JP2009262440A - Metal porous form with independent flow path - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a porous form which includes a flow path can inhibit the mixing of a fluid such as a coolant and also, a high design freedom of the flow path, and can be easily manufactured inexpensively. <P>SOLUTION: This metal porous form is structured of flat metal sheets or foils, with a plurality of holes running through longitudinally, which are laminated in the height direction. The holes communicate with each other longitudinally and the metal sheet or the foil are laminated without a crosswise gap. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a porous metal body used for a heat sink, a heat exchanger, a filter, a catalyst carrier and the like, and particularly relates to a porous metal body formed by laminating flat metal plates or foils.

  For heat exchangers, catalyst carriers, filters, etc., porous bodies having a large surface area are used in order to increase the reaction interface. In order to increase the surface area, for example, a void is provided in the structure such as metal or ceramic. In the case of a heat exchanger, a gas or liquid used for a refrigerant or the like is passed through the gap to improve heat exchange efficiency.

  In recent years, with the increase in the speed and downsizing of electronic devices, heat exchangers are required to have high performance and downsizing, for example, a metal porous heat sink having a continuous refrigerant microchannel. Is required.

  As a conventional porous body having a continuous flow path, there is one obtained by molding and sintering a powdery material at a high temperature. However, in this conventional example, since it is difficult to control the size, shape, direction, etc. of the voids, the shape of the voids tends to be irregular, and voids that do not contribute to the interface reaction or heat exchange may occur. It is difficult to make an independent flow path. Furthermore, since the powder to be used is fine, there are many narrow channels with a closed structure, and the pressure loss is large. Therefore, the fluid must be sent out at a high pressure. Further, when clogging occurs, the activation process is difficult, and there is also a problem that it is not suitable for a high-viscosity fluid.

  As a porous body that solves the problems of the conventional example, a plurality of metal plates that are corrugated or uneven by press molding, and adjacent metal by overlapping each other with the crests or troughs of the metal plates aligned with each other A metal porous body having a gap provided between the plates and having a through hole in the metal plate is disclosed (Patent Document 1).

  However, even in this conventional example, the through-holes serving as the vertical fluid passages are provided to make the flow paths uniform, but since the gaps are provided between the adjacent metal plates, the vertical flow paths are independent. There is a problem that the fluid is mixed instead of the above configuration. In addition, since there is a gap between the metal plates, heat transfer between the metal plates is poor and unsuitable for a heat sink. Furthermore, since pressing is necessary, the processing cost is high, and the corrugation and the like are attached to the metal plate, so the degree of freedom in setting the flow path shape is small.

Further, as other conventional examples, there are a porous body or a foam metal in which fibers are bonded by bonding or sintering instead of the powdery material. However, in any of these conventional examples, it is difficult to control the size, shape, direction, etc. of the voids, so that the shape of the voids is likely to be irregular, and voids that do not contribute to the interfacial reaction or heat exchange occur, and are independent. It is difficult to make a flow path.
JP-A-8-29088

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a porous body that includes a flow path that can prevent a fluid such as a refrigerant from being mixed, has a high degree of design freedom of the flow path, and can be manufactured inexpensively and easily.

  A first aspect of the present invention is a metal porous body formed by laminating a flat metal plate or foil having a plurality of holes penetrating in the vertical direction in the height direction, wherein the holes are It is a metal porous body characterized by being communicated with each other in the vertical direction, and the flat metal plates or foils are stacked without having a gap in the horizontal direction. That is, a porous metal body formed by stacking flat metal plates or foils is provided with a flow path penetrating in the vertical direction, but is not provided with a flow path in the lateral direction. “No gap in the horizontal direction” means that no gap serving as a fluid passage is formed between the stacked flat metal plates or foils.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a porous metal body characterized in that the communicating hole is non-linear.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a porous metal body characterized in that the stacked flat metal plates or foils are bonded to each other. Here, in “joining”, in addition to fixing the contact surfaces like brazing, welding, and diffusion bonding, the contact surfaces can be brought into contact with each other and then fixed with a fastener or a frame. Including.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a porous metal body characterized in that the laminated flat metal plate or foil includes a heat insulating material and / or an insulating material therebetween.

