Cold Plate Heat Transfer Portions Laser Welding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cold plates face challenges in improving cooling efficiency while maintaining a compact size, as the joining member between heat transfer portions and the cover plate reduces the contact area and increases the thickness of the cold plate.

Innovation Solution

A cold plate design featuring heat transfer portions that protrude from the base plate towards the cover plate, with a heat transfer joining portion formed by laser welding to join at least a portion of the tips of the heat transfer portions to the cover plate, thereby reducing gaps and enhancing heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a joining member is disposed between the tips of heat transfer portions and the cover plate to improve cooling efficiency, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the contact area between heat transfer portions and heat-transfer medium decreases and the thickness of the cold plate increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidcontact area between heat transfer portions and heat-transfer medium

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the joining member from the system. Instead of using a separate joining member to connect the heat transfer portions to the cover plate, the patent directly joins the heat transfer portions to the cover plate through laser welding or other joining methods, thereby removing the obstacle that was reducing the contact area and increasing thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary joining of the heat transfer portions to the cover plate during the manufacturing process. The heat transfer portions are joined to the cover plate before final assembly, ensuring proper positioning and maximizing contact area. This preliminary action prevents the need for additional joining members that would reduce contact area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the height dimension of heat transfer portions is increased to improve cooling capacity, then cooling capacity is improved, but the thickness of the entire cold plate increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling capacityVSAvoidthickness of cold plate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the dimensional approach by optimizing the lateral arrangement and density of heat transfer portions rather than simply increasing their height. By distributing multiple heat transfer portions across the surface area and optimizing their spacing, the patent achieves high cooling capacity without proportionally increasing the thickness of the cold plate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the heat transfer function into multiple discrete heat transfer portions distributed across the cold plate surface. Instead of relying on a few tall heat transfer portions that would increase thickness, the patent uses numerous smaller portions that collectively provide high cooling capacity while maintaining a compact overall thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 reducing the flow of heat-transfer medium adjacent to the cover plate and increasing its flow between heat transfer portions, while maintaining a reduced thickness, thus minimizing space, material, and weight requirements.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of heat transfer portions (14) that are provided so as to protrude from the heat dissipation surface (13) toward the cover plate (20) and that transfer, to the heat-transfer medium flowing through the heat-transfer-medium flow space (2), the heat released from the heat dissipation surface (13)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a heat absorbing surface (12) that absorbs heat released from the object to be cooled

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

a heat transfer joining portion (32) that joins at least a portion of tips of the plurality of heat transfer portions (14) to the cover plate (20) is formed between at least the portion of the tips of the plurality of heat transfer portions (14) and a surface of the cover plate (20) facing the heat-transfer-medium flow space (2)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser welding: Laser Beam Welding

Data Source

PatentUS20250048587A1Cold plate and method of manufacturing cold plate

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a cold plate that can improve cooling efficiency and simultaneously suppress an increase in size in a thickness direction. A heat-transfer-medium flow space 2 is formed between a heat dissipation surface 13 of a base plate 10 and a cover plate 20. The base plate 10 has a plurality of heat transfer portions 14 that are provided so as to protrude from the heat dissipation surface 13 toward the cover plate 20 and that transfer, to a heat-transfer medium flowing through the heat-transfer-medium flow space 2, heat released from the heat dissipation surface 13. A heat transfer joining portion 32 that joins at least a portion of tips of the heat transfer portions 14 to the cover plate 20 is formed between at least the portion of the tips of the plurality of heat transfer portions 14 and a surface of the cover plate 20 facing the heat-transfer-medium flow space 2.