Nested Conical Heat Sink for Circuit Device Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat sinks for electronic devices often struggle to effectively manage thermal buildup due to limitations in thermal resistance pathways and airflow configurations, which can lead to inefficient heat dissipation across various components within computing devices.
Innovation Solution
A heat sink design featuring a base member with nested conical shells, where each shell has an inclined internal surface and orifices to facilitate both direct and cross-flow mixing of air, enhancing convective heat transfer by creating a turbulent flow pattern that improves thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional heat sinks use multiple thin plates joined to a base with parallel airflow, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the convective heat transfer efficiency is insufficient due to limited airflow mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nested conical shells where smaller shells are positioned inside larger shells, creating multiple flow paths within a compact structure. This nesting arrangement allows air to flow through multiple shells simultaneously, increasing the effective heat transfer surface area and promoting turbulent mixing without significantly increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses conical shells with curved surfaces instead of flat plates. The inclined internal surfaces of the conical shells redirect airflow at angles, creating cross-flow patterns and turbulent mixing that enhance convective heat transfer efficiency compared to conventional parallel plate designs
2Ease of operation
If conventional heat sinks use direct parallel airflow through thin plates, then the airflow path is simple, but the thermal resistance pathway is insufficient for effective heat dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sink is divided into multiple discrete conical shells, each with its own flow path through orifices in the base. This segmentation creates multiple parallel thermal pathways, reducing overall thermal resistance by distributing heat flow across numerous independent channels rather than relying on a single plate structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional parallel plate flow to three-dimensional conical shell flow paths. The inclined surfaces and orifice configurations create vertical and radial flow components, adding dimensional complexity to the airflow pattern and enhancing heat transfer through multi-directional convection
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 significantly enhances convective heat transfer by promoting direct and cross-flow mixing, leading to more efficient heat dissipation from electronic devices, thereby addressing the limitations of traditional heat sink configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a base member adapted to establish thermal contact with a circuit device
Implementation Method 2
The fluid is moved through the first shell and the at least one additional shell
Implementation Method 3
enhancing convective heat transfer by creating a turbulent flow pattern
Data Source
AI summary
Various heat sinks, method of use and manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of providing thermal management for a circuit device is provided. The method includes placing a heat sink in thermal contact with the circuit device wherein the heat sink includes a base member in thermal contact with the circuit device, a first shell coupled to the base member that includes a first inclined internal surface, a lower end and first plurality of orifices at the lower end to enable a fluid to transit the first shell, and at least one additional shell coupled to the base member and nested within the first shell. The at least one additional shell includes a second inclined internal surface and a second plurality of orifices to enable the fluid to transit the at least one additional shell. The fluid is moved through the first shell and the at least one additional shell.