  According to the first aspect, the flow path penetrating in the vertical direction is provided, but there is no flow path in the lateral direction. Therefore, in the metal porous body, the fluid passing through the flow path is another flow path. Mixing with the fluid passing through is prevented. Therefore, it is easy to design a fluid passage path, and different fluids can be used depending on the position of the flow path. Moreover, the flow path according to the intended purpose can be set by adjusting the alignment at the time of stacking metal plates or foils, and adjusting the shape and size of the hole. Furthermore, since the metal plate or foil used for a metal porous body is flat form, the process of a hole and a metal plate is easy, and the manufacturing cost of a metal porous body can be reduced. Furthermore, by laminating metal plates or foils having different hole sizes, shapes, positions, etc., depending on the usage situation of the porous metal body, one flow path may be branched into a plurality of flow paths or a plurality of flow paths. The degree of freedom in designing the passage path of the fluid is also great in that the paths can be collected into one.

  According to the second aspect, since the channel has a curved portion, it is possible to generate a turbulent flow in the fluid and to promote reaction and heat exchange at the fluid interface. Further, by shifting the position of the stacked metal plates, the flow channel shape inside the metal porous body can be arbitrarily selected, so that the range of use of the metal porous body can be expanded.

  According to the 3rd aspect, since the laminated metal plate or foil is mutually contacting, it is excellent in the heat-transfer efficiency and electrical conductivity between metal plates or foil. In addition, since the metal plates or the foils constituting the metal porous body are fixed, it is possible to prevent changes in the shape of the metal porous body and the shape of the flow path.

  According to the 4th aspect, since a heat insulation effect and an insulation effect can be given between the metal plates or foil of a metal porous body, a utilization range can be expanded.

  Next, a porous metal body according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1A is a perspective view of a porous metal body according to an embodiment, FIG. 1B is a partial cross-sectional view of the porous metal body according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a metal according to another embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a metal plate constituting the porous metal body according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the metal porous bodies 1 and 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention have a configuration in which flat metal plates 2 and 12 having holes 3 and 13 penetrating in the vertical direction are stacked. As will be described later, the metal plates 2 and 12 are stacked and used so that the holes 3 and 13 communicate with each other.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the metal plates 2 and 12 are provided with a plurality of holes 3 and 13 penetrating in the vertical direction of the flat plate, and the holes 3 and 13 are regularly arranged on the flat plate. Yes. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 (a), 18 holes 13 are provided, that is, six vertical rows of elliptical holes 13 arranged at almost equal intervals are arranged in six rows at almost equal intervals in the horizontal direction. Has been. Here, the column is shifted for each column. On the other hand, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the number of the holes 3 is 48, that is, four rows of the rectangular holes 3 in which 12 holes are arranged at almost equal intervals are arranged in four rows at almost equal intervals in the vertical direction. Here, the said row | line | column has become the aspect shifted | deviated for every row.

  Although the material of the said metal plates 2 and 12 will not be specifically limited if it is metals, such as copper, iron, and stainless steel, For example, aluminum is preferable at the point which is lightweight and excellent in workability. In addition, if necessary, for example, metal plates 2 and 12 subjected to surface processing such as a pre-coated plate, a surface-treated plate or an alumite plate in order to improve corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance, or a metal plate carrying a catalyst. 2, 12 may be used.

  The dimensions of the metal plates 2 and 12 and the holes 3 and 13 are not particularly limited, and can be arbitrarily set according to the use situation. For example, the metal plate 2 of the embodiment shown in FIG. It is 7.5 mm, 4.5 mm long and 0.4 mm thick, and the 48 holes 3 are rectangular through holes each having a width of 0.2 mm and a length of 0.5 mm. These holes 3 are regularly arranged on the metal plate 2 with the horizontal direction being 0.4 mm apart and the vertical direction being 0.5 mm apart. The metal plates 2 shown in FIG. 3 are stacked by being shifted by 0.2 mm and brazed to form the porous metal body 1 having the cross section shown in FIG.

  Since the flat metal plates 2 and 12 are fixed to the other metal plates 2 and 12 adjacent to each other by brazing, the flow paths are independent from each other, and the fluid passing through the flow paths Mixing with fluid passing through other channels is prevented. Moreover, since the metal plates 2 and 12 are in contact with each other at their surface portions, the metal porous bodies 1 and 11 according to the embodiment are excellent in heat transfer efficiency and electrical conductivity.

