Evaporator Segmented Channels for Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing evaporators for cooling circuits face inefficiencies due to 'pool boiling' which results in poor heat transfer performance, bulkiness, and difficulty in maintaining a leak-proof design, especially at high pressures, and reducing the cross-section area to improve heat transfer negatively impacts condenser performance.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a top collector, a bottom collector, and an evaporator body with thermoconducting walls, featuring evaporation channels for boiling and bubble pumping, and return channels to ensure a sufficient liquid supply, preventing dry operation and enhancing heat transfer without compromising condenser performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the evaporator uses pool boiling with a large liquid volume, then the liquid reservoir function is provided, but the heat transfer performance is poor and the device is bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator is segmented into multiple evaporation channels (at least two) that divide the liquid cooling path into separate flow paths. This segmentation transforms the pool boiling regime into flow boiling regime in each channel, significantly improving heat transfer performance while maintaining an compact form factor without requiring a large liquid volume
2Productivity
If the evaporator cross-section is reduced to improve heat transfer, then convection-boiling effect is achieved, but liquid droplets are carried to the condenser decreasing its performance
Solution Approach 1:
A separator chamber is introduced as an intermediary component between the evaporation channels and the condenser. This separator chamber receives the vapor-liquid mixture from the evaporation channels and allows gravity to separate the liquid droplets from the vapor phase. The separated liquid is returned to the evaporator while the vapor proceeds to the condenser, thus protecting condenser performance while maintaining the benefits of reduced cross-section evaporation
3Quantity of substance
If the evaporator provides liquid reservoir function, then sufficient liquid is available, but the cross-section must be large reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid reservoir function is relocated from the evaporator body to a separate reservoir positioned in a different spatial dimension (below the evaporator). The evaporator channels are designed to draw liquid from this external reservoir through capillary wicking or gravity feed, allowing the evaporator to maintain a small cross-section for high heat transfer efficiency while still having access to sufficient liquid supply from the external reservoir
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 configuration improves heat transfer and fluid circulation within the evaporator, reduces the risk of dry operation, and eliminates the need for external pumps, while maintaining efficient condenser performance by effectively managing the liquid phase and vapor phase separation.
Implementation Method 1
The evaporation channels are dimensioned for establishing boiling of the liquid cooling fluid in the evaporation channels in the operating state, so that in the operating state the cooling fluid therein is at least partially turned into vapor
Implementation Method 2
for establishing bubble pumping so that the cooling fluid is then driven out from the evaporation channels via the respective evaporation channel outlets to the top collector
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator body, includes at least one thermoconducting wall that is thermally connectable to the at least one heat emitting device. A plurality of evaporation channels are in thermal contact with the at least one thermoconducting wall
Data Source
AI summary
An evaporator for a cooling circuit is provided, for cooling at least one heat emitting device by evaporation of a cooling fluid. The evaporator includes a top collector, a bottom collector, and an evaporator body. The evaporator body includes at least one thermoconducting wall that is thermally connectable to the at least one heat emitting device, a plurality of evaporation channels, and a plurality of return channels.