# US 2014/0190660 A1 · Vacuum Pumped Liquid Cooling System for Computers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190660 A1 - Document ID: US20140190660A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/938,726 - Filed: 2013-07-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2010-04-19 - Assignees: Chilldyne, Inc. - Inventors: Steve Harrington - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190660A1 ## CPC - H05K 7/20836: {Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control} - F28D 7/028: {the conduits of at least one medium being helically coiled, the coils having a conical configuration} - F28F 1/16: the means being integral with the element, e.g. formed by extrusion (F28F1/22 takes precedence) - F28F 7/02: Blocks traversed by passages for heat-exchange media {(F28D7/0008 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/20: Cooling means - H05K 7/20272: {Accessories for moving fluid, for expanding fluid, for connecting fluid conduits, for distributing fluid, for removing gas or for preventing leakage, e.g. pumps, tanks or manifolds} - H05K 7/2079: {within rooms for removing heat from cabinets} - F28D 2021/0019: {Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for} - F28F 2215/00: Fins - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A reliable, leak tolerant liquid cooling system with a backup air-cooling system for computers is provided. The system may use a vacuum pump and a liquid pump in combination to provide negative fluid pressure so that liquid does not leak out of the system near electrical components. The system distributes flow and pressure with a series of pressure regulating valves so that an array of computers can be serviced by a single cooling system. The system provides both air and liquid cooling so that if the liquid cooling system does not provide adequate cooling, the air cooling system will be automatically activated. A connector system is provided to automatically evacuate the liquid from the heat exchangers before they are disconnected. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for cooling an electrical device, comprising: a fluid-containing heat exchanger thermally coupled to the electrical device; a fluid-containing reservoir in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, the reservoir further comprising a main chamber and an auxiliary chamber, each chamber containing a coolant fluid; a pressure pump in pressure communication with each chamber through at least one pressure valve for each chamber, wherein the pressure pump pressurizes either chamber when the respective pressure valve for the chamber is actuated; a vacuum pump in vacuum communication with each chamber through at least one vacuum valve for each chamber, wherein the vacuum pump depressurizes either chamber when the respective vacuum valve for the chamber is actuated; and a controller connected to each pressure valve and each vacuum valve; wherein the controller actuates the pressure valves and the vacuum valves to serially pressurize and depressurize the main and auxiliary chambers and thereby cause the coolant fluid to flow from the reservoir through the heat exchanger and back to the reservoir under less than atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second fluid-containing heat exchanger in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein the actuation of the pressure valves and the vacuum valves further causes the coolant fluid to flow through the second heat exchanger. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid-containing heat exchanger is adapted to transfer heat from the electrical device to the air surrounding the fluid-containing heat exchanger, further comprising a fan adapted to move air past the fluid-containing heat exchanger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: an evaporative cooling tower in fluid communication with and thermally coupled to the coolant fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid-containing heat exchanger further comprises a turbulator adapted to cause the coolant fluid to flow in a helical path. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the coolant fluid flows over a plated surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid level sensor located in the reservoir and providing an output based on the level of the fluid in the reservoir, the fluid pump being adapted to operate in response to the output of the fluid level sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid level sensor located in the reservoir and providing an output based on the level of the fluid in the reservoir, the fluid pump being adapted to operate in response to the output of the fluid level sensor and to maintain the fluid level in the reservoir within a range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a vacuum regulator in vacuum communication with the vacuum pump and adapted to maintain a pressure in the reservoir less than atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid filter in fluid communication with the fluid-containing heat exchanger and adapted to prevent debris from entering the fluid-containing heat exchanger. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a coolant fluid pressure regulator in fluid communication with the fluid-containing heat exchanger, the coolant fluid pressure regulator adapted to provide a constant pressure differential across the fluid-containing heat exchanger. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a vacuum accumulator in fluid communication with the fluid-containing heat exchanger. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a connector releasably connecting the fluid-containing heat exchanger to the fluid-containing reservoir, the connector adapted to release the fluid-containing heat exchanger from the fluid-containing reservoir only when substantially all of the coolant fluid has been evacuated out of the fluid-containing heat exchanger. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fluid-containing heat exchangers thermally coupled to a plurality of electrical devices. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each chamber contains a fluid level sensor adapted to detect the level of coolant fluid in the respective chamber, and each sensor is connected to the controller, wherein the controller pressurize and depressurize the main and auxiliary chambers based on the coolant fluid levels detected in the chambers. ### Claim 16 A system for cooling an electrical device, comprising: a fluid-containing heat exchanger thermally coupled to the electrical device; a fluid-containing reservoir in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, the reservoir further comprising a main chamber and an auxiliary chamber, each chamber containing a coolant fluid; a vacuum pump in vacuum communication with each chamber through at least one vacuum valve for each chamber, wherein the vacuum pump depressurizes either chamber when the respective vacuum valve for the chamber is actuated; and a controller connected to each vacuum valve; wherein the controller actuates the main chamber vacuum valve, then deactivates the main chamber vacuum valve and then actuates the main chamber vacuum valve, and wherein a first period is defined by time between actuations of the main chamber vacuum valve; wherein the controller actuates the auxiliary chamber vacuum valve, then deactivates the auxiliary chamber vacuum valve and then actuates the auxiliary chamber vacuum valve, and wherein a second period is defined by time between actuations of the auxiliary chamber vacuum valve; wherein the first period is offset from the second period such that there are times when the main chamber vacuum valve is actuated while the auxiliary chamber vacuum valve is deactivated causing the coolant fluid to flow from the reservoir through the heat exchanger and back to the reservoir under less than atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further comprising a pressure pump in pressure communication with each chamber through at least one pressure valve for each chamber, wherein the pressure pump pressurizes either chamber when the respective pressure valve for the chamber is actuated and wherein each pressure valve is connected to the controller.