Modular heat exchanger

Claim 2

A modular heat exchanger comprising: a chassis having a mounting surface; plural modules, each of said modules being removably attachable to said mounting surface and comprising, a thermally conductive plate for carrying electronic components, and a heat transfer duct attached to each of two opposing edges of said plate for conveying a coolant along an edge of said plate, each said duct being connected so that coolant does not pass through more than one said duct, said plate and each said heat transfer duct forming an uninterrupted thermal path for conducting heat from the electronic components to the coolant; and plural fins in said duct for facilitating conduction of heat from said duct to the coolant, said fins being in thermal communication with said duct.

Claim 3

The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein each said duct comprises two coolant conduits separated by an extension of said plate through said duct.

Claim 4

The heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein said fins are affixed to said extension.

Claim 5

The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein said duct has an inlet for the coolant that does not overlie said chassis.

Claim 6

The heat exchanger of claim 1 further comprising a coolant supply pipe with an outlet for each said duct.

Claim 7

The heat exchanger of claim 5 further comprising openable blank-off plates over each said pipe outlet that are opened by said modules and that stop the coolant from flowing therethrough when closed.

Claim 8

The heat exchanger of claim 1 further comprising a coolant distribution cover on said plural modules overlying each said duct for effecting movement of the coolant through each said duct.

Claim 9

The heat exchanger of claim 7 wherein said cover comprises a pump for the coolant.

Claim 10

The heat exchanger of claim 7 wherein said cover comprises openable blank,off plates that are opened by said modules and that stop the coolant from flowing therethrough when closed.

Claim 11

A module for carrying electronic components and for conducting heat therefrom, said module being carried on a chassis for a heat exchanger that includes a system for conveying a coolant to said module to conduct heat therefrom, said module comprising: a thermally conductive plate for carrying the electronic components, said plate having two opposing edges; a heat transfer duct at each of said edges, each said heat transfer duct having openings for conveying a heat transfer fluid therethrough along one of said edges to conduct heat from said plate, said plate and said heat transfer duct being integrally formed to thereby create an uninterrupted thermal path for conducting heat away from electronic components carried by said plate to interior surfaces of each said heat transfer duct, wherein at least one said duct comprises two coolant conduits separated by an extension of said plate through said duct.

Claim 12

A module for carrying electronic components and for conducting heat therefrom, said module being carried on a chassis for a heat exchanger that includes a system for conveying a coolant to said module to conduct heat therefrom, said module comprising: a thermally conductive plate for carrying the electronic components, said plate having two opposing edges; a heat transfer duct at each of said edges, each said heat transfer duct having openings for conveying a heat transfer fluid therethrough along one of said edges to conduct heat from said plate, said plate and said heat transfer duct being integrally formed to thereby create an uninterrupted thermal path for conducting heat away from electronic components carried by said plate to interior surfaces of each said heat transfer duct, wherein at least one said duct comprises two coolant conduits separated by an extension of said plate through said duct.

Claim 13

The module of claim 10 further comprising plural fins affixed to said extension for facilitating conduction of heat from said duct to the coolant.

Claim 14

A heat exchanger for electronic components comprising a coolant distributor, a coolant distributor cover and plural modules removably mounted on a chassis, each of said modules having its own coolant ducts attached to opposing edges thereof that are in communication with said coolant distributor cover that overlies said plural modules such that the coolant passing through any one duct does not pass through any of the other ducts.

Claim 15

A heat exchanger for electronic components comprising a coolant distributor, a coolant distributor cover and plural modules removably mounted on a chassis, each of said modules having its own coolant ducts attached to opposing edges thereof that are in communication with said coolant distributor cover that overlies said plural modules such that the coolant passing through any one duct does not pass through any of the other ducts.

Claim 16

The heat exchanger of claim 12 further comprising means for tailoring the cooling capability of said coolant ducts to the heat that is to be conducted from the electronic components.

Claim 17

The heat exchanger of claim 12 wherein said chassis comprises receptacles for holding said modules, and wherein said modules have widths so that the number of modules per receptacle may be selectively varied.

Claim 18

The heat exchanger of claim 14 wherein the widths of selected ones of said modules is twice the receptacle size so that one of said modules may be held in two of said receptacles.

Claim 21

The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of affixing the fins to the extension of the core.

Claim 22

The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of providing each module with two ducts, one on each of two opposing edges of the core.

Claim 23

The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of attaching a coolant supply pipe with an openable outlet for each duct.

Claim 24

The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of opening the outlet when the module is attached to the chassis.

Claim 25

The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of attaching a coolant distribution cover on the modules overlying each the duct for effecting movement of the coolant through the duct.