Heat Pipe Thermal Management for MRI Gradient Coils
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal management systems for MRI apparatuses, such as air cooling and liquid cooling, are inadequate for high heat loads generated by gradient coils, leading to temperature issues that can cause device failure and patient discomfort, and are complex and costly to implement.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system utilizing heat pipes with an evaporator section proximate to the gradient coils to facilitate heat transfer through evaporation and condensation of a working fluid, coupled with a heat sink to efficiently remove heat, simplifying the design and reducing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid cooling is used to remove heat from gradient coils, then heat removal effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to manifolds and multiple connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex manifold system and multiple inlet/outlet connections from the cooling design, replacing them with a simplified heat pipe-based thermal management system that eliminates the need for complicated fluid distribution networks while maintaining effective heat removal from gradient coils
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical liquid cooling system with manifolds and pumps with heat pipes that utilize phase change mechanisms, eliminating the need for complex mechanical fluid distribution infrastructure while achieving superior heat transfer efficiency
2Measurement precision
If higher current densities are used to improve image quality, then image quality is improved, but heat generation increases leading to thermal management challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of the working fluid within the heat pipe (evaporation at the hot end, condensation at the cold end) to efficiently transport heat away from the gradient coils, enabling higher current densities to be used for improved image quality without compromising thermal management
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pipe system is self-regulating, automatically adjusting heat transfer based on thermal load conditions without external control, allowing the system to handle variable heat generation from different imaging sequences while maintaining optimal temperatures
3Temperature
If hermetically sealed liquid cooling is implemented, then heat removal capability is improved, but reliability decreases due to multiple connection points and potential failure modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes multiple connection points and complex fluid pathways from the cooling system design, replacing them with integrated heat pipes that have fewer potential failure points and eliminate the need for numerous electrical insulating connections
Solution Approach 2:
The hermetically sealed heat pipe system is pre-filled with the appropriate amount of working fluid and sealed to prevent leakage, providing built-in protection against contamination and failure modes associated with open liquid cooling systems
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 solution effectively maintains gradient coil temperatures within safe limits, enabling higher power applications, improved image quality, and longer scanning times while enhancing system reliability and patient comfort by efficiently removing heat without the need for complex manifold systems.
Implementation Method 1
heat pipes with an evaporator section proximate to the gradient coils to facilitate heat transfer through evaporation and condensation of a working fluid
Implementation Method 2
heat pipes with an evaporator section proximate to the gradient coils to facilitate heat transfer through evaporation and condensation of a working fluid
Implementation Method 3
A thermal management system utilizing heat pipes with an evaporator section proximate to the gradient coils
Implementation Method 4
coupled with a heat sink to efficiently remove heat
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system for cooling a heat generating component of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) apparatus includes at least one heat pipe having a portion disposed proximate the heat generating component, such as a gradient coil and/or RF coil. When heat is removed from the component, a working fluid in a relatively hotter end of the heat pipe vaporizes and travels toward a relatively colder end of the heat pipe. The colder end may be operatively coupled to a heat sink for removing the heat from the colder end and increase the overall efficiency of the system. The heat pipe may be disposed along a horizontal, a vertical direction and/or along a diagonal of the heat generating component.