Cold plate, forming in particular a structural part of an item of equipment having heat-generating components

• US 9,736,963 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Pons, Philippe, Salles, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Adrian S
• Application Number:
  US14/976,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20160192534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 36167953, 361699, 361702
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/3672 Foil-like cooling fins or heat sinks being part of lead-frames H01L23/49568
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20009 using a gaseous coolant in electronic enclosures in cabinets of standardized dimensions H05K7/20536; in server cabinets H05K7/20709; in vehicle electronic casings H05K7/20845; in power control electronics H05K7/2089; in displays H05K7/20954
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20254 Cold plates transferring heat from heat source to coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20636 within sub-racks for removing heat from electronic boards

Abstract

A cold plate for cooling heat-generating components, includes two plates extending parallel to each other. A core is sandwiched between the two plates to form a sandwich structure, the core including a set of passages for passing a cooling fluid from a first edge to an opposite second edge of the sandwich structure. First and second fluid-tight joining members are disposed respectively on the first and second opposite edges of the sandwich structure, the first fluid-tight joining member including at least one inlet connector and the second fluid-tight joining member including at least one outlet connector for the passage of the cooling fluid. A method for use of the cold plate in particular as a structural part of an avionics equipment item is also provided.

Claims

1. A cold plate for cooling heat-generating components, comprising:

two plates extending parallel to one another and a core disposed between the two plates to form a sandwich structure, the core comprising a set of passages for passing at least one cooling fluid from a first edge to an opposite second edge of the sandwich structure,

wherein first and second fluid-tight joining members are disposed respectively on the first and second opposite edges of the sandwich structure, the first fluid-tight joining member comprising at least one inlet connector for the at least one cooling fluid and the second fluid-tight joining member comprising at least one outlet connector for the at least one cooling fluid,

wherein the first and second fluid-tight joining members block all the passages except at least one subset of the set of passages, the at least one inlet connector for at least one cooling fluid being connected with the subset of the set of passages, and the at least one outlet connector for the at least one cooling fluid being connected with the subset of the set of passages.

2. The cold plate according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid-tight joining member, respectively the second fluid-tight joining member, comprises a number of inlet connectors, respectively a number of outlet connectors, for the at least one cooling fluid.

3. The cold plate according to claim 1, wherein the first and second fluid-tight joining members are inserted and fixed between the two plates extending beyond the core.

4. The cold plate according to claim 1, wherein the set of passages comprises passages closed by at least one of the two plates and emerging respectively on the first edge and on the opposite second edge of the sandwich structure.

5. The cold plate according to claim 4, wherein the passages each comprise two walls respectively adjacent to at least one of the two plates.

6. The cold plate according to claim 5, wherein the two walls are inclined relative to one another and adjacent to one another to form a passage bottom.

7. The cold plate according to claim 4, wherein the core has a wavy form, the top of the waves being in contact with at least one of the two plates.

8. The cold plate according to claim 4, wherein the direction of passage of the at least one cooling fluid in the set of passages corresponds to a longitudinal direction of the sandwich structure, the core producing a fluid-tight closure of the cold plate on longitudinal edges of the cold plate.

9. The cold plate according to claim 1, wherein the set of passages comprises passages parallel to one another.

10. The cold plate according to claim 9, wherein the passages are disposed zigzag fashion from the first edge to the opposite second edge of the sandwich structure.

11. A system for cooling heat-generating components, comprising a cold plate according to claim 1, heat-generating components being disposed in contact with at least one of the two plates.

12. A method of using a cold plate, the method comprising:

providing a cold plate for cooling heat-generating components, the cold plate comprising;

two plates extending parallel to one another and a core disposed between the two plates to form a sandwich structure, the core comprising a set of passages for passing at least one cooling fluid from a first edge to an opposite second edge of the sandwich structure,

wherein first and second fluid-tight joining members are disposed respectively on the first and second opposite edges of the sandwich structure, the first fluid-tight joining member comprising at least one inlet connector for the at least one cooling fluid and the second fluid-tight joining member comprising at least one outlet connector for the at least one cooling fluid,

wherein the first and second fluid-tight joining members block all the passages except at least one subset of the set of passages, the at least one inlet connector for at least one cooling fluid being connected with the subset of the set of passages, and the at least one outlet connector for the at least one cooling fluid being connected with the subset of the set of passages; and

using the cold plate as a structural part of an avionics equipment item in an aircraft.