Passive Fluid Recovery System for Mobile Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile spray-cooled electronic systems, the variable acceleration vector complicates the recovery of dielectric fluid, leading to inconsistent fluid movement and inefficient heat removal, as existing active systems are costly and prone to failure points, while passive systems lack effective fluid management.
Innovation Solution
A passive fluid recovery system with a clamshell enclosure and distributed pick-up ports, optimized for both liquid and vapor phases, uses a compound heat exchanger and wicks to ensure consistent fluid removal, independent of the system's orientation, by controlling orifice sizes and placements to maintain balanced fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a passive cooling system with a single sump is used, then the system structure is simple, but fluid recovery is inconsistent under variable acceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The single sump is segmented into multiple distributed pick-up ports positioned at different locations within the enclosure. This segmentation allows the system to collect fluid from multiple zones simultaneously, ensuring consistent fluid recovery regardless of acceleration direction or magnitude, while maintaining passive operation without complex mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-point fluid collection (sump) to a distributed multi-point collection network. By adding spatial distribution across multiple dimensions within the enclosure, the system achieves orientation-independent fluid recovery without increasing operational complexity.
2Productivity
If active cooling systems with fans are used, then heat removal rate increases, but system cost and failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system utilizes the heat-driven vaporization and condensation cycles of the dielectric fluid itself to drive fluid circulation. The pick-up ports passively collect fluid based on natural convection and phase change patterns, eliminating the need for active pumping or fan-driven mechanisms, thereby reducing failure points while maintaining effective heat removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the phase transitions of the dielectric fluid (liquid to vapor during cooling, vapor to liquid during heat exchange) to drive natural circulation patterns. This passive utilization of phase change dynamics enables effective heat removal without mechanical actuators, reducing system complexity and potential failure points.
3Productivity
If larger orifices are used in pick-up ports, then fluid withdrawal rate increases, but vapor loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different pick-up ports are equipped with differently sized orifices based on their local conditions and fluid phase characteristics. This localized optimization allows each port to efficiently withdraw its designated fluid phase while minimizing vapor loss, balancing overall system productivity with substance conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes orifice size as a critical parameter to balance fluid withdrawal efficiency with vapor loss prevention. By carefully selecting orifice dimensions, the system achieves sufficient fluid collection rates while maintaining vapor containment, particularly important for dielectric fluids with specific vapor pressure characteristics.
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 system effectively recovers fluid in both liquid and vapor states, maintaining system operation across varying orientations with reduced failure points and power consumption, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of heat removal in mobile electronic cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
the withdrawn fluid is condensed and/or sub-cooled
Implementation Method 2
a compound heat exchanger... where the vapor is condensed and the liquid is sub-cooled
Implementation Method 3
A passive fluid recovery system with a clamshell enclosure and distributed pick-up ports, optimized for both liquid and vapor phases, uses a compound heat exchanger and wicks
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid recovery system is adapted for use with a cooling system, such as for use in electronic applications. In one example, an enclosure is configured to contain fluid in both gas and liquid states, wherein the fluid is adapted for use in spray cooling electronic components. A plurality of pick-up ports is defined within the enclosure. In one implementation of the cooling system, an orifice size used in each of the pick-up ports results in withdrawal of fluid from submerged and non-submerged pick-up ports.