Thermally Driven Fluidic Pump for Compact Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling techniques for electronic and optical equipment face challenges in scalability and reliability due to mechanical failures of moving parts and limited miniaturization potential, as well as insufficient fluidic performance in micro-fluidic applications.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution leverages the pressure increase in fluids due to thermal expansion or phase change to create a pumping effect, utilizing thermoelectric coolers and micro-channels with no moving parts, allowing for efficient fluid flow in both directions or one-directional flow through the use of one-directional valves, enabling effective heat transfer in compact designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cooling techniques with moving parts are used, then cooling function is provided, but reliability deteriorates due to mechanical failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pumping systems with a thermally-driven fluidic pump that uses temperature gradients and phase changes to move coolant. The system employs thermoelectric elements and heated regions to create pressure differences that drive fluid flow through microchannels, eliminating mechanical moving parts and associated failures while maintaining reliable cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of the coolant (liquid-vapor transitions) to generate pressure differences that drive fluid flow through the system. By heating specific regions to cause vaporization and then condensing the vapor in cooler regions, the system creates a continuous circulation pattern without mechanical pumps, thereby improving reliability.
2Volume of moving object
If cooling systems are miniaturized for small-scale devices, then compact design is achieved, but fluidic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling system into multiple discrete thermal zones and microchannel segments, each optimized for specific functions such as heating, cooling, phase change, and fluid direction. This segmentation allows the compact system to maintain efficient heat transfer pathways and fluid circulation despite the reduced overall size, preserving fluidic performance in the miniaturized design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs three-dimensional microchannel structures and vertical heat transfer pathways to maximize cooling efficiency within a minimized footprint. By utilizing vertical dimensions and multi-layer configurations, the system achieves high fluidic performance in a compact volume suitable for small-scale devices.
3Ease of operation
If one-directional valves are added to control fluid flow, then flow direction control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs passive one-directional valves that automatically control fluid flow direction based on pressure differences without requiring external control mechanisms. The valves self-regulate flow based on the thermal-driven pressure gradients, providing ease of operation while minimizing additional complexity by eliminating the need for active control systems.
4Reliability
If thermal expansion and phase change are used to create pumping effect, then reliability is improved by eliminating moving parts, but pressure control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic thermal control where the heating elements and thermoelectric devices can be independently controlled to precisely regulate pressure generation. By dynamically adjusting the temperature and power input to different thermal zones, the system achieves precise pressure control despite using thermal expansion and phase change mechanisms, maintaining both reliability and control precision.
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 approach provides a reliable, compact, and efficient cooling mechanism capable of delivering high pressure and flow rates, suitable for small-scale devices, overcoming the limitations of traditional cooling methods by eliminating mechanical failures and enabling miniaturization.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric element arranged between the first and second chambers
Implementation Method 2
to cause a fluid (liquid or gas) to flow in the vicinity of the component to be cooled to thereby absorb heat from the component through thermal contact
Implementation Method 3
the increase in the pressure of the fluid within that volume causes the fluid to move (flow) out of that volume through its outlet... under an increase in temperature due to absorption of heat, the volume of a fluid increases for a fixed pressure
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
A fluidic pump is disclosed having a first heat source configured to heat a fluid in a first chamber to thereby increase the pressure in the fluid and cause it to flow to a second chamber through a channel. The fluid is configured to absorb heat from a second heat source and cool said heat source as it flows from the first chamber to the second chamber. The flow may be periodic in in backward and forward directions or it may be one-directional. A heat transfer assembly comprising the micro-fluidic pump is also disclosed