Apparatus and method for passive phase change thermal management

• US 20050051300A1
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Pullen, David, Searls, Damion T., Dishongh, Terrance J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,316,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/104.210
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/063 Materials absorbing or liberating heat during crystallisation; Heat storage materials
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• 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 2021/0031 Radiators for recooling a coolant of cooling systems
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 23/00 Features relating to the use of intermediate heat-exchange materials, e.g. selection of compositions heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/4275 by melting or evaporation of solids
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49353 Heat pipe device making

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes forming a conductive structure having a cavity, injecting a phase change material into the cavity, injecting a plurality of spheres into the cavity, and sealing the cavity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

forming a conductive structure having a cavity;

injecting a phase change material into the cavity;

injecting a plurality of spheres into the cavity; and

sealing the cavity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein forming a conductive structure having a cavity comprises:

forming a conductive structure having a cavity including a cavity surface having a plurality of ramp structures formed on the cavity surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting a phase change material into the cavity comprises:

injecting TH58 into the cavity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting a plurality of spheres into the cavity comprises:

injecting a plurality of solid spheres into the cavity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sealing the cavity comprises:

closing an injection hole in the conductive structure.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a phase change material;

a plurality of particles intermixed with the phase change material; and

a conductive structure encapsulating the phase change material, the conductive structure having a cavity including a cone shape.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cone shape comprises a flat top cone.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a die thermally coupled to the conductive structure, the die being centered on the flat top cone.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a die thermally coupled to the conductive structure, wherein the cone shape includes a point, the die being centered on the point.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the phase change material comprises TH58.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a phase change material;

a plurality of particles intermixed with the phase change material; and

a conductive structure encapsulating the phase change material and the plurality of particles, the conductive structure including a cavity having a first sloping surface and the cavity formed from a pair of symmetrical structures coupled together.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the phase change material includes TH58.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of particles includes spheres.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a phase change material;

a plurality of particles intermixed with the phase change material; and

a conductive structure encapsulating the phase change material and the plurality of particles, the conductive structure including a cavity having a first sloping surface, wherein the first sloping surface comprises a wedge running along a length of the cavity.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the conductive structure includes copper.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the conductive structure includes a plurality of fins.