Electroosmotic microchannel cooling system
First Claim
1. A cooling system for a heat emitting device, the cooling system operating using a fluid having a liquid phase, the cooling system comprising:
- a substrate including at least a portion of a microchannel disposed therein, the substrate adapted to physically connect to the heat emitting device, thereby providing for the transfer of thermal energy from the heat emitting device to the substrate, and the further transfer of thermal energy from the substrate to the fluid disposed within the microchannel, the microchannel configured to provide flow of the fluid therethrough;
a heat exchanger configured to provide flow of the fluid therethrough and the transfer of thermal energy out of the fluid;
a high flow rate electroosmotic pump, the electroosmotic pump creating the flow of the fluid; and
wherein the substrate, the heat exchanger, and the electroosmotic pump are configured to operate together.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods according to the present invention preferably utilize electroosmotic pumps that are capable of generating high pressure and flow without moving mechanical parts and the associated generation of unacceptable electrical and acoustic noise, as well as the associated reduction in reliability. These electroosmotic pumps are preferably fabricated with materials and structures that improve performance, efficiency, and reduce weight and manufacturing cost relative to presently available micropumps. These electroosmotic pumps also preferably allow for recapture of evolved gases and deposited materials, which may provide for long-term closed-loop operation. Apparatus and methods according to the present invention also allow active regulation of the temperature of the device through electrical control of the flow through the pump and can utilize multiple cooling loops to allow independent regulation of the special and temporal characteristics of the device temperature profiles. Novel microchannel structures are also described.
252 Citations
61 Claims
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1. A cooling system for a heat emitting device, the cooling system operating using a fluid having a liquid phase, the cooling system comprising:
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a substrate including at least a portion of a microchannel disposed therein, the substrate adapted to physically connect to the heat emitting device, thereby providing for the transfer of thermal energy from the heat emitting device to the substrate, and the further transfer of thermal energy from the substrate to the fluid disposed within the microchannel, the microchannel configured to provide flow of the fluid therethrough;
a heat exchanger configured to provide flow of the fluid therethrough and the transfer of thermal energy out of the fluid;
a high flow rate electroosmotic pump, the electroosmotic pump creating the flow of the fluid; and
wherein the substrate, the heat exchanger, and the electroosmotic pump are configured to operate together.
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- 2. A method for transferring heat from a heat-generating device to a fluid in a closed-loop cooling system comprising pumping the fluid through the closed-loop at sub-atmospheric pressure by a high flow rate electrokinetic pump.
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10. A method for providing a transfer of heat from a heat-generating device at a sub-atmospheric pressure in a closed loop cooling system, comprising the steps of:
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generating a flow of a fluid having a liquid phase using a high flow rate electroosmotic pump;
directing the flow of fluid through a microchannel from a liquid phase at an inlet to a liquid-vapor phase at an outlet, the microchannel configured such that the heated fluid leaves the microchannel at sub-atmospheric pressure;
directing the heated fluid leaving the microchannel to pass through a heat exchanger to create a cooled fluid; and
directing the cooled fluid back to the electroosmotic pump to create a closed loop fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A closed loop cooling system for a heat-generating device and using a fluid having both a liquid phase and a liquid-vapor phase, comprising:
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a high flow rate electrokinetic pump;
a substrate including at least a portion of a microchannel disposed therein, the substrate disposed on the heat-generating device to transfer thermal energy from the heat-generating device to the substrate, and the further transfer of thermal energy to the fluid disposed within the microchannel; and
wherein the microchannel is configured to provide flow of the fluid therethrough at sub-atmospheric pressure, wherein the fluid is in the liquid phase when entering and in the liquid-vapor phase when exiting the microchannel. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for transferring heat from a heat-generating device to a heat exchanger in a closed loop cooling system including a high-flow rate electrokinetic pump, the heat exchanger including a microchannel that can transfer fluid therethrough, the fluid entering the microchannel in a liquid state and exiting in a liquid-vapor state, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a plurality of dimensions of the microchannel such that the fluid exits at sub-atmospheric pressure and sufficient thermal energy is transferred to the fluid to maintain the temperature of the heat-generating device below an operational limit; and
coupling the microchannel with the determined dimensions to the heat-generating device. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An apparatus for use with a closed loop cooling system, including a high flow rate electroosmotic pump heat exchanger, that operates using a fluid having both a liquid phase and a liquid-vapor phase, comprising:
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a heat generating device including a heat generating element;
a substrate physically connected to the heat generating device, the heat generating device and the substrate each containing at least a portion of a microchannel and providing for the transfer of thermal energy to the fluid disposed within the microchannel, the microchannel configured to provide flow of the fluid through the microchannel so as to exit the microchannel at sub-atmospheric pressure, wherein the fluid is in the liquid phase when entering and in the liquid-vapor phase when exiting the microchannel. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A closed-loop fluid cooling system for a heat-generating device comprising:
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a high flow rate electrokinetic pump for pumping the fluid through the closed-loop system;
a microchannel heat exchanger coupled to the heat-generating device for transferring heat to the fluid, the fluid entering the heat exchanger in a liquid state and exiting in a liquid-vapor state;
a second heat exchanger coupled to ambient for transferring heat from the fluid to an external environment; and
wherein the static pressure is below the ambient pressure in at least one location in the closed-loop. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61)
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Specification