber cloth.

[0015] Furthermore, the malleable outer shell is a thin-walled metal bellows.

[0016] Furthermore, the material of the support frame is PEEK or fine metal wire.

[0017] Beneficial effects: This invention decomposes the heat absorption, flexible positioning, efficient transmission and heat dissipation functions of heat pipes into specially designed modules, thereby achieving precise, efficient and stable heat dissipation from complex heat sources. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall 2D structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible bonding heat-absorbing end 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the malleable flexible connecting tube 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the 3002-dimensional structure of the transition connector 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Reference numerals: 100-Flexible heat absorption end; 200-Moldable flexible connecting pipe; 300-Transition connector; 400-Condensation section; 101-Flexible skirt; 102-Metal heat-conducting column; 103-Center contact button; 104-High thermal conductivity heat collection layer; 201-Moldable outer shell; 202-Liquid wick; 203-Supporting frame; 204-Steam channel; 301-Flexible corrugated pipe positioning groove; 302-Connecting section liquid wick; 303-Connecting section steam channel; 304-Rigid pipe section positioning groove. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, features, and advantages of this invention more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described below are only some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0024] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, a segmented, shape-adaptive, flexible heat pipe includes a flexible heat-absorbing end 100, a shape-adaptive flexible connecting pipe 200, and a condensing section 400 connected in sequence.

[0025] like Figure 2 As shown, the flexible heat-absorbing end 100 is mainly composed of a flexible thermally conductive material, with a high thermal conductivity heat-collecting layer 104 at the rear end of the flexible thermally conductive material. A concave central contact button 103 is located at the front end of the flexible thermally conductive material to enhance physical contact with the flat heat source surface, effectively expel air, and reduce contact thermal resistance. A flexible skirt 101 is located on the side of the flexible thermally conductive material to assist in heat absorption from the surrounding area. Inside the flexible thermally conductive material, a metal thermally conductive pillar 102 connects the central contact button 103 and the high thermal conductivity heat-collecting layer 104 to enhance the thermal conductivity effect. In this embodiment, the high thermal conductivity heat-collecting layer 104 is a graphite fiber cloth, used to efficiently collect heat from the copper pillar and the surrounding composite material.

[0026] like Figure 3As shown, the malleable flexible connecting tube 200 has a multi-layered tubular structure, consisting of a malleable outer shell 201, a liquid-absorbing core 202, and a support frame 203 from the outside to the inside. The malleable outer shell 201 can be bent, twisted, stretched, or compressed (plastically adjusted pitch) to a specific spatial posture as needed and can maintain it stably. In this embodiment, the malleable outer shell 201 is a thin-walled metal corrugated pipe. The liquid-absorbing core 202 is used to transport liquid through capillary action. The support frame 203 forms a cavity inside, which is a steam channel 204 for steam circulation. The support frame 203 can deform synchronously with the malleable outer shell 201, while preventing the steam channel 204 from becoming "dead bend" or flattened. In this embodiment, the material of the support frame 203 is PEEK or fine metal wire.

[0027] The condensing section 400 is used to condense the vapor from the flexible heat-absorbing end 100, and at the same time, the condensed liquid is transferred back to the flexible heat-absorbing end 100 through the liquid-absorbing core 202. The structure of the condensing section 400 is the same as that of a traditional rigid heat pipe, so it will not be described in detail here.

[0028] In this embodiment, a transition connector 300 is also included. The transition connector 300 is used to connect the malleable flexible connecting pipe 200 and the condensing section 400. The outer layer of the transition connector 300 is a rigid shell, and the inner side of the rigid shell is a connecting section liquid-absorbing core 302. Inside the connecting section liquid-absorbing core 302 is a connecting section vapor channel 303. A flexible corrugated pipe positioning groove 301 of the same material as the malleable shell 201 is provided at the front end of the transition connector 300, and a rigid pipe section positioning groove 304 of the same material as the shell of the condensing section 400 is provided at the rear end of the transition connector 300. Through this design, the connection between different materials can be transformed into welding or brazing between homogeneous materials, effectively ensuring the coaxiality between modules and the sealing effect of the connection.

[0029] The following is a further explanation of the work process:

[0030] Heat generated by external heat sources (such as server CPUs, switch chips, etc.) is first transferred to the outer surface of the flexible thermally conductive material of the flexible heat-absorbing end 100. The concave center contact button 103 at its front end helps to form good contact with the flat heat source and expel air; the flexible skirt 101 may assist in absorbing heat from the surrounding area.

