LiDAR Labyrinth Cooling Structure for Rotor Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal dissipation solutions for LiDAR components in a rotor are inefficient, as they rely on air cooling or liquid cooling that requires stationary pipelines, limiting performance improvement due to the arrangement constraints.
Innovation Solution
A labyrinth structure is implemented between the stator and rotor, utilizing thermal grease and a liquid cooling pipeline to conduct heat from heat-generating components on the rotor to the stator, where it is dissipated through a single external cooling device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid cooling pipelines are used for thermal dissipation, then thermal dissipation efficiency is improved, but the pipelines can only be arranged in the stationary stator section, making it impossible to cool components in the rotating rotor
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two independent parts: a liquid cooling pipeline in the stator for high-efficiency cooling, and a vapor chamber in the rotor for heat absorption. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function and location, resolving the contradiction between cooling efficiency and cooling coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat conduction member (thermal grease) is introduced as an intermediary between the rotor components and the vapor chamber, and another heat conduction member between the vapor chamber and the stator cooling pipeline. This intermediary approach enables effective heat transfer across the stator-rotor interface, connecting the high-efficiency stator cooling with the rotating rotor components.
2Power
If laser power and quantity are increased to enhance perception effect, then detection performance is improved, but excessive heat is generated requiring thermal dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
The heat generation function is extracted and isolated to specific heat-generating components (lasers, driving circuits, signal processing circuits) on the rotor, while the thermal dissipation function is extracted and assigned to the vapor chamber and stator cooling pipeline. This separation allows high-power operation while managing heat effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management approach changes from passive air cooling to active liquid cooling with phase change (vaporization and condensation). This parameter change in the cooling mechanism enables handling of the excessive heat generated by high-power lasers and electronics.
3Device complexity
If air cooling is used for thermal dissipation, then system complexity is reduced, but thermal dissipation efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from air cooling (gas phase) to liquid cooling with phase change (hydraulic and pneumatic combined). The liquid cooling pipeline in the stator and vapor chamber in the rotor utilize liquid-phase heat transfer and phase change (vaporization/condensation) to achieve high thermal dissipation efficiency while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
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
Simultaneously dissipates heat from both the stator and rotor components using a single cooling source, enhancing the thermal management and performance of the LiDAR system.
Implementation Method 1
liquid cooling pipelines need to be connected to an external cooling device
Implementation Method 2
the first heat is conducted through the first heat-conducting layer to the rotor bottom shell and then to the labyrinth structure, to be conducted through the thermal grease to the stator bottom shell
Implementation Method 3
each of the plurality of first components is provided with a first heat-conducting layer directly contacting the rotor bottom shell on a side facing toward the rotor bottom shell
Data Source
AI summary
A LiDAR and a vehicle are provided. The LiDAR includes a stator and a rotor. The stator, includes a stator bottom shell, and a stator sidewall, the stator bottom shell defining with a liquid cooling pipeline surrounding around the stator sidewall and passing through the stator sidewall to connect to an external cooling device. The rotor is fixed to the stator, including a first circuit board, a rotor bottom shell, and a rotor sidewall. The first circuit board is fixed to the rotor bottom shell. A plurality of first components are arranged at the first circuit board. Each of the plurality of first components is provided with a first heat-conducting layer directly contacting the rotor bottom shell. The rotor bottom shell is provided with a first labyrinth component. The stator bottom shell is provided with a second labyrinth component cooperating with the first one to form a labyrinth structure.