Case Top Plate Temperature Control via Partition Wall Air Accumulation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing structure for heat dissipation in cases with ventholes leads to locally high temperatures on the top plate, as the heated air is discharged directly without effective thermal diffusion.

Innovation Solution

A case design featuring a tubular body with a top plate and a partition wall that protrudes downward, creating an air accumulating part surrounded by the tubular body, top plate, and partition wall, where heated air is temporarily accumulated and diffused before being discharged through upward ventholes, enhancing thermal diffusion and reducing top plate temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a venthole is formed in the top plate for direct discharge of heated air, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but the top plate temperature becomes locally high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidtop plate temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The interior space is segmented into a heat exchange space and a discharge space by the partition wall. This segmentation allows heated air to first accumulate in the heat exchange space, undergo thermal diffusion, and then be discharged through the venthole, preventing direct contact between heated air and the top plate while maintaining heat dissipation efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition wall acts as an intermediary structure that separates the heat-generating element from the top plate. It creates an intermediate heat exchange space where thermal diffusion can occur before air is discharged, thereby mediating the thermal interaction and preventing localized high temperatures on the top plate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively restrains the top plate temperature from becoming locally high by temporarily accumulating heated air for heat exchange with outside air, accelerating thermal diffusion and reducing localized heating.

Implementation Method 1

air heated by the heat-generating element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

airflow from the bottom of the heat-generating element toward the top thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

air heated by the heat-generating element... upwardly... discharged to the outside

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 4

venthole for discharging air heated by the heat-generating element to the outside

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11224148B2Case, electronic device, and cooling method

Publication Date: 2022.01.11 NEC PLATFROMS LTD

AI summary

A case (2) includes a tubular body (6) extending vertically and a top plate (8) disposed at a top edge of the tubular body (6), the case being capable of accommodating a heat-generating element (5). Upward ventholes (16) for discharging the heated air (P), which is heated by the heat-generating element (5), to the outside are formed in the top plate 8. A partition wall (17) that protrudes downwardly from the top plate (8) is disposed between the upward ventholes (16) and the tubular body (6). An air accumulating part (20) surrounded by the tubular body (6), the top plate (8), and the partition wall (17) is formed.