Planar Heat Pipe Composite Container Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Planar heat pipes face challenges in reducing container distortion and achieving excellent airtightness and compatibility with water-based working fluids, particularly due to issues with sealing methods like brazing or soldering, which affect thermal conductivity and pressure resistance.
Innovation Solution
A planar heat pipe design featuring a composite container material with a high thermal conductivity layer (≥200 W/m·K) contacting the hollow portion and a low thermal conductivity layer (≤100 W/m·K) contacting the exterior, sealed using laser beam or resistance welding, which reduces distortion and enhances airtightness and compatibility with water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If copper material is used as container material and sealed by brazing or soldering, then thermal conductivity is improved, but container rigidity decreases and pressure resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container material is segmented into multiple layers with different properties: a copper layer (high thermal conductivity) for thermal performance and a stainless steel layer (high strength) for structural integrity. This segmentation allows each layer to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite material structure consisting of copper and stainless steel layers bonded together. This composite structure combines the advantageous properties of both materials: copper's excellent thermal conductivity and stainless steel's high strength and rigidity, resolving the contradiction between thermal performance and structural integrity.
2Strength
If stainless steel is used as container material to maintain pressure resistance, then container rigidity is improved, but compatibility with water deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into functional layers: the stainless steel layer provides pressure resistance and structural integrity, while the copper layer provides compatibility with water and high thermal conductivity. This segmentation allows each material to perform its optimal function.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of stainless steel and copper layers resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties. The stainless steel ensures pressure resistance while the copper layer ensures water compatibility and thermal performance.
3Weight of moving object
If copper and aluminum materials are used as cladded material, then weight is reduced and workability is improved, but container distortion occurs during sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by using copper (high thermal conductivity) at the inner layer contacting the working fluid and stainless steel (lower thermal conductivity but high strength) at the outer layer. This local differentiation of material properties prevents distortion during sealing while maintaining thermal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The copper-stainless steel composite structure replaces the copper-aluminum cladded material. The stainless steel layer provides sufficient strength to prevent distortion during laser beam or resistance welding sealing, while the copper layer maintains excellent thermal conductivity for heat transport.
4Reliability
If high thermal conductivity materials are used for container, then heat transportation is improved, but sealing distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container structure is segmented into thermal management layer (copper) and structural stability layer (stainless steel). The copper layer ensures excellent heat transportation, while the stainless steel layer provides structural stability during sealing to prevent distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite material structure combines copper's high thermal conductivity for efficient heat transportation with stainless steel's structural stability to minimize sealing distortion. The combination resolves the contradiction between thermal performance and sealing quality.
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 design prevents container distortion and achieves high airtightness and compatibility with water, improving heat transportation properties and pressure resistance, while maintaining flatness and rigidity.
Implementation Method 1
the metal member having a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 100 W/m·K, which is the layer that contacts the exterior, rapidly melts and releases heat of fusion
Implementation Method 2
the heat of fusion released from the metal member having a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 100 W/m·K is smoothly transferred to the metal member having a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to 200 W/m·K
Implementation Method 3
the peripheral portion of the hollow portion is sealed by laser beam welding
Implementation Method 4
the peripheral portion of the hollow portion is sealed by resistance welding
Data Source
AI summary
A planar heat pipe includes a container having a hollow portion provided at a central portion thereof with two opposing plate-shaped bodies, and a working fluid enclosed in the hollow portion. The hollow portion is provided with a wick structure. At least one of the plate-shaped bodies is a composite member of two or more types of metal members that are laminated and integrated. A metal member of the composite member forming a layer that contacts the hollow portion has a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to 200 W/m·K and a metal member of the composite member forming a layer that contacts an exterior has a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 100 W/m·K, a peripheral portion of the hollow portion being sealed.