Environmentally isolated enclosure for electronic components

A method for obtaining a reduced thermal gradient environment inside a sealed and self-contained system containing a plurality of electronic cards, comprising the steps of:

• storing a supply of a heat transfer fluid within a closed single compartment of the sealed enclosure;
• spraying a thin-film of a dielectric heat transfer fluid within the closed compartment over a substantial portion of the surfaces of the electronic cards to evaporate the thin-film of heat transfer fluid formed over the surfaces of the electronic cards by a transfer of heat from the electronic cards to the heat transfer fluid;
• and
• condensing to a liquid within the closed compartment the evaporated heat transfer fluid.

A sealed and self-contained system providing a reduced thermal gradient and improved environment for one or more electronic cards, said system comprising:

• a closed sealed single compartment housing;
• a self-contained dielectric heat transfer fluid restricted to the closed compartment;
• a card cage mounted within the closed compartment, said card cage including supports for the one or more electronic cards;
• a spraying system mounted within the closed compartment, said spraying system including spray nozzles for spraying the heat transfer fluid over a substantial portion of the one or more electronic cards;
• and
• condensing means included within said closed compartment for condensing to a liquid within the closed compartment the heat transfer fluid vaporized as a result of heat transferred from the one or more electronic cards to the heat transfer fluid.

A sealed and self-contained system providing a controlled environment for one or more electronic cards, comprising:

• a closed sealed single compartment housing;
• a self-contained quantity of heat transfer fluid restricted to the closed compartment;
• a spraying system mounted within the closed compartment, said spraying system including spray nozzles for spraying a thin-film of the heat transfer fluid to contact a substantial portion of the surfaces of the one or more electronic cards;
• and
• one or more fans remotely positioned to move air across the closed compartment to cool and condense to a liquid the heat transfer fluid vaporized as a result of heat transferred from the one or more electronic cards to the heat transfer fluid.

A sealed system providing a controlled environment for one or more electronic cards, comprising:

• a closed single compartment housing;
• a self-contained quantity of dielectric heat transfer fluid restricted to the closed compartment;
• a spraying system having components thereof mounted within the closed compartment, said spraying system including spray nozzles for spraying a thin-film of the heat transfer fluid to contact a substantial portion of the surfaces of the one or more electronic cards;
• and
• a condensing system including:
• a heat exchanger remotely positioned from the closed compartment or integrated with the closed compartment, said heat exchanger having an inlet and outlet;
• a coolant pump having an inlet connected to the outlet of the heat exchanger;
• a condenser located within the closed compartment having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of said condenser connected to an outlet of the coolant pump and the outlet of said condenser connected to the inlet of said heat exchanger;
• and
• a cooling fluid circulating through the heat exchanger, the coolant pump and the condenser such that vaporized the transfer fluid self-contained within the closed compartment contacting the condenser changes the heat transfer fluid into a liquid state.

A sealed system providing a controlled environment for one or more electronic cards, comprising:

• a closed single compartment housing;
• a self-contained quantity of heat transfer fluid restricted to the closed compartment;
• a spraying system having all components thereof mounted within the closed compartment, said spraying system including spray nozzles for spraying a thin-film of the heat transfer fluid to contact a substantial portion of the surfaces of the one or more electronic cards;
• an internal heat exchanger having a cooling fluid circulating therethrough, said internal heat exchanger in the path of the heat transfer fluid vaporized within the closed compartment as a result of heat transferred from the one or more electronic cards to the thin-film of heat transfer fluid to transfer to the cooling fluid the heat of the vaporized heat transfer fluid within the closed compartment to thereby condense the vaporized heat transfer fluid into a liquid state;
• and
• a remote heat exchanger located outside the closed compartment and connected to the internal heat exchanger to remove heat from the cooling fluid.

A sealed system providing a controlled and isolated environment for one or more electronic components, comprising:

• a closed sealed single compartment housing;
• a self-contained quantity of heat transfer fluid restricted to the closed compartment;
• a spraying system having components thereof mounted within the closed compartment, said spraying system including one or more spray nozzles for spraying the heat transfer fluid to contact a substantial portion of the surfaces of the one or more electronic components;
• and
• means included in the closed compartment for removing heat from the heat transfer fluid within the closed compartment and vaporized as a result of heat transferred from the one or more electronic cards within the closed compartment.