Cold Plate With Variable Cross-Section Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold plates face challenges in efficiently transferring heat due to resistance at material interfaces and limited surface area contact, which can lead to reduced cooling efficiency and potential leakage issues, especially when using contaminated coolants.
Innovation Solution
A cold plate design featuring a base plate with an island and extending pins that change cross-sectional profile along their length, promoting turbulent flow and increased surface area contact, along with a method of producing these pins using micro deformation technology to enhance heat transfer efficiency and prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional cold plates with channels are used, then cooling function is provided, but heat transfer efficiency is reduced due to interface resistance and limited surface area contact
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from traditional 2D channel-based heat transfer to a 3D pin-array structure. Multiple pins extend vertically from the base plate, creating three-dimensional heat transfer pathways that significantly increase the surface area contact between the cold plate and the coolant, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate is segmented into multiple discrete pins rather than using continuous channels. This segmentation creates numerous individual heat transfer surfaces that reduce interface resistance and improve overall heat transfer efficiency by eliminating thermal barriers present in traditional channel designs.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple components are assembled to form cold plate, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but interface resistance increases and leakage risk rises
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the pins and base plate into a single monolithic component formed from one piece of material. This eliminates all interfaces between separate components, removing potential leakage paths and interface resistance while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through various formation methods such as micro deformation technology.
3Temperature
If pins with constant cross-section are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but heat transfer efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pins feature varying cross-sectional profiles along their length, with different sections having different geometries. This local variation in quality optimizes heat transfer at different positions - for example, wider sections near the base for heat absorption and narrower sections higher up for coolant flow management - thereby improving overall heat transfer efficiency despite increased structural complexity.
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 transfer efficiency by increasing turbulence and reducing resistance, while the production method ensures a monolithic structure that minimizes interface resistance and maintains a secure seal, effectively addressing the limitations of traditional cold plates.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of pins extends from the island into the enclosure, so a fluid can flow about the pins
Implementation Method 2
The electronic equipment is mounted in contact with a liquid cold plate and the heat generated by the electronic equipment is transferred to the coolant inside the plate
Implementation Method 3
The liquid coolant absorbs the heat produced by the electronic equipment, and transfers the absorbed heat to the coolant which then flows out of the cold plate
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A cold plate includes an enclosure with an inlet, an outlet, a base and a Ud. The inlet and outlet are in fluid communication, so fluid can flow from the inlet though the enclosure to the outlet. The base is formed from a base plate, and the base plate includes an island facing into the enclosure, A plurality of pins extends from the island toward the lid. The pins can have a spiral shape, where the cross sectional profile of the pins change along the length of the pin.