Pump-Augmented Loop Heat Pipe Architecture for Distributed Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional loop heat pipes (LHPs) are limited by capillary pressure, restricting the selection of working fluids, operating temperature ranges, and heat transport capabilities, and are restricted to single evaporators, which limits their ability to cool multiple distributed heat sources and withstand high heat fluxes.
Innovation Solution
A pump-augmented loop heat pipe (PA-LHP) integrates a mechanical pump with additional evaporators and a condenser bypass, allowing for higher heat transport capacity and the ability to cool multiple heat sources by mechanically pumping fluid through multiple evaporators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a mechanical pump is integrated with additional evaporators, then heat transport capacity and ability to cool multiple heat sources is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges a mechanical pump with additional evaporators into an integrated assembly where the pump is positioned within or adjacent to the evaporator structure. This combining approach allows the system to cool multiple heat sources while managing complexity through unified design rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated evaporator-pump assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a heat exchanger for multiple heat sources, provides mechanical pumping action, and maintains fluid distribution across multiple evaporator channels. This multi-functionality improves heat transport capacity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Device complexity
If capillary action is used for fluid circulation, then device simplicity is maintained, but heat transport capacity and operating temperature range are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mechanical pump as an intermediary device that works in conjunction with the capillary wick structure. The pump provides the additional driving force needed for high heat transport capacity while the capillary wick maintains fluid distribution and returns, thus combining the simplicity of capillary action with the power of mechanical pumping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent partially replaces the pure capillary action mechanism with a mechanical pump system for the outward fluid circulation, while retaining capillary wicks for return flow. This substitution allows the system to overcome the heat transport limitations of capillary action alone while maintaining operational simplicity through the use of a single mechanical component.
3Device complexity
If a single evaporator is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but the ability to cool multiple distributed heat sources is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the evaporator into multiple separate evaporator sections or channels, each capable of contacting a different heat source. These segmented evaporators are connected to a common fluid distribution system and mechanical pump, allowing the system to cool multiple distributed heat sources while maintaining relative design simplicity through modular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point evaporator contact to a multi-point distributed evaporator configuration, adding spatial dimensionality to the heat exchange process. Multiple evaporators are positioned at different locations to contact various heat sources, thereby increasing versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional LHP evaporator design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but heat flux capability is limited to 25 W/cm2
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes porous wick materials with optimized pore structures to enhance capillary action and fluid distribution across the evaporator surfaces. These advanced porous materials allow the evaporators to withstand higher heat fluxes by improving liquid supply to the evaporation sites, thereby increasing heat flux capability while maintaining manufacturability through established porous material fabrication techniques.
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
PA-LHPs can transport higher powers, withstand higher heat fluxes, maintain reliability despite clogging, and operate in various orientations, enabling broader fluid selection and improved integration flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a pump upstream of the condenser and condenser bypass and configured to pump fluid generally toward the one or more additional evaporators
Implementation Method 2
the pressure differential for the vapor flow in the transport line and condenser are still supported by the capillary action of the porous wick inside the evaporators
Implementation Method 3
a condenser; a condenser bypass
Implementation Method 4
one or more additional evaporators; a pump-augmented LHP is configured to acquire thermal energy from multiple distributed heat sources via the one or more additional evaporators
Data Source
AI summary
A pump-augmented Loop Heat Pipe (LHP) includes a conventional LHP evaporator/reservoir assembly; one or more additional evaporators; a condenser; a condenser bypass; and a pump upstream of the condenser and condenser bypass and configured to pump fluid generally toward the one or more additional evaporators.