Heat Transfer Plate With Square Wave Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heat transfer devices struggle to efficiently cool high heat flux energy sources in compact circuitry, such as aircraft or spacecraft circuits, as they become increasingly difficult to develop with shrinking component sizes.

Innovation Solution

A heat transfer plate with square wave-shaped channels, formed through additive manufacturing, provides multiple impingement zones for enhanced heat transfer by isolating channels fluidly between the inlet and outlet, allowing for efficient cooling of electrical components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional heat transfer devices are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the heat transfer efficiency is insufficient for high heat flux energy sources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidheat transfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heat transfer plate is segmented into multiple fluidly isolated channels within a single body, allowing independent flow paths that increase heat transfer efficiency without requiring multiple separate components. This segmentation enables complex internal geometries while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through additive manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from conventional two-dimensional heat transfer surfaces to three-dimensional square wave-shaped channels with multiple impingement zones. This dimensional change creates additional heat transfer surfaces and flow paths within the same footprint, significantly enhancing heat transfer efficiency for compact designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If component sizes are shrunk to accommodate shrinking circuitry, then the device compactness is improved, but the heat transfer capability becomes increasingly difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidheat transfer capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple fluidly isolated channels are nested within a single heat transfer plate body, allowing compact arrangement of multiple flow paths in a confined volume. This nesting approach maximizes heat transfer capability within the reduced size constraints of modern electronics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The square wave-shaped channels utilize three-dimensional space more effectively by creating multiple impingement zones and extending flow paths vertically and laterally. This dimensional optimization allows enhanced heat transfer capability within a compact footprint suitable for shrinking circuitry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If square wave-shaped channels with multiple impingement zones are implemented, then the heat transfer efficiency is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidchannel geometry complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple fluidly isolated channels with complex square wave geometries are merged into a single unitary heat transfer plate body. This consolidation achieves enhanced heat transfer efficiency through complex internal structures while simplifying manufacturing by creating one integrated component rather than multiple assembled parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the manufacturing approach from conventional machining to additive manufacturing, enabling the fabrication of complex square wave-shaped channels with multiple impingement zones. This parameter change in manufacturing technology allows realization of geometries that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Area of stationary object

If multiple fluidly isolated channels are defined within the body, then the heat transfer surface area is increased, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer surface areaVSAvoidchannel isolation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple channels requiring fluid isolation are merged into a single unitary heat transfer plate body defined by additive manufacturing. This approach increases the effective heat transfer surface area through multiple channels while avoiding the complexity of assembling multiple isolated components, as the isolation is achieved through the monolithic structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design effectively increases heat transfer efficiency by providing a longer path and additional impingement locations for heat transfer, enabling superior cooling of small heat generating devices.

Implementation Method 1

The channels are square wave shaped defined by a square waveform to provide multiple impingement zones on opposed faces of the body to facilitate heat transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpingement heat transfer: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The body can include aluminum or any other suitable material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2977705B1Heat transfer plate
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND SPACE SYST INT INC
  • EP2977705B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5

AI summary

A heat transfer device includes a body (101) defining fluid inlet (103) and fluid outlet (105). The body further defines a plurality of channels (107) defined within the body in fluid connection between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, wherein the channels are fluidly isolated from one another between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.