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US3654528A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cooling scheme for a high-current semiconductor device employing electromagnetically-pumped liquid metal for heat and current transfer
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1970-08-03
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1990-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A rectifier assembly comprises (a) a wafer primarily of semiconductor material having a pair of faces at opposite sides thereof and (b) a pair of liquid-metal cooling systems respectively located at opposite sides of the wafer. Each cooling system comprises a heat sink adjacent the wafer and a fluid circuit comprising a first passage extending through the heat sink and a second passage extending along a face of the wafer and feeding the first passage. Each cooling system further comprises, electrically in series with the wafer, an electromagnetic pump that is effective when energized by current through the rectifier assembly to force liquid metal coolant to flow around said fluid circuit, extracting heat from said wafer while flowing through said second passage and releasing heat to said heat sink when flowing through said first passage.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip Barkan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:32
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K44/00; H02K44/02; H02K44/04; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/40; H10W40/47; H10W40/60; H10W40/611; H10W72/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
307 words
A solid state current-controlling assembly comprising: a. a disk-like body at least partially of semiconductor material having at least one internal rectifying junction and having a pair of faces at opposite sides thereof, b. a heat sink comprising a generally tubular portion of metal of high thermal conductivity having a bore across which said disk-like body is disposed, c. said heat sink further comprising a metal core disposed within said bore and having a periphery spaced from said bore along at least a portion of said core periphery to define a first passageway between said bore and said core periphery extending longitudinally of said core, d. said core having a face at one longitudinal end, at least a portion of which is spaced from said disk-like body to provide a second passageway between said core face and a face of said disk-like body, e. means for interconnecting said first and second passageways and providing a fluid circuit in which said first and second passageways are connected in series, f. liquid metal filling said fluid circuit and serving to transfer electric current between said disk-like body and said heat sink, g. electromagnetic pumping means in said fluid circuit for forcing liquid metal around said fluid circuit in a direction to produce flow successively through said second passageway, said first passageway, said pumping means, and then back to said second passageway, thereby causing heat to be transferred from said disk-like body to said liquid metal and thereafter from said liquid metal to said heat sink, h. said electromagnetic pumping means comprising a pair of spaced-apart electrodes on opposite sides of liquid metal in said fluid circuit between which cUrrent flows across said liquid metal when said pumping means is in operation, i. and means for electrically connecting said spaced-apart electrodes in series circuit with said body of semiconductor material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
307 words
A solid state current-controlling assembly comprising: a. a disk-like body at least partially of semiconductor material having at least one internal rectifying junction and having a pair of faces at opposite sides thereof, b. a heat sink comprising a generally tubular portion of metal of high thermal conductivity having a bore across which said disk-like body is disposed, c. said heat sink further comprising a metal core disposed within said bore and having a periphery spaced from said bore along at least a portion of said core periphery to define a first passageway between said bore and said core periphery extending longitudinally of said core, d. said core having a face at one longitudinal end, at least a portion of which is spaced from said disk-like body to provide a second passageway between said core face and a face of said disk-like body, e. means for interconnecting said first and second passageways and providing a fluid circuit in which said first and second passageways are connected in series, f. liquid metal filling said fluid circuit and serving to transfer electric current between said disk-like body and said heat sink, g. electromagnetic pumping means in said fluid circuit for forcing liquid metal around said fluid circuit in a direction to produce flow successively through said second passageway, said first passageway, said pumping means, and then back to said second passageway, thereby causing heat to be transferred from said disk-like body to said liquid metal and thereafter from said liquid metal to said heat sink, h. said electromagnetic pumping means comprising a pair of spaced-apart electrodes on opposite sides of liquid metal in said fluid circuit between which cUrrent flows across said liquid metal when said pumping means is in operation, i. and means for electrically connecting said spaced-apart electrodes in series circuit with said body of semiconductor material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
115 words
A current-controlling assembly as defined in claim 1 in which: a. said heat sink, said fluid circuit, said liquid metal, and said electromagnetic means constitute a first cooling system disposed at one side of said disk-like body for producing a cooling flow of liquid metal along one face of said disk-like body, b. there is provided a second cooling system having substantially the same construction as defined in claim 1 for said first cooling system, and c. said second cooling system is located at the opposite side of said disk-like body from said first cooling system and is operable to provide a cooling flow of liquid metal along the other face of said disk-like body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
