Cooling system having thermally induced circulation

Abstract

Abstract A PLURALITY OF MODULAR PACKAGED HEAT GENERATING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ARE COOLED SO AS TO REMAIN WITHIN PREDETERMINED OPERATING TEMPERATURE LIMITS. EACH OF THE MODULAR UNITS CONTAINS A CHAMBER HAVING A BOTTOM INLET AND TOP OUTLET. THE OUTLET AT THE TOP OF EACH MODULE IS CONNECTED TO AN INLET OF A RESERVOIR OF COOLING LIQUID ABOVE THE LIQUID LEVEL AND BELOW A CONDENSING UNIT. THE INLET OF EACH MODULAR UNIT IS CONNECTED TO THE RESERVOIR BELOW THE LIQUID LEVEL. A SUBCOOLER IS PROVIDED WITHIN THE LIQUID IN THE RESERVOIR FOR MAINTAINING THE COOLANT LIQUID BELOW A DESIRED TEMPERATURE. AS HEAT IS GENERATED AT THE COMPONENTS, NUCLEATE BOILING TAKES PLACE WHEREIN THE VAPOR BUBBLES RISE AND SET UP A TWO-PHASE FLOW WITHIN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE MODULE AND THE RESERVOIR. THE VAPOR, UPON ENTERING THE RESERVOIR, RISES AND CONDENSES ON THE CONDENSER WHILE THE FLUID FALLS INTO THE LIQUID WITHIN THE CONTAINER. THIS TWO-PHASE FLOW SETS UP A PUMPING ACTION WHICH INDUCES THE NATURAL CIRCULATION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. THE SYSEM IS SELF-REGULATING IN THAT AS THE HEAT GENERATION INCREASES, THE NUCLEATE BOILING INCREASES, THUS INCREASING THE PUMPING ACTION TO THEREBY INCREASE THE COOLING.

Inventors

• 👤 Richard C Chu
• 👤 Un-Pah Hwang

Bibliographic Details