Piezoelectric Airflow Generator for Thermal Management
Solution Overview
Problem
High-power-dissipating electronics face challenges in thermal management due to heat buildup, which can lead to premature failure and require effective cooling techniques to maintain reliability and prevent hot spots.
Innovation Solution
An airflow generator comprising two plates with piezoelectric elements and recesses that expand and contract to create airflow, increasing the volume of a cavity to draw in and expel air, enhancing cooling efficiency by increasing the volume of trapped and exiting air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cooling techniques are used, then heat removal is achieved, but cooling effectiveness is limited and hot spots cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by using piezoelectric elements to create dynamic, oscillating motion of the first and second plates. This dynamic movement continuously varies the cavity volume, generating active airflow that dynamically responds to heat generation, thereby preventing hot spots and improving cooling effectiveness compared to static conventional cooling methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs mechanical vibration by actuating piezoelectric elements to cause rapid oscillation of the plates. This vibration creates periodic expansion and contraction of the cavity, generating vibrational airflow that enhances convective heat transfer and effectively removes heat from electronic components, preventing hot spot formation
2Productivity
If plate movement is increased to draw in more air, then volumetric airflow increases, but the structural integrity of plates may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible plates that can bend and deform without breaking. These flexible plates are coupled to piezoelectric actuators, allowing them to undergo repeated expansion and contraction cycles driven by electrical signals. The flexibility enables large amplitude movements for high volumetric airflow while maintaining structural integrity through material elasticity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and motion parameters of the plates by applying electrical voltage to piezoelectric elements. This causes the plates to transition between different positions and shapes in a controlled manner, achieving high volumetric airflow through parameter modulation rather than permanent structural changes, thus preserving plate strength
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 airflow generator effectively increases cooling effectiveness by trapping approximately twenty percent more air and producing a twenty percent greater volumetric airflow, resulting in a ten percent increase in cooling performance compared to conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least one piezoelectric is located on the first and the second plate wherein the actuation of the piezoelectrics results in movement of the first and second plates
Data Source
AI summary
An airflow generator (10) having a first plate (12), a second plate (14) where the second plate (14) is spaced from the first plate (12) to define a cavity (28) there between, a joint (30) operably coupled to the first plate (12) and the second plate (14) and joining them together, piezoelectrics (34) located on each of the first plate (12) and the second plate (14) wherein actuation of the piezoelectrics (34) results in movement of the first plate (12) and the second plate (14) to increase the volume of the cavity (28) to draw air in (200) and then decrease the volume of the cavity (28) to push out the drawn in air (202).