Cooling system and associated method for planar pulsating heat pipe

• US 20080087406A1
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Chen, Chung-Lung, Cai, Qingjun, Asfia, Julie F., Drolen, Bruce L., Mata, Marianne E.
• Application Number:
  US11/549,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20080087406A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/104.29
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0233 the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence
• 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 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/043 forming loops, e.g. capillary pumped loops
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04074 Heat exchange unit structures specially adapted for fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20336 Heat pipes, e.g. wicks or capillary pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A cooling assembly, system, and method are provided. The cooling assembly includes a plate comprising a plurality of channels defined in a surface of the plate and at least one pulsating heat pipe comprising tubing. At least a portion of the tubing is positioned within the channels, and the tubing is configured for carrying coolant therein.

Claims

1. A cooling assembly comprising:

a plate comprising a plurality of channels defined in a surface of the plate; and

at least one pulsating heat pipe comprising tubing, wherein at least a portion of the tubing is positioned within the channels, and wherein the tubing is configured for carrying coolant therein.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels are curved.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the tubing comprises a portion of which is curved and a portion of which is non-curved, and wherein the curved portion of the tubing is positioned within the curved channels.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein each curved channel defines a plurality of radii, and wherein the curved portion of the tubing defines a plurality of radii that substantially conforms to the plurality of radii of each curved channel.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pulsating heat pipe comprises an evaporator and a condenser.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the evaporator is substantially larger in width than the condenser.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels are arranged in a serpentine configuration within the plate.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive applied to at least a portion of the channels for securing the tubing therein.

9. A cooling system comprising:

at least one heat source having opposed surfaces; and

a cooling assembly positioned adjacent to one of the surfaces of the heat source, the cooling assembly comprising;

a plate comprising a plurality of channels defined in a surface of the plate; and

at least one pulsating heat pipe comprising tubing, wherein at least a portion of the tubing is positioned within the channels, and wherein the tubing is configured for transferring heat from the at least one heat source.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the pulsating heat pipe comprises an evaporator and a condenser.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to the condenser of the pulsating heat pipe.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the evaporator of the pulsating heat pipe is positioned adjacent to the at least one heat source.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one heat source comprises a printed circuit board.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one heat source comprises a fuel cell.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein each cooling assembly is positioned between and adjacent to a pair of heat sources.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least a portion of each channel is curved.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the tubing comprises a portion of which is curved and a portion of which is non-curved, and wherein the curved portion of the tubing is positioned within the curved portion of the channels such that the non-curved portion is substantially coplanar to at least a portion of the surface of the plate.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the curved portion of the tubing defines a plurality of radii that substantially conforms to a plurality of radii defined by each curved channel.

19. A method for manufacturing a cooling apparatus for cooling at least one heat source, the method comprising:

defining a plurality of channels within a surface of a plate; and

embedding at least a portion of at least one pulsating heat pipe comprising tubing within the channels such that a portion of the tubing conforms to the channels.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein embedding comprises embedding the tubing such that a portion of the tubing is substantially coplanar to at least a portion of the surface of the plate.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein defining comprises defining a plurality of curved channels within the plate.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein embedding comprises compressing the tubing such that a portion of the tubing defines a curved portion that conforms to the curved channels.

23. A cooling assembly comprising:

a pulsating heat pipe comprising tubing, wherein at least a portion of the tubing comprises a planar surface, and wherein the tubing is configured for carrying coolant therein; and

a first plate secured to the planar surface of the tubing.

24. The assembly according to claim 23, wherein the tubing comprises a pair of opposing planar surfaces, and wherein the first plate is positioned adjacent to one of the pair of opposing planar surfaces.

25. The assembly according to claim 24, further comprising a second plate positioned adjacent to one of the pair of opposing surfaces that is opposite the planar surface positioned adjacent to the first plate.