Transducer Array Evaporative Cooling via Phase Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sonar transducers face performance degradation and reduced lifetime due to heat buildup at higher duty cycles, limiting their operational efficiency in continuous mode applications.
Innovation Solution
A multi-phase coolant system within a housing for the transducer, which transitions from a liquid to a gas phase as the transducer heats up, providing both conductive and convective cooling, allowing the transducer to operate at higher duty cycles without signal degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If transducers operate at higher duty cycles, then productivity increases, but temperature increases causing performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of a coolant substance (from liquid to vapor and back) to remove heat from the transducer. The coolant absorbs heat during evaporation and releases it during condensation, enabling continuous operation at high duty cycles without temperature buildup that would degrade performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a closed-loop coolant circulation system using phase change between liquid and vapor phases. The coolant is pumped through channels in contact with the transducer, absorbing heat through conduction, then vaporizes, condenses elsewhere in the loop, and returns to repeat the cycle, effectively managing thermal loads at high productivity levels
2Productivity
If transducers operate at higher duty cycles, then productivity increases, but reliability decreases due to thermal runout
Solution Approach 1:
The phase transition mechanism provides a thermodynamically efficient heat removal process that maintains transducer temperature within safe operating limits. By utilizing the latent heat of vaporization and condensation, the system prevents thermal runaway and extends transducer operational life even at sustained high duty cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The closed-loop coolant system provides continuous thermal management with inherent feedback control. As the transducer heats up during high-duty-cycle operation, the coolant automatically absorbs excess heat through phase change, maintaining temperature stability and preventing conditions that would lead to failure or reduced reliability
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
Enables transducers to maintain performance and extend operational periods at duty cycles exceeding 50%, reducing temperature increases and preventing thermal runaway by continuous phase cycling of the coolant.
Implementation Method 1
the coolant solution is chosen such that it remains a liquid during a first phase (cooling via conduction)
Implementation Method 2
then evaporates during a second phase (cooling via conduction and convection) as the electromechanical transducer heats up
Implementation Method 3
transitions between liquid and gas phases, depending on the temperature of the electromechanical transducer
Implementation Method 4
cooling via conduction and convection) as the electromechanical transducer heats up
Data Source
AI summary
A transducer system comprising a housing, an electromechanical transducer within the housing, a wicking material adjacent to a portion of the electromechanical transducer, and a multi-phase coolant solution within the housing. The multi-phase coolant solution transitions from a first phase to a second phase in response to a temperature of the electromechanical transducer exceeding a threshold temperature. In some example cases, the multi-phase coolant solution has a boiling point of less than about 60° C., which effectively defines the threshold temperature. The multi-phase coolant solution may be chosen such that it remains a liquid during a first phase (cooling via conduction), and then evaporates during a second phase (cooling via conduction and convection) as the electromechanical transducer heats up.