  In the above embodiment, since a metal flat plate is used, the elliptical or rectangular hole portions 3 and 13 can be processed with high precision, uniformity, and simpleness by pressing, machining, etching, laser, or the like. Further, the metal plates 2 and 12 do not have to be corrugated by press working, and the holes 3 and 13 may be formed in the flat metal plates 2 and 12, so that the production of the metal porous bodies 1 and 11 is performed. Cost can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the porous metal bodies 1 and 11 according to the embodiment have a structure in which a plurality of metal plates 2 and 12 having the same configuration in dimensions and hole portions 3 and 13 are stacked. ing. That is, all the metal plates are processed so that the shape and size of the hole portions are the same, and the hole portions provided in each metal plate are arranged in the same quantity and in the same arrangement. In the metal porous bodies 1 and 11 according to the embodiment, six metal plates 12 are stacked in FIG. 1A and 20 metal plates 2 are stacked in FIG. 1B. Thus, since each metal plate 2 and 12 which comprises the metal porous bodies 1 and 11 has the same structure, when producing the metal porous bodies 1 and 11, the stacking order of the metal plates 2 and 12 is determined. It does not need to be considered and is excellent in production efficiency. Moreover, since it is not necessary to prepare the different metal plates 2 and 12 according to a flow path shape, the number of parts of the metal plates 2 and 12 can be reduced.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the metal plates 12 are alternately shifted left and right so that the concave portions and the convex portions are formed on the side surface portions of the metal porous body 11 corresponding to the respective metal plates 12. Are stacked in different ways. Therefore, in correspondence with the arrangement of the metal plate 12, the flow path formed by communicating the hole portions 13 has fine steps that are alternately shifted to the left and right while having step portions at intervals of the thickness of each metal plate 12. The shape has a large number of curved portions. Thereby, the metal porous body 11 having 18 independent flow paths is formed, so that the fluid is prevented from being mixed in the metal porous body 11. Moreover, since a turbulent flow can be generated in the step portion of the flow path, heat exchange and catalytic reaction at the interface between the flow path wall surface and the fluid can be promoted. Furthermore, since the 18 independent flow paths extend in a substantially vertical direction from the upper surface of the metal porous body, the passage distance of the fluid in the metal porous body 11 is short, for example, heat exchange of the metal porous body 11 When used as a heat sink component or heat sink, the heat exchange efficiency is excellent in that the passage time of the refrigerant is short and rapid cooling is possible.

  On the other hand, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, one concave portion is formed by a plurality of metal plates 2 in the side surface portion of the metal porous body 1, and another plurality of adjacent metal plates 2 are adjacent to each other. The metal plates 2 are stacked in such a manner that each metal plate 2 is obliquely shifted by 0.2 mm so that one convex portion is formed on the metal plate 2. Accordingly, the shape of the flow path formed by communicating the hole 3 corresponding to the arrangement of the metal plate 2 is a stepped shape having a bent portion corresponding to the shape of the concave portion and the convex portion.

  Thus, since the metal porous body 1 having 48 independent flow paths is formed, it is possible to prevent fluid from being mixed in the metal porous body 1. Further, since a turbulent flow can be generated in the step portion of the flow path, heat exchange and catalytic reaction at the interface between the flow path wall surface and the fluid are promoted. Further, the shape of the flow path is a stepped shape extending in an oblique direction with respect to the surface of the metal porous body 1, and the area where the fluid contacts the flow path wall surface as compared with the embodiment of FIG. Therefore, when the metal porous body 1 is used as, for example, a catalyst carrier, excellent reaction efficiency is obtained, and when it is used as a filter, excellent purification efficiency is obtained. Moreover, when using as a heat exchanger component or a heat sink, it can cool uniformly and the heat exchange efficiency improves.

  As described above, the metal porous bodies 1 and 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention can have any flow channel shape according to the use and use conditions by adjusting the positions of the metal plates 2 and 12 to be laminated. Can be selected. Moreover, since the metal porous bodies 1 and 11 are simply formed by laminating the flat metal plates 2 and 12, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Next, the usage method of the metal porous body of this invention is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 2, when the porous metal body 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is used as a cooling device or a heat sink for an electronic component, a plurality of radiating fins 4 are provided on the side wall of the metal plate 2 at a predetermined interval. Join and use. The heat of the fluid injected into the flow path of the metal porous body 1 is transmitted to each metal plate 2, and further, the heat is transmitted to each radiation fin 4 and released to the outside, whereby the fluid is cooled. At this time, by selecting the size and arrangement of the holes 3 of the metal plate 2 and aligning the metal plate 2, a flow path corresponding to the usage status of the cooling device and the electronic component is set in the metal porous body 1. it can. Therefore, the heat sink using the porous metal body 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has an advantage that high heat dissipation efficiency can be obtained in all situations.

  When the porous metal body of the present invention is used as a catalyst carrier, it is preferable to stack metal plates provided with a large number of small holes. At this time, the alignment of the metal plate is adjusted so that many steps are formed in the flow path. Since the specific surface area of the porous metal body can be increased by providing a large number of fluid flow paths and creating a number of steps in each flow path, the amount of catalyst supported on the inner wall of the flow path and the contact area between the fluid increase. Furthermore, since the turbulent flow can be generated in the fluid by the stepped portion, the reaction efficiency by the catalyst is improved.

