Embedded microfluidic distribution apparatus for passively cooling optoelectronic devices

A system for cooling an optoelectronic device, comprising:

• a microfluidic distribution apparatus positioned in an embedded arrangement with the optoelectronic device, the microfluidic distribution apparatus a first cooling loop and a second cooling loop, each of the first and second cooling loops comprising:
• an evaporator section having a first plurality of micro-structures defined therein;
• an adiabatic section having a plurality of feeder micro-structures and a plurality of return micro-structures defined therein;
• and
• a condenser section having a second plurality of micro-structures defined therein,
• the first plurality of micro-structures, the second plurality of micro-structures, the plurality of feeder micro-structures and the plurality of return micro-structures together forming a closed loop fluid distribution circuit;
• an evaporator inlet header section positioned between and in fluid communication with the one or more return micro-structures in the adiabatic section and the one or more micro-structures in the evaporator section, the evaporator inlet header section including a plurality of flow-directing structures;
• the microfluidic distribution apparatus configured to distribute a working fluid capable of phase change to passively remove heat from the optoelectronic device by:
• distributing the working fluid in a liquid state through the first plurality of micro-structures in the evaporator section, wherein the working fluid converts to a two-phase liquid-vapor state and removes heat generated by the optoelectronic device via an evaporation process;
• and
• distributing the working fluid in the two-phase liquid-vapor state through the plurality of feeder micro-structures in the adiabatic section to the second plurality of micro-structures in the condenser section where heat is passively dissipated to air in natural convection via a condensation process, wherein the working fluid converts from the two-phase liquid-vapor state back to the liquid state for recirculation via the plurality of return micro-structures in the adiabatic section back to the evaporator section;
• the plurality of flow directing structures configured to facilitate a substantially uniform flow of the working fluid in the liquid state from the one or more return micro-structures in the adiabatic section into the one or more micro-structures of the evaporator section and to control backflow of the working fluid from the evaporator section to the one or more return micro-structures in the adiabatic section, and
• wherein the first cooling loop and the second cooling loop are adjacently joined in a side-by-side configuration separated by a wall structure, such that the evaporator section and the plurality of feeder micro-structures of the adiabatic section in the first cooling loop are adjacent to the evaporator section and the plurality of feeder micro-structures of the adiabatic section in the second cooling loop.