Chiller-less Cooling for Interventional Detectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling systems for interventional detectors in diagnostic imaging, particularly in vascular applications, face challenges in maintaining detector temperature within strict thermal requirements without using chillers, while also needing to minimize acoustic noise and protect patients from airflow and particle exposure.
Innovation Solution
A chiller-less cooling system utilizing heat pipes and external heat sinks, or loop heat pipes, integrated with high heat transfer coefficient devices and C-arms, to achieve efficient air convection cooling, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and meeting thermal requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a chiller cooling system is used, then the detector temperature can be controlled, but the system complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the chiller component from the cooling system, replacing it with passive heat dissipation structures (heat sinks, heat pipes) integrated directly into the detector housing. This eliminates the complex active cooling mechanism while maintaining temperature control capability through thermal conduction and convection pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is merged with the detector housing structure itself. Heat sinks and heat pipes are integrated into the housing design, combining the structural support function with the thermal management function, thereby eliminating the need for separate chiller equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
2Temperature
If a chiller cooling system is used, then the detector temperature can be controlled, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system operates passively without external power input. The detector housing with integrated heat sinks and heat pipes utilizes natural thermal conduction and convection to dissipate heat, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for powered chiller components.
Solution Approach 2:
The active mechanical cooling system (chiller with moving parts and powered components) is replaced with a passive thermal management system based on fundamental heat transfer principles (conduction through heat pipes, convection to ambient air), substituting mechanical complexity with natural physical processes.
3Temperature
If fans are used for cooling, then cooling efficiency improves, but acoustic noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces active fan-based forced convection with passive heat dissipation structures. Heat sinks with extended surface areas and heat pipes utilize natural convection and radiation, eliminating mechanical fans and their associated acoustic noise while maintaining effective cooling.
4Temperature
If fans or open motors are used, then cooling efficiency improves, but patient safety is compromised due to airflow of particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes fans and open motors from the cooling system design. By using enclosed passive heat sinks and heat pipes, the system eliminates sources of airborne particles that could pose safety risks to patients, while maintaining cooling effectiveness through thermal conduction and natural convection pathways.
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 system effectively maintains detector temperature within specified limits, reduces noise, and eliminates the need for moving parts or additional power consumption, offering high reliability and cost savings while ensuring patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
using a heat pipe to cool heat radiating blocks connected to a high heat transfer coefficient device and transfer heat from the detector
Implementation Method 2
embedding device, having a suitably high heat transfer coefficient, into the detector tray so as to collect heat leading to the heat pipe via heat radiating blocks, obtain a substantially uniform temperature distribution
Implementation Method 3
a new cooling path by means of air convection is desirable to replace a traditional chiller cooling system
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a chiller-less cooling system and method for an interventional detector. A cooling method comprises using a heat pipe 12 to connect a tray 101 and a lift frame 102 of a detector housing 10 so as to reduce a thermal resistance between the detector tray 10 and the lift frame 102 and transfer more heat from the detector; using an external heat sink 13 connected with the heat pipe 12 so as to reduce a thermal resistance between the lift frame 102 and an ambient environment; and embedding a high heat transfer coefficient device 11 into the detector tray 10 so as to collect heat leading to the heat pipe 12, obtain a uniform temperature distribution, and reduce a thermal resistance of the detector tray 10. Another cooling method comprises using a loop heat pipe 14 to connect the detector tray 10 and a C-arm 20 of an interventional imaging system; embedding a condenser end 141 of the loop heat pipe 14 into the detector tray 10; embedding a evaporator end 142 of the loop heat pipe 14 into a heatspreader which is fixed onto the C-arm 20. The present invention further discloses a method for cooling a detector using a fan/heat sink/loop heat pipe module 30 in a C-arm 20.