Scroll Pump Cooling Conduit with Surface Features

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Solution Overview

Problem

Scroll pumps generate significant heat during operation, necessitating effective cooling methods to maintain efficiency and performance.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a cooling conduit within the scroll pump, featuring surface features like ridges, grooves, lattice structures, or fins, which directs cooling gas blown by a fan through the scroll for enhanced heat dissipation, along with a cowl to direct the cooling gas around the scrolls, improving cooling efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a cooling conduit is provided in the scroll pump, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the complexity of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling conduit incorporates an insert with porous surface features (ridges, grooves, lattice structures, fins, or folds) that increase the effective surface area for heat transfer. This allows more efficient cooling through the same conduit structure, improving thermal performance without proportionally increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The insert extends the cooling surface from a one-dimensional conduit wall into three-dimensional surface features (ridges, grooves, lattice structures). This dimensional expansion increases heat transfer area within the same spatial envelope, improving cooling efficiency without requiring a larger or more complex conduit system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Temperature

If cooling gas is blown towards the first scroll, then heat dissipation is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system utilizes the pump's own operational gas flow and structural motion to facilitate cooling. The fan is integrated with the drive shaft, and the pump's operational movements help circulate cooling gas through the conduit and across the scroll surfaces, reducing the need for separate high-energy cooling systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling function is merged with the pump's existing operational components. The fan is coupled to the drive shaft that already drives the orbiting scroll, and the cooling conduit is integrated into the scroll structure itself. This combination allows cooling to occur using the pump's operational energy rather than requiring a completely separate cooling system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 effectively brings cooling gas closer to the orbiting and fixed scrolls, providing improved cooling and reducing heat generation, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency and longevity of the scroll pump.

Implementation Method 1

a fan configured to blow cooling gas towards the first scroll

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

the cooling conduit is configured to receive cooling gas blown by the fan and convey the received cooling gas through the first scroll

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 3

a cooling conduit extending through the first scroll... convey the received cooling gas through the first scroll

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 4

the surface comprises one or more surface features selected from the following group of surface features: one or more ridges, one or more grooves, one or more lattice structures, one or more fins, one or more folds

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP4062068B1Scroll pump
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 EDWARDS LTD
  • EP4062068B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4062068B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4062068B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A scroll pump (100, 200) comprising a first scroll (130) with a cooling conduit (170) extending therethrough and a fan (160) configured to blow cooling gas towards the first scroll (130), wherein the cooling conduit (170) is configured to receive cooling gas blown by the fan (160) and convey the received cooling gas through the first scroll (130).