System and method for thermal management using distributed synthetic jet actuators

Abstract

One embodiment of the device comprises a device for thermal management. More particularly, one embodiment comprises a synthetic jet actuator ( 60 ) and a tube ( 61 ). The synthetic jet actuator ( 60 ), though not required, typically comprises a housing ( 47 ) defining an internal chamber ( 45 ) and having an orifice ( 46 ) in a wall ( 44 ) of the housing ( 47 ). The synthetic jet actuator ( 60 ) typically also comprises a flexible diaphragm ( 42 ) forming a portion of the housing ( 47 ). The tube ( 61 ) of this exemplary embodiment typically comprises a proximal end ( 64 ) and a distal end ( 65 ), the proximal end ( 64 ) being positioned adjacent to the synthetic jet actuator ( 60 ). In this embodiment, operation of the synthetic jet actuator ( 60 ) causes a synthetic jet stream ( 52 ) to form at the distal end ( 65 ) of the tube ( 61 ).

1 . A device for thermal management comprising: 
 a housing defining an internal chamber and having an orifice in a wall of said housing; and    a volume changing device adjacent to said housing, said volume changing device for modifying a volume of said internal chamber;    wherein, when said volume changing device decreases the volume of said internal chamber, fluid within the internal chamber is expelled from the internal chamber through said orifice into an ambient fluid outside the housing;    wherein, when said volume changing device increases the volume of said internal chamber, ambient fluid outside the housing is drawn through said orifice into the internal chamber; and    wherein the fluid being expelled from the internal chamber and the ambient fluid being drawn into the internal chamber provide a cooling effect.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system for controlling an operation of said volume changing device, wherein said operation of said volume changing device draws a gas from outside the housing into said internal chamber and forces a gas out of said internal chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said volume changing device comprises a flexible diaphragm forming a portion of said housing.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said volume changing device further comprises a piezoelectric actuator adhered to said flexible diaphragm.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said flexible diaphragm comprises an elastomer material.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said flexible diaphragm comprises a polymer material.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tube connected to an external surface of said wall of said housing, said tube enclosing at least a portion of said orifice; 
 wherein said tube comprises an attachment end and an open end, said attachment end connected to said housing, and wherein an operation of said volume changing device generates a synthetic jet stream at said open end of said tube.    
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said tube generates said synthetic jet stream at a location remote from said housing.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said tube is sized such that a Helmholtz-type resonance is created in an interior of said tube due to the operation of said volume changing device.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a heat sink having fins, wherein said open end of said tube is positioned adjacent to said heat sink such that said synthetic jet stream passes between adjacent ones of the fins.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a fan, said fan positioned at one end of said heat sink such that said synthetic jet stream assists said fan by reducing a flow bypass due to a pressure drop of the fins.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said internal chamber comprises: 
 a first sub-chamber;    a second sub-chamber adjacent to said first sub-chamber; and    a third sub-chamber adjacent to said second sub-chamber.    
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said first sub-chamber and said second sub-chamber are formed from a first common wall, said first common wall contained within said internal chamber of said housing, and said first common wall comprising a first flexible diaphragm.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said second sub-chamber and said third sub-chamber are formed from a second common wall, said second common wall contained within said internal chamber of said housing, and said second common wall comprising a second flexible diaphragm.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said orifice further comprises at least one opening in each of said sub-chambers.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a pipe adjacent to each said at least one opening, said each pipe enclosing at least a portion of said each opening.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a first piezoelectric element attached to said first flexible diaphragm; and    a second piezoelectric element attached to said second flexible diaphragm.    
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said first and second flexible diaphragms comprise an elastomer material.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said first and second flexible diaphragms comprise a polymer material.  
   
   
       20 . A device for cooling comprising: 
 a synthetic jet actuator; and    a channel having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end adjacent to said synthetic jet actuator;    wherein said synthetic jet actuator causes a first synthetic jet stream of fluid to flow substantially in a first direction through said channel;    wherein said synthetic jet actuator causes a second synthetic jet stream of fluid to flow substantially in a second direction through said channel, the second direction being opposite of the first direction; and    wherein the first and second synthetic jet streams provide a cooling effect.    
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein said first synthetic jet stream forms at said distal end of said channel.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein said second synthetic jet stream forms at said proximal end of said channel.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 20 , further comprising a control system for controlling an operation of said synthetic jet actuator.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein said synthetic jet actuator comprises: 
 a housing defining an internal chamber and having an orifice in a wall of said housing;    a volume changing means adjacent to said housing.    
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein said volume changing means comprises a flexible diaphragm forming a portion of said housing.  
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein said volume changing means further comprises a piezoelectric actuator adhered to said flexible diaphragm.  
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said flexible diaphragm comprises an elastomer material.  
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said flexible diaphragm comprises a polymer material.  
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said channel is sized such that a Helmholtz-type resonance is created in an interior of said channel due to the operation of said volume changing means.  
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein said channel comprises a tube.  
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 29 , further comprising a heat sink having fins, wherein said distal end of said channel is positioned adjacent to said heat sink such that said first synthetic jet stream passes between adjacent ones of said fins.  
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 31 , further comprising a fan, said fan positioned at one end of said heat sink such that said first synthetic jet stream assists said fan by reducing flow bypass due to pressure drop of said fins.  
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein said channel comprises a portion of a heat sink.  
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein said synthetic jet actuator comprises a first synthetic jet actuator, said device further comprising: 
 a second synthetic jet actuator adjacent to said first synthetic jet actuator and;    a third synthetic jet actuator adjacent to said second synthetic jet actuator.    
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein said synthetic jet actuators are formed by a common housing, and further wherein said first synthetic jet actuator and said second synthetic jet actuator are formed from a first common wall, and said second synthetic jet actuator and said third synthetic jet actuator are formed from a second common wall.  
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein said channel comprises a first tube, said device further comprising: 
 a second tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end adjacent to said second synthetic jet actuator; and    a third tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end adjacent to said third synthetic jet actuator.    
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein said first common wall comprises a first flexible diaphragm, and said second common wall comprises a second flexible diaphragm.  
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 37 , further comprising: 
 a first piezoelectric element attached to said first flexible diaphragm; and    a second piezoelectric element attached to said second flexible diaphragm.    
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein said first and second flexible diaphragms comprise an elastomer material.  
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein said first and second flexible diaphragms comprise a polymer material.