Heat Transferring Sphere Segmentation for Peripheral Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current heat transfer technologies face challenges in effectively cooling heat-generating devices located at peripheral locations due to difficulties in driving coolant to these areas, necessitating improved heat transfer devices that facilitate convective, conductive, and radiative heat transfer.

Innovation Solution

A heat transfer device known as the Heat Transferring Sphere (XTS) is designed with an outer and inner wall that encloses a heat source, featuring a flow passage with an inlet, core region, and outlet, allowing fluid to flow through and exchange heat with the heat source, and includes heat transfer structures to enhance turbulence and heat exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If coolant is driven through conventional heat transfer devices, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but difficulty in reaching peripheral locations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcoolant delivery to peripheral locations
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The heat transfer device is segmented into multiple flow passages arranged in a circular pattern, with each passage independently delivering coolant to specific peripheral regions. This segmentation allows efficient coolant distribution to peripheral locations that would be difficult to reach with a single conventional heat transfer device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from linear or planar heat transfer configurations to a three-dimensional circular array of flow passages. This dimensional change enables coolant to be delivered radially outward to peripheral locations, solving the accessibility problem while maintaining high heat transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If heat transfer device size is increased to improve cooling capacity, then heat dissipation capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple flow passages are merged into a single integrated heat transfer device structure. The circular arrangement combines multiple cooling channels into one unified component that attaches to the heat source as a single unit, increasing heat dissipation capability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat transfer device is designed with universal applicability to various heat source geometries through its circular symmetric configuration. The same basic structure can accommodate different heat dissipation requirements by adjusting the number and arrangement of flow passages, providing multi-functionality without requiring completely different designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-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

The XTS effectively draws heat away from or to the heat source, improving thermal management by increasing heat transfer efficiency through fluid flow and turbulence, suitable for various applications from nanoscopic to large-scale devices.

Implementation Method 1

facilitating convective, conductive, and radiative heat transfer from or to the heat source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

facilitating convective, conductive, and radiative heat transfer from or to the heat source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

including heat transfer structures to enhance turbulence and heat exchange

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP3608954B1Heat transfer devices and methods for facilitating convective heat transfer with a heat source or a cold source
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 THE BOEING CO
  • EP3608954B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3608954B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3608954B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Heat transfer devices and methods for enclosing a heat source and facilitating convective heat transfer from the heat source. A heat transfer device includes an outer wall having an outer surface exposed to an environment of the heat transfer device and defining an outer shape of the heat transfer device, and an inner wall defining a flow passage through the heat transfer device. The outer wall and the inner wall collectively define an internal volume that is configured to house the heat source. The flow passage comprises an inlet configured to receive a fluid from the environment, and an outlet configured to exhaust the fluid from the flow passage that comprises a core region extending between the inlet and the outlet and configured to deliver the fluid from the inlet to the outlet and allow heat to exchange between the fluid within the core region and the internal volume.