Multi-Fluid Heat Exchanger Using PCM Cooling for Portable Lasers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser system heat exchangers require chillers to prevent overheating, which increase weight and size, making it difficult to create a portable system that can be carried by a single user.
Innovation Solution
A chiller-less heat exchanger system using phase change materials (PCMs) coupled with fans to enhance heat transfer, allowing the laser system to operate in higher temperatures without significant weight increase, featuring a multi-fluid heat exchanger with PCM channels, air channels, and fans to circulate air for increased cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a chiller is included in the heat exchanger system, then the laser generation system can operate in relatively high temperature environments, but the overall weight and size footprint of the heat exchanger increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the chiller component from the heat exchanger system, replacing it with a phase change material (PCM) based cooling system. This extraction eliminates the heavy chiller while maintaining the ability to operate in elevated temperatures through PCM phase transition, directly resolving the contradiction between temperature capability and system weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal management approach from active mechanical cooling (chiller) to passive phase change cooling (PCM). By utilizing the phase transition temperature parameter of PCMs, the system achieves temperature control without the weight penalty of traditional chillers, resolving the contradiction between operating temperature range and system weight.
2Temperature
If a chiller is included in the heat exchanger system, then the laser generation system can operate in relatively high temperature environments, but the size footprint of the heat exchanger increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the chiller component from the system, replacing it with a compact PCM-based heat exchanger. This extraction eliminates the bulky chiller while maintaining high-temperature operational capability through phase change materials, directly resolving the contradiction between temperature capability and system volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of PCMs to provide cooling functionality without requiring a chiller. The phase change process absorbs heat during melting, providing effective cooling in high-temperature environments with a compact footprint, resolving the contradiction between operating temperature range and heat exchanger volume.
3Loss of time
If fans are added to enhance heat transfer rate, then the freezing time of PCM is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs fans to create periodic air flow cycles over the PCM heat exchanger, enhancing convective heat transfer during the PCM freezing process. This periodic action accelerates heat removal and reduces freezing time while adding minimal complexity through simple fan integration, resolving the contradiction between freezing time and device complexity.
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 solution enables the laser system to operate effectively in higher temperature environments without the need for a chiller, reducing weight and size while maintaining cooling efficiency, allowing a single operator to transport the system without burden.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger containing one or more phase change materials (PCMs) that absorb heat from a coolant cycled from the laser system
Implementation Method 2
one or more PCMs absorb heat from the coolant and are selected to melt at or below an operating temperature of the laser system
Implementation Method 3
One or more fans are coupled to the heat exchanger to enhance a heat transfer rate between the PCM and the ambient environment
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of air channels receiving air to cool the one or more PCMs, and one or more fans mounted onto the rigid housing that circulate air through the plurality of air channels
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and computer-readable media for cooling a laser system using a heat exchanger system containing one or more phase change materials operable to absorb heat from a coolant circulated from the laser system. The phase change material absorbs heat during phase change in the form of latent heat energy to thereby cool the coolant. The heat exchanger further includes one or more fans to provide air cooling to cool the phase change material back to an initial phase.