[0031] Heat is conducted inward through the flexible thermally conductive material and, more efficiently, through the metal thermally conductive pillar 102 embedded in the central contact button 103.

[0032] The heat is conducted to the extremely thin graphite fiber cloth layer at the rear end. This graphite cloth layer plays a role in heat equalization and efficient heat collection, uniformly transferring the heat from the metal heat-conducting column 102 and the surrounding flexible heat-conducting material to the liquid-absorbing core 202.

[0033] After the liquid working medium (such as water or a specific refrigerant) immersed in the liquid wick 202 absorbs this heat, its temperature rises rapidly to the saturation point and undergoes violent evaporation (phase change), absorbing a large amount of latent heat of vaporization and transforming into high-temperature and high-pressure steam.

[0034] The steam then enters the central steam core channel of the connected flexible connecting pipe 200. Since the flexible connecting pipe 200 is manually shaped and maintains its shape, the steam flows along this user-defined spiral path, which may be curved, twisted, or stretched.

[0035] The steam then flows smoothly through the precisely aligned and unobstructed connecting section steam passage 303 inside the transition connector 300, and finally enters the condensation section 400.

[0036] Steam condenses in the condensation section 400 (e.g., the part tightly bonded to the heat sink, or a pipe section directly exposed to forced air cooling). Since the temperature of the condensation section 400 is much lower than the saturation temperature of the steam (maintained by external heat dissipation), when the steam comes into contact with the inner wall of the condensation section 400 (also covered with a wick), it releases a large amount of its latent heat of vaporization and recondenses into a liquid state. This released heat is transferred to the external environment through the pipe wall (and heat sink) of the condensation section 400, completing the heat dissipation process.

[0037] The liquid working medium generated by condensation in the condensation section 400 is absorbed by the wick on the inner wall of this section through capillary action. Relying on the strong capillary pumping force of the wick, the liquid overcomes flow resistance and possible adverse effects of gravity (if the evaporation end is higher than the condensation end) and flows back to the graphite fiber cloth layer along the wick.

[0038] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A segmented, shape-adaptive, flexible heat pipe, characterized in that, It includes a flexible heat-absorbing end, a malleable flexible connecting tube, and a rigid transmission section connected in sequence; The main body of the flexible heat-absorbing end is a flexible thermally conductive material, and a high thermal conductivity heat collection layer is located at the rear end of the flexible thermally conductive material. The malleable flexible connecting tube has a multi-layered tubular structure, consisting of a malleable outer shell, a liquid-absorbing core, and a supporting frame from the outside to the inside. The malleable outer shell can be shaped as needed. The liquid-absorbing core is used to transport liquid through capillary action. The supporting frame has a cavity inside, which serves as a steam channel for steam circulation. The supporting frame can deform synchronously with the malleable outer shell, while preventing the steam channel from becoming "dead bends" or flattened. The condensation section is used to condense the steam from the flexible bonding heat absorption end, and at the same time, the condensed liquid is transferred back to the flexible bonding heat absorption end through the liquid absorption core.

2. The segmented, shape-adaptive, flexible heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a transition connector, which is used to connect the malleable flexible connecting pipe and the condenser section. The outer layer of the transition connector is a rigid shell, the inner side of the rigid shell is the liquid suction core of the connecting section, and the inner side of the liquid suction core of the connecting section is the vapor channel of the connecting section. A flexible corrugated pipe positioning groove with the same material as the malleable shell is provided at the front end of the transition connector, and a rigid pipe section positioning groove with the same material as the shell of the condenser section is provided at the rear end of the transition connector.

3. A segmented, shape-adaptive, flexible heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front end of the flexible thermally conductive material has a concave center contact button.

4. A segmented, shape-adaptive, flexible heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible thermally conductive material has a flexible skirt on its side.

5. A segmented, shape-adaptive, flexible heat pipe according to claim 3, characterized in that, Inside the flexible thermally conductive material, there is a metal thermally conductive pillar connecting the central contact button and the high thermal conductivity heat collection layer.

6. A segmented, shape-adaptive, flexible heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The high thermal conductivity heat collection layer is made of graphite fiber cloth.

7. A segmented, shape-adaptive, flexible heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The malleable outer shell is a thin-walled metal corrugated pipe.

8. A segmented, shape-adaptive, flexible heat pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support frame is made of PEEK or fine metal wire.

Images