Optical Connector Cooling Path for Fiber Coating Boundary Heat
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing optical connectors suffer from low cooling efficiency at the boundary portion between the coated and uncoated regions of the optical fiber, leading to heat generation issues.
Innovation Solution
An optical connector design that includes an inner sleeve with a communication hole in the uncoated region, allowing the cooling medium to flow directly from the coated region to the outflow space, thereby enhancing cooling efficiency at the boundary portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling water is supplied to the cooling water storage part between the first sleeve and the second sleeve and guided in the axis direction by the second sleeve, then the cooling water can reach the coating part at the boundary position, but the cooling water is heated before reaching the coating part resulting in reduced cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling path is segmented into two independent channels: one channel supplies cooling water to the coated region through the first sleeve, and another channel supplies cooling water to the uncoated region and boundary position through the second sleeve. This segmentation allows each region to receive independently cooled water, preventing heat accumulation and improving cooling efficiency at the boundary position.
Solution Approach 2:
Different cooling strategies are applied to different regions: the first sleeve provides cooling to the coated region where heat generation is moderate, while the second sleeve provides enhanced cooling to the uncoated region and boundary position where heat generation is intense. This local differentiation optimizes cooling efficiency for each specific thermal condition.
2Temperature
If the cooling water is turned back at the tip of the second sleeve and flows through both the first cooling water storage part and the inside of the second sleeve, then the cooling water can cool multiple regions, but the cooling efficiency at the boundary position remains insufficient due to pre-heating
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into separate flow paths within the first and second sleeves, allowing fresh cooling water to reach the boundary position directly without being pre-heated by traversal through other heated regions. This eliminates the sequential cooling limitation and provides immediate cooling where most needed.
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 improved design significantly enhances the cooling efficiency of the coating part at the boundary position between the coated and uncoated regions, effectively managing heat generation and preventing burn-out of the coating part.
Implementation Method 1
the supply mechanism supplies the cooling medium to the inflow space in the coated region, and the inner sleeve has, in the uncoated region, a communication hole configured to provide communication between the inflow space and the outflow space
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an optical connector including: an optical fiber; an inner sleeve; an outer sleeve; a light guide member; a supply mechanism configured to supply a cooling medium to an inflow space inside the inner sleeve; and a discharge mechanism configured to discharge the cooling medium from an outflow space between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. The optical fiber has a core part and a coating part. The core part is coated with the coating part in a coated region and is not coated with the coating part in an uncoated region. The supply mechanism supplies the cooling medium to the inflow space in the coated region, and the inner sleeve has, in the uncoated region, a communication hole configured to provide communication between the inflow space and the outflow space.