| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080259567 | CONDUCTIVE HEAT TRANSPORT COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MULTI-COMPONENT ELECTRONICS SYSTEM - A conductive heat transport cooling system and method are provided for cooling primary and secondary heat generating components of an electronics system. The cooling system includes a liquid-based cooling subsystem including at least one liquid-cooled cold plate physically coupled to at least one primary heat generating component of the electronics system, and a thermally conductive coolant-carrying tube coupled to and in fluid communication with the at least one liquid-cooled cold plate. A thermally conductive auxiliary structure is coupled to the coolant-carrying tube and to at least one secondary heat generating component of the electronics system. When in use, the thermally conductive auxiliary structure provides conductive heat transport from the at least one secondary heat generating component to the at least one thermally conductive coolant-carrying tube coupled thereto, and hence via convection to liquid coolant passing therethrough. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080264604 | COOLING APPARTAUS, COOLED ELECTRONIC MODULE AND METHODS OF FABRICATION EMPLOYING A MANIFOLD STRUCTURE WITH INTERLEAVED COOLANT INLET AND OUTLET PASSAGEWAYS - A cooling apparatus and method of fabrication are provided for facilitating removal of heat from an electronic device. The cooling apparatus includes a manifold structure having a plurality of inlet and outlet passageways for injecting coolant onto, and exhausting coolant after impinging on, a surface to be cooled. The coolant inlet and outlet passageways are interleaved in the manifold structure, and coolant is injected and exhausted through a common edge of the manifold. The manifold structure further includes coolant inlet and outlet plenums, with coolant passing through the inlet passageways from the inlet plenum in a first direction and coolant passing through the outlet passageways to the outlet plenum in a second direction, the first and second directions being perpendicular to the surface to be cooled and being opposite directions, and wherein the manifold structure is contained within a rectangular volume defined by a projection of the common edge. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080266799 | Methods and Apparatuses for Cold Plate Stability - A cold plate assembly includes a cold plate with at least two plumbing ports. The cold plate assembly further includes a spring plate assembly, which applies an actuation load to the cold plate. The actuation load is configured to mechanically actuate the cold plate to a module. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080273306 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FACILITATING COOLING OF ELECTRONICS RACKS OF A DATA CENTER EMPLOYING MULTIPLE COOLING STATIONS - A cooling system and method are provided for cooling air exiting one or more electronics racks of a data center. The cooling system includes at least one cooling station separate and freestanding from at least one respective electronics rack of the data center, and configured for disposition of an air outlet side of electronics rack adjacent thereto for cooling egressing air from the electronics rack. The cooling station includes a frame structure separate and freestanding from the respective electronics rack, and an air-to-liquid heat exchange assembly supported by the frame structure. The heat exchange assembly includes an inlet and an outlet configured to respectively couple to coolant supply and coolant return lines for facilitating passage of coolant therethrough. The air-to-liquid heat exchange assembly is sized to cool egressing air from the air outlet side of the respective electronics rack before being expelled into the data center. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080273307 | LIQUID-BASED COOLING SYSTEM FOR COOLING A MULTI-COMPONENT ELECTRONICS SYSTEM - A system for cooling an electronics system is provided. The cooling system includes a monolithic structure preconfigured for cooling multiple electronic components of the electronics system when coupled thereto. The monolithic structure includes multiple liquid-cooled cold plates configured and disposed in spaced relation to couple to respective electronic components; a plurality of coolant-carrying tubes metallurgically bonded in fluid communication with the multiple liquid-cooled cold plates, and a liquid-coolant header subassembly metallurgically bonded in fluid communication with multiple coolant-carrying tubes. The header subassembly includes a coolant supply header metallurgically bonded to coolant supply tubes and a coolant return header metallurgically bonded to coolant return tubes. When in use, the multiple liquid-cooled cold plates engage respective electronic components of the electronics system, and liquid coolant is distributed through the liquid-coolant header subassembly and plurality of coolant-carrying tubes to the cold plates for removal of heat generated by the respective electronic components. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080278913 | COOLING APPARATUS AND COOLED ELECTRONIC MODULE WITH A THERMALLY CONDUCTIVE RETURN MANIFOLD STRUCTURE SEALED TO THE PERIPHERY OF A SURFACE TO BE COOLED - A cooled electronic module and method of fabrication are provided employing a cooling apparatus for removing heat from one or more electronic devices disposed on a substrate. The cooling apparatus includes a supply manifold structure having a plurality of inlet orifices for injecting coolant onto a surface to be cooled, and a return manifold structure. The return manifold structure, which is fabricated of a thermally conductive material, has a base surface sealed to the surface to be cooled along a periphery thereof employing a thermally conductive, coolant-tight seal. The return manifold structure provides at least one return passageway for exhausting coolant after impinging on the surface to be cooled, wherein coolant exhausting through the at least one passageway cools the return manifold structure, thereby facilitating further cooling of the surface to be cooled in a region where the base surface is sealed to the surface to be cooled. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080307806 | COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD UTILIZING THERMAL CAPACITOR UNIT(S) FOR ENHANCED THERMAL ENERGY TRANSFER EFFICIENCY - A cooling system and method are provided which include a facility cooling unit, a cooling tower, and one or more thermal capacitor units. The facility cooling unit, which includes a heat dissipation coolant loop, facilitates thermal energy extraction from a facility, such as a data center, for expelling of the energy to coolant within the heat dissipation coolant loop. The cooling tower is in fluid communication with the coolant loop, and includes a liquid-to-air heat exchanger for expelling thermal energy from coolant of the heat dissipation coolant loop to the surrounding environment. The thermal capacitor unit is in fluid communication with the heat dissipation coolant loop to facilitate efficient thermal energy transfer from coolant with in the coolant loop to the surrounding environment with variation in ambient temperature about the cooling tower. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080308260 | COLD PLATE STABILITY - A cold plate assembly includes a cold plate with at least two plumbing ports. The cold plate assembly further includes a spring plate assembly, which applies an actuation load to the cold plate. The spring plate assembly includes a spring plate and a spring pin moveable in a slot of the spring plate assembly to maintain the actuation load. The actuation load is configured to mechanically actuate the cold plate to a module. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20080310104 | LIQUID-BASED COOLING APPARATUS FOR AN ELECTRONICS RACK - A cooling apparatus is provided for facilitating cooling of electronics drawers of an electronics rack. The apparatus includes a bi-fold door assembly configured for mounting to the electronics rack. The door assembly includes a first door and a second door, each configured for separate, hinged mounting to the electronics rack. The apparatus further includes a coolant distribution apparatus, wherein a coolant supply manifold thereof is mounted to the first door and a coolant return manifold thereof is mounted to the second door. Separate connections are coupled in fluid communication with the coolant supply and return manifolds for facilitating supply and return of coolant to and from the manifolds, and for facilitating pivotal movement of the doors relative to the electronics rack. A plurality of coolant distribution ports are provided within the supply and return manifolds, and disposed to facilitate supply and return of coolant to the electronics drawers. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090025223 | HEAT EXCHANGER WITH ANGLED SECONDARY FINS EXTENDING FROM PRIMARY FINS - A heat exchanger, method of fabrication and cooled electronics system employing the heat exchanger are provided. The heat exchanger, which in one embodiment cools air provided to heat generating components of a computer system, is disposed at an angle with respect to a direction of airflow. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of primary fins oriented parallel, and at least one plurality of secondary fins extending from at least one of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the plurality of primary fins. