Flexible thermal transfer apparatus for cooling electronic components
First Claim
1. A two-phase thermal transfer apparatus adapted for thermal connection to a heat source, the thermal transfer apparatus comprising:
- a flexible bag which is substantially impermeable to fluid and has at least one compartment that is expandable between a first volume and a second volume;
a thermal transfer liquid which is thermally connected to the heat source and is positioned within the flexible bag; and
a rigid condenser which is sealably attached to the flexible bag, has a high thermal conductivity, has an extended condensing surface positioned within the flexible bag and has an extended heat dissipating surface positioned external to the flexible bag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal transfer apparatus adapted for thermal connection to a heat source for conducting heat away from the heat source. The thermal transfer apparatus includes a container which is substantially impermeable to fluid and forms an expandable compartment that is substantially gas-free. A thermal transfer liquid is positioned within the expandable compartment for thermal connection to the heat source. The thermal transfer liquid has a boiling point that is at or below an operating temperature of the heat source. When the heat source is in a non-operating state, the thermal transfer liquid is compressed and substantially fills the expandable compartment. When the heat source is in an operating state, the thermal transfer liquid conducts heat from the heat source. The liquid vaporizes and forms a vapor within the expandable compartment which causes the expandable compartment to expand and create a vapor space above the liquid. A condenser condenses the vapor into a condensate at a location remote from the heat source. The condensate then returns to the body of liquid for additional cooling of the heat source.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A two-phase thermal transfer apparatus adapted for thermal connection to a heat source, the thermal transfer apparatus comprising:
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a flexible bag which is substantially impermeable to fluid and has at least one compartment that is expandable between a first volume and a second volume; a thermal transfer liquid which is thermally connected to the heat source and is positioned within the flexible bag; and a rigid condenser which is sealably attached to the flexible bag, has a high thermal conductivity, has an extended condensing surface positioned within the flexible bag and has an extended heat dissipating surface positioned external to the flexible bag.
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2. A thermal transfer apparatus for conducting heat away from a heat source having an operating state and a non-operating state, with the heat source having an operating temperature when in the operating state, the thermal transfer apparatus comprising:
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a container which is substantially impermeable to fluid and forms at least one expandable compartment; a thermally conductive liquid which is positioned within the expandable compartment and is thermally connected to the heat source, wherein the liquid has a boiling point that is at or below the operating temperature of the heat source such that the liquid is compressed when the heat source is in the non-operating state and the liquid is saturated and forms a vapor as portions of the liquid vaporize when the heat source is in the operating state; and a condenser which is thermally connected to the vapor, has a high thermal conductivity and has an extended heat dissipating surface positioned external to the expandable compartment. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A two-phase thermal transfer apparatus adapted for thermal connection to a heat source which has an operating state and a non-operating state, with the heat source having an operating temperature when in the operating state, the thermal transfer apparatus comprising:
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a flexible bag which is substantially impermeable to fluid and has at least one compartment that is expandable between a first volume and a second volume; a thermal transfer liquid which is thermally connected to the heat source and has a boiling point that is at or below the operating temperature of the heat source, wherein the thermal transfer liquid is compressed and substantially fills the first volume when the heat source is in the non-operating state and wherein the thermal transfer liquid is saturated and forms a vapor when the heat source is in the operating state; and a rigid condenser which is thermally connected to the vapor, has a high thermal conductivity and has an extended heat dissipating surface positioned external to the compartment. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A two-phase thermal transfer apparatus adapted to conduct heat away from a heat source which has an operating state and a non-operating state, the thermal transfer apparatus comprising:
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a container which is substantially impermeable to fluid and forms at least one expandable compartment which is expandable and contractible between a first volume and a second volume in response to heat flux from the heat source to maintain an internal pressure within the expandable compartment at substantially ambient pressure; a thermally conductive liquid which is positioned within the expandable compartment and is thermally connected to the heat source, wherein the liquid has chemical properties that are selected such that; when the heat source is in the non-operating state, the expandable compartment has the first volume and the liquid is compressed and substantially fills the first volume; and when the heat source is in the operating state, the liquid saturates and portions of the liquid vaporize forming a vapor which causes the expandable compartment to expand from the first volume toward the second volume and create a vapor space located above the liquid within the expandable compartment; and a condenser which is thermally connected to the vapor, has a high thermal conductivity, and has an extended heat dissipating surface.
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24. A thermal transfer apparatus comprising:
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an electronic device to be maintained in an operating and a non-operating state, wherein the electronic device has an operating temperature when the electronic device is in the operating state; a flexible thermal transfer bag which is substantially impermeable to fluid and forms at least one expandable compartment which is expandable and contractible between a first volume and a second volume; a two-phase thermal transfer liquid which is positioned within the expandable compartment and is thermally connected to the electronic device, wherein the liquid has a boiling point that is at or below the operating temperature of the electronic device such that when the electronic device is in the non-operating state, the liquid is compressed and substantially fills the first volume and when the electronic device is in the operating state, the liquid saturates and portions of the liquid vaporize forming a vapor which causes the expandable compartment to expand from the first volume toward the second volume and create a vapor space located above the liquid within the expandable compartment; and a condenser which is attached to the flexible bag, is thermally connected to the vapor and has an extended heat dissipating surface positioned external to the expandable compartment.
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25. A two-phase thermal transfer apparatus adapted for thermal connection to a heat source which has an operating state and a non-operating state, with the heat source having an operating temperature when in the operating state, the thermal transfer apparatus comprising:
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a thermal transfer liquid which is thermally connected to the heat source and has a boiling point that is at or below the operating temperature of the heat source; container means which is expandable between a first volume and a second volume for holding the thermal transfer liquid at ambient pressure, for maintaining the thermal transfer liquid in a compressed state when the heat source is in the non-operating state, and for maintaining the thermal transfer liquid in a saturated state when the heat source is in the operating state such that portions of the thermal transfer liquid vaporize and form a vapor which causes the container to expand from the first volume toward the second volume; means for condensing the vapor into a condensate at a location remote from the heat source; and means for dissipating heat, which is thermally connected to the means for condensing and which has a rigid, extended heat dissipating surface for dissipating heat at a rate sufficient to maintain the thermal transfer liquid at ambient pressure and the container means at a minimum volume between the first volume and the second volume.
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Specification