Branched Heatsink Flow Paths to Prevent Airflow Stagnation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Increasing the number of heat dissipation fins to enhance cooling capacity can lead to air flow stagnation, particularly in cooling air flow paths with long lengths, as it may cause branching of air flow paths and reduce airflow efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A heatsink design featuring a fluid flow generator that rotates about a central axis, creating flow passages with branching and joining sections to increase the number of fluid paths while preventing stagnation, using a configuration of fins that extend upward to define multiple flow passages with specific inlet and outlet regions to manage airflow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the number of heat dissipation fins is increased to increase heat dissipation area, then cooling capacity is improved, but air flow stagnation occurs in long cooling air flow paths
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling air flow path is divided into multiple segments by adding branch sections. The single long flow path is segmented into multiple shorter sub-paths through strategic placement of branch sections that connect to additional heat dissipation fins, reducing the length of each individual flow path segment and preventing air flow stagnation while maintaining high heat dissipation area
Solution Approach 2:
The heat dissipation fins are arranged in multiple layers at different heights (first layer, second layer, third layer) to create three-dimensional flow paths. This vertical dimensionality allows air to flow through multiple levels, increasing the effective heat dissipation area without extending the horizontal path length, thereby preventing stagnation while enhancing cooling capacity
2Productivity
If heat dissipation fins are disposed in the middle of cooling air flow paths to increase the number of flow passages, then cooling efficiency is improved, but air flow stagnation possibility is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Branch sections are strategically placed at specific locations within the flow path where they can effectively divide the air stream without creating dead zones. The branch sections connect to heat dissipation fins at optimized positions, ensuring that each local region maintains adequate air flow velocity while maximizing heat dissipation effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The flow path design ensures continuous air flow through all heat dissipation fins by creating interconnected sub-paths. The branch sections are designed to maintain flow continuity rather than creating isolated pockets, ensuring that air continuously passes through all heat dissipation surfaces without stagnation, maintaining both cooling efficiency and flow stability
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 design enhances cooling efficiency by increasing the number of flow passages while preventing fluid flow stagnation, thereby improving airflow and cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid flow generator that rotates about a central axis extending vertically to generate a flow of fluid
Implementation Method 2
The air flowing in the cooling air flow paths works as a main cooling medium that performs heat exchange with the heatsink so as to draw heat from the heat generating body
Implementation Method 3
an electric fan device that blows cooling air to the heatsink
Data Source
AI summary
A heatsink is used with a fluid flow generator that rotates about a central axis extending vertically. The heatsink includes a main body section having a top surface facing the fluid flow generator in a vertical direction, and fins that extend upward from the top surface so as to define a plurality of flow passages. The plurality of flow passages form a plurality of fluid paths, each of which has an inlet for the fluid discharged from the fluid flow generator to flow in, and an outlet for discharging to outside the fluid that has entered through the inlet. At least one of the plurality of fluid paths has a first branch section for branching from a first fluid path on downstream of the inlet, and a first joining section for joining a second fluid path having another inlet, on downstream of the first branch section.