Apparatus and method for extracting heat from a device

• US 20030230399A1
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Ruemmele, Warren, McCalley, Sean M., Hurlbert, Kathryn M., Andish, Kambiz K., Nguyen, Hai D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,584,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/104.25
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0246 heat-exchange elements having several adjacent conduits forming a whole, e.g. blocks
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0078 in the form of cooling walls
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/473 by flowing liquids H01L23/4332, H01L23/4338 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

A cold plate includes a face sheet comprising a composite material and having a lower surface and at least one cooling tube attached to the lower surface and being capable of transmitting a cooling fluid therethrough. A heat extraction system includes a cold plate comprising a face sheet comprising a composite material and having a lower surface and at least one cooling tube attached to the lower surface and being capable of transmitting a cooling fluid therethrough. The heat extraction system further includes a pump in fluid communication with the cold plate and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the pump and the cold plate. A method for fabricating a cold plate includes providing a face sheet comprising a composite material and attaching at least one cooling tube to a lower surface of the face sheet.

Claims

1. A cold plate, comprising:

a face sheet comprising a composite material and having a lower surface; and

at least one cooling tube attached to the lower surface and being capable of transmitting a cooling fluid therethrough.

2. A cold plate, according to claim 1, wherein the face sheet further comprises a plurality of joined panels.

3. A cold plate, according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of panels are joined by a plurality of soldered lap joints, a plurality of brazed lap joints or a plurality of adhesively bonded lap joints.

4. A cold plate, according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of soldered lap joints further includes a soldering material having a composition not exceeding about 93% tin by weight, about 6% silver by weight, and about 4.5% titanium by weight.

5. A cold plate, according to claim 1, wherein the composite material further comprises a carbon-carbon composite material or a metal-encapsulated carbon material.

6. A cold plate, according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input manifold to which the cooling tube is joined at a first end thereof; and

an output mainfold to which the cooling tube is joined at a second end thereof.

7. A cold plate, according to claim 6, further comprising an input fitting joined to the input manifold and an output fitting joined to the output manifold.

8. A cold plate, according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flow tube comprises a D-shape, an oval, a rectangle, or a rounded rectangle in cross-section.

9. A cold plate, according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flow tube is attached to the lower surface of the face sheet by a material selected from the group consisting of an adhesive bonding material, a soldering material, and a brazing material.

10. A cold plate, according to claim 9, wherein the soldering material comprises a composition not exceeding about 93% tin by weight, about 6% silver by weight, and about 4.5% titanium by weight.

11. A cold plate, according to claim 1, wherein the cold plate further comprises a protective layer applied to an upper surface of the face sheet.

12. A cold plate, according to claim 1, further comprising a structural member attached to the face sheet.

13. A cold plate, according to claim 12, wherein the structural member further comprises:

an upper skin attached to the face sheet;

a lower skin; and

a core attached between the upper skin and the lower skin.

14. A cold plate, according to claim 12, wherein the cold plate is adapted for use as a shelf.

15. A cold plate, according to claim 1, wherein the face sheet comprises a direction of greater thermal conductivity and the face sheet is oriented with respect to the at least one flow tube such that the direction of greater thermal conductivity is not parallel with the at least one flow tube.

16. A cold plate, according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flow tube defines a bore therethrough for transmitting the cooling fluid that has a cross-sectional width-to-height aspect ratio of about 3 to about 1.

17. A cold plate, according to claim 1, wherein the face sheet further comprises a plurality of substantially uniformly aligned petroleum pitch-based carbon fibers.

30. A cold plate, according to claim 1, further comprising a fastener defining a threaded bore and extending through the face sheet for attaching an article thereto.

18. A cold plate, comprising:

a face sheet having a lower surface;

at least one flow tube attached to the lower surface of the face sheet capable of transmitting a cooling fluid therethrough; and

a structural member attached to the face sheet.

19. A cold plate, according to claim 18, wherein the face sheet comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, and a composite material.

20. A cold plate, according to claim 18, wherein the face sheet comprises a carbon-carbon composite material or a metal-encapsulated carbon material.

21. A cold plate, according to claim 18, further comprising:

an input manifold to which the cooling tube is joined at a first end thereof; and

an output mainfold to which the cooling tube is joined at a second end thereof.

22. A cold plate, according to claim 21, further comprising an input fitting joined to the input manifold and an output fitting joined to the output manifold.

23. A cold plate, according to claim 18, wherein the at least one flow tube comprises a D-shape, an oval, a rectangle, or a rounded rectangle in cross-section.

24. A cold plate, according to claim 18, wherein the at least one flow tube is attached to the lower surface of the face sheet by a material selected from the group consisting of an adhesive bonding material, a soldering material, and a brazing material.

25. A cold plate, according to claim 24, wherein the soldering material comprises a composition not exceeding about 93% tin by weight, about 6% silver by weight, and about 4.5% titanium by weight.

26. A cold plate, according to claim 18, wherein the structural member further comprises:

an upper skin attached to the face sheet;

a lower skin; and

a core attached between the upper skin and the lower skin.

