Cooling Device With Segmented Flow Passage For Uniform Heat Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling devices face challenges in maintaining uniform cooling capacity across objects with varying heat generation rates, leading to local insufficiencies and increased pressure loss, which complicates refrigerant circulation and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A cooling device design featuring a refrigerant flow passage with distinct first and second flow passage portions, where the first passage intensively cools high-heat regions and the second passage minimizes pressure loss by using fins with varying pitches and shapes, optimizing heat transfer and flow rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the length of offset fin becomes short toward the downstream side step by step, then heat exchange amount is increased and refrigerant circulation resistance is increased step by step, but pressure loss increases and exceeds allowable load on refrigerant supply side

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capacity uniformityVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the offset fin configuration between two specific disposition regions. In the first disposition region, offset fins are provided to enhance heat exchange where local heat generation is high. In the second disposition region, no offset fins are provided to minimize pressure loss where cooling requirements are lower. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing heat transfer only where necessary rather than uniformly across the entire flow passage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the disposition regions into two distinct zones: a first disposition region with high local heat generation requiring enhanced cooling, and a second disposition region with lower heat generation. By segmenting the flow passage and applying different fin configurations to each segment, the system achieves balanced pressure loss and cooling capacity without requiring uniform fin reduction throughout the entire passage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If pump capacity is increased to ensure allowable load on refrigerant supply side is not exceeded, then cooling capacity is sufficient, but costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capacity sufficiencyVSAvoidpump capacity requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By providing offset fins only in the first disposition region where local heat generation is high, the patent achieves sufficient cooling capacity in critical areas without requiring a high-capacity pump. This localized heat transfer enhancement allows the use of a smaller, more cost-effective pump while still meeting the allowable load requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If offset fins are provided uniformly throughout the flow passage, then heat exchange is enhanced, but pressure loss increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat exchange efficiencyVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by restricting offset fins to only the first disposition region where they are most needed for heat exchange. The second disposition region operates without offset fins, maintaining lower pressure loss. This selective placement resolves the contradiction between heat exchange enhancement and pressure loss reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 suppresses local cooling insufficiencies and pressure loss increases, ensuring sufficient cooling capacity while maintaining efficient refrigerant circulation and reducing operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling device that cools an object to be cooled which is disposed on a surface thereof by a refrigerant flowing in a refrigerant flow passage therein

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a heat exchange amount is increased by increasing refrigerant circulation resistance step by step

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3518638B1Cooling device
Publication Date: 2022.11.09 SUMITOMO PRECISION PRODUCTS CO LTD
  • EP3518638B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3518638B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3518638B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cooling device (100) includes a main body unit (1) that has, on a surface thereof, a plurality of disposition regions (10) where objects to be cooled (M) are disposed, and a refrigerant flow passage (2) provided in the main body unit (1). The refrigerant flow passage (2) includes a first flow passage portion (21) and a second flow passage portion (22). The first flow passage portion (21) is formed at a predetermined position of overlapping a part of an inside of a predetermined disposition region (DR) to allow a refrigerant to pass therethrough more intensively than the second flow passage portion (22).