Two-phase component cooler with radioactive initiator
AssigneeAavid Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsRalph I. Larson, Richard L. Phillips
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A two-phase cooling apparatus uses a radioactive initiator to induce boiling in a liquid coolant, thus reducing thermal hysteresis. A radioactive source, such as spent uranium, is immersed in a liquid coolant bath to allow interaction between the emitted radiation and the liquid. A heat spreader plate may be used to conduct heat to the liquid from a unit to be cooled. An interior surface of a coolant chamber, such as the heat spreader plate, may be plated with a radioactive material to induce a high incidence of nucleation sites. A shielding material may also be used to shield the unit being cooled from the radioactive source. The radioactive source material may also be used to retrofit existing two-phase cooling systems.
Claims47
A two-phase cooling apparatus for cooling a unit to be cooled, the apparatus comprising:
- a container;
- a coolant liquid contained in the container in thermal contact with the unit to be cooled, whereby a portion of the liquid is vaporized from absorption of heat from the unit;
- and
- a radioactive source which emits radiation that interacts with the liquid.
A two-phase cooling apparatus for cooling a unit to be cooled, the apparatus comprising:
- a container;
- a coolant liquid contained in the container in thermal contact with the unit to be cooled, whereby a portion of the liquid is vaporized from absorption of heat from the unit;
- a heat spreader plate having a high thermal conductivity providing a thermal conduction path from the unit to be cooled to the liquid;
- and
- a radioactive source which emits radiation that interacts with the liquid.
A two-phase cooling apparatus for cooling an electronic component, the apparatus comprising:
- a flexible sealed bag;
- a coolant liquid contained in the bag in thermal contact with the component, whereby a portion of the liquid is vaporized from absorption of heat from the component;
- a heat spreader plate located within the bag and having a high thermal conductivity which provides a thermal conduction path between the liquid and the component;
- and
- a radioactive source which emits radiation that interacts with the liquid.
A method of improving a two-phase cooling apparatus having a liquid contained in a container in thermal contact with a unit to be cooled, whereby a portion of the liquid is vaporized from absorption of heat from the unit, the method comprising:
- providing a radioactive source which emits radiation that interacts with the liquid.
A method of improving a two-phase cooling apparatus having a coolant liquid contained in a container in thermal contact with a unit to be cooled, whereby a portion of the liquid is vaporized from absorption of heat from the unit, the method comprising:
- distributing radioactive material within the container that emits radiation which interacts with the liquid to induce the formation of boiling nucleation sites.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.