Two-Phase Cooling Circuit With Phase Separation for Convection Boiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Two-phase cooling circuits for power electronic devices face inefficiencies due to poor heat transfer performance in evaporators, bulkiness, and difficulty in maintaining leak-proofness at high pressures, especially when transitioning from pool boiling to convection boiling, which affects the condenser's performance.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop two-phase cooling circuit design with a phase separation means in the feeder line to the condenser, allowing for convection boiling in the evaporator while separating vapor and liquid phases, ensuring a high percentage of vapor is fed to the condenser, maintaining its performance and eliminating the need for external pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pool boiling is used in the evaporator, then the evaporator can serve as a liquid reservoir, but the heat transfer performance is poor and the evaporator becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operating parameters by transitioning from pool boiling to convection boiling through reducing the evaporator channel diameter below a critical value. This parameter change enables the evaporator to achieve both high heat transfer performance and compact size while maintaining the liquid reservoir function through the closed-loop design
2Productivity
If the evaporator diameter is reduced to improve heat transfer performance, then convection boiling occurs, but the condenser performance is negatively affected due to mixture of gas and liquid phases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the cooling circuit into distinct functional zones: the evaporator for convection boiling, the feeder line for vapor transport, and the condenser for condensation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system performance
Solution Approach 2:
The feeder line acts as an intermediary component between the evaporator and condenser, transporting the vapor-liquid mixture from the evaporator to the condenser while maintaining phase separation that protects condenser performance
3Productivity
If convection boiling is used to improve evaporator performance, then heat transfer is enhanced, but the cooling circuit becomes difficult to make leak-proof at high pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The closed-loop design enables the cooling circuit to be self-contained and self-regulating, eliminating the need for complex external connections and components that could potentially leak. The system maintains high pressure conditions safely within the sealed loop
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 design enhances the overall performance of the cooling circuit by optimizing heat transfer and reducing the need for new evaporator and condenser designs, maintaining high condenser performance without external energy requirements and minimizing fluid inventory.
Implementation Method 1
the evaporator allows at least partially for convection boiling
Implementation Method 2
When heat is transferred to the liquid therefore pool boiling can occur
Implementation Method 3
a phase separation means is arranged in the feeder line at an inlet side of said condenser
Implementation Method 4
Within the condenser the vapor is cooled down again to fall below the boiling temperature. As a consequence thereof another phase change occurs and the vapor condenses to become a liquid again
Implementation Method 5
The temperature of the liquid during evaporation is constant and thereby limits the maximum temperature the device to be cooled can reach
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a two-phase cooling circuit. The cooling circuit can include an evaporator and a condenser. The evaporator and condenser can be connected by a feeder line and a first return line. A phase separator is arranged at an inlet side of the condenser. The phase separator can be connected with the evaporator by a second return line.