Optical Fiber Combiner Heat Sink for Vacuum Thermal Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical fiber components fail due to heat accumulation in a vacuum environment, as convection is absent and conventional heat dissipation methods are insufficient, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
An optical fiber combiner with a conductive material and a housing designed for thermal conduction and radiation, incorporating a low refractive index portion to absorb and transfer heat, and a housing and cover made of materials with excellent thermal radiation capability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional optical fiber combiner is used in vacuum environment, then the device structure is simple, but heat cannot be dissipated effectively due to absence of convection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a conductive material as an intermediary substance between the optical fiber components and the housing. This conductive material serves as a thermal bridge that conducts heat away from the optical components, compensating for the lack of convective heat transfer in vacuum environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the heat dissipation function from the traditional air-cooled system and transfers it to a solid-state thermal conduction system. By removing reliance on atmospheric convection and replacing it with direct thermal conduction through the conductive material and housing structure, the system adapts to vacuum conditions.
2Reliability
If optical fiber components are exposed to light energy loads without adequate heat dissipation, then the optical transmission function is maintained, but the components will fail due to high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful heat energy that would otherwise damage the optical components into a manageable thermal conduction problem. By designing the housing and conductive material as an integrated thermal management system, the harmful heat is redirected to safe pathways that do not compromise optical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates heat dissipation structures (conductive material and thermally conductive housing) into the device design before the optical components are subjected to high energy loads. This preliminary thermal management infrastructure ensures that heat can be rapidly dissipated as soon as it is generated, preventing temperature buildup that would lead to component failure.
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
Effective heat dissipation in a vacuum environment, prolonging the life of optical fiber components by maintaining stable temperature and preventing damage.
Implementation Method 1
heat is generated by the low refractive index portion. The unwanted heat is absorbed by the conductive material and the heat is in turn transferred to the housing and the cover by thermal conduction
Implementation Method 2
the heat is dissipated by thermal radiation from both the housing and the cover because they are formed of a material having an excellent thermal radiation capability
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber combiner includes optical fiber components including a predetermined area and a refractive index portion formed on the predetermined area; a housing including a channel with the optical fiber components disposed through, fastening members for fastening the optical fiber components, and a cover for sealing the channel; and a conductive material disposed in the channel. In response to laser beams impinging on the optical fiber components, heat is generated by the refractive index portion, the heat is absorbed by the conductive material, and the heat is further transferred to the housing and the cover by thermal conduction for dissipation.