Lightweight carbon foam structure for phase change material heat sinks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12181225-B2
Application number	US-202318308923-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2023
Priority date	May 24, 2021
Publication date	Dec 31, 2024
Grant date	Dec 31, 2024

Abstract

A phase change material heat sink including: a carbon graphite matrix having one or more removed portions; and an expanded graphite located within the one or more removed portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a phase change material (PCM) heat sink, the method comprising:
obtaining a carbon graphite matrix;
after obtaining the carbon graphite matrix, machining the graphite matrix to remove one or more portions therefrom to form one or more removed portions such that the carbon graphite matrix is a modified carbon graphite matrix having a porosity between 50% and 95%; and
inserting an expanded graphite into the one or more removed portion of the modified carbon graphite matrix,
wherein the expanded graphite fills a selected percentage of the one or more removed portions; and
wherein the selected percentage is less than or equal to 10 percent; and
inserting a PCM into the one or more removed portions.

2. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein machining includes machining one or more holes in the carbon graphite matrix to form the one or more removed portions.

3. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein machining includes machining one or more channels in the carbon graphite matrix to form the one or more removed portions.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
inserting the modified carbon graphite matrix and the expanded graphite into a sealed chamber.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
inserting a phase change material into the modified carbon graphite matrix and the expanded graphite located within the sealed chamber.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
inserting a phase change material into the modified carbon graphite matrix simultaneously with the expanded graphite.

7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
inserting a phase change material into the modified carbon graphite matrix simultaneously with the expanded graphite via a vacuum.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
inserting a phase change material into the modified carbon graphite matrix and the expanded graphite via a vacuum.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Quinn Gregory John
• Stieber Jesse Joseph
• Thomas Allison Bender
• Rampone Joseph C
• Thapa Sagar

Classifications

• B23P15/26

  heat exchangers {or the like (making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02)} · CPC title

• Y02E60/14

  Thermal energy storage · CPC title

• F28F21/02

  of carbon, e.g. graphite · CPC title

• F28D20/023 Primary

  the latent heat storage material being enclosed in granular particles or dispersed in a porous, fibrous or cellular structure · CPC title

• H05K7/2029 Primary

  using a liquid coolant with phase change in electronic enclosures (in cabinets of standardized dimensions H05K7/20536; in server cabinets H05K7/20709; in vehicle electronic casings H05K7/20845; in power control electronics H05K7/2089; in displays H05K7/20954) · CPC title