Aperiodic Oscillating Heat Pipe Channels for High-Gravity Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Oscillating heat pipes perform poorly under high gravity loads due to the working fluid's inability to return to the condenser region from the evaporator region, which is detrimental to critical equipment in high gravity environments.
Innovation Solution
Designing oscillating heat pipes with a set of channels that have varying channel properties, such as diameter, within a predefined range relative to a nominal value, forming an aperiodic pattern to enhance fluid instability and improve performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uniform channel design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but performance under high gravity loads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying channel properties (diameter, cross-sectional area, shape) at different locations within the channel set. Each channel has different geometric characteristics while maintaining the same nominal dimensions, creating local variations that promote fluid instability and improve heat pipe performance under high gravity conditions without requiring a completely complex redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces asymmetry by ensuring that channels have non-uniform properties where no two channels are identical. This asymmetric design breaks the symmetry that would otherwise exist in uniform channel configurations, creating the necessary fluid instability to overcome high gravity effects while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through controlled randomization
2Productivity
If channel properties are varied randomly, then fluid instability and thermal efficiency improve, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by systematically varying channel geometric parameters (diameter, cross-sectional area, shape factors) within defined ranges. These parameter variations are controlled to fall between 5-60% of nominal values, ensuring that while manufacturing precision is maintained within feasible limits, sufficient variation exists to generate the required fluid instability and improve thermal performance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies partial action by implementing channel variations within controlled bounds rather than extreme variations. The channel property variations are limited to specific percentage ranges (5-60% of nominal), providing just enough deviation to achieve improved thermal efficiency and high gravity resistance without excessively complicating manufacturing processes
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
The varying channel properties enhance the oscillating heat pipe's ability to function effectively in high gravity environments by promoting random instabilities, thereby improving thermal efficiency and resilience.
Implementation Method 1
Intermittent evaporation and condensation of the working fluid causes the working fluid to move from the evaporator region to condenser region
Implementation Method 2
Intermittent evaporation and condensation of the working fluid causes the working fluid to move from the evaporator region to condenser region
Implementation Method 3
The varying channel properties enhance the oscillating heat pipe's ability to function effectively in high gravity environments by promoting random instabilities
Data Source
AI summary
Oscillating heat pipes and methods of making the same. The oscillating heat pipes include a condenser region, an evaporator region, and a set of channels arranged between the condenser region and the evaporator region. The set of channels define at least a portion of a fluid circuit for a working fluid. Each channel of the set of channels has a respective channel property value that is a percentage variation from a nominal channel property value and the set of channels defines an aperiodic set of channels with respect to the channel property.