Heat Pipe Capillary Structure via Inductive Powder Sintering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat pipe manufacturing methods require core pins, leading to uneven capillary structure thickness, non-uniform powder filling, and increased production time and costs, while limiting the ability to adjust wall thickness and produce 'endless' heat pipes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a pipe-shaped casing element filled with powder, where particles are connected via inductive heat generation, allowing for adjustable capillary structure porosity and wall thickness, eliminating the need for core pins and enabling production of heat pipes with varying thicknesses and surface structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If core pins are used to form hollow-cylindrical capillary structures, then the capillary structure can be formed with a defined hollow space, but the production time increases and the wall thickness becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the core pin from the manufacturing process entirely. Instead of using a core pin to define the hollow space, the method fills the entire interior of the casing element with powder and then selectively removes material or creates porosity in specific regions through inductive heating, thereby extracting the need for the core pin and its associated complexities
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical core pin system with an electromagnetic field-based approach. Inductive heating coils generate electromagnetic fields that selectively heat and sinter powder particles in specific patterns, allowing precise control of capillary structure formation without mechanical contact or core pins
2Shape
If core pins are used to form the capillary structure, then a hollow-cylindrical structure can be created, but the production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the core pin component and its associated costs. By using inductive heating to directly sinter powder into the desired hollow-cylindrical shape without requiring a physical core pin, the method removes material costs, handling costs, and assembly costs associated with core pins
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the controlling parameter from mechanical (core pin dimensions and positioning) to electromagnetic (inductive heating coil configuration, frequency, and power). This allows precise control of the hollow-cylindrical shape formation through energy distribution patterns rather than mechanical constraints
3Adaptability or versatility
If core pins are used in the manufacturing process, then the capillary structure can be formed, but the capability to produce 'endless' heat pipes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the core pin constraint that limits heat pipe length. Without a core pin that must be inserted and removed from ends of the casing, the process can accommodate continuous or very long casing elements, enabling 'endless' heat pipe production through seamless joining techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables modular production where heat pipes can be manufactured in segments and joined seamlessly. The inductive heating process can be applied to segmented casings that are later joined, creating effectively endless heat pipes without the core pin length limitation
4Manufacturing precision
If core pins are used to define the annular space, then the capillary structure can be formed, but the powder filling becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the core pin that causes non-uniform powder filling. By removing the core pin and instead using inductive heating to selectively sinter powder after complete filling, the method achieves uniform powder distribution throughout the entire interior without the geometric constraints imposed by core pins
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 method facilitates the creation of highly porous, uniformly thick capillary structures with adjustable wall thickness, reducing production time and costs, enabling the production of 'endless' heat pipes with tailored heat transfer capabilities and surface roughness for efficient heat management.
Implementation Method 1
the connection of the particles of the powder to one another and preferably also to the casing element in a layer lying against the casing element is established from the outside by means of inductive heat generation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a heat pipe includes the steps: providing a pipe-shaped casing element having a length and an interior; filling a powder with particles into the casing element to form a capillary structure in the casing element; connecting the particles of the powder to one another, wherein the interior enclosed by the casing element is filled with the powder partially or in its entirety at least across a partial area of the length of the casing element, and subsequently the connection of the particles of the powder to one another and preferably also to the casing element in a layer lying against the casing element is established from the outside by inductive heat generation.