Nested Heat Sink and Radial Fan Channels for Compact Hob Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household appliances, such as hobs, face challenges in achieving effective cooling due to inefficient heat dissipation and pressure differences that lead to friction and reduced cooling effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a fan unit partially surrounded by a heat sink unit, with closely arranged heat sinks and radial fans, forms multiple cooling channels of varying lengths and directions, enhancing heat dissipation and reducing pressure differences, thereby improving cooling efficiency without the need for additional guide channels or heat transport means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the fan unit is locally separated from or arranged laterally on the heat sink unit, then the device complexity is reduced and assembly is simplified, but the cooling efficiency is insufficient due to inadequate heat dissipation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The fan unit is at least partially surrounded by the heat sink unit, creating a nested configuration where the fan is positioned within the heat sink structure. This nesting arrangement maximizes the heat sink surface area surrounding the fan, improving heat dissipation efficiency while maintaining a compact design without requiring separate lateral arrangements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Temperature

If additional guide channels or heat transport means are used to improve cooling, then the cooling efficiency is enhanced, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat sink unit's own structure serves as the cooling channel system. The multiple heat sinks arranged around the fan create inherent cooling pathways without requiring additional guide channels or heat transport means. The heat sink fins and structure naturally guide airflow and dissipate heat, making the system self-sufficient for cooling functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the fan unit and heat sink unit form fewer cooling channels, then the device complexity is reduced, but pressure differences increase leading to friction losses and reduced cooling effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The heat sink unit comprises multiple heat sinks (at least two) arranged around the fan, creating multiple segmented cooling channels. This segmentation divides the cooling flow path into several parallel channels, reducing pressure differences and friction losses in each individual channel while maintaining overall cooling effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Manufacturing precision

If all cooling channels have the same length, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the cooling efficiency is reduced due to inability to handle different heat emission levels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling channel uniformityVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling channels have different lengths tailored to the specific heat emission requirements of different power components. Heat sinks positioned to cool components with higher heat emission have longer cooling channels, while those for lower heat emission components have shorter channels. This local customization of channel length optimizes cooling efficiency for each component's specific thermal load

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration achieves enhanced cooling efficiency, reduces average temperatures, and allows for a compact design, while also simplifying assembly and cooling power components, thus addressing the limitations of existing cooling systems.

Implementation Method 1

the heat sink unit has at least two heat sinks... the heat sink unit is intended to cool power components of different electronic boards

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the fan unit has at least one, in particular exactly one, radial fan... the fans of a fan unit are intended to generate at least one common fluid flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2679913B1Domestic appliance
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2679913B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2679913B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2679913B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The device (10a) has a ventilator unit (30a) partially surrounded by a cooling body unit (20a). The cooling body unit is provided with two cooling bodies (22a, 24a). The ventilator unit is provided with a radial ventilator. The ventilator unit and the cooling body unit form cooling channels of different lengths. The ventilator unit and the cooling body unit are arranged in a radial symmetrical manner. The cooling body unit is directly connected with power components (46a) e.g. rectifier bridges and IGBTs. Channel units (50a, 52a) guide fluid emerging from the cooling body unit.