US 2009/0266516 A1 · Electrospray Evaporative Cooling (ESC)

Abstract

Electrospray evaporative cooling (ESC). Means for effectuating thermal management using electrospray cooling are presented herein. An ESC may be implemented having one or more nozzles situated to spray droplets of a fluid towards a target. Because the fluid may be electrolytic, an electric field may be established between the one or more nozzles and the target can be operative to govern the direction, rate, etc. of the electrospraying between the one or more nozzles and the target. An additional shielding/field enhancement electrode may also be implemented between the one or more nozzles and the target. A droplet movement mechanism may be employed to transport droplets received at a first location of the target so that evaporation thereof may occur relatively more at a second location of the target. An ESC device may be implemented to effectuate thermal management of any of a variety of types of electronic devices.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle, energized with a first voltage, that is operative to emit droplets of a liquid;
and
a thermal exchange surface, energized with a second voltage, implemented to receive at least some of the droplets emitted from the nozzle;
and wherein:
at least one operational parameter corresponding to the emission of the droplets from the nozzle is based on a voltage difference between the first voltage and the second voltage;
and
evaporation of droplets from the thermal exchange surface removes heat there from.

4 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of nozzles, energized with a first voltage, such that at least some of the plurality of nozzles are operative to emit droplets of a liquid;
a thermal exchange surface, energized with a second voltage, implemented to receive at least some of the droplets emitted from the plurality of nozzles;
and
an electronic circuitry that is coupled to the thermal exchange surface;
and wherein:
at least one operational parameter corresponding to the emission of the droplets from the plurality of nozzles is based on a voltage difference between the first voltage and the second voltage;
the thermal exchange surface includes a droplet movement mechanism to transport droplets received at a first location of the thermal exchange surface to a second location of the thermal exchange surface;
and
heat is removed from the electronic circuitry via evaporation of the droplets from the thermal exchange surface.

6 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of nozzles, energized with a first voltage, such that at least some of the plurality of nozzles are operative to emit droplets of a liquid;
a thermal exchange surface, energized with a second voltage, implemented to receive at least some of the droplets emitted from the plurality of nozzles;
a field enhancement electrode, energized with a third voltage and implemented between the plurality of nozzles and the thermal exchange surface, that is operative to modify an electric field between the plurality of nozzles and the thermal exchange surface;
and
an electronic circuitry that is coupled to the thermal exchange surface;
and wherein:
at least one operational parameter corresponding to the emission of the droplets from the plurality of nozzles is based on a voltage difference between the first voltage and the second voltage;
the thermal exchange surface includes a droplet movement mechanism to transport droplets received at a first location of the thermal exchange surface to a second location of the thermal exchange surface;
heat is removed from the electronic circuitry via evaporation of the droplets from the thermal exchange surface;
the thermal exchange surface includes a first material having a first thermal conductivity, a second material having a second thermal conductivity, and a thermal interface material interposed between and coupled to each of the first material and the second first material;
the first material of the thermal exchange surface is implemented to receive the at least some of the droplets emitted from the plurality of nozzles;
and
the electronic circuitry is coupled to the second material of the thermal exchange surface.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/430,091Filed 26 Apr 2009

Priority

28 Apr 2008

Published

29 Oct 2009

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

F28D 5/00
Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the
B05B 5/0255
Discharge apparatus, e.g. electrostatic spray guns: spraying and depositing by electrostatic forces only
F28F 13/02
Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing: by influencing fluid boundary
H05K 7/20345
Using a liquid coolant with phase change in electronic enclosures: sprayers; Atomizers

Electrospray Evaporative Cooling (ESC)

Life of this patent

Electrospray Evaporative Cooling (ESC)

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31