Drive System Heat Pipe Thermal Bridge Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive systems, particularly electric servomotors, face challenges in minimizing installation space and maintaining a constant, definable operating temperature, with fluid cooling systems requiring significant space and being inefficient in heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
The use of a heat pipe to remove waste heat from the connection area between the drive unit and control device, employing an evaporation-condensation process to transport heat without auxiliary energy, allowing for precise temperature control and reduced installation space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fluid cooling systems are used to dissipate heat from drive systems, then heat dissipation effectiveness is improved, but installation space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pipe is integrated within the existing drive system housing structure, nesting the cooling function within the available internal space rather than adding external cooling components. The evaporator section is positioned within the thermal bridge area and the condenser section utilizes space within the housing, effectively nesting the cooling system within the drive unit's existing volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pipe utilizes phase transition of the working fluid (evaporation at the evaporator section and condensation at the condenser section) to transport heat efficiently. This phase change mechanism enables high heat dissipation effectiveness without requiring large cooling components, as the latent heat of vaporization provides intense heat transfer in a compact form factor.
2Temperature
If traditional cooling devices are used, then heat removal capability is achieved, but device complexity and auxiliary energy requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pipe operates autonomously without requiring external power sources or control systems. The phase change process (evaporation and condensation) occurs naturally driven by temperature gradients, and the condensate returns to the evaporator section through capillary forces in the wick structure, eliminating the need for pumps, fans, or other auxiliary components that would increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical cooling systems (such as forced convection fans or liquid pump systems) with a passive heat pipe mechanism that relies on phase change and capillary action. This substitution eliminates moving parts and mechanical complexity while maintaining effective heat removal capability.
3Reliability
If heat is dissipated from the connection area, then control device protection is improved, but heat transport requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pipe is strategically positioned with its evaporator section within the thermal bridge connection area where heat generation occurs, and its condenser section in a location optimized for heat dissipation. This localized placement ensures that heat is extracted precisely where it is generated (protecting the control device) while utilizing the specific thermal characteristics of different regions within the drive system housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase transition mechanism enables the heat pipe to transport large quantities of heat through a small cross-sectional area. The latent heat of vaporization allows the working fluid to absorb and transport significant thermal energy from the connection area to the condenser section, providing the necessary heat transport capacity in a compact form factor.
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 solution enables efficient heat dissipation, protecting the control device from damaging temperatures and achieving a compact, reliable, and precise drive system design, with the heat pipe providing a higher heat flow density compared to traditional cooling methods.
Implementation Method 1
the heat pipe, whose inner walls are provided with a capillary structure that is saturated with a heat transfer medium. If heat is supplied to the system at one point, the heat carrier evaporates from the capillary structure
Implementation Method 2
the vapor flows to a cooled point, where it condenses and gives off its vaporization heat
Implementation Method 3
a heat pipe, whose inner walls are provided with a capillary structure that is saturated with a heat transfer medium
Implementation Method 4
The condensate is then transported back to the point of evaporation by capillary forces in the capillary structure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a drive system (1) consisting of at least one drive unit (2), and at least one control device (3) which at least partially influences the functionality of said drive unit (2) and is connected to said drive unit (2) along a connection region (5) such that a thermal bridge (4) is formed, characterised in that the waste heat produced inside the thermal bridge (4) during operation of the system (1), caused by the respective operating temperature of the drive unit (2) and/or control device (3), can be discharged from the connection region (5) by means of at least one heat pipe (6).