Pumping systems and methods
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for effective cooling systems that can efficiently manage heat dissipation in electronic devices, particularly those with heat-generating components, as existing technologies do not adequately address the challenge of cooling and gas management in electro-osmotic processes.
Innovation Solution
A pumping system incorporating an electro-osmotic (EO) pump coupled with a gas accumulator, utilizing an interference fit for a leak-proof seal, and a fluid circuit that includes a heat exchanger to collect and manage gas produced during the EO process, facilitating gas saturation and reducing adverse effects like cavitation and electrode erosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an electro-osmotic pump is used for fluid pumping, then pumping efficiency is improved, but gas accumulation causes cavitation and electrode erosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gas phase from the fluid path by introducing a separate gas accumulation chamber that is fluidly connected to the pump chamber but isolated from the main fluid flow. This allows gas to be removed from the pumping system without disrupting the fluid pumping operation, thereby preventing cavitation and electrode erosion while maintaining high pumping efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gas accumulation chamber as an intermediary component between the pump chamber and the external environment. This chamber acts as a mediator that collects and holds gas produced during electro-osmosis, preventing direct contact between gas bubbles and the electrodes or fluid flow path, thus eliminating harmful cavitation effects.
2Reliability
If a leak-proof seal is implemented using interference fit, then sealing reliability is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thermal expansion principles in the interference fit design, where components are heated or cooled during assembly to create temporary dimensional changes that facilitate easy insertion, followed by natural return to original dimensions that create a tight, leak-proof seal. This approach achieves high sealing reliability while keeping the assembly process relatively simple through controlled thermal cycles.
3Quantity of substance
If gas is accumulated in a separate chamber, then gas saturation is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gas accumulation function with the existing pump chamber structure by creating a fluidly connected but physically separate gas chamber within the same housing. This integration approach allows gas saturation to be achieved without adding completely independent external systems, thereby reducing overall system complexity while still providing effective gas collection and saturation capabilities.
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 system effectively manages heat dissipation by collecting and processing gas produced during electro-osmosis, reducing cavitation and electrode erosion, and providing a leak-proof mechanism for efficient fluid flow and heat transfer in electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
an electro-osmotic (EO) pump... Gas can be produced from the electro-osmosis process
Implementation Method 2
the interference fit is the result of thermal fitting
Implementation Method 3
the gas accumulator can be configured to provide a chamber for the collection of a gas produced by the operation of the EO pump
Implementation Method 4
a heat exchanger coupler configured to couple to a heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods for pumping liquids in a fluid circuit. In one embodiment, a pumping system can include a gas accumulator operationally coupled to an electro-osmotic (EO) pump. The gas accumulator can include a chamber configured to collect a gas produced from the operation of the EO pump. In some embodiments, the gas accumulator can include a gas accumulator inlet configured to be coupled to a fluid outlet of the fluid circuit. In certain embodiments, the gas accumulator can include a pump receptacle configured to couple to the EO pump by, for example, a thermal fitting. In one embodiment, a pumping system can include a second gas accumulator configured to operationally couple to a fluid inlet of the fluid circuit. In some embodiments, the EO pump and gas accumulator can be included in a cooling system of, for example, a printed circuit board.