Piezoelectric Actuator Cooling Jacket for 3D Printing Injectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D printing technologies face inefficiencies in heat dissipation from highly loaded actuators, particularly piezoelectric actuators, which operate at high frequencies and temperatures, leading to potential temperature-related issues and reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
A 3D printing injector with a piezoelectric actuator surrounded by a cylindrical coolant jacket through which a cooling medium flows, ensuring direct heat dissipation at the actuator's location of heat generation, with axial extension and central clamping for effective thermal management, and using either liquid or gaseous cooling mediums.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a piezoelectric actuator is used for high-frequency operation in a 3D printing injector, then the productivity and precision of the printing process is improved, but the actuator generates significant heat leading to temperature-related issues and reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
A coolant jacket is introduced as an intermediary cooling medium between the environment and the piezoelectric actuator. The jacket flows coolant through channels directly contacting the actuator's cylindrical surface, serving as a heat transfer intermediary that carries away generated heat and maintains operational temperature limits during high-frequency operation
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system applies local quality by directing coolant flow specifically to the cylindrical surface of the piezoelectric actuator where heat is generated. The coolant jacket is positioned to contact only the necessary portion of the actuator, providing localized thermal management rather than cooling the entire injector structure
2Temperature
If the piezoelectric actuator is cooled by a coolant jacket, then the temperature management is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is merged with the structural support function by integrating the coolant jacket into the existing injector housing or actuator mounting structure. The jacket serves dual purposes: providing mechanical guidance/support for the actuator while simultaneously acting as a thermal management component, thereby reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant jacket is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a thermal management component for cooling the actuator, a mechanical guide for positioning the actuator, and a structural element that can be integrated into the injector housing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device architecture
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 design significantly enhances heat dissipation, preventing temperature-related jams and extending the service life of the actuator by optimizing thermal management, even at high operating frequencies.
Implementation Method 1
a cylindrical coolant jacket through which a cooling medium can flow, in which the piezoelectric actuator is also guided
Implementation Method 2
the actuator, designed as a piezoelectric actuator, is directly surrounded by a cylindrical coolant jacket
Implementation Method 3
The actuator is a piezoelectric actuator with a piezoelectric element
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a 3D-printing injector having an electrically controllable actuator and means for cooling, and thus for removing heat from the actuator, according to the preamble of claim 1. In order to adhere to a load spectrum in the print head during operation, and to minimise the limitation on the required service life, in relation to the required stroke and the required number of load changes, as a function of temperature, the invention proposes providing a piezoelectric actuator having a piezoelectric element as the actuator, which actuator is directly surrounded by a cylindrical cooling-means casing through which a coolant can flow and in which the piezoelectric actuator is also carried.