Synthetic Jet Cooling for Motor Vehicle Electrical Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrical arrangements for motor vehicles lack effective synchronization between the operation of synthetic jets and electrical components, leading to suboptimal cooling performance due to unsynchronized fluid surge delivery, which impairs heat dissipation and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The electrical arrangement synchronizes the activation of the synthetic jet with the component's heat generation patterns using a time signal curve, ensuring fluid surges are directed at peak heat times, enhancing heat transfer coefficients and waste heat flow by controlling the synthetic jet with a piezoelectric element to generate fluid impacts coinciding with component activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the synthetic jet is operated independently of the component activation, then the control system is simpler, but the cooling performance deteriorates due to unsynchronized fluid surge delivery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidcooling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control of the synthetic jet is merged with the component activation signal. The same control unit that activates the component based on the time signal curve also controls the synthetic jet, combining two previously separate control functions into one unified system. This reduces overall control complexity while ensuring synchronized operation for optimal cooling performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the component's activation state as feedback to control the synthetic jet. By monitoring when the component is activated according to the time signal curve, the control unit adjusts the synthetic jet operation in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes cooling effectiveness without requiring additional independent control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Temperature

If the synthetic jet delivers fluid surges continuously, then the cooling is constant, but the energy consumption increases and heat transfer efficiency decreases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The synthetic jet operates periodically based on the component's activation pattern defined by the time signal curve. Instead of continuous operation, the jet delivers fluid surges only during specific time intervals when the component is activated and generating heat. This periodic operation reduces energy consumption while maintaining effective heat dissipation during critical periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for heat dissipation by activating the synthetic jet in synchronization with the component's activation before peak heat generation occurs. The time signal curve is predetermined to anticipate heat generation patterns, allowing the cooling fluid to be delivered at the optimal moment for maximum heat transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the component operates closer to its performance limits, then the productivity increases, but the risk of overheating increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent outputVSAvoidoverheating risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The time signal curve provides a predetermined feedback mechanism that monitors component operation patterns. By analyzing the activation timing and duration from the signal curve, the control unit adjusts synthetic jet operation to provide proportional cooling, enabling the component to operate closer to performance limits while maintaining safe temperature levels through real-time cooling adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling system transitions from static continuous operation to dynamic synchronized operation. The synthetic jet's activation and deactivation follow the component's dynamic operation pattern defined by the time signal curve, allowing the cooling capacity to adapt dynamically to the component's instantaneous heat generation and operate safely at higher performance levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 synchronized approach significantly increases cooling capacity and allows operation closer to the component's performance limits while preventing overheating, ensuring efficient heat dissipation and extended component lifespan.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric element to vibrate the wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

dissipated by the component through technical measures... cool it with a synthetic jet... resulting fluid surges are discharged in the direction of the assembly and thus cause the waste heat generated during operation of the component to be dissipated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3409085B1Electric arrangement for a motor vehicle, motor vehicle, and method for operating a synthetic jet
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 AUDI AG
  • EP3409085B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3409085B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Electric arrangement for a motor vehicle (20), comprising a module (2) that includes an electric component (6), and a synthetic jet (3) which is designed to generate fluid blasts (11) and is positioned to discharge the fluid blasts (11) in the direction of the module (2); the component (6) can be activated according to a signal time curve, and the synthetic jet (3) can be actuated in such a way as to generate at least one fluid blast (11) synchronously to each activation of the component (6).