High-Frequency Power Combiner Liquid Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-frequency power combiners face challenges in miniaturization due to heat generation by internal conductors, which complicates their design and functionality, especially in applications like television broadcasting transmitters.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an external conductor with an internal space that can store a liquid heat carrier in contact with the internal conductor, facilitating efficient cooling through natural convection and potentially ebullient cooling, thereby reducing the size and heat management issues of the internal conductor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the internal conductor is made larger to handle high power, then the power handling capability is improved, but the device size increases and heat dissipation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid cooling system where a liquid coolant flows through channels formed in the external conductor surrounding the internal conductor. This hydraulic cooling approach allows efficient heat removal from the high-power internal conductor, enabling compact design by decoupling the thermal management requirements from the electrical signal transmission requirements. The liquid coolant absorbs heat generated by the internal conductor and transports it away, allowing the device to maintain high power handling in a reduced volume.
2Volume of stationary object
If the internal conductor is made smaller for miniaturization, then the device size is reduced, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a liquid coolant as an intermediary substance that mediates heat transfer from the internal conductor to the external environment. The coolant flows through the cooling channels in the external conductor, absorbing heat from the internal conductor through thermal conduction across the conductor walls. This intermediary cooling system enables compact internal conductor design by providing an efficient external heat removal pathway, decoupling the thermal management function from the signal transmission function.
3Device complexity
If conventional cooling methods are used, then the structure is simple, but the heat dissipation efficiency is insufficient for high-frequency power applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs liquid coolant flow through structured cooling channels as a hydraulic cooling system. The external conductor incorporates internal channels that guide the liquid coolant in direct contact with or proximity to the internal conductor, enabling efficient convective heat transfer. This hydraulic approach provides superior heat dissipation efficiency compared to conventional air cooling or simple heat sinks, while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through integrated channel design in the external conductor.
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 configuration allows for the miniaturization of high-frequency power combiners by efficiently cooling the internal conductor, reducing its size and preventing excessive temperature rise, while also utilizing a general-purpose external conductor to lower manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating an external conductor with an internal space that can store a liquid heat carrier in contact with the internal conductor, facilitating efficient cooling through natural convection
Implementation Method 2
facilitating efficient cooling through natural convection and potentially ebullient cooling
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a high-frequency power combiner has an external conductor and an internal conductor. The external conductor defines an internal space. The internal conductor has an output-side line and a plurality of input-side lines that branch off from the output-side line. The internal conductor is provided in the internal space of the external conductor. The high-frequency power combiner of the embodiment has a structure that can store a liquid in contact with the internal conductor in the internal space.