Dielectric Spray Cooling With Relief Condensation Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal regulation devices for electronic systems, such as computer servers and electrical energy storage systems in vehicles, face issues with non-uniform cooling and high thermal resistance due to the use of heat exchangers, leading to decreased performance and energy inefficiency, especially during fast charging operations.
Innovation Solution
A thermal regulation device with a housing that accommodates electrical components, a circuit for a dielectric fluid, and a device for spraying the fluid onto the components, featuring a condensation wall with reliefs to promote condensation of the vaporized dielectric fluid, thereby optimizing heat exchange and cooling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heat exchangers with cooling fluid circulation are used to cool battery elements, then cooling capability is provided, but non-uniform cooling and high thermal resistance occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dielectric fluid circulation system where the fluid is pumped through channels in the heat exchanger plate, absorbing heat from battery elements through thermal conduction and convection. This hydraulic approach enables effective heat removal while the plate design ensures uniform thermal contact with all battery elements, resolving the contradiction between cooling capability and cooling uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of the dielectric fluid from liquid to vapor and back during the cooling cycle. The fluid absorbs heat during evaporation and releases heat during condensation in the heat exchanger, providing efficient thermal regulation that maintains both high cooling capability and uniform temperature distribution across battery elements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If heat exchangers with material thickness are used for thermal regulation, then thermal isolation is provided, but thermal resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin heat exchanger plate design that minimizes material thickness between the cooling fluid channels and battery elements. This thin-film approach reduces thermal resistance and improves heat transfer efficiency while still providing adequate thermal isolation when needed, resolving the contradiction between thermal isolation and thermal resistance.
3Loss of energy
If dielectric fluid is sprayed onto battery elements, then heat exchange is enhanced, but vapor condensation requires additional refrigerant circuit energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the evaporation and condensation processes into a single integrated heat exchanger plate system. The dielectric fluid evaporates directly on battery elements and the vapor condenses within the same plate structure, merging the refrigerant circulation function into the heat exchange component itself. This integration reduces the need for separate refrigerant circulation systems and lowers energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger plate design enables the system to self-regulate the dielectric fluid phase transitions without requiring external refrigerant circulation. The plate structure facilitates natural evaporation on hot battery surfaces and spontaneous condensation on cooler plate regions, allowing the system to serve itself thermally and reducing energy input requirements.
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 proposed solution enhances the uniformity of cooling and reduces thermal resistance, allowing for more efficient thermal regulation of electronic components, particularly during fast charging operations, thereby improving system performance and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the phase-change temperature of the dielectric fluid is such that it is able to vaporize on contact with the electrical or electronic component
Implementation Method 2
the housing has at least one wall for condensation of the dielectric fluid in its vaporized form
Implementation Method 3
at least one external face and/or internal face of the at least one condensation wall of the housing has at least reliefs configured to promote the condensation of the dielectric fluid in the vaporized state
Data Source
AI summary
A device (1) for thermally regulating an electrical component (3, 31), the temperature of which needs to be regulated, said electrical or electronic component (3, 31) being liable to release heat during its operation, the thermal regulation device (1) having a housing (27) that is configured to accommodate the electrical or electronic component (3, 31), a circuit (43) and a device (45) for spraying a dielectric fluid, the phase-change temperature of which is such that it is able to vaporize on contact with the electrical or electronic component (3, 31), the housing (27) having at least one wall (5) for condensation of the dielectric fluid in its vaporized form, at least one external face (7) and/or internal face (9) of said condensation wall (5) having at least reliefs (11) configured to promote the condensation of the dielectric fluid in the vaporized state.