Phase Change Material Cooling for Electric Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling solutions for electric components, including those using phase change materials, are inadequate in handling temporary heat peaks due to insufficient heat storage capacity and inefficient temperature management.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a phase change material between channels in a thermosyphon system, where the material absorbs heat during phase change to enhance cooling capacity temporarily, and adjusting the system to maintain optimal temperature for efficient operation, ensuring the phase change material can absorb excess heat during subsequent peaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional heat exchangers with channels are used for cooling electric components, then heat transfer is achieved, but temporary heat peaks cannot be efficiently handled due to insufficient heat storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transition by incorporating phase change material between the channels to exploit the latent heat absorption during phase change. When temperature peaks occur, the phase change material transitions phase (e.g., solid to liquid) and absorbs large amounts of heat, effectively handling temporary heat peaks that conventional heat exchangers cannot manage.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase change material acts as an intermediary between the hot electric components and the cooling fluid channels. It mediates heat transfer by absorbing excess heat during phase change and releasing it when the cooling system is less demanding, smoothing out temperature fluctuations and protecting components from thermal stress.
2Quantity of substance
If phase change material is used in cooling apparatus, then heat absorption capacity is improved, but temporary temperature peaks cannot be efficiently handled due to inadequate temperature management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by monitoring the temperature of the electric components and adjusting the cooling system operation accordingly. When temperature peaks are detected, the system activates the phase change material and adjusts fluid flow to maintain optimal temperature, ensuring temporary temperature peaks are efficiently managed while maximizing heat absorption capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is made dynamic by allowing adjustable fluid flow rates and activating phase change material on-demand based on thermal conditions. This dynamic operation enables the system to respond to temporary heat peaks by increasing cooling capacity when needed and reducing it when not necessary, optimizing both heat absorption and temperature control.
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 approach significantly reduces temperature peaks, extending the lifespan of electric components by maintaining lower peak temperatures and increasing the number of operational cycles without malfunctions, with practical tests showing a reduction in temperature change by up to 6.4°C and increased cycle durability by 4 to 5 times.
Implementation Method 1
a phase change material which during a phase change absorbs heat
Implementation Method 2
during a phase change absorbs heat makes it possible to obtain a solution with a more efficient cooling
Implementation Method 3
channels for transferring a heat load from the base plate into fluid in the channels
Implementation Method 4
Incorporating a phase change material between channels in a thermosyphon system
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to method for cooling and to an apparatus (1) comprising: a first heat transfer element (2) comprising a base plate (3), with a first surface (4) for receiving an electric component and channels (5) for transferring a heat load received via said first surface (4) into a fluid in said channels (5), at least some of the channels (5) protrude from a second surface (12) of the base plate (3), and a second heat transfer element for receiving fluid from the first heat transfer element and passing a heat load from said fluid to surroundings. In order to obtain an efficient cooling, a phase change material (11) is arranged at a second surface (12) of the base plate (3) between at least two of the channels (5), said phase change material (11) absorbing heat by changing phase at a phase change temperature during operation of said electric component.