Cold plate temperature control method and apparatus

A method for controlling the temperature of a cold plate to at least partially defrost the cold plate comprising the steps of:

• compressing a refrigerant received from an evaporator of a cold plate;
• directing the compressed refrigerant along a first path to the cold plate, the first path configured to receive compressed refrigerant from the compressor and to supply cooled refrigerant to the evaporator of the cold plate;
• receiving a shutdown indicator;
• and
• redirecting at least a portion of the compressed refrigerant along a second path to the cold plate for a predefined period of time responsive to the shutdown indicator, the second path configured to receive compressed refrigerant from the compressor and to supply non-cooled refrigerant to the evaporator of the cold plate.

An apparatus for controlling the temperature of a cold plate comprising:

• a cold plate including an evaporator having an input and an output;
• a compressor having an output and an input coupled to the output of the evaporator for receiving refrigerant;
• a first path coupled between the output of the compressor and the input of the evaporator, the first path configured to receive compressed refrigerant from the compressor and supply cooled refrigerant to the cold plate;
• a second path coupled between the output of the compressor and the input of the evaporator, the second path configured to receive compressed refrigerant from the compressor and supply non-cooled refrigerant to the cold plate;
• a controlled valve coupled to the output of the compressor to redirect at least a portion of the refrigerant from the first path to the second path;
• a temperature sensor that obtains a temperature reading associated with the cold plate;
• and
• a controller coupled to the temperature sensor and the controlled valve, the controller configured to compare the temperature reading associated with the cold plate to a predefined temperature range and control the portion of the compressed refrigerant redirected along the second path responsive to the compared temperature reading such that the redirected portion is incrementally increased if the temperature reading is below the temperature range to warm the cold plate and the redirected portion is incrementally decreased if the temperature reading is above the temperature range to cool the cold plate.

An apparatus for controlling the temperature of a cold plate to at least partially defrost the cold plate comprising:

• a cold plate including an evaporator having an input and an output;
• a compressor having an output and an input coupled to the output of the evaporator for receiving refrigerant;
• a first path coupled between the output of the compressor and the input of the evaporator, the first path configured to receive compressed refrigerant from the compressor and supply cooled refrigerant to the cold plate;
• a second path coupled between the output of the compressor and the input of the evaporator, the second path configured to receive compressed refrigerant from the compressor and supply non-cooled refrigerant to the cold plate;
• a controlled valve coupled to the output of the compressor to redirect at least a portion of the refrigerant from the first path to the second path;
• a switch configured to generate a shutdown indicator;
• and
• a controller coupled to the controlled valve, the controller configured to control the controlled valve responsive to receipt of the shutdown indicator such that at least a portion of compressed refrigerant is redirected along the second path for a predefined period of time.