Abstract:
Methods of fabricating cooling apparatuses are provided, which include providing a thermal transfer structure configured to couple to and cool one or more electronic components. The thermal transfer structure includes a thermal spreader, and at least one coolant-carrying tube coupled to the thermal spreader. The coolant-carrying tube(s) includes multiple tube lengths disposed substantially in a common plane, and an out-of-plane tube bend. The out-of-plane tube bend is couples in fluid communication first and second tube lengths of the multiple tube lengths, and extends out-of-plane from the multiple tube lengths disposed in the common plane. The first and second tube lengths may be spaced apart, with a third tube length disposed between them, and the coolant-carrying tube(s) further includes an in-plane tube bend which couples in fluid communication the third tube length and a fourth tube length of the multiple tube lengths.
Abstract:
Cooling apparatuses and coolant-cooled electronic assemblies are provided which include a thermal transfer structure configured to couple to and cool one or more electronic components. The thermal transfer structure includes a thermal spreader, and at least one coolant-carrying tube coupled to the thermal spreader. The coolant-carrying tube(s) includes multiple tube lengths disposed substantially in a common plane, and an out-of-plane tube bend. The out-of-plane tube bend is couples in fluid communication first and second tube lengths of the multiple tube lengths, and extends out-of-plane from the multiple tube lengths disposed in the common plane. The first and second tube lengths may be spaced apart, with a third tube length disposed between them, and the coolant-carrying tube(s) further includes an in-plane tube bend which couples in fluid communication the third tube length and a fourth tube length of the multiple tube lengths.
Abstract:
Methods are presented for facilitating dissipation of heat generated by one or more electronic components. The methods include providing a coolant-cooled heat sink and a thermostat-controlled valve. The heat sink includes one or more coolant-carrying channels and one or more valve wells intersecting the channels. The thermostat-controlled valve is disposed, at least partially, within a respective valve well so as to intersect a respective coolant-carrying channel, and includes a valve disk and a thermal-sensitive actuator mechanically coupled to rotate the valve disk. The valve disk is rotatable between an open position where coolant is allowed to flow through the respective coolant-carrying channel, and a closed position where coolant is blocked from flowing through the respective channel. The actuator rotates the valve disk between the open position and the closed position, dependent on heating of the thermal-sensitive actuator by the electronic component(s).
Abstract:
Methods are provided for automated coolant flow control for, for instance, facilitating cooling of multiple different electronic systems. The methods include, for instance, automatically controlling coolant flow to a plurality of coolant circuits, and for a coolant circuit i of the coolant circuits: automatically determining the heat load transferred to coolant flowing through coolant circuit i, and automatically controlling coolant flow through coolant circuit i based on the determined heat load transferred to the coolant. The different coolant circuits may have the same or different coolant flow impedances, and flow through the different coolant circuits may be controlled using different heat load-to-coolant ranges for the different circuits.
Abstract:
Thermoelectric-enhanced air and liquid cooling of an electronic system is facilitated by providing a cooling apparatus which includes a liquid-cooled structure in thermal communication with an electronic component(s), and liquid-to-liquid and air-to-liquid heat exchangers coupled in series fluid communication via a coolant loop, which includes first and second loop portions coupled in parallel. The liquid-cooled structure is supplied coolant via the first loop portion, and a thermoelectric array is disposed with the first and second loop portions in thermal contact with first and second sides of the array. The thermoelectric array operates to transfer heat from coolant passing through the first loop portion to coolant passing through the second loop portion, and cools coolant passing through the first loop portion before the coolant passes through the liquid-cooled structure. Coolant passing through the first and second loop portions passes through the series-coupled heat exchangers, one of which functions as heat sink.
Abstract:
Apparatuses and methods are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a vapor-compression refrigeration system, which includes an expansion component, an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser coupled in fluid communication. The evaporator is coupled to and cools the electronic component. The apparatus further includes a contaminant separator coupled in fluid communication with the refrigerant flow path. The separator includes a refrigerant cold filter and a thermoelectric array. At least a portion of refrigerant passing through the refrigerant flow path passes through the cold filter, and the thermoelectric array provides cooling to the cold filter to cool refrigerant passing through the filter. By cooling refrigerant passing through the filter, contaminants solidify from the refrigerant, and are deposited in the cold filter. The separator may further include a refrigerant hot filter coupled to a hot side of the thermoelectric array for further filtering the refrigerant.
Abstract:
Energy efficient control of cooling system cooling of an electronic system is provided based, in part, on weighted cooling effectiveness of the components. The control includes automatically determining speed control settings for multiple adjustable cooling components of the cooling system. The automatically determining is based, at least in part, on weighted cooling effectiveness of the components of the cooling system, and the determining operates to limit power consumption of at least the cooling system, while ensuring that a target temperature associated with at least one of the cooling system or the electronic system is within a desired range by provisioning, based on the weighted cooling effectiveness, a desired target temperature change among the multiple adjustable cooling components of the cooling system. The provisioning includes provisioning applied power to the multiple adjustable cooling components via, at least in part, the determined control settings.
Abstract:
Electronics cooling assemblies are provided which include an air-cooled heat sink, an auxiliary air-moving device, and an airflow-blocking mechanism. The heat sink couples to one or more heat-generating electronic components, and dissipates heat from the electronic component(s) to a cooling airflow passing across the heat sink. The auxiliary air-moving device provides, when active, an increased flow rate of the cooling airflow across the heat sink. The airflow-blocking mechanism toggles between a passive airflow position and an active airflow position. In the passive airflow position, the airflow-blocking mechanism allows the cooling airflow to exhaust from the heat sink without passing through the air-moving device, and in the active airflow position, the airflow-blocking mechanism allows the cooling airflow to exhaust from the auxiliary air-moving device.
Abstract:
Coupling assemblies for connecting fluid-carrying components are provided. The coupling assemblies include, for instance: a socket fitting with a first opening and a second opening in fluid communication through the fitting, the first opening being sized to accommodate a first fluid-carrying component, and the second opening being sized to accommodate a second fluid-carrying component; a sleeve, the sleeve encircling the socket fitting and being rotatable relative to the fitting, and the sleeve including a first locking feature; and a second locking feature associated with one of the fluid-carrying components. The second locking feature is positioned and sized to engage the first locking feature of the sleeve when the one fluid-carrying component is inserted into the socket fitting. Once engaged, rotating of the sleeve locks the first and second locking features together to secure the one fluid-carrying component to the socket fitting.
Abstract:
Liquid-cooled heat sink assemblies are provided which include: a thermally conductive base structure having a sidewall surface and a main heat transfer surface; and a manifold structure attached to the base structure, with the base structure residing at least in part within a recess in the manifold structure. Together, the base and manifold structures define a coolant-carrying compartment through which liquid coolant flows, at least in part, in a direction substantially parallel to the main heat transfer surface of the base structure, and at least one of the sidewall surface of the thermally conductive base structure or an opposing surface thereto of the manifold structure includes a continuous groove. A sealing member is disposed, at least in part, within the continuous groove, and provides a fluid-tight seal between the thermally conductive base structure and the manifold structure.