Cooling devices and systems

• US 20060056994A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Van Lear, Brian T., Whitaker, Jerad D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,177,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/407
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/04 the pump being fluid-driven pumps driven by exhaust gases F02B37/00, F02B39/00; turbochargers F02C6/12
• 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 2015/0291 comprising internal rotor means, e.g. turbine driven by the working 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

Methods, systems, and devices are provided for cooling a heat source. One apparatus embodiment includes a housing, a fluid conduit, a pump within the housing and in communication with the fluid conduit for conveying fluid through the fluid conduit, and a turbine in communication with the fluid conduit to be driven by the fluid as it passes through the fluid conduit.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a fluid conduit;

a pump within the housing and in communication with the fluid conduit for conveying fluid through the fluid conduit; and

a turbine in communication with the fluid conduit to be driven by the fluid as it passes through the fluid conduit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a heat source and wherein heat from the heat source can be absorbed by the fluid in the fluid conduit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the heat source includes a number of computer processors.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the heat source includes a number of circuit boards.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the turbine is positioned outside the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the turbine impeller is connected to a drive shaft that is driven by communication of the turbine impeller with the fluid passing through the fluid conduit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the drive shaft drives a fan to dissipate heat from the fluid in the fluid conduit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is nuclear, biological, and chemical restrictive.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further includes a heat exchanger for removing heat from the fluid within the fluid conduit.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

an environmentally restrictive housing;

a fluid conduit;

a pump within the housing and in communication with the fluid conduit for conveying fluid through the fluid conduit; and

a turbine in communication with the fluid conduit to be driven by the fluid as it passes through the fluid conduit.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the environmentally restrictive housing is sealed such that the housing is impervious to one or more fluids.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the environmentally restrictive housing is sealed such that the housing is impervious to water.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the environmentally restrictive housing includes one or more housing portions sealed by a number of gaskets.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the environmentally restrictive housing is sealed such that the housing is impervious to one or more gases.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the environmentally restrictive housing is sealed such that the housing is impervious to air.

16. A fluid handling system, comprising:

a housing;

a fluid conduit;

a pump within the housing and in communication with the fluid conduit for conveying fluid through the fluid conduit; and

a heat exchanger for removing heat from the fluid within the fluid conduit.

17. The system of claim 16, the heat exchanger is positioned outside the housing.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the heat exchanger includes a number of fins for dissipating heat.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the system further includes a turbine in communication with the fluid conduit to be driven by the fluid as it passes through the fluid conduit.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the turbine is positioned outside the housing.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the turbine is attached to a shaft that provides rotation to a fan blade.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the fan blade is positioned to move air across the heat exchanger.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the system further includes an electrical heat source and an electrical pump positioned within the housing and wherein the housing is impervious to a fluid.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the components of the system positioned outside the housing can be cleaned with a fluid.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the components of the system positioned outside the housing are non-electrical.

26. A method for cooling a heat source, comprising:

pumping a fluid to an interior periphery of a housing;

absorbing heat from a heat source into the fluid flowing through the housing;

removing the heat from the fluid to an exterior of the housing;

turning a shaft of a fan positioned outside the housing to direct heat away from the housing.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein turning a shaft of a fan includes moving a turbine impeller by directing the fluid through the turbine impeller connected to the shaft of the fan.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein removing the heat includes directing the fluid into a heat exchanger.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein absorbing heat from a heat source into a fluid flowing through a housing includes absorbing heat from a heat source within a housing.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein absorbing heat from a heat source includes absorbing heat from an electrical component.