Vacuum Pump Control Device Resistor Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum pump control devices face challenges in efficiently cooling regenerative resistors, leading to overheating issues that affect both the control device and connected vacuum pumps, causing precision problems in measurement and machining processes.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum pump control device with a regenerative resistor storing portion in an aluminum die-cast casing, featuring a hollow portion designed to accommodate the resistor and a cooling mechanism, positioned away from the housing side surface, and integrated with a water-cooling plate for effective heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the regenerative resistor is attached in contact with the housing side surface for cooling, then the resistor temperature is reduced, but the housing becomes too hot to touch
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a control device housing and a separate vacuum pump housing. The regenerative resistor is attached to the control device housing, which is thermally isolated from the vacuum pump. This segmentation allows the resistor to be cooled effectively while preventing the vacuum pump from overheating, resolving the contradiction between resistor temperature control and housing temperature management.
2Area of stationary object
If the regenerative resistor is mounted on the control board with other elements, then space is saved, but the temperature of both the resistor and other elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The regenerative resistor is extracted from the control board and mounted separately on the control device housing. This extraction allows the resistor to be cooled independently by attaching it to the housing surface, while the control board can be cooled separately. This resolves the contradiction by sacrificing space efficiency to achieve effective temperature control for both components.
3Temperature
If a heat sink and cooling fan are added to cool the regenerative resistor, then the resistor temperature is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is merged into the existing housing structure. The regenerative resistor is attached directly to the control device housing, which serves as both the structural enclosure and the cooling surface. This eliminates the need for separate heat sinks and cooling fans, resolving the contradiction by using the existing housing to provide both mechanical support and thermal management functionality.
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 heat dissipation, prevents excessive temperature increases, and ensures safer operation by maintaining the regenerative resistor temperature below its tolerance, thereby improving precision in vacuum device operations.
Implementation Method 1
The regenerative resistor converts regenerative energy into thermal energy and consumes this energy. It is, therefore, inevitable that the regenerative resistor itself generates heat.
Implementation Method 2
a cooling mechanism for cooling the regenerative resistor storing portion is provided
Implementation Method 3
the temperature of the vacuum pump control device is reduced by releasing heat using the heat sink
Data Source
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AI summary
An object of the present invention is to improve, using a simple configuration, heat dissipation of a regenerative resistor that is disposed in a vacuum pump control device (controller) connected to a vacuum pump. The regenerative resistor disposed in the vacuum pump control device is stored in an aluminum die-cast casing. More concretely, a housing of the vacuum pump control device is prepared by aluminum die casting (metal mold casting). A regenerative resistor storing portion (aluminum die-cast casing) provided with a hollow portion is provided on a top panel of the aluminum die cast, the hollow portion being designed to have a size accommodating the entire regenerative resistor. The regenerative resistor is fitted into the hollow portion, and an opening section of the hollow portion is sealed with an aluminum sheet of the same material as that of the casing. In this manner, the regenerative resistor can removably be stored in the aluminum die-cast casing.