Flat Plate Heat Pipe Coolant to Prevent Freeze Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In low-temperature environments, the coolant in heat pipes can freeze, leading to volumetric expansion and deformation of the heat pipe, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A heat pipe coolant comprising water and a deformation suppressant, such as 1,4-dioxane or diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, with a water content of 90 wt % or greater and a deformation suppressant content of 0.5 wt % or greater, which lowers the hardness of water when it freezes, preventing deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is used as heat pipe coolant, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but deformation occurs in low temperature environments due to freezing expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the coolant by adding deformation suppressants (1,4-dioxane or diethylene glycol dimethyl ether) to water. This modifies the physical properties of the coolant, specifically lowering the hardness of ice formed at low temperatures, thereby preventing heat pipe deformation while maintaining the majority water content (90 wt% or greater) for efficient heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite coolant system by combining water with deformation suppressants in specific proportions (0.5 wt% or greater). This composite formulation leverages the high heat transfer properties of water while incorporating substances that modify the freezing characteristics to prevent structural damage, achieving both heat transfer efficiency and deformation prevention.
2Shape
If deformation suppressant is added to water, then deformation is suppressed when frozen, but thermal conductivity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of the deformation suppressant to maintain thermal conductivity while achieving deformation suppression. By controlling the suppressant content within specific ranges (0.5-6.0 wt% for 1,4-dioxane or 0.5-5.0 wt% for diethylene glycol dimethyl ether), the formulation achieves sufficient deformation protection without excessive dilution of the high thermal conductivity water component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the deformation suppressant selectively to modify only the freezing characteristics of the coolant without significantly affecting the liquid phase thermal conductivity. The suppressant primarily acts during the phase change process at low temperatures to reduce ice hardness, while the bulk water maintains its superior thermal conduction properties in the liquid state during normal heat pipe operation.
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 effectively suppresses deformation of flat plate-like heat pipes while maintaining thermal conductivity and heat transfer efficiency, as demonstrated by the heat shock and high-temperature storage tests.
Implementation Method 1
When the coolant freezes, volumetric expansion occurs, which may lead to deformation of the heat pipe
Implementation Method 2
When the coolant freezes, volumetric expansion occurs
Implementation Method 3
a vapor diffusion passage in which a coolant is enclosed in a sealed space under reduced pressure and in which the coolant that has been converted to vapor by the heat from a heat source is diffused
Implementation Method 4
a capillary channel (wick) that feeds the condensed coolant by capillary action
Implementation Method 5
the coolant that has been converted to vapor by the heat from a heat source
Implementation Method 6
the coolant that has been converted to vapor by the heat from a heat source is diffused
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a heat pipe coolant capable of suppressing deformation of a flat plate-like heat pipe, and a flat plate-like heat pipe. The heat pipe coolant is a coolant enclosed in a flat plate-like heat pipe serving as a heat diffusion plate. The heat pipe coolant includes water and a deformation suppressant that lowers the hardness when the water freezes. The deformation suppressant is 1,4-dioxane or diethylene glycol dimethyl ether. A content of the water is 90 wt % or greater. A content of the deformation suppressant is 0.5 wt % or greater.