Resin Cooling Structure With Metal Heat Diffuser and Flow-Path Fins
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing resin cooling structures for vehicles with motors, such as hybrid or electric cars, face challenges in achieving efficient cooling due to their inferior thermal conductivity compared to metal heat sinks, which are costly and difficult to manufacture and integrate.
Innovation Solution
A cooling structure comprising a resin flow path configuration member with a metal heat diffuser and resin cooling fins, where the heat diffuser is made of high thermal conductivity metals like aluminum or copper, and the fins are made of resin or have a metal core, enhancing heat dissipation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a metal heat sink is used to cool the driving means, then cooling efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure combining resin and metal components. The flow path configuration member is made of resin, while metal heat diffusers are embedded within it. This composite approach allows the benefits of metal (high thermal conductivity for efficient cooling) while using resin for the main structure, which is cheaper and easier to manufacture through injection molding.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire heat sink from metal, the invention applies metal locally only where high thermal conductivity is most needed - in the heat diffusers that directly contact the cooling target and in the cooling fins. The rest of the structure uses resin, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining cooling efficiency where it matters most.
2Temperature
If a metal heat sink is used to cool the driving means, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the number of manufacturing steps and integration time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the flow path configuration member and the heat diffusers into a single integrated component. The metal heat diffusers are embedded within the resin flow path member during the molding process, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps. This integration significantly reduces manufacturing time and simplifies the overall production process while maintaining effective cooling performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If a resin cooling means is used to cool the driving means, then ease of manufacture is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite cooling structure where resin forms the main flow path configuration member (providing ease of manufacture through injection molding), while metal heat diffusers and cooling fins are embedded within it (providing high thermal conductivity). This combination allows the resin structure to be easily manufactured while the metal components ensure adequate cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies metal materials locally in critical heat transfer zones - the heat diffusers that contact the cooling target and the cooling fins that dissipate heat. This localized use of metal ensures high cooling efficiency where needed most, while the majority of the structure remains resin-based for ease of manufacture.
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 proposed cooling structure achieves improved cooling efficiency by diffusing heat from the metal heat diffuser to the resin fins, which dissipate it effectively, offering a cost-effective and easier integration solution compared to traditional metal heat sinks.
Implementation Method 1
a heat diffuser having a plate shape, including a metal, and being embedded in the flow path configuration member or joined to the flow path configuration member
Implementation Method 2
one or more cooling fins extending from the heat diffuser into the flow path and having a surface made of resin
Implementation Method 3
the cooling structure achieves improved cooling efficiency by diffusing heat from the metal heat diffuser to the resin fins, which dissipate it effectively
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling structure including a flow path configuration member made of resin and forming a flow path through which a refrigerant flows, a heat diffuser having a plate shape, including a metal, and being embedded in the flow path configuration member or joined to the flow path configuration member, and one or more cooling fins extending from the heat diffuser into the flow path and having a surface made of resin.