Multiple-pass heat exchanger with gaps between fins of adjacent tube segments

• US 20050241812A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Simon, Glenn C., Malone, Christopher G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,997,247 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/150
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0477 the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0478 the conduits having a non-circular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0031 Radiators for recooling a coolant of cooling systems
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/126 consisting of zig-zag shaped fins F28F1/105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/24 and extending transversely F28F1/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2215/04 Assemblies of fins having different features, e.g. with different fin densities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/201 Cooling arrangements using cooling fluid
• 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

In a liquid loop cooling device, a heat exchanger includes a tube arranged in a multiple-pass configuration including a plurality of substantially parallel tube segments. The heat exchanger further includes a plurality of fins coupled to the tube segments. The fins for adjacent tube segments are separated by a gap.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising:

a tube arranged in a multiple-pass configuration including a plurality of substantially parallel tube segments; and

a plurality of fins coupled to the tube segments, the fins for adjacent tube segments being separated by a gap.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 further comprising:

a tube having a longitudinal axis and a circular cross-section forming the plurality of substantially parallel tube segments; and

a stack of closely-spaced plates arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis forming the fins coupled to the tube segments.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 further comprising:

a tube having a longitudinal axis and a flattened cross-section forming the plurality of substantially parallel tube segments.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 3 further comprising:

a plurality of folded fins coupled to the flattened cross-section tube segments, the folded fins of adjacent flattened cross-section tube segments being separated by the gap.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4 wherein:

the plurality of folded pins has a variable pitch at different positions along the tube.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 3 further comprising:

a flattened cross-section tube end joint folding approximately 180° and

coupling two adjacent flattened cross-section tubes.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 3 further comprising:

at least one end transition cap configured to couple a flattened cross-section tube segment to a circular cross-section attachment.

8. An electronic system comprising:

a chassis including airflow inlet and outlet vents, and fans capable of circulating air from the inlet vents to the outlet vents;

a plurality of components mounted within the chassis; and

a liquid to air heat exchanger comprising;

a tube arranged in a multiple-pass configuration including a plurality of substantially parallel tube segments; and

a plurality of fins coupled to the tube segments, the fins for adjacent tube segments being separated by a gap.

9. The electronic system according to claim 8 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:

a tube having a longitudinal axis and a circular cross-section forming a plurality of compactly spaced and substantially parallel tube segments; and

a stack of closely-spaced plates arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis forming the fins coupled to the tube segments, the plates extending toward the adjacent tube segment a distance that leaves a gap between adjacent segment plates sufficient to substantially eliminate heat transfer between the adjacent tube segments.

10. The electronic system according to claim 8 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:

a tube having a longitudinal axis and a flattened cross-section forming a plurality of compactly spaced and substantially parallel tube segments.

11. The electronic system according to claim 10 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:

a plurality of folded fins coupled to the flattened cross-section tube segments, the folded fins of adjacent flattened cross-section tube segments being separated by the gap, the folded fins extending toward the adjacent tube segment a distance that leaves the gap between adjacent segment fins sufficient to substantially eliminate heat transfer between the adjacent tube segments.

12. The electronic system according to claim 11 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:

a plurality of folded fins coupled to the flattened cross-section tube segments having a variable pitch at different positions along the tube to optimize cooling performance along the longitudinal axis of the tube and in airflow paths within the chassis.

13. The electronic system according to claim 10 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:

a flattened cross-section tube end joint coupling two adjacent flattened cross-section tubes and folding approximately 180°

in a compact curve that enables the heat exchanger to fit within a thin chassis.

14. The electronic system according to claim 10 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:

an end transition cap configured to couple a flattened cross-section tube segment to a circular cross-section attachment of a closed-loop cooling system.

15. A liquid loop cooling system comprising:

a tubing including an interior lumen within which a cooling fluid can circulate;

a pump coupled to the tubing and capable of pumping the cooling fluid through the tubing; and

a heat exchanger coupled to the tubing, the heat exchanger comprising;

a tube arranged in a multiple-pass configuration including a plurality of substantially parallel tube segments; and

a plurality of fins coupled to the tube segments, the fins for adjacent tube segments being separated by a gap.

16. The cooling system according to claim 15 further comprising:

the cooling fluid contained within the tubing and tube.

17. The cooling system according to claim 15 further comprising:

a fan configured to drive air through the heat exchanger.

18. The cooling system according to claim 15 further comprising:

a cold plate coupled to the heat exchanger.

19. The cooling system according to claim 15 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:

a tube having a longitudinal axis and a circular cross-section forming a plurality of compactly spaced and substantially parallel tube segments; and

a stack of closely-spaced plates arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis forming the fins coupled to the tube segments, the plates extending toward the adjacent tube segment a distance that leaves a gap between adjacent segment plates sufficient to substantially eliminate heat transfer between the adjacent tube segments.

20. The cooling system according to claim 15 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:

a tube having a longitudinal axis and a flattened cross-section forming a plurality of compactly spaced and substantially parallel tube segments.

21. The cooling system according to claim 20 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:

a plurality of folded fins coupled to the flattened cross-section tube segments, the folded fins of adjacent flattened cross-section tube segments being separated by the gap, the folded fins extending toward the adjacent tube segment a distance that leaves the gap between adjacent segment fins sufficient to substantially eliminate heat transfer between the adjacent tube segments.

22. The cooling system according to claim 21 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:

a plurality of folded having a variable pitch at different positions along the tube to optimize cooling performance along the longitudinal axis of the tube and in airflow paths within the chassis.

23. The cooling system according to claim 20 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:

a flattened cross-section tube end joint coupling two adjacent flattened cross-section tubes and folding approximately 180°

in a compact curve that enables the heat exchanger to fit within a thin chassis.

24. The cooling system according to claim 20 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:

an end transition cap configured to couple a flattened cross-section tube segment to a circular cross-section attachment of a closed-loop cooling system.

25. A heat exchanger comprising:

means for carrying a cooling liquid in a multiple-pass configuration; and

means coupled to the carrying means for channeling cooling air and dissipating heat from the cooling liquid, the channeling means connected to individual pass segments of the multiple-pass configuration being separated by a gap.