PREVENTION OF COOLING FLOW BLOCKAGE

• US 20160109197A1
• Filed: 10/15/2014
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Severson, Mark Hamilton, Metzler, Mark W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,415,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/00 Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements specially adapted for movement F28F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/10 Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses crimped or corrugated elements F28F1/06, F28F1/08
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/40 the means being only inside the tubular element
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/08 by varying the cross-section of the flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 19/002 by using inserts or attachments
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 19/01 by using means for separating solid materials from heat-exchange fluids, e.g. filters
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2210/02 with particular branching, e.g. fractal conduit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2210/10 Particular layout, e.g. for uniform temperature distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2220/00 Closure means, e.g. end caps on header boxes or plugs on conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/06 Derivation channels, e.g. bypass
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/02 for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/048 in the form of ribs integral with the element or local variations in thickness of the element, e.g. grooves, microchannels
• 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: H05K 7/20254 Cold plates transferring heat from heat source to coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

A fluid cooled cold plate includes a main coolant passage with a first cross-sectional area taken laterally in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction and a finned coolant passage having a second cross-sectional area taken laterally in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction, with the second area smaller than the first area. Fluidly connecting the main coolant passage with the finned coolant passage is a branch oriented such that a fluid is turned 90° or more when passing into the branch from the main coolant passage. Also included is a coolant bypass passage in fluid communication with the main coolant passage and located fluidically parallel to the finned coolant passage.

Claims

1. A fluid cooled cold plate comprising:

a main coolant passage having a first cross-sectional area taken laterally in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction;

a finned coolant passage having a second cross-sectional area taken laterally in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction, wherein the second area is smaller than the first area;

a branch fluidly connecting the main coolant passage with the finned coolant passage, wherein the branch is oriented such that a fluid is turned 90°

or more when passing into the branch from the main coolant passage; and

a coolant bypass passage in fluid communication with the main coolant passage and located fluidically parallel to the finned coolant passage.

2. The fluid cooled cold plate of claim 1, wherein the coolant bypass passage is fluidly connected with the main coolant passage to form a continuous straight passage.

3. The fluid cooled cold plate of claim 1, wherein the coolant bypass passage includes a flow balance mechanism.

4. The fluid cooled cold plate of claim 3, wherein the flow balance mechanism comprises a converging-diverging nozzle.

5. The fluid cooled cold plate of claim 1, wherein the coolant bypass passage includes a filter element.

6. The fluid cooled cold plate of claim 1, wherein the coolant bypass passage includes a removable plug.

7. The fluid cooled cold plate of claim 1, wherein the main coolant passage is in fluid communication with a central cooling system.

8. The fluid cooled cold plate of claim 7, wherein the finned coolant passage is located downstream of the main coolant passage.

9. A method for preventing cooling flow blockage in a fluid cooled cold plate, the method comprising:

passing a fluid with an entrained contaminate through a main coolant passage having a first cross-sectional area taken laterally in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction;

bypassing a fluid with an entrained contaminate larger than a finned coolant passage past a branch, wherein the branch is oriented such that the fluid is turned 90°

or more when passing into the branch from the main coolant passage, and wherein the branch is in fluid connection with the main coolant passage on a first end and the finned coolant passage on a second end having a second cross-sectional area taken laterally in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction, and wherein the second area is smaller than the first area; and

directing the fluid with the entrained contaminate larger than the finned coolant passage through a coolant bypass passage in fluid communication with the main coolant passage and fluidically parallel to the finned coolant passage.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein directing the fluid with the entrained contaminate larger than the finned coolant passage through the coolant bypass passage comprises directing the fluid along a continuous straight passage from the main coolant passage.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

passing the fluid with an entrained contaminate smaller than the second area and the fluid substantially free of contaminates through the branch.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

balancing a flow resistance between the fluid that passes through the branch and the fluid that passes through the coolant bypass passage.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the flow resistance between the fluid that passes through the branch and the fluid that passes through the coolant bypass passage is balanced by passing the fluid through a converging-diverging nozzle at the coolant bypass passage.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

collecting contaminates in the fluid at the coolant bypass passage.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

removing a plug on the coolant bypass passage.