Heat Sink Shaping Element Using Shape Memory Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat sink assemblies face inefficiencies in thermal coupling due to voids and gaps between heat sources and heat sinks, which reduce thermal efficiency and quality of heat transfer, especially in applications where heat is generated unevenly.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a shaping element made of shape memory materials that can change shape in response to actuation energy, such as heat, electrical, or mechanical energy, to modify the heat sink's surface and improve contact with the heat source, thereby enhancing thermal coupling by creating a thermal coupling shape that increases surface contact and reduces gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional heat sink assemblies are used with fixed geometry, then manufacturing is simple, but thermal coupling efficiency is reduced due to voids and gaps between heat source and heat sink
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sink incorporates a shaping element made of shape memory material that can dynamically change its shape in response to actuation energy. This dynamic capability allows the heat sink to adapt its geometry to eliminate voids and gaps between the heat source and heat sink, thereby improving thermal coupling efficiency without requiring a completely complex fixed structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes shape memory materials that undergo parameter changes (shape transformation) when exposed to actuation energy such as heat, electrical energy, or mechanical energy. This parameter change enables the shaping element to transition between different geometric configurations, allowing the heat sink to optimize its contact with the heat source and improve thermal coupling
2Reliability
If the heat sink has a fixed shape, then manufacturing precision is easier to achieve, but thermal contact quality deteriorates due to inability to adapt to uneven heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The shaping element provides dynamic shape adjustment capability, allowing the heat sink to adapt its geometry after manufacturing to achieve optimal thermal contact. This dynamic adaptation compensates for the limitations of fixed manufacturing precision by enabling post-manufacturing geometric optimization through actuation
Solution Approach 2:
The shaping element is pre-configured with shape memory material properties that enable it to return to a predetermined optimal shape when actuated. This preliminary programming of the material's memory shape allows the system to automatically achieve the correct geometric configuration for optimal thermal contact without requiring complex real-time control
3Productivity
If no shape transformation capability is provided, then device complexity is low, but heat transfer performance is reduced due to voids and gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The shaping element utilizes shape memory material that can autonomously transform its shape in response to actuation energy without requiring external mechanical actuators or complex control systems. This self-service capability improves heat transfer performance by eliminating voids and gaps while keeping the device complexity relatively low, as the material itself performs the shaping function
Solution Approach 2:
The shape memory material undergoes phase transitions (martensitic transformation) when exposed to actuation energy, enabling reversible shape changes. This phase transition mechanism allows the heat sink to transform from a low-contact configuration to a high-contact configuration, improving heat transfer performance through a fundamental material property rather than a mechanical mechanism
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 use of shape memory materials in shaping elements within heat sink assemblies enhances thermal coupling efficiency by dynamically modifying the heat sink's shape to improve contact with heat sources, addressing inefficiencies caused by voids and uneven heat generation, leading to improved heat transfer performance.
Implementation Method 1
The shaping element can comprise a shape memory material and have an actuation shape and an assembly shape. In embodiments, a shape memory material can be a metal alloy having a shape memory property.
Implementation Method 2
The heat pipe can comprise a coolant pipe and a heat pipe base coupled to the heat sink.
Implementation Method 3
The heat pipe can comprise a coolant pipe and a heat pipe base coupled to the heat sink.
Data Source
AI summary
A heat sink assembly can comprise a heat sink and a shaping element made of a shape memory material. The shaping element is incorporated into the heat sink assembly in an assembly shape. An actuation energy can cause the shape memory material to change the shaping element to an actuation shape, and the actuation shape can produce a thermal coupling shape in the heat sink. A method comprises forming a shaping element, of a shape memory material, into an actuation shape. The method includes re-forming the shaping element from the actuation shape into an assembly shape and incorporating the shaping element in a heat sink assembly that includes a heat sink. In the method, applying an actuation energy causes the shape memory material to change the shaping element from the assembly shape to the actuation shape to produce a thermal coupling shape in the heat sink.