Loop-Type Heat Pipe With Segmented Evaporator and Porous Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing heat generation in heat components, such as CPUs, poses challenges for sufficient heat radiation in traditional loop-type heat pipes, making it difficult to effectively cool these components.

Innovation Solution

A loop-type heat pipe design featuring multiple condensers and vapor/liquid pipes with porous bodies to enhance heat dissipation, where the evaporator is connected to multiple condensers through separate vapor and liquid pipes, and a connecting portion with a porous body to guide the operating fluid and prevent vapor backflow, utilizing high heat conductivity metal layers for efficient heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a traditional loop-type heat pipe with a single evaporator and condenser is used, then the structure is simple, but the heat radiation capability is insufficient for high heat generation components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat radiation capabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat pipe system is segmented into multiple independent flow paths, each consisting of an evaporator section, condenser section, liquid pipe, and vapor pipe. This segmentation allows parallel heat transfer channels to handle higher total heat loads while maintaining manageable individual path complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple flow paths are merged at the evaporator through a connecting portion with porous bodies that integrate liquid supply from multiple paths. The condensers are also positioned to collectively radiate heat to the same external region, combining their cooling effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Power

If the operating fluid flows rapidly through the heat pipe to handle high heat loads, then heat radiation improves, but vapor backflow from condenser to evaporator increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer rateVSAvoidvapor backflow
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Porous bodies are strategically placed at the connecting portion and within the liquid pipe to utilize capillary forces. These porous structures allow liquid to be drawn forward by capillary action while the narrow pore structures resist vapor backflow, creating a one-way flow control mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the heat pipe have different structural qualities optimized for their specific functions: the evaporator has high porosity for fluid distribution, the connecting portion has controlled porosity for flow direction control, and the condenser has dense structure for efficient condensation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If porous bodies are added to control fluid flow and prevent backflow, then vapor backflow is suppressed, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow control reliabilityVSAvoidcomponent quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The porous bodies perform multiple functions simultaneously: they distribute liquid evenly across the evaporator surface, provide capillary forces to drive liquid flow, and act as check valves to prevent vapor backflow. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design allows for increased heat radiation to the outside, effectively managing heat generated in heat components by enhancing the flow paths and using capillary forces to prevent vapor backflow, thereby improving cooling efficiency and preventing dryout.

Implementation Method 1

the operating fluid in the liquid pipe is guided to the evaporator with a capillary force generated in the porous bodies and the vapor is suppressed from flowing from the evaporator back to the liquid pipe

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary force: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

an evaporator configured to vaporize an operating fluid by heat of a heat generation component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

a condenser configured to cool and condense the vaporized operating fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 4

utilizing high heat conductivity metal layers for efficient heat transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3916336B1Loop-type heat pipe
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 SHINKO ELECTRIC IND CO LTD
  • EP3916336B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3916336B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3916336B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A loop-type heat pipe includes an evaporator (10), a first condenser (21), a second condenser (22), a first liquid pipe (41) having a first flow path (81) and configured to connect the evaporator (10) and the first condenser (21), a second liquid pipe (42) having a second flow path (82) and configured to connect the evaporator (10) and the second condenser (22), a first vapor pipe (31) configured to connect the evaporator (10) and the first condenser (21), a second vapor pipe (32) configured to connect the evaporator (10) and the second condenser (22), and a connecting portion (43) having a first porous body (310) and configured to connect the first liquid pipe (41) and second liquid pipe (42) to the evaporator (10). The evaporator (10) has a third flow path (83) connected to the first liquid pipe (41) and the first vapor pipe (31), a fourth flow path (84) connected to the second liquid pipe (42) and the second vapor pipe (32), and a partitioning wall (82) configured to partition the third flow path (83) and the fourth flow path (84).