Embedded Heat-Dissipating Plate in Fluid Pumps for Waste Heat Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid pumps face challenges in efficiently dissipating waste heat from electronic power components while maintaining reliability and low production costs, especially in aggressive environments with high temperatures and vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A fluid pump design with a heat-conducting element embedded in a casting compound, distributing waste heat over a large surface area to prevent hot spots and enhance thermal conductivity, while also improving EMC compatibility by using electrically conductive materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a casting compound is used to embed the control unit and stator, then reliability is improved and production is simplified, but waste heat dissipation becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining a heat-conducting element (such as metal) with a casting compound (such as epoxy resin). The heat-conducting element is embedded within the casting compound to form a composite material system that leverages the high thermal conductivity of the metal component while maintaining the protective and structural benefits of the casting compound, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-conducting element acts as an intermediary between the heat-generating electronic components and the casting compound. It mediates the thermal transfer process by conducting heat away from the control unit and stator, then distributing it through the casting compound to the housing, thus solving the heat dissipation insufficiency while preserving the reliability benefits of the casting compound embedding.
2Temperature
If the base body has a large surface area, then heat dissipation is improved, but production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat-conducting element with the housing structure by integrating the base body into the housing design. The base body is configured to bear against the housing, creating a unified structure that eliminates the need for separate mounting components. This merging approach allows the base body to achieve a large surface area for heat dissipation while avoiding additional production complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The base body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides a large surface area for heat dissipation, acts as a structural support element, and creates thermal contact with the housing. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count and simplifies production, as the base body replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate components for heat dissipation, support, and thermal coupling.
3Temperature
If support tabs are added to bear against the housing, then heat dissipation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support tabs are designed with elastic bearing capability, allowing them to dynamically adapt to manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion. This dynamic characteristic enables the tabs to maintain optimal thermal contact with the housing under varying operating conditions, improving heat dissipation effectiveness without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or additional components.
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
Effectively dissipates waste heat without additional components, maintains reliability under adverse conditions, and enhances electromagnetic interference resistance.
Implementation Method 1
the heat-conducting element with a plate-like base body, wherein the stator, the control unit and the plate-like base body are embedded in a casting compound... the whole of the plate-like base body is embedded inside the casting compound such that the front side of the cast body formed by the casting compound is designed as closed
Implementation Method 2
the thermal conductivity of the casting compound is sufficient to dissipate quickly the waste heat which occurs such that the electronic power components cannot heat up to undesirably high temperatures
Implementation Method 3
the heat-conducting element and the housing are electrically conductive. As a result, the emission of electromagnetic radiation to the outside is reduced. Moreover, the effect of EMC radiation externally is reduced and the interference resistance improved
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid pump, in particular an oil pump for supplying a clutch actuator, a gearbox actuator, a lubrication system and/or a cooling system of a drive train. The fluid pump includes a housing, a stator, a control unit which is arranged at one end of the housing, and a heat-conducting element with a plate-like base body. The stator, the control unit and the plate-like base body are embedded in a casting compound.