Air Guide Vane Layout for Uniform Heat Sink Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric ranges face challenges in evenly cooling heat sinks and heat generation elements, leading to inefficient heat dissipation and potential overheating, particularly due to uneven air flow distribution.

Innovation Solution

The electric range incorporates a structured air guide system with vanes and divided flow paths to ensure even air distribution across the heat sink, featuring a vane that divides the air flow into two paths to cool both sides of the heat sink symmetrically, enhancing contact surface area and time for heat dissipation through slanted and plane parts with cooling fins and flow channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air blowing fan is used to cool heat sink, then cooling effect is improved, but air flow distribution becomes uneven

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat sink temperatureVSAvoidair flow distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The air guide is divided into multiple flow paths (first flow path and second flow path) with separate air inlets and outlets. This segmentation allows independent control and optimization of air flow to different regions of the heat sink, ensuring uniform cooling across the entire heat dissipation surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The air guide acts as an intermediary component between the air blowing fan and the heat sink. It receives air from the fan and distributes it through multiple controlled flow paths, transforming the single-directional air flow into multi-directional uniform distribution across the heat sink surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If heat generation elements are disposed at heat sink, then heat dissipation capacity is improved, but cooling uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation capacityVSAvoidcooling uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heat sink is divided into multiple heat dissipation surfaces with corresponding flow paths. Each flow path directs air to specific regions where heat generation elements are disposed, ensuring that each element receives adequate cooling air flow. This segmented approach maintains cooling uniformity even with multiple heat-generating components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the heat sink are designed with optimized local flow characteristics. The air guide structure ensures that air flow distribution matches the thermal load distribution of heat generation elements, providing enhanced cooling to high-heat areas while maintaining uniform temperatures across all heat dissipation surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If air guide surrounds heat sink, then cooling coverage is improved, but air flow resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling coverage areaVSAvoidair flow resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The air guide is segmented into multiple independent flow paths with separate inlets and outlets. This segmentation reduces the length and resistance of individual air flow channels compared to a single large enclosure, while still providing comprehensive cooling coverage across the entire heat sink surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The air guide structure utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement with lateral walls extending in multiple directions. This dimensional approach allows air to reach all surfaces of the heat sink through optimized flow paths, maximizing cooling coverage while minimizing total air flow resistance through efficient geometric design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration improves cooling efficiency by ensuring uniform air flow to both sides of the heat sink, effectively suppressing overheating and enhancing the overall cooling performance of heat generation elements.

Implementation Method 1

an air blowing fan mounted onto the base bracket and discharging air toward the heat sink through an outlet of the air blowing fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

a heat sink mounted onto the printed circuit board

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

forming a flow path of air that cools the heat sink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4096359A1Electric range
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4096359A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4096359A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4096359A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An electric range of one embodiment may include a case, a cover plate being coupled to an upper side of the case, and allowing an object to be placed thereon, an air blowing fan discharging air, an air guide communicating with the air blowing fan, and forming a flow path of air, and a vane being disposed to divide and guide a flow of the air discharged or being discharged from the air blowing fan.