Liquid-cooling apparatus with integrated coolant filter
First Claim
1. A cooling apparatus comprising:
- a liquid-cooled heat sink configured to cool at least one electronic component, the liquid-cooled heat sink comprising;
a thermally conductive structure with a coolant-carrying compartment comprising, at least in part, a region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area through which coolant flows;
a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet associated with the thermally conductive structure and in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment of the thermally conductive structure to facilitate coolant flow therethrough;
wherein the region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area of the coolant-carrying compartment provides an increased effective heat transfer coefficient between a main heat transfer surface of the thermally conductive structure and the coolant within the coolant-carrying compartment;
a coolant loop coupled to the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet of the liquid-cooled heat sink to facilitate flow of coolant through the coolant-carrying compartment thereof;
a coolant filter positioned to filter contaminants from the coolant passing through the liquid-cooled heat sink, the coolant filter having a larger cross-sectional coolant flow area than the region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area of the coolant-carrying compartment within the thermally conductive structure of the liquid-cooled heat sink; and
wherein the coolant filter is associated with the coolant loop for filtering the coolant before ingressing via the coolant inlet into the coolant-carrying compartment of the thermally conductive structure of the liquid-cooled heat sink; and
wherein the coolant filter is disposed upstream of the liquid-cooled heat sink within a coolant loop connection subassembly, wherein the cross-sectional coolant flow area of the coolant filter is larger than a cross-sectional coolant flow area of the coolant loop.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Cooling apparatuses, cooled electronic modules, and methods of fabrication are provided which facilitate heat transfer from an electronic component(s). The cooling apparatus includes a liquid-cooled heat sink with a thermally conductive structure having a coolant-carrying compartment including a region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area. The heat sink includes a coolant inlet and outlet in fluid communication with the compartment, and the region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area provides an increased effective heat transfer coefficient between a main heat transfer surface of the conductive structure and the coolant. The cooling apparatus further includes a coolant loop coupled to the coolant inlet and outlet to facilitate flow of coolant through the coolant-carrying compartment, and a coolant filter positioned to filter contaminants from the coolant passing through the heat sink. The coolant filter has a larger cross-sectional coolant flow area than the region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area.
33 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A cooling apparatus comprising:
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a liquid-cooled heat sink configured to cool at least one electronic component, the liquid-cooled heat sink comprising; a thermally conductive structure with a coolant-carrying compartment comprising, at least in part, a region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area through which coolant flows; a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet associated with the thermally conductive structure and in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment of the thermally conductive structure to facilitate coolant flow therethrough; wherein the region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area of the coolant-carrying compartment provides an increased effective heat transfer coefficient between a main heat transfer surface of the thermally conductive structure and the coolant within the coolant-carrying compartment; a coolant loop coupled to the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet of the liquid-cooled heat sink to facilitate flow of coolant through the coolant-carrying compartment thereof; a coolant filter positioned to filter contaminants from the coolant passing through the liquid-cooled heat sink, the coolant filter having a larger cross-sectional coolant flow area than the region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area of the coolant-carrying compartment within the thermally conductive structure of the liquid-cooled heat sink; and wherein the coolant filter is associated with the coolant loop for filtering the coolant before ingressing via the coolant inlet into the coolant-carrying compartment of the thermally conductive structure of the liquid-cooled heat sink; and wherein the coolant filter is disposed upstream of the liquid-cooled heat sink within a coolant loop connection subassembly, wherein the cross-sectional coolant flow area of the coolant filter is larger than a cross-sectional coolant flow area of the coolant loop. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A cooling apparatus comprising:
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a liquid-cooled heat sink configured to cool at least one electronic component, the liquid-cooled heat sink comprising; a thermally conductive structure with a coolant-carrying compartment comprising, at least in part, a region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area through which coolant flows; a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet associated with the thermally conductive structure and in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment of the thermally conductive structure to facilitate coolant flow therethrough; wherein the region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow, area of the coolant-carrying compartment provides an increased effective heat transfer coefficient between a main heat transfer surface of the thermally conductive structure and the coolant within the coolant-carrying compartment; a coolant loop coupled to the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet of the liquid-cooled heat sink to facilitate flow of coolant through the coolant-carrying compartment thereof; and a coolant filter positioned to filter contaminants from the coolant passing through the liquid-cooled heat sink, the coolant filter having a larger cross-sectional coolant flow area than the region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area of the coolant-carrying compartment within the thermally conductive structure of the liquid-cooled heat sink, wherein the region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area comprises a coolant flow opening with a critical coolant flow dimension less than 0.5 mm.
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10. A cooled electronic module comprising;
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at least one electronic component to be cooled; and a cooling apparatus to facilitate cooling of the at least one electronic component, the cooling apparatus comprising; a liquid-cooled heat sink coupled to the at least one electronic component to be cooled, the liquid-cooled heat sink comprising; a thermally conductive structure with a coolant-carrying compartment comprising, at least in part, a region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area through which coolant flows; a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet associated with the thermally conductive structure and in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying compartment of the thermally conductive structure to facilitate coolant flow therethrough; wherein the region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area of the coolant-carrying compartment provides an increased effective heat transfer coefficient between a main heat transfer surface of the thermally conductive structure and the coolant within the coolant-carrying compartment; a coolant loop coupled to the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet of the liquid-cooled heat sink to facilitate flow of coolant through the coolant-carrying compartment thereof; and a coolant filter positioned to filter contaminants from the coolant passing through the liquid-cooled heat sink, the coolant filter having a larger cross-sectional coolant flow area than the region of reduced cross-sectional coolant flow area of the coolant-carrying compartment within the thermally conductive structure of the liquid-cooled heat sink. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification