Coupling Assembly Cooling Channel Design for Hot Spot Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling assemblies experience excessive heat buildup during operation, particularly at hot spots, due to inadequate heat transfer from components to the cooling fluid, even when exposed to a flow of cooling fluid.
Innovation Solution
The coupling assembly enhances heat transfer by increasing the velocity of the cooling fluid through the use of a channel design with varying cross-sectional areas and projections that induce turbulence, ensuring a greater flow rate at the radially outer portion of the rotating disc where more heat is generated, thereby promoting convective heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling fluid flows through a standard channel, then cooling is provided, but heat transfer is insufficient and hot spots occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cooling fluid by increasing its velocity through a restricted cross-sectional area in the channel. This parameter change enhances convective heat transfer coefficients, allowing more effective heat removal from the friction surfaces and preventing hot spot formation under severe operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel design creates localized regions of high-velocity cooling fluid flow at specific locations where heat generation is most intense. By concentrating the cooling effect in these critical areas through restricted cross-sectional areas, the patent addresses hot spot prevention locally where it is most needed rather than uniformly across all surfaces.
2Temperature
If cooling fluid velocity is increased, then heat transfer is improved, but channel design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than complicating the entire channel structure, the patent introduces complexity only in specific localized regions where restricted cross-sectional areas are created. These localized restrictions focus the cooling fluid velocity increase where it is most needed for heat transfer, while the rest of the channel maintains a simpler geometry.
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 minimizes the occurrence of hot spots and improves heat dissipation by increasing the velocity of the cooling fluid, ensuring efficient heat transfer from components to the fluid, even under severe operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Convective heat transfer from components of the coupling assembly to the flow of cooling fluid may be promoted by increasing the velocity of the cooling fluid at spaced apart areas along a channel through which the cooling fluid flows
Implementation Method 2
Turbulence may be induced in a flow of cooling fluid by having ribs project into the cooling fluid channel
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling assembly for use in transmitting force includes a housing which at least partially encloses a rotatable disc. The housing has a plate portion with an annular force transmitting surface which is engagable with the rotatable disc. A cooling fluid channel is at least partially defined by a side of the plate portion opposite from the force transmitting surface. A plurality of projections extend into a path of flow of cooling fluid through the cooling fluid channel. A cooling fluid inlet includes a passage having a portion with a large cross section connected in fluid communication with a radially outer portion of the cooling fluid channel. A portion of the inlet passage having a small cross section is connected in fluid communication with a radially inner portion of the cooling fluid channel. Ribs extend across the radially inner and outer portions of the cooling fluid channel.