Bypass Line Circulation Device for Two-Phase Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In two-phase cooling systems, when the evaporative cold plate is removed and then reattached, the working fluid becomes overheated due to external heat input, leading to inefficient cooling of the target until the system stabilizes.
Innovation Solution
A circulation device with a bypass line that allows the refrigerant to flow directly to the condenser without going through the inlet and outlet connections when the evaporator is not connected, ensuring continuous cooling and immediate re-establishment of low-temperature refrigerant flow upon reconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the evaporator is made removable for easy maintenance and configuration changes, then ease of operation is improved, but the refrigerant temperature stability deteriorates due to heat input during disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass line is pre-configured in the circulation device so that when the evaporator is removed, the refrigerant can immediately flow through the bypass path to the condenser without needing to wait for system reconfiguration or stabilization, maintaining temperature stability from the moment of disconnection
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass line acts as an intermediary pathway that allows refrigerant to circumvent the evaporator connection points, providing an alternative route that maintains system functionality and temperature control during evaporator removal or reattachment operations
2Device complexity
If the refrigerant flows through the inlet and outlet connections during evaporator removal, then the connection structure is simple, but the refrigerant becomes overheated due to external heat input
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant circulation path is segmented into two separate routes: the main path through the evaporator connections and the bypass path that circumvents the connections. This segmentation allows the system to switch between paths based on whether the evaporator is connected, preventing heat input to refrigerant during removal operations
3Adaptability or versatility
If the evaporator is disconnected for maintenance or reconfiguration, then adaptability is improved, but cooling performance is lost until the evaporator is reconnected and system stabilizes
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass line enables continuous refrigerant circulation and cooling function even when the evaporator is disconnected. The refrigerant continuously flows through the bypass path to the condenser, maintaining system productivity and eliminating downtime during evaporator maintenance or reconfiguration operations
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 solution enables continuous refrigerant cooling even when the evaporator is disconnected, ensuring immediate cooling performance upon reconnection, thus addressing the issue of overheated refrigerant and inefficient cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a pump to pump the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a condenser downstream of the outlet connection to cool the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a condenser downstream of the outlet connection to cool the refrigerant
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A circulation device (100) for a two-phase cooling system includes an inlet connection (41), an outlet connection (42), and a bypass line (75) branching at a portion downstream of a pump (10) and upstream of the inlet connection to allow a refrigerant to flow to a condenser (20) without passing through the inlet connection and the outlet connection, and is operable to circulate the refrigerant not through the inlet connection and the outlet connection but through the bypass line when an evaporator (80) is not connected to the inlet connection and the outlet connection.