Two-Sided Cold Plate Support Assembly with Transfer Tubes
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Solution Overview
Problem
In extreme temperature environments, such as those found in aircraft or vehicles, electronic components often face overheating issues due to insufficient airflow, necessitating effective heat removal solutions beyond conventional air flow methods.
Innovation Solution
A two-sided cold plate assembly with a support structure featuring face sheets and a cellular interior, where tubes extend through the structure to create a passage for fluid communication between two cold plates, enabling efficient heat transfer and reducing the need for external conduits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional air flow cooling methods are used, then the cooling system is simple, but the cooling effectiveness is insufficient in extreme temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the support structure for electronic components with the cooling fluid conduit system into an integrated assembly. The conduit is formed as part of the support structure itself, eliminating the need for separate external conduits and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective cooling performance in extreme environments.
2Device complexity
If external conduits are used to supply cooling fluid, then the fluid delivery system is simple to manufacture, but the overall assembly becomes more complex and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure and cooling conduit are merged into a single integrated component. The conduit is formed directly as part of the support structure, eliminating separate external conduits and reducing the number of parts, assembly steps, and overall weight of the assembly.
3Weight of stationary object
If a compact integrated structure is used, then the assembly is more weight-efficient and compact, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is pre-formed as an integral part of the support structure during manufacturing, before final assembly. This preliminary integration of the conduit into the support structure simplifies the final assembly process, as the conduit is already in position and does not require separate installation steps.
4Device complexity
If tubes are inserted into the support structure, then exposed fluid conduits are minimized, but the insertion process requires precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The tube is merged with the support structure to form an integrated conduit system. The tube is pre-positioned and integrated during manufacturing, eliminating the need for precise field positioning and reducing exposed conduits. The integration ensures proper positioning without requiring complex alignment procedures during assembly.
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 configuration enhances thermal management by providing a robust, compact, and weight-efficient cooling solution that effectively removes heat from electronic components, even in environments with limited airflow, while minimizing exposed fluid conduits and simplifying assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a tube extending through the support structure for communicating fluid between the first cold plate and the second cold plate, wherein the tube has been inserted into a space between the first and second face sheets of the support structure to create a passage for the fluid
Implementation Method 2
a first cold plate disposed on the first face sheet, the first cold plate including at least one inlet, a second cold plate disposed on the second face sheet, the second cold plate including at least one outlet
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A structural cold plate assembly (14) includes cold plates (22,24) mounted to opposing sides of a panel (16) and in fluid communication through fluid passages (60) that extend through the panel.