The current-controlling assembly of claim 1 in which: a. said pumping means comprises a channel extending generally diametrically of said core at a location axially spaced from said core face, b. means is provided to define an entrance to said channel at one end of the channel for liquid metal that has passed through said first passageway, c. a third passageway is provided at the opposite end of said channel for conducting liquid metal through said core to said second passageway, and d. means is provided for blocking the flow of liquid metal from said channel into said first passageway except via said third passageway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The assembly of claim 3 in combination with a magnet having spaced-apart pole pieces on opposite sides of said channel for directing magnetic flux across said channel transversely of the electric current flowing through the liquid metal therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
243 words
A solid-state current-controlling assembly comprising: a. a disk-like body at least partially of semiconductor material having at least one internal rectifying junction and having a pair of faces at opposite sides thereof, b. a heat sink primarily of highly conductive metal having a portion closely adjacent said disk-like body and provided with a first passageway through which liquid may pass and release heat to said metal, c. means defining a second passageway extending along one face of said disk-like body and having an outlet communicating with said first passageway, d. means providing a fluid circuit in which said first and second passageways are connected in series, e. liquid metal filling said fluid circuit and serving to transfer electric current between said disk-like body and said heat sink, f. electromagnetic pumping means in said fluid circuit for forcing liquid metal around said fluid circuit in a direction to produce flow successively through said second passageway, said first passageway, said pumping means, and then back to said second passageway, thereby causing heat to be transferred from said disk-like body to said liquid metal and thereafter from said liquid metal to said heat sink, g. said electromagnetic pumping means comprising a pair of spaced-apart electrodes on opposite sides of liquid metal in said fluid circuit between which current flows across said liquid metal when said pumping means is in operation, and h. means for electrically connecting said electrodes in series with said body of semiconductor material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
243 words
A solid-state current-controlling assembly comprising: a. a disk-like body at least partially of semiconductor material having at least one internal rectifying junction and having a pair of faces at opposite sides thereof, b. a heat sink primarily of highly conductive metal having a portion closely adjacent said disk-like body and provided with a first passageway through which liquid may pass and release heat to said metal, c. means defining a second passageway extending along one face of said disk-like body and having an outlet communicating with said first passageway, d. means providing a fluid circuit in which said first and second passageways are connected in series, e. liquid metal filling said fluid circuit and serving to transfer electric current between said disk-like body and said heat sink, f. electromagnetic pumping means in said fluid circuit for forcing liquid metal around said fluid circuit in a direction to produce flow successively through said second passageway, said first passageway, said pumping means, and then back to said second passageway, thereby causing heat to be transferred from said disk-like body to said liquid metal and thereafter from said liquid metal to said heat sink, g. said electromagnetic pumping means comprising a pair of spaced-apart electrodes on opposite sides of liquid metal in said fluid circuit between which current flows across said liquid metal when said pumping means is in operation, and h. means for electrically connecting said electrodes in series with said body of semiconductor material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
116 words
A current-controlling assembly as defined in claim 5 in which: a. said heat sink, said fluid circuit, said liquid metal and said electromagnetic pumping means constitute a first cooling system disposed at one side of said disk-like body for producing a cooling flow of liquid metal along one face of said disk-like body, b. there is provided a second cooling system having substantially the same construction as defined in claim 5 for said first cooling system, and c. said second cooling system is located at the opposite side of said disk-like body from said first cooling system and is operable to provide A cooling flow of liquid metal along the other face of said disk-like body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A current-controlling assembly as defined in claim 5 in which said second passageway is of such shape that liquid metal flowing therethrough flows along the face of said disk-like body portion over a major portion of the face area through which current passes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A current-controlling assembly as defined in claim 5 in which electrical current passing through said assembly follows a path extending in series through said semiconductor body and the liquid metal in said second passageway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
An assembly as defined in claim 5 in which electric current passing through said assembly follows a path extending in series through said semiconductor body and the liquid metal in said second passageway, and the spaced-apart electrode of said electromagnetic pumping means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
