Corona Discharge Cooling for Fanless Electronics Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing energy density and voltage requirements in aerospace electronic equipment lead to overheating issues, which are often addressed by ventilation systems that add cost, weight, and complexity, while moving components like fans introduce additional failure points.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system using an ionic motion generator with an anode and cathode to generate an ionic discharge along a fluid pathway, creating fluid movement for cooling, which can be routed across or through electronic equipment, utilizing corona discharge energy typically avoided in high-altitude environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ventilation systems are used to cool electronic equipment, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical ventilation systems (fans, motors, bearings) with an ionic motion generator that uses electrohydrodynamic forces to move fluid. This substitution eliminates moving mechanical parts while achieving the same cooling function, directly resolving the contradiction between cooling effectiveness and system weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The ionic motion generator uses the electrical energy already present in the system to generate the cooling flow, rather than requiring separate mechanical power sources. The corona discharge creates ions that are accelerated by the electric field, generating thrust without external mechanical input, making the system self-sufficient and reducing overall weight.
2Temperature
If ventilation systems with moving components are used, then cooling is achieved, but device complexity and failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical ventilation systems with stationary electrodes that generate ionic wind through corona discharge. This eliminates motors, bearings, seals, and other mechanical components that increase complexity and create failure points, while maintaining effective cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the moving components from the ventilation system, keeping only the stationary electrohydrodynamic generator. By removing the mechanical subsystem entirely, the patent reduces device complexity and failure points while preserving the essential cooling function.
3Temperature
If traditional ventilation systems are used, then cooling is provided, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive mechanical ventilation components with simpler electrohydrodynamic generators consisting of electrode structures. This substitution reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating precision mechanical parts, assemblies, and associated hardware while maintaining cooling performance.
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 system effectively harnesses corona discharge to power cooling, reducing the need for ventilation systems and minimizing weight and complexity, while enhancing cooling efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The anode and cathode are positioned along a fluid pathway so that the ionic discharge generates movement of the fluid along the pathway
Implementation Method 2
the fluid pathway contains air and the flow of ions generates ionic wind
Implementation Method 3
the pathway can be routed across heatsinks and/or heat exchangers to disperse the heat
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system includes an ionic motion generator to direct fluid flow towards a heated component (e.g., equipment to be cooled or a heatsink mounted thereat). In certain systems, the fluid is directed through a conduit arrangement. In certain systems, the fluid is directed past the heated component to a heat exchanger. Certain types of thermal management systems have no moving components to create the fluid flow.