Abstract
A three-dimensional analysis of the heat and mass transfer phenomena inside a vapor chamber is essential for correctly understanding its thermal performance limitations and structural optimization. This paper presents a complete three-dimensional numerical analysis and comparative study of two different miniature vapor chambers designs with identical external geometry and dimensions but different internal structures: one having a wicked pillar array and the other one without the wicked pillars array. The distribution of the wicked pillar array in the vapor core was aligned. Detailed comparative experimental results are also reported, which were performed to verify the calculations from the numerical simulations. It was found that the numerical and experimental results agree quite well, especially at high heat flux values. It is also observed that the vapor chamber with wicked pillars had a better thermal performance than the conventional design, with a 5% decrease in terms of total thermal resistance due to the added extra channels that allow a better flow of the working fluid to the evaporator surface. An insight into how improving the thermal performance of a vapor chamber is provided through the detailed three-dimensional numerical simulations.
Highlights
The recent developments in information technology demand large scale integration of electronic circuits, as well as better performance of microelectronic devices
The numerical results from the numerical model for the vapor chamber with and without wicked pillar array were compared with computed results for a solid copper plate with the same dimensions, as well as with the actual experimental results from a fabricated vapor chamber
In order to evaluate the thermal performance of the vapor chamber of interest, a comparative study was first performed with computed results for a solid copper plate which has the same size as the vapor chamber
Summary
The recent developments in information technology demand large scale integration of electronic circuits, as well as better performance of microelectronic devices. Koito et al [8] designed a vapor chamber with a large wicked pillar placed at its center and carried out numerical investigations of heat and fluid flow with an axial-symmetric model. It is expected that the miniature vapor chamber design with multiple wicked pillars sandwiched between the main wick structures inside the vacuum container can improve the thermal performance of a vapor chamber in principle These wicked pillars play two important roles: as structural support and as water reservoir with more number of channels that allow a better flow of the working fluid to the evaporator surface. Detailed numerical results for the three-dimensional velocity, pressure, and temperature distributions inside the vapor chambers are presented. The numerical simulations were compared against the experimental data
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