System and method of enhanced boiling heat transfer using pin fins

• US 20070119568A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Weber, Richard, Rummel, Kerrin, Payton, Albert
• Application Number:
  US11/290,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20070119568A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/80.400
• 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: F28F 3/022 the means being wires or pins
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/3677 Wire-like or pin-like cooling fins or heat sinks
• 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: 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

According to one embodiment of the invention, a cooling system for a heat-generating structure comprises a channel having an inlet and an exit and a plurality of pin fins extending at least partially across the channel. The inlet is operable to receive a fluid coolant into the channel substantially in the form of a liquid. The exit is operable to dispense of the fluid coolant out of the channel at least partially in the form of a vapor. The plurality of pin fins are operable to receive thermal energy from the heat generating structure and transfer at least a portion of the thermal energy to the fluid coolant. The thermal energy from the heat-generating structure causes at least a portion of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to boil and vaporize in the channel upon contact with the plurality of pin fins.

Claims

1. A cooling system for a heat-generating structure, the cooling system comprising:

a fluid coolant

a channel having an inlet and an exit, the inlet operable to receive the fluid coolant into the channel substantially in the form of a liquid, the exit operable to dispense of the fluid coolant out of the channel at least partially in the form of a vapor;

a plurality of pin fins extending at least partially across the channel, the plurality of pin fins operable to receive thermal energy from the heat generating structure and transfer at least a portion of the thermal energy to the fluid coolant, the thermal energy from the heat-generating structure causing at least a portion of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to boil and vaporize in the channel upon contact with the plurality of pin fins; and

a structure which directs a flow of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid into the channel through the inlet.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein

at least some of the plurality of pin fins are arranged in an staggered configuration.

3. The cooling system of claim 2, wherein

at least some of the plurality of pin fins are perpendicular to a wall of the channel, and

at least some of the plurality of pin fins have a columnar shape.

4. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein

at least some of the plurality of pin fins are arranged in an inline configuration.

5. The cooling system of claim 4, wherein

at least some of the plurality of pin fins are perpendicular to a wall of the channel, and

at least some of the plurality of pin fins have a columnar shape.

6. The cooling system of claim 4, further comprising:

a structure which reduces a pressure of the fluid coolant to a subambient pressure at which the fluid coolant has a boiling temperature less than a temperature of the heat-generating structure.

7. A cooling system for a heat-generating structure, the cooling system comprising:

a channel having an inlet and an exit, the inlet operable to receive a fluid coolant into the channel substantially in the form of a liquid, the exit operable to dispense of the fluid coolant out of the channel at least partially in the form of a vapor; and

a plurality of pin fins extending at least partially across the channel, the plurality of pin fins operable to receive thermal energy from the heat generating structure and transfer at least a portion of the thermal energy to the fluid coolant, the thermal energy from the heat-generating structure causing at least a portion of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to boil and vaporize in the channel upon contact with the plurality of pin fins.

8. The cooling system of claim 7, further comprising:

a structure which directs a flow of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid into the channel through the inlet.

9. The cooling system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of pin fins are arranged in an inline configuration.

10. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein at least some of the plurality of pin fins are perpendicular to a wall of the channel.

11. The cooling system of claim 7, wherein at least some of the plurality of pin fins have a columnar shape.

12. The cooling system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of pin fins are arranged in a staggered configuration.

13. The cooling system of claim 7, wherein at least some of the plurality of pin fins have the same size.

14. The cooling system of claim 13, wherein at least some of the plurality of pin fins are perpendicular to a wall of the channel.

15. The cooling system of claim 7, wherein at least some of the plurality of pin fins are coupled to a same wall of the channel.

16. The cooling system of claim 7, wherein at least some of the plurality of pin fins extending across a substantial portion of the channel.

17. The cooling system of claim 7, further comprising:

a structure which reduces a pressure of the fluid coolant to a subambient pressure at which the fluid coolant has a boiling temperature less than a temperature of the heat-generating structure.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

reducing a pressure of the fluid coolant to a subambient pressure at which the fluid coolant has a boiling temperature less than a temperature of the heat-generating structure.

18. A method for cooling a heat-generating structure, the method comprising:

transferring thermal energy from a heat generating structure to a plurality of pin fins disposed in a channel;

transferring a fluid coolant through the channel;

exposing the fluid coolant to the plurality of pin fins; and

transferring at least a portion of the thermal energy from the plurality of pin fins to the fluid coolant.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein transferring at least a portion of the thermal energy from the plurality of pin fins to the fluid coolant vaporizes at least a portion of the fluid coolant.