Apparatus and method for controlling the temperature of an electronic device

An apparatus for controlling the temperature of an electronic device, said apparatus comprising:

• a refrigeration system including a compressor and a condenser, said refrigeration system being operative to circulate a refrigerant fluid through a fluid flow loop such that said refrigerant fluid will change between gaseous and liquid states so as to alternately absorb and release thermal energy;
• a thermal head having a temperature controlled surface, said thermal head having an inlet and an outlet defining a flow channel therebetween for passage of said refrigerant fluid to thereby function as an evaporator in said refrigeration system;
• first and second shutoff valves located in said flow loop between said refrigeration system and said thermal head, said first shutoff valve being upstream of said thermal head and said second shutoff valve being downstream of said thermal head;
• and
• control means operative to sequentially close said first shutoff valve and said second shutoff valve while continuing to operate said compressor in the interim period of time so as to reclaim said refrigerant fluid.

An apparatus comprising:

• a refrigeration system including a compressor and a condenser, said refrigeration system being operative to circulate a refrigerant fluid through a fluid flow loop such that said refrigerant fluid will change between gaseous and liquid states so as to alternately absorb and release thermal energy;
• a first shutoff valve located in said fluid flow loop at a position downstream of said condenser;
• a second shutoff valve located in said fluid flow loop at a position upstream of said compressor;
• a first thermal head configured to be detachably connected into said fluid flow loop so as to function as an evaporator in said refrigeration system, said first thermal head having a temperature controlled surface of a first configuration for making thermal contact with a first electronic device;
• and
• a second thermal head configured to be detachably connected into said fluid flow loop so as to function as an evaporator in said refrigeration system, said second thermal head having a temperature controlled surface of a second configuration for making thermal contact with a second electronic device.

A method comprising steps of:

• (a) providing a first thermal head for cooling an electronic device, said first thermal head being connected into a fluid flow loop of a refrigeration system;
• (b) providing first and second shutoff valves in said fluid flow loop on upstream and downstream sides of said thermal head, respectively;
• (c) while operating said refrigeration system, closing said first shutoff valve to prevent further flow of refrigerant fluid into said first thermal head;
• (d) continuing to operate said refrigeration system until substantially all of said refrigerant fluid is drawn from said thermal head;
• (e) closing said second shutoff valve with said first shutoff valve remaining closed so as to trap substantially all of said refrigerant fluid;
• and
• (f) disconnecting said first thermal head from said refrigeration system.