  Similarly, when the metal porous body of the present invention is used as a heat exchanger component or filter, the metal plates provided with a large number of small holes are stacked so that a stepped portion is formed in the flow path. Perform alignment. Since the specific surface area of the porous metal body can be increased by providing a large number of fluid flow paths and creating step portions in the respective flow paths, the processing efficiency is improved.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the embodiment, the shapes of the holes 3 and 13 provided in the metal plates 2 and 12 are elliptical or rectangular. However, the shape is not particularly limited, and may be circular, trapezoidal, square, or the like. Further, the size of the holes 3 and 13 is not particularly limited as long as the fluid flows. The hole 3 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has a width of 0.2 mm and a length of 0.5 mm. However, when the fluid has a high viscosity, the pressure loss may be reduced by using a larger hole. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the thickness of the metal plate 2 is 0.4 mm. However, when it is desired to prevent turbulent fluid flow due to the stepped portion, the thickness of the metal plate is less than 0.4 mm. A thin metal foil may be used to smooth the wall surface of the flow path, and the thickness of the metal plate may be made thicker than 0.4 mm if it is desired to generate more turbulent flow due to the stepped portion. . Thus, the flow path adapted to the use situation can be set also by changing the plate thickness and the hole shape of the metal plate.

  In the embodiment, the shape of the flow path is a shape having a large number of fine curved portions extending in a substantially vertical direction from the upper surface of the metal porous body, or a step shape extending in an oblique direction. In addition, for example, the metal plate may be aligned so that the flow path formed of the communicating holes is spiral or has an irregular shape instead of the regular shape as described above. Thereby, for example, turbulent flow can be generated in the fluid passing through the flow path, and the efficiency of the catalytic reaction and heat exchange can be improved. Furthermore, you may change the regularity of a flow path from the middle as needed.

  Further, in the metal porous bodies 1 and 11 of the above-described embodiment, a predetermined flow is obtained by performing a predetermined alignment when stacking the metal plates 2 and 12 having the same dimensions and shapes and arrangement of the holes 3 and 13. Although the path was formed, instead of stacking metal plates whose holes are shifted by a predetermined amount in advance, it is possible to form a desired channel without performing alignment work of the metal plates. Good. In addition, by stacking metal plates with different hole sizes, shapes, positions, etc. as appropriate, one flow path may be branched into a plurality from the middle, or a plurality of flow paths may be gathered into one from the middle. Can do.

  In the above embodiment, the metal plates 2 and 12 are fixed by brazing, but instead, they may be fixed by welding or diffusion bonding. Further, the metal plate may be fixed with a fastener without being fixed, or may be fixed by being incorporated into a frame such as a frame. When a fastener or a frame is used, each metal plate can be separated from the porous metal body. Therefore, when the porous metal body is used for a filter or the like, clogging can be easily eliminated and the metal plate can be reused.

  In the embodiment, the metal plates 2 and 12 are directly joined to the adjacent metal plates. However, if it is desired to prevent heat from being transmitted between the metal plates, a heat insulating material may be sandwiched between the metal plates. When it is desired to insulate between the metal plates, an insulating material may be sandwiched between the metal plates.

  In the above embodiment, the flow paths formed in the metal porous body are independent from each other. However, when it is desired to communicate between the flow paths in a lateral direction at a predetermined position, a concave groove that connects the holes is provided. Alternatively, metal plates provided with through-holes at predetermined sites may be stacked at predetermined positions.

  The metal porous body according to the present invention has an independent flow path, and its shape can be set with a high degree of freedom. Therefore, the metal porous body has utility value in fields such as a heat sink, a heat exchanger, a filter, and a catalyst carrier. high.

(A) is a perspective view of a porous metal body according to an embodiment, and (b) is a partial cross-sectional view of the porous metal according to the embodiment. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the metal porous body concerning other embodiments. It is a top view of the metal plate which comprises the metal porous body which concerns on the example of embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,11 Metal porous body 2,12 Metal plate 3,13 Hole part 4 Radiation fin

Claims (4)

A flat metal plate or foil having a plurality of holes penetrating in the vertical direction is a porous metal body formed by laminating in the height direction,
The holes communicate with each other in the longitudinal direction;
The porous metal body, wherein the flat metal plates or foils are stacked without having a gap in the horizontal direction.   The porous metal body according to claim 1, wherein the communicating hole is non-linear.   The metal porous body according to claim 1, wherein the laminated flat metal plates or foils are bonded to each other.   The porous metal body according to claim 1, wherein the laminated flat metal plate or foil includes a heat insulating material and / or an insulating material therebetween.

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