Cold Plate Flow Guide Structure for Liquid Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat dissipation modules with liquid cooling face inefficiencies due to coolant suction issues, preventing effective flow into areas close to electronic components, thereby reducing heat absorption efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cold plate design featuring a casing, base, heat transfer structure, pump, and flow guide structure, including a guiding baffle and stopper block, that partitions the working space into heat absorption and drainage areas, guiding the working medium to enhance thermal energy transfer and flow within the heat absorption space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pump is disposed above the heat absorption space to drive coolant flow, then the coolant circulation is improved, but the coolant cannot effectively flow into areas closer to the electronic component due to pump suction interference
Solution Approach 1:
The working space is segmented into a heat absorption space and a drainage space by the pump body, allowing the coolant to be guided into specific regions (heat absorption space) before being drawn into the pump (drainage space). This segmentation resolves the contradiction by organizing the flow path to ensure coolant reaches heat transfer areas first, then is pumped away systematically.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump body acts as an intermediary structure that performs dual functions: it drives coolant circulation (pump function) while simultaneously serving as a flow guide structure that directs coolant into the heat absorption space. This intermediary role resolves the contradiction by combining the pumping function with the flow guidance function in a single component.
2Reliability
If the coolant flow path is extended to reach areas closer to the electronic component, then heat absorption efficiency is improved, but the pump suction interferes with effective flow into these areas
Solution Approach 1:
The pump body is merged with the flow guide structure, integrating the pumping function and flow guidance function into a single component. This merging eliminates the need for separate flow guide structures while achieving the dual objective of driving coolant circulation and directing flow into heat absorption areas, thus improving heat absorption efficiency without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump body performs multiple functions: it acts as both the pumping mechanism for coolant circulation and the flow guide structure for directing coolant into the heat absorption space. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for additional components, thereby improving heat absorption efficiency without increasing device complexity.
3Productivity
If the pump is positioned to optimize coolant suction, then circulation performance is improved, but the working space organization becomes less efficient for heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The pump body inherently segments the working space into distinct regions (heat absorption space and drainage space) through its physical presence and internal structure. This segmentation is achieved without additional partitioning components, as the pump body itself creates the functional zones, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while optimizing both circulation performance and heat transfer efficiency.
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 design improves heat absorption efficiency by ensuring the working medium effectively flows into the heat transfer structure, addressing the limitations of existing technologies and enhancing the overall cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
transferring thermal energy created by a heat source in contact with an outer side of the base to the working medium inside the working space
Implementation Method 2
the working medium flows from the heat absorption space to the drainage space
Implementation Method 3
a pump disposed above the heat transfer structure for partitioning the working space into a heat absorption space and a drainage space and driving the working medium to flow from the heat absorption space to the drainage space
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a cold plate including: a heat absorption space for a working medium to be filled therein; a heat transfer structure disposed on a base within the heat absorption space for transferring thermal energy generated from a heat source that is in contact with the base to the working medium; and a flow guide structure disposed in the heat absorption space for guiding the working medium. The flow guide structure of the cold plate can effectively improve the efficiency of thermal energy absorption of the working medium.