The present invention is related to a fluid actuator for generating synthetic jets, especially to the fluid actuator, which is applied to control the mixing of fluid flows and to control the fluid field and the fluid actuator, which is used in a cooling system.
Conventional synthetic jets are periodic jets generated by pushing and pulling a fluid through an orifice of an actuator. While the actuator reciprocatingly acts, the fluid would be revolvingly oscillated, and be sucked into or jetted out from the actuator due to the pressure variation therein. Since the mass flux of the fluid sucked into the actuator is equal to that of the fluid jetted out, i.e. a time-mean mass flux of the oscillated fluid through this orifice is zero, the synthetic jets is so called as “Zero-Net-Mass-Flux jets” in early days. Other common expressions for such a generation of jets are “Suction and Blowing” and “Oscillatory Blowing”.
Technically speaking, synthetic jets are generated by a periodic Zero-Net-Mass-Flux actuator, which can be arranged in various types. Please refer to
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Since the sucked working fluid in the up-stroke would be completely jetted out in the back-stroke, i.e. the mass flux of the sucked working fluid is equal to that of the jetted working fluid, the net mass flux of the working fluid, which flows in and out of the Zero-Net-Mass-Flux actuator 1′, is zero in each of the reciprocatingly acting process of the diaphragm 12′.
On the other hand, if the working fluid flows in and out of the actuator through different jetting elements, the mass flux of the sucked working fluid would be hence different from that of the jetted working fluid, which may be resulted from changing the structure and the arrangement of the jetting elements of the actuator. For the respectively different mass fluxes of the sucked working fluid and the jetted working fluid, the net mass flux would not be zero. Non-Zero-Net-Mass-Flux jets would be generated therefore.
Based on the basic principles involved in the fluid mechanics, for considering the limitation of the Reynolds Number of the fluid, it needs a quite complicated arrangement of a pipe structure and moving parts for the fluid flows mixing controlling, the fluid field controlling, such as the fluid stream vectoring and the turbulence controlling, and for generating the fluid for a small-scale cooling system conventionally. This may further restrict the application of the conventional fluid in the small-scale system as a result.
However, when the synthetic jets are jetted through a jetting element, a vortex will be accordingly generated in the shear layer thereof. The fluid surrounding to the actuator will be further rolled by the vortex to induce an enhancement of the vortex. Besides, due to the simpler structure, the actuator for generating the synthetic jets is more beneficial for the applications in a small-scale system. Therefore, the synthetic jets are respectably potential for applications in the micro fluid mixing and the fluid field precisely controlling, and are broadly applied for the relevant applications.
Since the mass flux of the working fluid sucked into the actuator is equal to that of the working fluid jetted out during the reciprocatingly action of the Zero-Net-Mass-Flux actuator, the efficiency of the heat transfer would be slashed and the actuator will fail in cooling if the temperature difference between the fluids sucked in and jetted out is extremely small. Therefore, if a simpler method and device for generating the Non-Zero-Net-Mass-Flux fluid is provided, the temperature difference between the fluids sucked in and jetted out is able to be increased by repeatedly injecting a fresh fluid outside the actuator thereto. By the increased temperature difference and the enhancement of the fluid field, the Non-Zero-Net-Mass-Flux fluid can not only be applied for the conventional fluid field controlling, but also effectively improves in solving the thorny problem of the heat, which is generated by the high power electrical device.
Based on the above, in order to overcome the drawbacks in the prior art, a double-acting device for generating a Non-Zero-Net-Mass-Flux fluid and a cooling method therefor are provided in the present invention.
In accordance with the main aspect of the invention, a double-acting device for generating synthetic jets having a Non-Zero-Net-Mass-Flux is provided. The double-acting device includes a chamber having a cavity for a working fluid, a separating element for dividing the chamber into at least two sub-chambers, a control system connected to the chamber for controlling the separating element to act reciprocatingly, an input system connected to the chamber for inputting the working fluid to the chamber therethrough, and an output system connected to the chamber for outputting the working fluid from the chamber therethrough.
Preferably, the working fluid is pushed and pulled by a reciprocating action of the separating element.
Preferably, a train of vortices are puffed and a non-zero-net-mass-flux fluid is generated through a designed structure and a defined arrangement of the input system and the output system.
Preferably, the separating element is a piston.
Preferably, the control system is a system of connecting rods.
Preferably, the separating element is a diaphragm.
Preferably, the diaphragm is one of a piezoelectric film and a photoelectric film.
Preferably, the control system is a control circuit.
