Turbulent Flow Plate for Projector Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing projector technologies face challenges in efficiently cooling liquid crystal light valves while minimizing noise and cost, as turbulent flows dissipate in narrow spaces between the light valve and polarizer, leading to poor cooling effects and increased noise or high material costs.
Innovation Solution
A turbulent flow plate with tapered fins is introduced between the light modulator and polarizer or wave plate, maintaining turbulent flow to efficiently cool the light modulator, reducing noise, and allowing for the use of cost-effective materials by enhancing cooling efficiency and blocking unwanted light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the space between the light modulator and polarizer is narrowed, then the device structure is compact, but the turbulent flow dissipates and becomes laminar flow, resulting in poor cooling effect
Solution Approach 1:
A turbulent flow plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the light modulator and polarizer. This plate generates and maintains turbulent flow in the cooling air supplied to the light incident surface of the light modulator, ensuring effective cooling even when the space between components is narrow.
Solution Approach 2:
The turbulent flow plate changes the flow regime parameter of the cooling air from laminar to turbulent. By introducing this plate with specific fin structures, the cooling air maintains turbulent state throughout the narrow space, preventing flow dissipation and maintaining cooling effectiveness.
2Temperature
If the output of the cooling unit is increased to enhance cooling effect, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but noise produced by the cooling unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The turbulent flow plate changes the flow characteristics of cooling air to maintain turbulence, which enhances heat transfer efficiency. This allows the cooling unit to operate at lower output levels while achieving the same cooling effect, thereby reducing noise.
3Temperature
If a material with high heat conductivity is used for the light modulator to enhance cooling, then the cooling effect is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The turbulent flow plate serves as a mediator that enhances cooling through flow control rather than relying on expensive high-heat-conductivity materials. This approach achieves effective cooling using conventional materials, reducing manufacturing costs.
4Temperature
If the turbulent flow plate with fins is introduced, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The turbulent flow plate is segmented into multiple fins that create turbulence. This segmentation approach generates effective turbulent flow while keeping each individual fin simple in structure, balancing cooling efficiency with manufacturing simplicity.
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 effectively prevents degradation of the light modulator due to heat, reduces noise from the cooling unit, and lowers manufacturing costs by improving cooling efficiency and allowing for the selection of less expensive materials.
Implementation Method 1
The turbulent flow plate can produce a turbulent flow in cooling air supplied to a light incident surface of the light modulator and supply the cooling air with its turbulent state maintained to the light incident surface
Implementation Method 2
the tip of the fin causes the cooling air containing a turbulent flow accompanied by vortices to impinge on the light modulator
Data Source
AI summary
A projector includes a light source unit, a light modulator that modulates light exited from the light source unit, a polarizer or a wave plate provided on the light modulator, a cooling unit that supplies cooling air to the light modulator, and a turbulent flow plate disposed between the light modulator and the polarizer or the wave plate in a path along which the cooling air from the cooling unit flows toward the light modulator, the turbulent flow plate having a fin that tapers from a base end toward a tip.