Thermosiphon Fin for Uniform Heat Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thin, lightweight aluminum heat sink fins used in air-cooled heat sinks have low thermal efficiency due to their design, which limits their ability to dissipate heat effectively across their height, necessitating either more expensive and heavier materials like copper or thicker aluminum, which increases cost and weight.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a two-phase thermosiphon component with a continuous, closed loop containing a working fluid that evaporates near the heat receiving portion of the fin, allowing vapor to flow and condense elsewhere, thereby distributing heat more uniformly across the fin, enhancing efficiency without increasing material cost or weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If thin, lightweight aluminum heat sink fins are used, then cost and weight are reduced, but thermal efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a thermosiphon tube system with aluminum heat sink fins to create a hybrid heat transfer device. The thermosiphon tube contains a working fluid that circulates through phase changes to transfer heat along the fin, merging the advantages of lightweight aluminum structure with enhanced thermal transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermosiphon tube utilizes phase transitions of the working fluid (evaporation and condensation) to transfer heat along the fin. The fluid evaporates at the hot end absorbing heat, rises as vapor, condenses at the cooler end releasing heat, and returns as liquid, creating a continuous heat transfer cycle that enhances thermal efficiency without adding significant weight.
2Reliability
If thicker aluminum fins are used, then thermal efficiency improves, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The working fluid in the thermosiphon tube acts as an intermediary heat transfer medium between the fin and the heat source. Instead of relying solely on thermal conduction through thicker aluminum, the phase-changing fluid facilitates heat transfer, allowing thinner fins to achieve comparable thermal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase transition mechanism in the thermosiphon tube provides enhanced heat transfer capability that compensates for the reduced thickness of the aluminum fin. The evaporative and condensative processes transfer heat more effectively than conduction alone, maintaining thermal efficiency with lighter material.
3Reliability
If copper materials are used instead of aluminum, then thermal efficiency improves, but cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges aluminum fins with a thermosiphon tube containing phase-changing fluid to achieve heat transfer performance comparable to copper without the weight and cost penalties. The combination leverages the low cost and lightweight properties of aluminum while adding thermal enhancement through the thermosiphon mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase transition heat transfer mechanism in the thermosiphon tube provides copper-level thermal efficiency in a lightweight aluminum construction. The evaporative and condensative heat transfer processes compensate for aluminum's lower thermal conductivity, achieving high thermal efficiency without using expensive copper materials.
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 thermosiphon component improves the thermal efficiency of the heat sink by equalizing temperatures across the fin, achieving performance comparable to more thermally conductive materials while maintaining the cost and weight benefits of aluminum, thus enhancing heat dissipation without the need for more expensive materials.
Implementation Method 1
working fluid is evaporated in an evaporation portion of the at least one tube adjacent the heat receiving portion of the planar fin
Implementation Method 2
heat may be transferred between the fin and tube... working fluid is evaporated... for condensing
Implementation Method 3
working fluid vapor flows in the at least one tube away from the evaporation portion for condensing
Implementation Method 4
working fluid vapor flows... for condensing... transferring heat from relatively hotter areas of the fin to relatively cooler areas
Implementation Method 5
at least one tube forming a continuous, closed loop... adapted to operate as a two-phase thermosiphon... transferring heat from the heat receiving portion to other areas of the fin
Implementation Method 6
two-phase thermosiphon in which working fluid is evaporated... and working fluid vapor flows... for condensing
Implementation Method 7
heat is taken up from the heat source and conducted into the planar fin for dissipation
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 6~8
AI summary
A heat transfer device such as a heat sink includes one or more fins for dissipating heat received from a heat source, such as an integrated circuit or other electronic component. A thermosiphon component including a tube that defines a closed, continuous loop and contains a working fluid is attached to a face of a corresponding fin and is arranged to operate as a two-phase thermosiphon to transfer heat across areas of the fin. The heat transfer may equalize temperatures across the fin, enhancing efficiency.