US 5,482,113 AGranted

Convertible heat exchanger for air or water cooling of electronic circuit components and the like

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsDereje Agonafer, Timothy M. Anderson, Gregory M. Chrysler, Richard C. Chu, Robert E. Simons, David T. Vader

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Abstract

A heat exchanger, especially for use in conjunction with a wide range of computer systems ranging from work stations to massively parallel processors is employable with both air and water cooling systems. In particular, a heat exchanger is provided which is convertible from a heat sink modality to an air cooling modality and finally to a liquid cooling modality in response to either increased performance demands or an increase in the number of processors or circuit components employed. The conversion may be carried out in the field and provides a flexible and less costly upgradeability path for data processing customers.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A convertible heat exchanger, especially for air or liquid cooling of electronic circuit components, said heat exchanger comprising:

a base plate;
a plurality of liquid flow conduits in fluid flow communication with inlet and outlet manifold means with fluid being suppliable to and withdrawable from said inlet and outlet manifold means through said base plate;
and
a plurality of fins arranged in parallel with respect to one another and through which said liquid flow conduits pass and with which said fins are in thermal contact, said fins also being configured in a staggered pattern so as to at least partially define a serpentine liquid flow path when employed in conjunction with a shroud which completes said flow path definition and which may be disposed around said fins and said conduits, said shroud being sealably affixable to said base plate.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.