Projector Cooling Device with Segmented Evaporation Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling devices for projectors, which use a vapor-liquid interface to cool optical elements, often suffer from air bubbles forming near the interface, causing light distortion due to changes in fluid flow rate or device attitude, as the vapor-liquid interface can move towards the window portion, scattering light.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device design with a circulation passage that includes a window portion, an evaporation portion with multiple channel portions, and a heat radiation portion, where the fluid remains liquid in the window portion, evaporates in the channel portions, and condenses in the heat radiation portion, maintaining the vapor-liquid interface in the channel portions through interface tension, and includes a pump and orifice to control flow rates, ensuring the interface remains stable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a vapor-liquid interface is used in the circulation passage for cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved through latent heat utilization, but air bubbles may form near the interface causing light distortion when flow rate changes or device attitude changes
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation passage is divided into distinct functional sections: a window portion for light transmission, an evaporation portion with multiple channel portions for vaporization, and a heat radiation portion for condensation. This segmentation isolates the vapor-liquid interface to specific regions away from the light transmission path, preventing air bubbles from interfering with light while maintaining efficient cooling through latent heat utilization in the evaporation portion.
2Temperature
If the vapor-liquid interface is positioned near the window portion for efficient cooling, then cooling performance is improved, but light transmission is degraded due to scattering by air bubbles
Solution Approach 1:
The vapor-liquid interface is extracted from the window portion and relocated to the evaporation portion through the sectional area reduction design. The boundary between the window portion and evaporation portion features a reduced sectional area that acts as a barrier, preventing the vapor-liquid interface from moving into the light transmission region while allowing the interface to function effectively in the evaporation portion for optimal cooling performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If the circulation passage has a uniform cross-sectional area, then manufacturing is simplified, but the vapor-liquid interface cannot be effectively constrained to specific regions
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation passage features a localized change in cross-sectional area at the boundary between the window portion and evaporation portion. This local variation, rather than a uniform structure throughout, creates a specific barrier region that constrains the vapor-liquid interface to the evaporation portion while maintaining relatively simple overall geometry for ease of manufacture. The local quality change achieves interface stabilization without requiring complex overall restructuring.
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 effectively reduces the impact of air bubbles on transmitted light by maintaining the vapor-liquid interface in the channel portions, preventing distortion and ensuring consistent cooling performance even with changes in device attitude.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid that is a liquid evaporates to vapor in the plurality of channel portions
Implementation Method 2
A cooling device that uses latent heat is known as a cooling device. In such a cooling device, a vapor-liquid interface (an interface between a vapor phase and a liquid phase) of a fluid is present in a circulation passage through which a cooling fluid circulates
Implementation Method 3
The fluid that is vapor condenses into a liquid in the heat radiation portion
Implementation Method 4
a heat radiation portion that radiates heat of the fluid
Implementation Method 5
a pump that transports the fluid to the window portion may be disposed in a part of the circulation passage that connects the heat radiation portion and the window portion
Implementation Method 6
an orifice that controls a flow rate of the fluid may be disposed in the part of the circulation passage that connects the heat radiation portion and the window portion
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device of an optical element includes a circulation passage through which a fluid circulates. The circulation passage includes a window portion that is disposed on an incidence side or an emission side of the optical element and transmits light, an evaporation portion that is connected to the window portion and includes a plurality of channel portions, and a heat radiation portion that radiates heat of the fluid. The fluid transmits the light in a liquid state. The fluid is a liquid in the window portion. The fluid that is a liquid evaporates to vapor in the plurality of channel portions. The fluid that is vapor condenses into a liquid in the heat radiation portion. A sectional area of each channel portion is less than a sectional area of a boundary between the window portion and the evaporation portion.