Flexible Heat Pipe for Bendable Device Thermal Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat dissipation devices for bendable devices, such as wearable terminals and smartphones, have a poor heat dissipation effect due to their design limitations, which can lead to skin scalding from centralized heat sources.

Innovation Solution

The use of flexible heat pipes with alternating rigid and flexible parts at the condensation ends and a single rigid part at the evaporation end, connected in various configurations, including parallel and series, to enhance heat dissipation across multiple bent areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible heat pipe with a single flexible body section is used, then the heat pipe can be bent within a specific angle range, but the evaporation section and condensation section become invalid after bending and cannot perform heat dissipation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending capabilityVSAvoidheat dissipation function
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heat pipe is divided into multiple sections: a flexible body section L2 with alternating rigid parts (21, 22) and flexible parts (23, 24), allowing the evaporation section L1 and condensation section L3 to maintain their functional integrity while enabling the overall structure to be bent within a specific angle range without invalidating the heat dissipation function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the heat pipe have different properties: the evaporation section L1 and condensation section L3 are designed as rigid parts to ensure functional effectiveness, while the flexible body section L2 contains alternating rigid and flexible parts to provide both structural support and bending capability, with each section optimized for its specific role

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing flexible heat pipe designs are used in bendable devices with multiple bent areas, then the device can achieve flexibility, but the heat dissipation effect deteriorates due to limited bending capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice flexibilityVSAvoidheat dissipation effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat pipe structure is segmented into multiple rigid parts (21, 22) and flexible parts (23, 24) arranged alternately in the flexible body section L2, enabling the heat pipe to adapt to bendable devices with multiple bent areas while maintaining effective heat dissipation across all sections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heat pipe incorporates flexible parts (23, 24) that allow dynamic bending and adaptation to different device configurations, while the rigid parts (21, 22) maintain structural integrity and heat dissipation functionality, creating a dynamically adaptable thermal management system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 allows for effective heat dissipation across bendable devices, reducing the risk of skin scalding by distributing heat evenly and improving the overall heat dissipation performance.

Implementation Method 1

The apparatus includes an evaporator region, a condenser region, and a capillary region. The evaporator region includes one or more hot point elements used to transfer heat from a heat source to a transport fluid. The transport fluid changes state to a vapor when heat is applied to the transport fluid. The vapor travels to the condenser region via vapor channels and is condensed to a fluid once again by transferring heat from the vapor to a heat sink.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat pipe: Heat Pipe

Implementation Method 2

The transport fluid changes state to a vapor when heat is applied to the transport fluid. The vapor travels to the condenser region via vapor channels and is condensed to a fluid once again by transferring heat from the vapor to a heat sink.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 3

The condensed fluid is then returned to the evaporator region by way of capillary forces and capillaries formed in a capillary structure.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP3168562B1Intelligent terminal heat dissipation device and intelligent terminal
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3168562B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3168562B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3168562B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

An intelligent terminal heat dissipation apparatus and an intelligent terminal are disclosed. The intelligent terminal heat dissipation apparatus includes at least one flexible heat pipe, where two ends of the flexible heat pipe are condensation ends (201), the middle of the flexible heat pipe is an evaporation end (202), the condensation end includes one or more heat pipe rigid parts and one or more heat pipe flexible parts, the one or more heat pipe rigid parts and the one or more heat pipe flexible parts of the condensation end are arranged alternately, the evaporation end includes at least one heat pipe rigid part, and an intelligent terminal body (53) is mounted on the evaporation end. By using the intelligent terminal heat dissipation apparatus, flexible heat dissipation is implemented for a bendable device, thereby resolving a technical problem that a heat dissipation effect is poor when heat is dissipated for a bendable device having many bent areas.