Preferably, the input system and the output system further include a first control valve and a second control valve respectively.
Preferably, the first control valve and the second control valve are selected from an active valve and a passive valve.
Preferably, the input system further includes at least an input element.
Preferably, the input element is one of a diffuser and an orifice.
Preferably, the output system further includes at least two output elements respectively connected to the sub-chambers in the defined arrangement.
Preferably, the at least two output elements are selected from nozzles and orifices.
Preferably, the orifices are circular orifices.
Preferably, the output elements are coaxially arranged.
Preferably, the defined arrangement is one of a paired arrangement and an axisymmetric arrangement.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a cooling method by generating a non-zero-net-mass-flux fluid is provided in the present invention, and the cooling method includes the steps of providing a heated body, providing a double-acting device having a chamber divided into at least two sub-chambers by a separating element, and controlling the separating element of the double-acting device to act reciprocatingly for passing a fluid in and out of each the sub-chamber and generating a train of vortices.
Preferably, the fluid is formed as antiphasely oscillating jets input to the sub-chamber through an input system and output from the sub-chamber through an output system, and the non-zero-net-mass-flux fluid is hence generated.
Preferably, a heat exchange of the heated body is induced by directing the non-zero-net-mass-flux fluid and the train of vortices to a surface of the heated body and driving a surrounding fluid to flow and the heated body is cooled thereby.
Preferably, the chamber provides a cavity for the fluid working therein. The separating element is connected to the chamber for dividing the chamber into the two sub-chambers, the input system is connected to the chamber for inputting the fluid to the chamber therethrough, and the output system is connected to the chamber for outputting the fluid from the chamber therethrough.
Preferably, the separating element is controlled to pump by a control system connected to the chamber.
Preferably, the output system further has at least two output elements.
Preferably, the antiphasely oscillating jets are generated by a double-acting action of the separating element.
Preferably, a mutual interaction of the antiphasely oscillating jets is induced by a defined arrangement of the at least two output elements to enhance the train of vortices.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood through the following descriptions with reference to the drawings, wherein:
a) is a diagram illustrating the structure of the conventional Zero-Net-Mass-Flux actuator according to the prior art;
b) and 1(c) are diagrams illustrating the fluid flowings during an up-stroke and a back-stroke of the conventional Zero-Net-Mass-Flux actuator, respectively;
a) is a diagram illustrating the structure of the double-acting device for generating synthetic jets according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
b) and (c) are diagrams respectively illustrating the fluid flowing during an up-stroke and a back-stroke of the double-acting device for generating synthetic jets according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
a) to 4(d) are diagrams respectively illustrating the fluid flowing through four different jetting elements during the up-stroke of the double-acting device according to the present invention;
a) to f(d) are diagrams respectively illustrating the fluid flowing through four different jetting elements during the back-stroke of the double-acting device according to the present invention;
a) and 6(b) are diagrams illustrating the structures of the double-acting device for generating synthetic jets according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
a) to 7(c) are diagrams schematically illustrating the various arrangements of the output elements with different shapes in the double-acting device according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
a) and 8(b) illustrate the field distributions near the outlets of the jetting elements;
The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.
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On the other hand, there is only a periodic difference between the actions of the fluid in the sub-chambers 10A and 10B. Therefore, the working fluids 30b and 40b in the sub-chamber 10B will flow in a direction, which is opposite to that of the working fluids 30a and 40a in the sub-chamber 10A. That is to say, as the pressure inside the sub-chamber 10A is increased, the pressure inside the sub-chamber 10B will be decreased, and the fluid 41b outside the double-acting device 1 will be accordingly sucked into the sub-chamber 10B through the input element 4B and forms the working fluid 40b. Similarly, the fluid 31b is accordingly sucked into the sub-chamber 10B through the output element 3B to form the working fluid 30b, if there is no additional check valves cooperated with the output element 3B.
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Considering the situation for the sub-chamber 10B, the fluid 33b inside the sub-chamber 10B is jetted out through the output element 3B owing to the increased pressure inside the sub-chamber 10B. The jet fluid 32b is hence generated. Similarly, some of the fluid 43b inside the sub-chamber 10B will be accordingly jetted out from the sub-chamber 10B through the input element 4B to form the jet fluid 42b, if there is no additional check valve cooperated with the input element 4B.