An assembly as defined in claim 5 in which said second passageway conducts liquid metal radially outwardly from a location centrally of said disk-like body to a location near the outer periphery of the area of said disk-like body through which electrical current passes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The current-controlling assembly of claim 10 in which said second passageway has a depth, measured axially of said disk-like body, that decreases from said central location toward said outer peripheral location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
A current-controlling assembly as defined in claim 5 in which said fluid circuit comprises a third passageway extending from said pumping means to said second passageway, the outlet of said third passageway being located centrally of said disk-like body, the outlet of said second passageway extending along a generally circular path located near the outer periphery of the area of said disk-like body through which electric current passes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A current-controlling assembly as defined in claim 5 in which said liquid metal in said second passageway passes along the face of said disk-like body within a few mils of the semiconductor material in said disk-like body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
A current-controlling assembly as defined in claim 5 in which said pumping means comprises a magnet for providing a magnetic field having its flux lines extending across the portion of said fluid circuit traversed by electric current passing between said spaced-apart electrodes in a direction transverse to the current path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
A current-controlling assembly as defined in claim 5 in which said pumping means comprises an electromagnet for providing a magnetic field having its flux lines extending across the portion of said fluid circuit traversed by electric current passing between said spaced-apart electrodes in a direction transverse to the current path, said electromagnet comprising a coil electrically connected in series with said body of semiconductor material for developing said magnetic field.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A current-controlling assembly as defined in claim 6 in combination with means for substantially equalizing the force developed on opposite sides of said disk-like body by the pumping means of said two cooling systems.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
A current-controlling assembly as defined in claim 16 in which said equalizing means comprises force-transmitting structure extending between said two cooling systems for transmitting force developed at one side of said disk-like body to the liquid metal in the cooling system at the other side of said disk-like body in a direction to increase the pressure of the liquid in the cooling system at said other side in response to a pressure increase at said one side.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
88 words
The current-controlling assembly of claim 16 in which said equalizing means comprises: a. means for mounting at least a portion of each of said heat sinks for movement relative to said disk-like body in such a manner that an increase of pressure in one cooling system tends to increase the volume of said one cooling system, b. and force-transmitting means for mechanically interconnecting said heat sinks portions so that an increase in the volume of one cooling system tends to dEcrease the volume of the other cooling system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
The current-controlling assembly of claim 1 in which: a. said core is effectively fixed to said disk-like body, thereby maintaining the dimensions of said second passageway substantially constant despite pressure changes therein, and b. said tubular heat sink portion is mounted for movement relative to said disk-like body to allow the volume of said fluid circuit to change to accommodate thermally induced expansion and contraction of said liquid metal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
The current-controlling assembly of claim 1 in which: a. said core is effectively fixed to said disk-like body portion, and b. reinforcing structure is provided between said core face portion and said disk-like body in the current-carrying region of said disk-like body for transmitting mechanical force between said disk-like body and said core, thereby providing mechanical back-up for said disk-like body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The current-controlling assembly of claim 20 in which said reinforcing structure comprises projections having edges against which said disk-like body is adapted to bear to receive mechanical back-up.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
97 words
The current-controlling assembly of claim 5 in which: a. said second passageway extends between said disk-like body and the portion of said heat sink closely adjacent said disk-like body, b. said closely adjacent portion of said heat sink is effectively fixed to said disk-like body, thereby maintaining the dimensions of said second passageway substantially constant despite pressure changes therein, c. said heat sink has another portion that is mounted for movement relative to said disk-like body to allow the volume of said fluid circuit to change to accommodate thermally induced expansion and contraction of said liquid metal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
The assembly of claim 22 in which reinforcing structure is provided extending across said second passageway in the current-carrying region of said disk-like body for transmitting mechanical force between disk-like body and said heat sink portion, thereby providing mechanical back-up for said disk-like body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |