Exposed Tube Cold Plate Turbulent Flow Enhancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exposed tube cold plates have a limited direct contact area with heat generation components and poor heat exchange performance due to laminar flow of the working medium, which reduces the overall heat exchange efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The cold plate structure features a water cooling tube with multiple raised bodies and channels on the inner wall of its passage, promoting turbulent flow and enhancing heat exchange by increasing the surface contact area and heat transfer coefficient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the copper tube is bent into a coiled winding configuration to increase contact area, then the contact area between the copper tube and heat generation component is improved, but the working medium flows in laminar flow state which reduces heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The inner wall of the copper tube is designed with raised bodies that create a porous-like structure, forcing the working medium to flow through multiple pathways around these protrusions. This transforms the laminar flow into a more chaotic flow pattern with enhanced mixing, significantly improving heat exchange efficiency while maintaining the same contact area.
Solution Approach 2:
The raised bodies on the inner wall create flow disturbances and turbulence in the working medium, analogous to mechanical vibration effects. This turbulence enhances the heat transfer coefficient by preventing boundary layer formation and promoting continuous mixing of the working medium, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If the passage inner wall is kept smooth and polished for easy manufacturing, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the working medium flows in stratified laminar flow which reduces heat exchange amount
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire passage complex, only the inner wall surface is modified with raised bodies while the rest of the tube structure remains simple and easy to manufacture. This localized modification achieves turbulent flow enhancement without significantly complicating the overall manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The raised bodies add a third dimension (radial protrusion) to the otherwise two-dimensional smooth inner wall surface. This dimensional change creates flow turbulence and enhances heat exchange without requiring complex three-dimensional shaping of the entire tube, maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
3Device complexity
If the copper tube uses a straight configuration, then the structure is simple, but the direct contact area with heat generation component is too small to carry away heat effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The copper tube is bent into coiled or S-shaped winding configurations, introducing curvature to increase the contact area with the heat generation component. This curved configuration allows the tube to conform better to the heat source surface, maximizing thermal contact while maintaining structural simplicity.
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 significantly improves heat exchange efficiency by mixing the working medium into turbulent flow, increasing the surface heat exchange coefficient and contact area, thereby enhancing the overall heat transfer performance of the cold plate.
Implementation Method 1
the working medium will flow through the passage 121 in a stratified state... The working medium 14 positioned in the substantially central portion of the passage 121 will flow by a faster speed, while the working medium 14 positioned near the inner wall of the passage 121 will flow by a slower speed
Implementation Method 2
The copper tube can direct contact a heat generation component to directly conduct the heat away
Data Source
AI summary
An exposed tube cold plate structure includes a plate body and a water cooling tube. The plate body is formed with a groove. The water cooling tube is pressed and inlaid in the groove. The water cooling tube has a water cooling tube passage for a working medium to flow through. The water cooling tube passage has a passage inner wall. Multiple raised bodies and multiple channels are annularly alternately disposed on the passage inner wall for greatly enlarging the contact area between the passage inner wall and the working medium. In addition, the working medium flows through the water cooling tube passage in a state of turbulent flow so as to enhance the heat exchange amount of the cold plate.