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Such a configuration makes the design of the chamber 10 much simpler and prevents the additional heat generation inside the chamber 10, however, it is necessary to be mentioned that an additional connector 21, such as a mechanical connector or an electromagnetic connector, is needed to be located between the control circuit 2 and the diaphragm 12 for helping the control circuit 2 drive the diaphragm 12. Moreover, an independent heat sink configured on the control circuit 2 is also permitted. By a design of the extended surfaces 22, the heat radiation and convection are enhanced to achieve a great cooling effect. Furthermore, the control circuit 2 is able to be arranged partially inside the chamber 10 and partially outside the chamber 10, if necessary.
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c) and 4(d), and
Based on the above, while using the asymmetric elements as the input elements and the output elements in the double-acting device, the differences in the flow rates and the variation of the fluid field are generated when the fluid is sucked in and jetted out through the asymmetric input (output) elements by controlling the valves with cooperation of the various arrangements of the elements. Therefore, the Non-Zero-Net-Mass-Flux fluid is generated accordingly.
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In each reciprocating action of the diaphragm 12, some fluid is sucked into the double-acting device 1 through the input element 4B, and another fluid is simultaneously jetted out from the double-acting device 1 through the output elements 3A and 3B. The fluids inside and outside the double-acting device 1 are hence exchanged effectively. Furthermore, two vortices 60 generated by means of the diaphragm 12 reciprocatingly acting will be further enhanced through the streams countered to each other, which are generated when the fluid flows through the axisymmetrical arranged output elements 3A and 3B. More surrounding fluids are hence drawn and rolled by the enhanced vortices to further reinforce the cooling of the synthetic jets.
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Therefore, when the double-acting device of the present invention acts, a train of enhanced vortices would be always generated, no matter which direction the diaphragm 12 acts toward. Additionally, the enhanced vortices could further force the fluid outside the double-acting device to flow and convect for a more effective cooling.
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What worthy to say is that, for the variation of the fluid field surrounding the double-acting device, the fresh fluids 8a and 8b with a lower temperature are also involved in the field interaction. Moreover, the fluids 42a and 41b, which have a much lower temperature and are much far from the heat body 13 and less influenced thereby, are respectively sucked into the sub-chamber 10A and 10B through the input elements 4A and 4B. Therefore, the fluids in the sub-chambers 10A and 10B are exchangeable, which may further help the cooling for the heat body 13.
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Based on the above, it is known that the Non-Zero-Net-Mass-Flux jets have more advantages when compared with the conventional Zero-Net-Mass-Flux jets. Therefore, the range of the parameters, which are necessary to be controlled for the heat transfer and the fluidic applications, is broadened by the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is more potential in the fluid controlling in not only the common scales, but also the micro scales, such as in the micro electromechanical system (MEMS).
The double-acting device provided by the present invention and the cooling method used the same adopt a device of double-chamber in cooperation with an arrangement of at least one input element and plural output elements to make the fluid with Non-Zero-Net-Mass-Flux jets to be jetted due to the working fluid circulating in each reciprocating action of the diaphragm. Since the fluid is sucked into the chamber and jetted out at the same time when the double-acting device is operated for the jets generation, the antiphase jets are accordingly formed. Furthermore, by the mutual interaction of the antiphase jets, the vortex formed by the double-acting device is further enhanced.
Therefore, the double-acting device of the present invention provides a more effective heat dissipation and a better cooling effect than that provided by the conventional ones, which only generates a Zero-Net-Mass-Flux fluid in a full working cycle including the up-stroke and the back-stroke. The double-acting device of the present invention is more constitutive in the improvements for the highly heat dissipating technology.
In conclusion, the double-acting device of the present invention is able to be used as a stand-alone device for cooling and accordingly has the following advantages.
First, the Non-Zero-Net-Mass-Flux jets generated by the double-acting device according to the present invention would make the surface of the heat body have an extremely high heat transfer efficiency, because the jets directly impinge to a heat surface and the fluid for cooling would be exchanged and the vortex is able to be enhanced.
Second, the geometrical structure of the double-acting device is quite simple. Additional devices, such as the pipes, blowers and some other moving parts, which are necessary in the conventional actuators, are not required in the double-acting device of the present invention. Therefore, the cooling system, which has the double-acting device provided by the present invention, exhibits a great flexibility in designs and applications, and would be very compact, spatially economical and cost-effective.
Finally, the double-acting device and the cooling method used the same provided by the present invention can be further applied in a closed system, and the heat body therein is able to be effectively cooled by a forced heat convection. No additional fluid outside the closed system is required.
Hence, the present invention not only has a novelty and a progressive nature, but also has an industry utility.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/849,613, filed Jul. 20, 2004, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10894613 | Jul 2004 | US |
Child | 12410598 | US |