27. A cold plate, according to claim 18, wherein the at least one flow tube defines a bore therethrough for transmitting the cooling fluid that has a cross-sectional width-to-height aspect ratio of about 3 to about 1.

28. A cold plate, according to claim 18, wherein the face sheet further comprises a plurality of substantially uniformly aligned petroleum pitch-based carbon fibers.

29. A cold plate, according to claim 18, wherein the cold plate is adapted for use as a shelf.

31. A heat extraction system, comprising:

a cold plate comprising a face sheet comprising a composite material and having a lower surface and at least one cooling tube attached to the lower surface and being capable of transmitting a cooling fluid therethrough;

a pump in fluid communication with the cold plate; and

a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the pump and the cold plate.

32. A heat extraction system, according to claim 31, wherein the face sheet further comprises a carbon-carbon composite material or a metal-encapsulated carbon material.

33. A heat extraction system, according to claim 31, wherein the cold plate further comprises a structural member attached to the face sheet.

34. A heat extraction system, comprising:

a cold plate comprising a face sheet having a lower surface, at least one flow tube attached to the lower surface of the face sheet, and a structural member attached to the face sheet;

a pump in fluid communication with the cold plate; and

a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the pump and the cold plate.

35. A heat extraction system, according to claim 34, wherein the structural member further comprises:

an upper skin attached to the face sheet;

a lower skin; and

a core attached between the upper skin and the lower skin.

36. A heat extraction system, according to claim 34, wherein the cold plate is adapted for use as a shelf.

37. A method for cooling an article, comprising:

placing the article onto a cold plate;

transferring heat from the article via a composite face sheet within the cold plate; and

transferring heat from the plurality of fibers to a cooling fluid flowing through the cold plate.

38. A method, according to claim 37, wherein placing the article onto the cold plate includes shelving the article on the cold plate.

39. A method for cooling an article, comprising:

shelving the article on a cold plate; and

transmitting heat from the article into a cooling fluid flowing through the cold plate.

40. A method, according to claim 39, further comprising removing heat from the cooling fluid.

41. An apparatus, comprising:

means for extracting heat from a device; and

means for supporting a weight of the device.

42. An apparatus, according to claim 41, wherein the means for extracting heat from the device comprises a cold plate including:

a face sheet having a lower surface; and

at least one cooling tube attached to the lower surface and being capable of transmitting a cooling fluid therethrough.

43. An apparatus, according to claim 41, wherein the means for supporting the weight of the device comprises a structural member attached to the means for extracting heat from the device.

44. A method for fabricating a cold plate, comprising:

providing a face sheet comprising a composite material; and

attaching at least one cooling tube to a lower surface of the face sheet.

45. A method, according to claim 44, further comprising soldering, brazing, or adhesively bonding a plurality of panels to form the face sheet.

46. A method, according to claim 45, wherein soldering, brazing, or adhesively bonding the plurality of panels further comprises soldering the plurality of panels at a temperature of about 232°

C. to about 260°

C. using a solder having a composition not exceeding about 93% tin by weight, about 6% silver by weight, and about 4.5% titanium by weight.

47. A method, according to claim 44, wherein attaching the at least one cooling tube further comprises soldering, brazing, or adhesively bonding the at least one cooling tube to the lower surface of the face sheet.

48. A method, according to claim 47, wherein soldering, brazing, or adhesively bonding the at least one cooling tube further comprises soldering the at least one cooling tube to the lower surface of the face sheet at a temperature of about 232°

C. to about 260°

C. using a solder having a composition not exceeding about 93% tin by weight, about 6% silver by weight, and about 4.5% titanium by weight.

49. A method, according to claim 44, further comprising attaching a structural member to the face sheet.

50. A method, according to claim 49, further comprising:

providing an upper skin and a lower skin; and

attaching a core between the upper skin and the lower skin to form the structural member.

51. A method for fabricating a cold plate, comprising:

providing a face sheet;

attaching at least one cooling tube to a lower surface of the face sheet; and

attaching a structural member to the face sheet.

52. A method, according to claim 51, wherein attaching the at least one cooling tube further comprises soldering, brazing, or adhesively bonding the at least one cooling tube to the lower surface of the face sheet.

53. A method, according to claim 52, wherein soldering, brazing, or adhesively bonding the at least one cooling tube further comprises soldering the at least one cooling tube to the lower surface of the face sheet at a temperature of about 232°

C. to about 260°

C. using a solder having a composition not exceeding about 93% tin by weight, about 6% silver by weight, and about 4.5% titanium by weight.

54. A method, according to claim 51, further comprising:

providing an upper skin and a lower skin; and

attaching a core between the upper skin and the lower skin to form the structural member.

55. An equipment rack, comprising:

a cold plate; and

a framework for holding the cold plate as a shelf.

56. An equipment rack, according to claim 55, wherein the cold plate comprises:

a face sheet having a lower surface;

at least one flow tube attached to the lower surface of the face sheet capable of transmitting a cooling fluid therethrough; and

a structural member attached to face sheet.

57. An equipment rack, according to claim 56, wherein the cold plate further comprises a structural member comprising:

an upper skin attached to the face sheet;

a lower skin; and

a core attached between the upper skin and the lower skin.