Remedies to prevent cracking in a liquid system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for preventing cracking of a liquid system, comprising:
- at least one heat exchanger;
at least one inlet port extending through a first opening for conveying a fluid to a plurality of channels and passages;
at least one outlet port extending through a second opening for discharging the fluid from the plurality of channels and passages; and
one or more compressible objects coupled to the inlet and outlet ports in an unpressured condition such that the compressible objects reduce a volume of the inlet port and the outlet port and further wherein pressure exerted on the compressible object increases a volume of the inlet port and the outlet port;
wherein, the heat exchanger is configured so that the fluid in the inlet port and the outlet port freezes later than the fluid elsewhere in the heat exchanger, and for freezing to advance towards the one or more compressible objects.
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Abstract
A liquid cooling system utilizing minimal size and volume enclosures, air pockets, compressible objects, and flexible objects is provided to protect against expansion of water-based solutions when frozen. In such a system, pipes, pumps, and heat exchangers are designed to prevent cracking of their enclosures and chambers. Also described are methods of preventing cracking in a liquid cooling system. In all these cases, the system must be designed to tolerate expansion when water is frozen.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus for preventing cracking of a liquid system, comprising:
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at least one heat exchanger; at least one inlet port extending through a first opening for conveying a fluid to a plurality of channels and passages; at least one outlet port extending through a second opening for discharging the fluid from the plurality of channels and passages; and one or more compressible objects coupled to the inlet and outlet ports in an unpressured condition such that the compressible objects reduce a volume of the inlet port and the outlet port and further wherein pressure exerted on the compressible object increases a volume of the inlet port and the outlet port; wherein, the heat exchanger is configured so that the fluid in the inlet port and the outlet port freezes later than the fluid elsewhere in the heat exchanger, and for freezing to advance towards the one or more compressible objects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for preventing cracking of a liquid system, comprising:
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an enclosure; and one or more compressible objects immersed in the enclosure; wherein, the enclosure is configured to cause a fluid to begin to freeze at one or more locations in the enclosure, and for freezing to advance towards the one or more compressible objects. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of preventing cracking of a liquid system, the system including one or more pumps and one or more heat exchangers, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an enclosure; configuring the enclosure to cause a fluid to begin to freeze at one or more locations in the enclosure, and for freezing to advance towards other locations in the enclosure; and immersing one or more compressible objects in the enclosure at the other locations. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An apparatus for preventing cracking of a liquid system, the system including one or more pumps and one or more heat exchangers, comprising an enclosure, wherein the enclosure being capable of contracting and expanding between a minimum volume condition and a maximum volume condition with fluid expansion during freezing, and further wherein the enclosure is configured to cause a fluid to begin to freeze at one or more locations in the enclosure, and for freezing to advance towards other locations in the enclosure.
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37. An apparatus for preventing cracking of a liquid system, comprising:
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at least one heat exchanger including a plurality of microchannels; at least one inlet port extending through a first opening for conveying a fluid to the plurality of microchannels; at least one outlet port extending through a second opening for discharging the fluid from the plurality of microchannels; and one or more compressible objects each coupled to at least one of the inlet port and outlet port in an unpressured condition such that the compressible objects reduce a volume of the inlet port and the outlet port and further wherein pressure exerted on the compressible object increases a volume of the inlet port and the outlet port; wherein, the heat exchanger is configured so that fluid within the plurality of microchannels freezes before fluid within the outlet port and the inlet port.
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Specification