Remedies to prevent cracking in a liquid system

• US 7,201,214 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vertiv Corporation (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: Cooligy Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Munch, Mark, Zeng, Shulin, Corbin, David, Goodson, Kenneth, Kenny, Thomas W., Shook, James Gill
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang; Chen Wen
• Application Number:
  US11/111,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 165/80.4, 165/81, 165/82, 165/83, 165/168, 165/170, 165/278, 165/104.33, 165/281, 165/85, 165/286, 624/30, 622/592
• US Class Current: 165/82
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 19/006 Preventing deposits of ice
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2245/02 hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/08 Fluid driving means, e.g. pumps, fans
• 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 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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preventing cracking of a liquid system, comprising:

at least one heat exchanger having a top element and a bottom element, wherein the bottom element comprises a heat transfer element;

a plurality of channels and passages formed within the bottom element to provide flow of a fluid therethrough such that heat is transferred between the bottom element and the fluid; and

one or more compressible objects positioned within one or more of the channels and passages such that the one or more compressible objects form a seal between the one or more channels and the top element, wherein in an uncompressed state the compressible objects reduce a volume of each of the channels and passages having compressible objects and further wherein under pressure exerted within the channels and passages the compressible objects are compressed to increase the volume of each of the channels and passages.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressible objects accommodate a predetermined level of fluid expansion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the predetermined level of fluid expansion is between 5 to 25 percent.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressible objects being capable of contracting and expanding between a minimum volume and a maximum volume.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressible objects being positioned with a portion of the top element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressible objects are made of one of the following:

sponge, foam, air-filled bubbles, or balloons.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compressible objects are encapsulated in a gas or liquid impermeable package.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the package is formed of metallic barrier material or metallized plastic sheet material.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the package has a hydrophilic surface or coating.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the package is formed of plastic material.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plastic material is selected from the group consisting of teflon, mylar, PET, PEN, and PVC.