Thermoplastic Cooling Device for Gradient Coil Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling devices for gradient coil windings are complex and costly to produce, with manual connection of meandering cooling tubes being time-consuming and inefficient, and round tube cross-sections leading to poor heat transfer.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device composed of two preformed thermoplastic films that are thermally reshaped to create complementary coolant channel sections, allowing for simple and cost-effective production, with the ability to be curved and feature surface structures for enhanced heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual connection of meandering cooling tubes with round cross-section is used, then the cooling device can be assembled, but the production is very complicated and time-consuming, leading to high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling tubes directly into the support plate structure by casting the support plate with integrated coolant channels. This eliminates the separate manual connection step and reduces the cooling device to a single monolithic component, thereby simplifying production and eliminating assembly time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the cooling device into modular components (support plate with integrated channels, gradient coil windings, connection pieces) that can be manufactured separately and assembled. The support plate is produced as a separate cast component with built-in coolant channels, which can then be integrated with the gradient coil windings in a standardized assembly process.
2Temperature
If round cross-section cooling tubes are used, then the cooling device can be assembled, but only linear contact to the heat-generating copper conductor winding is achieved, resulting in poor heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from round cross-section tubes to flat coolant channels with enlarged surface area. The flat geometry allows the cooling device to conform to the curved surface of the gradient coil windings, achieving optimal contact geometry and maximizing the heat exchange surface area between the coolant channels and the heat-generating conductors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional linear contact with round tubes to two-dimensional surface contact with flat coolant channels. This dimensional change significantly increases the contact area between the cooling device and the gradient coil windings, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency.
3Reliability
If thin supporting plate with meandering cooling tubes is used, then cooling capacity can be achieved, but the structure requires manual connection and stabilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling tubes and supporting plate into a single cast structure. The coolant channels are integrated directly into the support plate, eliminating the need for separate tubes and their manual connections. This monolithic structure inherently provides structural stability without requiring additional stabilization measures.
4Temperature
If large heat exchanger area is used, then heat dissipation is improved, but the distance from cooling devices to coil conductors must be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flat coolant channels that can be conformally integrated into the support plate structure, allowing the cooling device to closely follow the contour of the gradient coil windings. This curved geometry enables the coolant channels to maintain minimal distance to the heat-generating conductors while maximizing the heat exchange surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the local geometry of the coolant channels to closely conform to the distribution of heat-generating conductors in the gradient coil windings. The coolant channels are positioned and shaped to achieve optimal thermal coupling at each location, ensuring minimal thermal resistance between the conductors and the coolant across the entire heat exchange surface.
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 solution enables efficient heat dissipation with reduced pressure loss and increased stability, allowing for optimal integration with gradient coils while minimizing the risk of leaks and requiring minimal stabilization, thus improving cooling capacity and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
These are locally or globally heated in a thermal reshaping procedure in order to fashion channel sections
Implementation Method 2
for dissipation of the heat (arising upon current being fed to the gradient coil windings) by means of a coolant flowing through one or more coolant channels
Data Source
AI summary
In a cooling device for arrangement between two gradient coil windings of a gradient coil for dissipation of the heat (arising upon feeding current to the gradient coil windings) by means of a coolant flowing through one or more coolant channels in the cooling device, two films made of thermoplastic material are connected with one another, and are preformed in a thermal reshaping procedure to form coolant channel sections that are complementary to one another to form an inherently stable coolant channel after the connection.