Thermal Management System Using Magnetic Particle Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management systems for electronic components, such as depth cameras, are inefficient in maintaining a desired temperature range and often require expensive and space-consuming cooling or heating solutions that do not effectively isolate the component thermally.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system that uses a carrier fluid with thermally conductive ferrous particles and an electromagnet to selectively thermally connect and isolate components by aligning or displacing particles within a gap, allowing for controlled heat transfer based on magnetic field generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling fans or thermoelectric coolers are used to maintain temperature, then the desired temperature range is maintained, but the system becomes expensive and requires more packaging space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal management function from traditional bulky devices (cooling fans, thermoelectric coolers) and implements it using a compact electromagnet combined with phase-change material. This removes the need for large mechanical cooling components while maintaining effective temperature control through magnetic field-induced phase transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the thermal conductivity parameter of the medium by utilizing phase-change material that transitions between solid and liquid states. When the electromagnet generates a magnetic field, the ferromagnetic particles in the carrier fluid align, dramatically changing the thermal conductivity of the carrier fluid from low to high, enabling dynamic thermal management in a compact form factor.
2Temperature
If thermal management devices provide heating or cooling effect, then temperature control is achieved, but thermal isolation of the component is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic thermal management system where the thermal conductivity of the carrier fluid can be switched on demand. The electromagnet allows the system to transition between thermally conductive and thermally isolating states by controlling the magnetic field, enabling the system to adapt to different thermal management needs and maintain component isolation when required.
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 system effectively maintains the target component within a desired temperature range by enhancing or inhibiting heat transfer as needed, minimizing wavelength shift in light emitting diodes and optimizing space usage without the need for expensive thermal management devices.
Implementation Method 1
When the electromagnet generates a magnetic field that attracts the thermally conductive, ferrous particles
Implementation Method 2
the carrier fluid is configured to align at least a portion of the particles across a central region of the gap
Implementation Method 3
A carrier fluid is disposed within the gap and includes multiple thermally conductive, ferrous particles
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments are disclosed for a thermal management system and related multiple thermally conductive, ferrous particles. The carrier fluid is configured to align at least a portion of the thermally conductive, ferrous particles when the electromagnet generates a magnetic field that attracts the particles, method for selectively thermally isolating and thermally connecting a target component. One embodiment of a system includes a first component having a first surface proximate to a target component, and an electromagnet between the first surface and the target component. A second component is spaced apart from the first component to form a gap that serves as a thermal boundary between the first component and the second component. A carrier fluid disposed within the gap includes and to displace at least a portion of the particles when the electromagnet generates a magnetic field that repels the particles.