Electronics cooling with multi-phase heat exchange and heat spreader

• US 10,365,047 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Lassini, Stefano, Rush, Brian, Erno, Daniel, Gerstler, William Dwight
• Primary Examiner(s): Hwu, Davis D
• Application Number:
  US15/497,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20170363363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 165 802
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0233 the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/04 with tubes having a capillary structure
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/021 the latent heat storage material and the heat-exchanging means being enclosed in one container F28D20/023 - F28D20/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/0025 the conduits for one medium or the conduits for both media being flat tubes or arrays of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/0066 Multi-circuit heat-exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat-exchangers for more than two fluids F28D7/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0093 Multi-circuit heat-exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat-exchangers for more than two fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/045 with assemblies of stacked elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2270/00 Thermal insulation; Thermal decoupling
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 7/02 Blocks traversed by passages for heat-exchange media F28D7/0008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/427 Cooling by change of state, e.g. use of heat pipes by liquefied gas H01L23/445
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20309 Evaporators
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20318 Condensers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20336 Heat pipes, e.g. wicks or capillary pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

One example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a system for cooling a surface. The system can include a housing. The housing can include an evaporator portion. The housing can include at least one trifurcated heat exchange portion. The at least one trifurcated heat exchange portion can include a condenser portion coupled to the evaporator portion. The at least one trifurcated heat exchange portion can include a coolant portion substantially surrounded by the condenser portion. The at least one trifurcated heat exchange portion can include a phase change material portion substantially surrounding the condenser portion.

Claims

1. A system for cooling a surface comprising:

a housing comprising;

an evaporator portion; and

a multi-domain heat exchanger having at least one trifurcated heat exchange portion comprising an array of unit cells defining a plurality of nested trifurcated domains, the array of unit cells of the multi-domain heat exchanger comprising;

a first structure comprising a trifurcated condenser portion, the trifurcated condenser portion coupled to the evaporator portion;

a second structure comprising a trifurcated coolant portion, the trifurcated coolant portion substantially surrounded by the trifurcated condenser portion; and

a trifurcated phase change material portion substantially surrounding the trifurcated condenser portion, the trifurcated phase change material portion configured to receive a phase change material.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the evaporator portion and the trifurcated condenser portion comprises a heat exchange fluid.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the evaporator portion and the trifurcated condenser portion comprises at least one wall at least partially lined with vapor chamber wicking structures.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the trifurcated phase change material portion comprises a phase change material.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the phase change material is of a reversible type.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the phase change material comprises paraffin wax.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the phase change material is of an irreversible type.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the phase change material comprises water.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a vacuum portion.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the trifurcated coolant portion defines a first cavity, the first cavity configured to receive a coolant;

the trifurcated condenser portion defines a first chamber, the first chamber configured to receive a heat transfer substance; and

the trifurcated phase change material portion is defined at least in part by the trifurcated condenser portion.

11. The system of claim 10,

wherein the system further comprises:

a third structure surrounding the trifurcated phase change material portion; and

a fourth structure forming a second cavity, wherein the second cavity is in communication with the first chamber, wherein the fourth structure is in communication with the surface;

wherein at least one of the first chamber and the second cavity comprises a condenser.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first chamber and the second cavity comprises at least one wall at least partially lined with vapor chamber wicking structures.

13. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a multi-phase heat exchanger, the multi-phase heat exchanger comprising the multi-domain heat exchanger; and

a heat spreader comprising a vapor chamber, the vapor chamber comprising the evaporator portion.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the vapor chamber is in communication with the multi-domain heat exchanger.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the domains comprises a condenser of the vapor chamber.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the domains comprises a coolant.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the domains comprises phase change material.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the multi-domain heat exchanger comprises three domains.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the multi-phase heat exchanger and the vapor chamber are at least partially enclosed in a vacuum domain.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the vacuum domain provides thermal insulation between an environment and at least one of the multi-phase heat exchanger and the vapor chamber.