Ionic Pump Heat Transfer for Micro-Scale Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat transfer devices are ineffective at micro-scales, such as in modern electronic devices, as they fail to efficiently remove heat from intense heat sources due to performance limitations.
Innovation Solution
The use of ionic pumps to circulate a dielectric working fluid through a closed circulation path, where the fluid is ionized at an emitter and drawn electrostatically to a collector, creating a flow that facilitates heat transfer, allowing for smaller and more efficient heat transfer devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional mechanical pumps are used for heat transfer, then heat transfer can be achieved at large scales, but the devices become too large and ineffective at micro-scales
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical pumps with electrostatic ionic pumps that use electric fields to ionize and accelerate working fluid molecules. This substitution eliminates mechanical moving parts, enabling miniaturization to micro-scales while maintaining effective heat transfer capability through electrostatic forces acting on ionized gas molecules
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the working fluid from liquid to ionized gas plasma, and changes the driving mechanism from mechanical pressure to electrostatic acceleration. These parameter changes enable the system to function at micro-scales where traditional mechanical systems fail, achieving both small device volume and effective heat transfer productivity
2Volume of moving object
If traditional heat transfer devices are miniaturized, then device size is reduced, but heat transfer performance becomes insufficient for intense heat sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of the working fluid from neutral gas to ionized plasma state through corona discharge. This phase transition enables the working fluid to carry higher energy and improve heat transfer coefficient, allowing effective heat removal from intense heat sources even in miniaturized devices with limited surface area
Solution Approach 2:
The electrostatic pump uses electric field forces rather than mechanical forces to drive the ionized working fluid through the heat transfer channels. This substitution enables precise control of fluid flow at micro-scales and maintains high heat transfer coefficients necessary for managing intense heat sources in compact devices
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 approach enables effective heat transfer at micro-scales, overcoming the limitations of traditional mechanical pumps by providing a compact and efficient means to manage heat in small-scale applications.
Implementation Method 1
When a voltage is applied to the emitter, the working fluid is ionized at the emitter
Implementation Method 2
The ionized fluid is drawn electrostatically to the lower-voltage collector
Implementation Method 3
heat transfer from a heat source to a heat sink along a closed circulation path
Data Source
AI summary
Heat transfer devices are based on using one or more ionic pumps to circulate a dielectric working fluid around a closed circulation path, which may be contained in a conduit. The working fluid may be a liquid or a gas. The ionic pumps are disposed along the closed circulation path. The pumps include an emitter and collector. When a voltage is applied to the emitter, the working fluid is ionized at the emitter. The ionized fluid is drawn electrostatically to the lower-voltage collector, which, through collision with molecules that in turn impart their momentum, creates a flow of the working fluid. This approach may be used with either positive or negative corona devices.