Flat-Plate Heat Pipe Cooling for Pump-Free Coolant Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems face challenges in improving cooling efficiency, energy savings, maintaining high heat removal ability, and equipment maintainability, especially with high heat generation density in electronic devices, and there is a need to transfer evaporated coolant without external energy sources and prevent coolant film formation.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with a coolant tank, heat pipes, and a blower fan that uses a flat plate-shaped cross-section to separate gas and liquid coolant flows, and a heat exchanger system with gas and liquid pipes to facilitate coolant circulation without pumps, along with a heat radiator and vapor film removing unit to enhance heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a coolant is used to cool an electronic device with high heat generation density, then heat removal ability is improved, but a coolant film is formed on the heating element surface which lowers heat removal ability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vibration mechanism that vibrates the heating element in the vertical direction. This vibration prevents the coolant film from adhering to the heating element surface by creating relative motion between the coolant and the heating element, thereby eliminating the harmful film formation while maintaining effective heat removal
2Reliability
If evaporated coolant is transferred using a pump, then transfer reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thermosyphon mechanism where the evaporated coolant naturally rises to the condensation section due to buoyancy forces, and the condensed coolant naturally returns to the cooling section under gravity. This self-circulating system eliminates the need for external pumps, achieving reliable coolant transfer without additional energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of the coolant (evaporation and condensation) to drive the circulation process. The phase change creates density differences that generate natural convection currents, enabling the coolant to circulate through the system automatically without mechanical assistance
3Ease of repair
If cooling equipment complexity is reduced, then ease of maintenance is improved, but cooling efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling system into distinct functional sections: a cooling section where coolant evaporates to absorb heat, and a condensation section where coolant condenses and releases heat. This segmentation allows each section to be independently optimized and maintained, simplifying maintenance while preserving overall cooling efficiency
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 system improves cooling efficiency, achieves energy savings, maintains high heat removal ability, and ensures high maintainability by optimizing coolant circulation and heat transfer without external power, while preventing coolant film formation.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of heat pipes that are arranged to extend from the coolant tank toward the outside of the coolant tank and respectively have passages allowing the coolant as a working fluid to be movable therethrough
Implementation Method 2
cooling the evaporated coolant with a heat pipe
Implementation Method 3
transfers the evaporated coolant by a heat pipe to be cooled and condensed
Implementation Method 4
a blower fan blowing air to the plurality of heat pipes from the outside of the coolant tank in a direction in which the heat pipes are arranged
Implementation Method 5
coolant removing heat from a heating element
Implementation Method 6
cooling an electronic device with a working fluid
Implementation Method 7
condenses the evaporated coolant in a cooling pipe
Implementation Method 8
cools the secondary coolant by exchanging heat with the outside air
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system of the present disclosure includes: a coolant tank storing a coolant removing heat from a heating element in a closed space as an inner space; a plurality of heat pipes that are arranged to extend from the coolant tank toward the outside of the coolant tank and respectively having passages allowing the coolant as a working fluid to be movable therethrough; and a blower fan blowing air to the plurality of heat pipes from the outside of the coolant tank in a direction in which the heat pipes are arranged, wherein a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the extension direction of each heat pipe is a flat plate shape having a leading edge on an upstream side of a blowing direction of the blower fan and a trailing edge on a downstream side thereof with the blowing direction as a longitudinal direction.