Method and apparatus for temperature gradient control in an electronic system

An apparatus, comprising:

• a thermally conductive flat plate having a fluid passageway formed therein, the fluid passageway having a fluid entrance and a fluid exit;
• a plurality of turbulence inducing structures disposed along said fluid passageway, wherein locations of said structures are selected to achieve, in response to fluid flow through said fluid passageway, a predetermined temperature profile along said passageway in said plate adjacent to said fluid passageway;
• wherein said plurality of turbulence inducing structures includes a plurality of portions which each induce turbulence, wherein each said portion is longitudinally spaced along said passageway by a respective longitudinal distance from every other said portion which is adjacent thereto, wherein said fluid passageway includes a first section and a second section which are separate and which each include at least two of said portions, and wherein said longitudinal distances between said portions in said first section are greater than said longitudinal distances between said portions in said second section;
• and
• wherein the longitudinal distance between the first section and the fluid entrance is less than the longitudinal distance between the second section and the fluid entrance.

A method of maintaining a predetermined temperature profile along material of a thermally conductive part adjacent a fluid passageway formed within said part, the fluid passageway having a fluid entrance and a fluid exit;

• comprising:
• providing turbulence inducing structure within said fluid passageway;
• and
• selecting a configuration of said structure to achieve, in response to fluid flow through said fluid passageway, the predetermined temperature profile along said passageway in said part adjacent to said fluid passageway;
• configuring said structure to include a plurality of portions which each induce turbulence, said passageway having first and second sections which are separate and which each include at least two of said portions;
• selecting locations of said portions along said passageway such that each said portion is longitudinally spaced by a respective longitudinal distance from every other said portion which is adjacent thereto, wherein said longitudinal distances between said portions in said first section of said passageway are greater than said longitudinal distances between said portions in said second section of said passageway;
• and
• wherein the longitudinal distance between the first section and the fluid entrance is less than the longitudinal distance between the second section and the fluid entrance.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a thermally conductive part having a fluid passageway formed therein, the fluid passageway having a fluid entrance and a fluid exit;
• turbulence inducing structure disposed along said passageway in a manner selected to achieve, in response to fluid flow through said fluid passageway, a predetermined temperature profile along said passageway in said thermally conductive part adjacent to said fluid passageway;
• wherein said structure includes a plurality of portions which each induce turbulence, wherein each said portion is longitudinally spaced along said passageway by a respective longitudinal distance from every other said portion which is adjacent thereto, wherein said fluid passageway includes a first section and a second section which are separate and which each include at least two of said portions, and wherein said longitudinal distances between said portions in said first section are greater than said longitudinal distances between said portions in said second section;
• wherein the longitudinal distance between the first section and the fluid entrance is less than the longitudinal distance between the second section and the fluid entrance;
• and
• wherein said portions include protrusions extending from a surface of said fluid passageway toward a longitudinal, central axis of said fluid passageway.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a thermally conductive part having a fluid passageway formed therein, the fluid passageway having a fluid entrance and a fluid exit;
• turbulence inducing structure disposed along said passageway in a manner selected to achieve, in response to fluid flow through said fluid passageway, a predetermined temperature profile along said passageway in said thermally conductive part adjacent to said fluid passageway;
• wherein said structure includes a plurality of portions which each induce turbulence, wherein each said portion is longitudinally spaced along said passageway by a respective longitudinal distance from every other said portion which is adjacent thereto, wherein said fluid passageway includes a first section and a second section which are separate and which each include at least two of said portions, and wherein said longitudinal distances between said portions in said first section are greater than said longitudinal distances between said portions in said second section;
• wherein the longitudinal distance between the first section and the fluid entrance is less than the longitudinal distance between the second section and the fluid entrance;
• and
• wherein said portions include an inwardly projecting annular protrusion formed along a perimeter of said passageway in a plane generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said passageway.