Flow Distributor Insert and Sheath Design for Two-Phase Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat transfer devices face challenges in evenly distributing refrigerant across multiple layers, leading to uneven thermal distribution and reduced heat transfer efficiency, particularly in compact circuitry systems like aircraft or spacecraft circuits.
Innovation Solution
A flow distributor system with a sheath and insert design that includes a fluid inlet with both inner and outer inlets for mixing two-phase flows, ensuring even distribution into multiple channels, and can be manufactured as a single piece using additive methods, ensuring fluid channels are isolated and pressure-balanced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional heat transfer devices use multiple layers of passages connected to a single inlet, then the device structure is simple, but the refrigerant distributes unevenly across layers causing poor thermal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The flow distributor is divided into multiple functional segments: a sheath component with distributor holes and an insert component with fluid channels and inlets. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining manufacturability through separate fabrication and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert defining fluid channels is disposed within the sheath defining distributor holes, creating a nested structure. The insert is interference-fit into the sheath, with the sheath outer diameter being larger than the insert outer diameter, allowing the smaller component to be housed within the larger one while maintaining structural integrity.
2Reliability
If a single inlet is used for multiple passage layers, then the device is easier to manufacture, but thermal performance deteriorates due to uneven refrigerant distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The single inlet is segmented into multiple separate inlets (first inlet, second inlet, third inlet) that can independently receive refrigerant. This segmentation enables balanced refrigerant distribution to different passage layers while maintaining reasonable manufacturing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different inlet configurations are provided for different regions: the first inlet communicates with first passage layers, the second inlet with second passage layers, and the third inlet with third passage layers. Each inlet region is optimized for its specific thermal distribution requirements, allowing localized quality control of refrigerant flow.
3Volume of moving object
If circuitry continues to shrink in size, then device compactness is improved, but heat transfer capability becomes increasingly difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The nested structure of the insert within the sheath allows multiple fluid channels to be packed into a compact volume. The sheath outer diameter is larger than the insert outer diameter, enabling the insert to be housed within the sheath while maintaining a compact overall device footprint suitable for shrinking circuitry applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow distributor utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement of multiple inlets and passage layers. The first, second, and third inlets are positioned at different locations and orientations, with passage layers arranged in vertical and horizontal dimensions, maximizing heat transfer capability within a compact volume by exploiting multiple spatial dimensions.
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 solution enables even distribution of two-phase flows across heat transfer channels, enhancing thermal performance and overcoming the limitations of conventional systems by ensuring consistent cooling across all channels, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency in compact systems.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid inlet includes an inner inlet and an outer inlet radially outward from the inner inlet for mixing a fluid flow (e.g., a two-phase flow) in the fluid inlet for evenly distributing the two phase flow into the fluid channels of the insert and into each channel of the heat transfer device
Data Source
AI summary
A flow distributor for a heat transfer device having a plurality of channels includes a sheath defining a plurality of distributor holes, each distributor hole configured to be in fluid communication with a respective channel inlet of each channel of the heat transfer device and an insert defining a plurality of fluid channels therein and a fluid inlet, each fluid channel in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. The insert is disposed within the sheath to seal the fluid channels with each fluid channel in fluid communication with a respective one of the distribution holes. The fluid inlet includes an inner inlet and an outer inlet radially outward from the inner inlet for mixing a fluid flow in the fluid inlet for evenly distributing fluid flow (e.g., a two phase flow) into the fluid channels of the insert and into each channel of the heat transfer device.