Remedies to prevent cracking in a liquid system

• US 7,402,029 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cooligy Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• 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:
  US11/111,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20050183845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 138/27, 138/28, 138/32, 92/89, 92/90, 92/91, 92/92, 92/93, 921/03.R, 417/472, 417/474, 417/481, 220/720, 220/721
• US Class Current: 417/474
• 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 in a liquid system, comprising:

an enclosure including a portion filled with liquid;

at least one air pocket disposed in the enclosure, the air pocket in contact with the liquid and positioned farthest away from a location where liquid begins to freeze in the enclosure; and

a thermally conductive material coupled to the location where liquid begins to freeze thereby providing a thermal path for removing heat from the location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air pocket accommodates 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. An apparatus for preventing cracking of a liquid system, comprising:

a housing having at least one inlet chamber including a portion filled with liquid and at least one outlet chamber including a portion filled with liquid, wherein the inlet chamber is distinct from the outlet chamber;

at least one air pocket disposed in the inlet chamber and in contact with the liquid in the inlet chamber, and at least one air pocket disposed in the outlet chamber and in contact with the liquid in the outlet chamber, each air pocket positioned farthest away from a location where liquid begins to freeze in the chambers; and

a thermally conductive material coupled to the location where liquid begins to freeze thereby providing a thermal path for removing heat from the location.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the air pocket accommodates a predetermined level of fluid expansion.

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

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the thermally conductive material is coupled to the inlet chamber.

8. A method of preventing cracking of a liquid system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an enclosure including a portion filled with liquid;

disposing at least one air pocket in the enclosure, the air pocket in contact with the liquid and positioned farthest away from a location where liquid begins to freeze in the enclosure; and

coupling a thermally conductive material to the location where liquid begins to freeze thereby providing a thermal path for removing heat from the location.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the air pocket accommodates a predetermined level of fluid expansion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined level of fluid expansion is between 5 to 25 percent.

11. A method of preventing cracking of a liquid system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing having at least one inlet chamber including a portion filled with liquid and at least one outlet chamber including a portion filled with liquid, wherein the inlet chamber is distinct from the outlet chamber;

disposing at least one air pocket in the inlet chamber and in contact with the liquid in the inlet chamber, and at least one air pocket in the outlet chamber and in contact with the liquid in the outlet chamber, each air pocket positioned farthest away from a location where liquid begins to freeze in the chambers; and

coupling a thermally conductive material to the location where liquid begins to freeze thereby providing a thermal path for removing heat from the location.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the air pocket accommodates a predetermined level of fluid expansion.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined level of fluid expansion is between 5 to 25 percent.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the thermally conductive material is coupled to the inlet chamber.