Sheet Heat Pipe Protruding Flow Passages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sheet-shaped heat pipes with flat surfaces have limited cross-sectional areas for vapor and fluid flow passages, leading to increased pressure loss and thermal resistance, necessitating the addition of fins for improved heat radiation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates protruding portions on the wick-occupied and space portions of the heat pipe, allowing for increased cross-sectional areas of vapor and fluid flow passages, reducing pressure loss, and eliminating the need for external fins by enhancing heat radiation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the heat pipe container surface is made flat, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the cross-sectional area of vapor and fluid flow passages is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces protruding portions that extend in the height direction (vertical dimension) from the container surface, transforming a two-dimensional flat surface into a three-dimensional structure. This dimensional change increases the cross-sectional area of flow passages without complicating the manufacturing process, as the protruding portions can be formed through simple extrusion or molding techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The container surface is segmented into multiple protruding portions rather than maintaining a uniform flat surface. These protruding portions are distributed across the container surface, collectively increasing the total cross-sectional area of flow passages while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized, repeatable structures.
2Loss of energy
If the cross-sectional area of flow passages is increased, then the pressure loss is reduced, but the container structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing flow passage area by expanding the container footprint or adding complex internal channels, the invention utilizes the vertical dimension by creating protruding portions. This approach reduces pressure loss through increased cross-sectional area while avoiding complex structural modifications to the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding portions feature curved surfaces rather than sharp edges, which smooths fluid flow and further reduces pressure loss. The curved geometry is achieved through simple molding or extrusion processes, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while effectively reducing energy loss.
3Temperature
If fins are added to improve heat radiation efficiency, then the heat radiation performance is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the heat radiation function (traditionally performed by separate fins) with the container structure itself. The protruding portions serve dual purposes: increasing flow passage cross-sectional area and providing heat radiation surfaces, thereby eliminating the need for separate fin components and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding portions are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: they increase the cross-sectional area of vapor and fluid flow passages, reduce pressure loss, and serve as heat radiation surfaces. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, simplifying the overall device structure.
4Area of moving object
If the container length in height direction is increased, then the cross-sectional area of flow passages is increased, but the heat pipe thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates protruding portions that extend vertically from the container surface, effectively utilizing the height dimension to increase flow passage cross-sectional area. This approach allows for larger flow passages without proportionally increasing the overall heat pipe thickness, as the protruding portions are localized features rather than uniform thickness increases.
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 enhances the maximum heat transport capacity and reduces thermal resistance while eliminating the need for additional fins, thereby lowering work and material costs.
Implementation Method 1
a wick structure that is stored in the container and generates a capillary force
Implementation Method 2
working fluid received in the space is subjected to a phase change, such as vaporization or condensation
Implementation Method 3
Working fluid, which is vaporized at a high-temperature portion (heat source side)
Implementation Method 4
the vapor of the working fluid is cooled on the heat-radiating side, and returns to a liquid-phase state again
Implementation Method 5
the heat pipe transports heat in the form of the latent heat of the working fluid
Implementation Method 6
enhancing heat radiation efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
The purpose of this invention is to provide a sheet-shaped heat pipe that makes it possible to reduce a pressure loss caused by a vapor flow or a pressure loss caused by a working fluid flow to improve the maximum amount of heat to be transported and reduce thermal resistance by increasing the cross-sectional area of a vapor flow passage or a fluid flow passage, which has been limited by the length of a container in a height direction. A heat pipe (20) is provided with a protruding portion (24) so that the height of the wick-occupied portion (23) serving as the fluid flow passage is larger than the height of the space portion (22) serving as the vapor flow passage.