Double-Sided Manifold Micro-Channel Cold Plate for Compact Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
MMC cold plates occupy a significant volume due to their modular jet impingement design, making them less compact in high power density applications where a more compact solution is desired.
Innovation Solution
A configurable, double-sided MMC cold plate with a modular design featuring a manifold micro-channel system that allows coolant fluid to flow through both sides of the unit cell via a single manifold insert, eliminating the need for mechanical seals, fasteners, and flanges, and using bond connections for electrical and thermal communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a modular jet impingement design is used in MMC cold plates, then thermal management capability is improved, but volume occupancy increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single manifold insert that distributes coolant to heat sinks on both the top and bottom sides of the cold plate. This merging of distribution functions eliminates the need for separate manifold bodies on each side, thereby reducing overall volume while maintaining effective thermal management capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single manifold insert serves multiple purposes: it distributes coolant to heat sinks on both sides, provides structural support, and enables configurable thermal management for different electronic device arrangements. This multi-functionality allows the cold plate to achieve effective cooling without requiring additional voluminous components.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical seals, fasteners, and flanges are used in modular cold plate design, then assembly and disassembly is facilitated, but component count and fabrication complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold insert is integrally formed with the manifold bodies, merging what would traditionally be separate components requiring mechanical fasteners into a single unified structure. This integration eliminates the need for mechanical seals, fasteners, and flanges, reducing component count while maintaining ease of assembly through the modular cell design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold plate employs selective bonding techniques to join dissimilar materials (metal manifold insert with polymer manifold bodies), creating a composite structure that achieves both fluid tightness and mechanical strength without requiring traditional mechanical fastening systems.
3Volume of stationary object
If a single manifold insert distributes coolant to both sides, then volume is reduced and component count decreases, but fluid distribution complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold insert incorporates separate, dedicated fluid distribution channels for the top and bottom sides within its structure. This segmentation of fluid paths within a single component allows independent control and optimization of coolant flow to each side, managing fluid distribution complexity while maintaining compact volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold insert utilizes three-dimensional channel routing to distribute coolant to heat sinks on opposite sides of the cold plate. By transitioning from two-dimensional planar distribution to three-dimensional volumetric distribution within the insert, the design achieves compact fluid pathways that reduce overall volume while managing distribution complexity through spatial arrangement.
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 results in a compact, lightweight cold plate with reduced component count, lower fabrication costs, and enhanced thermal management capabilities, facilitating easier assembly and reduced size and weight while maintaining effective heat transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant fluid flowing into each MMC cold plate unit cell for distribution by a manifold insert
Implementation Method 2
heat sinks including an impingement surface configured for fluidic communication with the manifold insert fluid channels, and a heat transfer surface for thermal communication with one or more electronic devices
Implementation Method 3
heat transfer surface for thermal communication with one or more electronic devices
Data Source
AI summary
A configurable, double sided, manifold micro-channel cold plate includes a one or more manifold micro-channel cold plate cells. Each cold plate cell includes a manifold body, a manifold insert, a plurality of heat sinks, and a plurality of longitudinal openings configured for fluidic communication with the fluid channels. The manifold body has fluid channels to permit flow of a fluid coolant. The manifold insert has a plurality of manifold insert fluid channels, and is configured for receipt in the one of the modular body recesses. The heat sinks are configured for receipt in the modular body recesses, and include an impingement surface configured for fluidic communication with the manifold insert fluid channels, and a heat transfer surface for thermal communication with one or more heat generating devices.