Vapor Chamber Support Geometry for Better Fluid Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vapor chambers with quadrangular support parts suffer from poor heat dissipation and fluid flow due to right-angle boundaries, leading to fluid stagnation and reduced pressure resistance in thin containers.
Innovation Solution
A vapor chamber design featuring a support part with an obtuse angle at its base and a curved side face, integrated with a wick structure, which enhances fluid circulation and heat dissipation by increasing the surface area for gas flow and pressure resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the container thickness is reduced to achieve size and weight reduction, then the vapor chamber becomes more compact, but the container deforms under barometric pressure or load
Solution Approach 1:
The container bottom is segmented into a flat pressure-resistant portion and a recessed heat dissipation portion, allowing each section to serve its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The support part extends in the thickness direction of the container, utilizing the third dimension to provide structural support without increasing the container's planar footprint, thus maintaining compactness while improving pressure resistance
2Device complexity
If a quadrangular support part with right angle is used, then the container structure is simple, but liquid phase working fluid stagnates at the boundary portion
Solution Approach 1:
The support part incorporates a curved surface instead of sharp right angles, creating a gradual transition that prevents liquid phase working fluid from stagnating at boundary portions and improves circulation to the heat receiving surface
Solution Approach 2:
The support part features an asymmetric design with different surface characteristics (flat vs. curved) to optimize both structural support and fluid flow dynamics
3Ease of manufacture
If the support part side surface is flat, then the manufacturing is simple, but the heat dissipation area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The support part utilizes the thickness direction of the container to create an extended curved surface, increasing the heat dissipation area in the vertical dimension without expanding the container's horizontal footprint
Solution Approach 2:
The curved surface of the support part increases the surface area available for heat dissipation compared to a flat surface, while still being manufacturable through standard forming processes
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 design improves fluid circulation, heat dissipation, and pressure resistance by preventing fluid stagnation and increasing the surface area for gas flow, while maintaining structural integrity in thin containers.
Implementation Method 1
a wick structure housed in the cavity, the wick structure being separated from the container
Implementation Method 2
a working fluid enclosed in the cavity
Implementation Method 3
a working fluid in a liquid phase is likely to remain
Implementation Method 4
the condensing property of the working fluid in a gas phase is improved
Implementation Method 5
one plate-shaped body to which a heating element is thermally connected
Data Source
AI summary
The vapor chamber includes a container having a cavity formed of one plate-shaped body to which a heating element is thermally connected and another plate-shaped body facing the one plate-shaped body, a working fluid enclosed in the cavity, and a wick structure that is enclosed in the cavity and separated from the container. The container includes a support part protruding from an inner surface of the other plate-shaped body toward the one plate-shaped body, the support part being formed of a recessed part provided to an outer surface of the other plate-shaped body. At the rising base portion of the support part from the inner surface of the other plate-shaped body, the defined angle between the support part and the inner surface of the other plate-shaped body is an obtuse angle.