Loop Heat Pipe Thin Wall Vapor Pipe Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bending a heat pipe to accommodate a heat-generating component with an evaporator and condenser not on the same plane can hinder the flow of the working fluid, leading to improper functioning due to narrowed or closed flow passages.
Innovation Solution
A loop heat pipe design with a metal layer stack including an evaporator, condenser, vapor pipe, liquid pipe, and inlet, featuring a thin wall portion in the vapor pipe for bending, which is expanded by compressed air to maintain fluid flow, ensuring proper circulation and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the heat pipe is bent to accommodate evaporator and condenser not on the same plane, then the heat pipe can be mounted on electronic devices with three-dimensional layout, but the flow passage of working fluid is narrowed or closed hindering fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a thin wall portion at specific locations in the vapor pipe where bending occurs. This localized thinning allows the pipe to be bent without closing the flow passage, as the thin wall section flexes while maintaining patency. The flow passage remains open through this localized structural modification, enabling three-dimensional mounting while preserving fluid flow reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the wall thickness parameter locally by forming a thin wall portion with smaller thickness than the surrounding pipe wall. This parameter change enables the pipe to undergo bending deformation while maintaining sufficient internal space for fluid flow. The thin wall portion acts as a flexible section that can deform geometrically without compromising the flow passage integrity.
2Ease of operation
If the wall thickness of the vapor pipe is reduced to enable bending, then the pipe can be bent more easily, but the structural strength and sealing capability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by reducing wall thickness only at specific bending locations rather than throughout the entire pipe. The thin wall portion is localized to where bending occurs, while other sections maintain normal wall thickness. This localized approach enables easy bending at critical points while preserving structural strength in non-bending sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The thin wall portion is formed in advance during manufacturing before the bending process. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that when bending occurs, the pipe can be deformed easily at the thin wall section without requiring excessive force that might compromise overall structural integrity. The pre-formed thin section acts as a built-in flexibility feature.
3Reliability
If compressed air is used to expand the thin wall portion during bending, then the flow passage is maintained open, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatics by using compressed air to expand the thin wall portion during the bending process. The compressed air is introduced through the inlet, causing the thin wall section to expand outward and maintain an open flow passage geometry. This pneumatic expansion ensures that the flow passage remains patent after bending while providing a relatively simple manufacturing approach compared to mechanical expansion methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The thin wall portion self-expands when compressed air is introduced, utilizing the inherent elasticity of the material. The internal pressure from compressed air causes the thin wall section to bulge outward automatically, maintaining the flow passage open. This self-expansion mechanism eliminates the need for complex external expansion tools or multi-step processes.
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 allows for effective heat transfer and fluid circulation while preventing fluid leakage, ensuring the loop heat pipe functions correctly even when bent, maintaining efficiency in cooling heat-generating components.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator that vaporizes working fluid
Implementation Method 2
a condenser that liquefies the working fluid vaporized by the evaporator
Implementation Method 3
expanding the thin wall portion toward an outside of the wall of the vapor pipe by filling the loop heat pipe with compressed air from the inlet and applying internal pressure to the thin wall portion
Data Source
AI summary
A loop heat pipe includes a metal layer stack of two outermost metal layers and intermediate metal layers stacked between the two outermost metal layers. The metal layer stack includes an evaporator, a condenser, a vapor pipe, a liquid pipe, and an inlet. The metal layer stack forms a flow passage that circulates the working fluid through the evaporator, the vapor pipe, the condenser, and the liquid pipe. At least one of the two outermost metal layers includes a thin wall portion that forms a portion of a wall of the vapor pipe in the flow passage.