Laminar air jet cooling of heat producing components
AssigneeTufts University
InventorsVincent P. Manno, John R. Guarino
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A low velocity, laminar jet of air is directly impinged on the surface of heat producing components such as a microprocessor chip. A laminar jet air flow has a very low mass flow rate and has a high convection heat transfer rate at the stagnation region of the flow. A fan or an actuator coupled to a tube can be used to provide laminar jet air on the heat producing component. For any apparatus that places a premium on conserving power, delivery of a low velocity, laminar jet provides an effective way to cool the components of the apparatus while only minimally draining its power source.
Claims31
An apparatus comprising:
- a heat producing electronic component;
- an air driving device to produce a laminar jet of air having a Reynolds number below 2000;
- and
- a tube connected to the air driving device to direct the laminar jet of air directly on the heat producing electronic component.
A laminar jet air cooling device comprising:
- a fan;
- and
- a tubing coupled to the fan and having an outlet above a heat producing electronic component on a circuit board to impinge a laminar jet of air directly on the heat producing electronic component,
- wherein the laminar jet of air has a Reynolds number below about 2000.
A portable computer system comprising:
- a circuit board containing a heat producing electronic component;
- and
- an air driving device for providing a laminar jet of air;
- and
- a tubing coupled to the air driving device for impinging a laminar jet of air directly on the heat producing electronic component,
- wherein the laminar jet of air has a Reynolds number below about 2000.
A method of cooling a portable computer comprising:
- delivering a laminar jet of air to a heat producing electronic component mounted on a circuit board disposed within a portable computer by driving the laminar jet of air from an air driving device through a tube that is connected to the air driving device,
- wherein the laminar jet of air has a Reynolds number below about 2000.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.