Minimal fluid forced convective heat sink for high power computers

• US 6,945,314 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Makley, Albert Vincent, Farrow, Timothy Samuel, June, Michael Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Application Number:
  US10/745,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20050133203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 165/80.3, 165/80.4, 165/104.28, 165/104.31, 165/104.33, 165/86, 361/698
• US Class Current: 165/80.3
• 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

A heat removal system for a computer has a heat sink and a spool rotatably disposed in the heat sink. The spool includes fluid inlets and outlets, and water circulates in a closed loop from the inlets, through the spool, through the outlets, past the computer component to be cooled, and between the heat sink and the spool to transfer heat to the heat sink, then back to the inlets. A thermally conductive can is between the heat sink and spool such that the working fluid flows between the can and spool.

Claims

1. A heat removal system for a computer including at least one component to be cooled, comprising:

a heat sink; and

an elongated spool rotatably disposed in the heat sink, the spool including at least one working fluid inlet and at least one working fluid outlet, wherein working fluid circulates in a closed loop from the inlet, through the spool, through the outlet, past the component to be cooled, and between the heat sink and the spool to transfer heat to the heat sink, and back to the inlet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the working fluid is water.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer includes at least one fan blowing air past the heat sink.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the heat sink is an axial flow heat sink and the fan and spool are rotated by a common motor.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the heat sink is a transverse flow heat sink and the fan and spool are rotated by respective motors.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a thermally conductive can between the heat sink and spool, the working fluid flowing between the can and spool, the can being in thermal contact with the heat sink.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the can has a thickness of between one half millimeter and two millimeters.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the spool includes:

a hollow housing defining the inlet and outlet;

a working fluid guiding member disposed in the housing and rotating therewith, the working fluid guiding member channeling working fluid from the inlet to the outlet as the housing rotates; and

a cap covering an end of the housing to seal the can.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the housing defines at least one vane adjacent the component to be cooled to disturb boundary layers in the working fluid to promote heat transfer.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the inlet is scoop-shaped.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the working fluid guiding member includes an outer guiding element defining at least one convex channel portion and an inner guiding element nested in the outer guiding element and defining at least one concave channel portion mating with the convex channel portion of the outer guiding element to define a working fluid channel extending from the inlet to the outlet.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the housing defines plural inlets and plural outlets, the working fluid guiding member defining plural channels, each channel extending between a respective inlet and a respective outlet.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the working fluid channel is oriented generally circumferentially relative to the working fluid guiding member adjacent the inlet and generally axially relative to the working fluid guiding member adjacent the outlet.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the outlet is radially inward of the inlet, relative to the working fluid guiding member.

15. A spool for a computer including at least one component to be cooled and a fan, comprising:

a housing rotatably disposable in a heat sink in the computer, the housing including at least one heat exchange liquid inlet and at least one heat exchange liquid outlet, wherein when the housing is rotated in the heat sink, heat exchange liquid circulates in a closed loop from the inlet, through the housing, through the outlet, past the component to be cooled, and between the heat sink and the housing to transfer heat to the heat sink, and back to the inlet.

16. The spool of claim 15, wherein the spool includes:

a heat exchange liquid guiding member disposed in the housing and rotating therewith, the heat exchange liquid guiding member channeling heat exchange liquid from the inlet to the outlet as the housing rotates; and

a cap covering an end of the housing.

17. The spool of claim 16, wherein the housing defines at least one vane adjacent the component to be cooled when the spool is disposed in the computer to disturb boundary layers in the heat exchange liquid to promote heat transfer.

18. The spool of claim 16, wherein the inlet is scoop-shaped.

19. The spool of claim 16, wherein the heat exchange liquid guiding member includes an outer guiding element defining at least one convex channel portion and an inner guiding element nested in the outer guiding element and defining at least one concave channel portion mating with the convex channel portion of the outer guiding element to define a heat exchange liquid channel extending from the inlet to the outlet.

20. The spool of claim 19, wherein the housing defines plural inlets and plural outlets, the heat exchange liquid guiding member defining a respective channel extending between a respective inlet and a respective outlet.

21. The spool of claim 19, wherein the heat exchange liquid channel is oriented generally circumferentially relative to the heat exchange liquid guiding member adjacent the inlet and generally axially relative to the heat exchange liquid guiding member adjacent the outlet.

22. The spool of claim 21, wherein the outlet is radially inward of the inlet, relative to the heat exchange liquid guiding member.

23. A computer, comprising:

at least one component to be cooled;

at least one heat sink disposed to absorb heat from the component;

at least one fan blowing air past the heat sink;

at least one spool rotatably disposed in the heat sink to circulate coolant adjacent the component and heat sink to transfer heat from the component to the heat sink; and

a thermally conductive can between the heat sink and spool, the water flowing between the can and spool, the can being in thermal contact with the heat sink.

24. The computer of claim 23, wherein the coolant is water.

25. The computer of claim 23, wherein the heat sink is an axial flow heat sink and the fan and spool are rotated by a common motor.

26. The computer of claim 23, wherein the heat sink is a transverse flow heat sink and the fan and spool are rotated by respective motors.

27. The computer of claim 23, wherein the can has a thickness of between one half millimeter and two millimeters.

28. A computer, comprising:

at least one component to be cooled;

at least one heat sink disposed to absorb heat from the component;

at least one fan blowing air past the heat sink; and

at least one spool rotatably disposed in the heat sink to circulate coolant adjacent the component and heat sink to transfer heat from the component to the heat sink, wherein the spool includes;

a hollow housing defining the inlet and outlet;

a water guiding member disposed in the housing and rotating therewith, the water guiding member channeling water from the inlet to the outlet as the housing rotates; and

a cap covering an end of the housing.

29. The computer of claim 28, wherein the housing defines at least one vane adjacent the component to be cooled to disturb boundary layers in the water to promote heat transfer.

30. The computer of claim 28, wherein the inlet is scoop-shaped.

31. The computer of claim 28, wherein the water guiding member includes an outer guiding element defining at least one convex channel portion and an inner guiding element nested in the outer guiding element and defining at least one concave channel portion mating with the convex channel portion of the outer guiding element to define a water channel extending from the inlet to the outlet.

32. The computer of claim 31, wherein the housing defines plural inlets and plural outlets, the water guiding member defining a respective channel extending between a respective inlet and a respective outlet.

33. The computer of claim 31, wherein the water channel is oriented generally circumferentially relative to the water guiding member adjacent the inlet and generally axially relative to the water guiding member adjacent the outlet.

34. The computer of claim 33, wherein the outlet is radially inward of the inlet, relative to the water guiding member.