Vacuum Pump Cooling Element with Corrugated Channels for Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum pump cooling elements suffer from inadequate thermal transfer due to imperfect mating face contact between aluminum and stainless steel, reduced heat conductance from laminar flow, and stress-induced fatigue failure from thermal expansion mismatch of alloy steel bolts.
Innovation Solution
A cooling element with a flat, wide void and corrugated surfaces for turbulent flow, made from stainless steel, directly attached to the vacuum pump housing, and optionally using a connecting element for improved heat transfer and stress reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stainless steel pipes are pressed in or cast in an aluminum block, then the cooling element can be assembled to the housing, but the mating face contact is not perfect resulting in insufficient thermal transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a single material (aluminum) for both the cooling element base and the housing, eliminating the aluminum-stainless steel interface problem. This homogeneity ensures perfect thermal contact and eliminates the mating face contact issue that plagues multi-material constructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention integrates the cooling channels directly into the aluminum housing material itself, creating a composite structure where the housing serves dual functions as both structural component and heat transfer medium carrier, eliminating interface thermal resistance.
2Strength
If alloy steel bolts are used to assemble the cooling block to the housing, then the components can be fastened together, but thermal expansion mismatch causes stress and fatigue failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses aluminum material for both the cooling element and housing, eliminating the need for alloy steel bolts entirely. The unified aluminum construction avoids thermal expansion mismatch and the associated stress and fatigue failure problems.
3Device complexity
If conventional cooling elements are used with standard pipe dimensions, then the structure is simple, but laminar flow reduces heat conductance from the vacuum pump
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses corrugated surfaces with curved geometries inside the cooling channels to disrupt laminar flow and induce turbulence, enhancing heat transfer efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the internal surface geometry parameters of the cooling channels by adding corrugations, which changes the flow regime from laminar to turbulent and significantly improves heat conductance without substantially increasing structural complexity.
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
Enhances heat transfer efficiency and reliability by creating a large surface area for heat dissipation and reducing thermal stress, ensuring effective coolant heat absorption.
Implementation Method 1
heat transferred from the housing of the vacuum pump to the coolant
Implementation Method 2
coolant flowing through the internal void to dissipate the heat
Implementation Method 3
The internal void comprises at least one corrugated surface to create turbulent flow within the void
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
Cooling element for vacuum pump comprising a base element wherein by the base element an internal void is defined. Further, an inlet is connected to the base element and is in fluent connection with the void. Further, an outlet is connected to the base element and in fluent connection with the void such that a coolant can flow from the inlet through the void to the outlet to dissipated heat. Therein, the base element is connected to a housing of a vacuum pump.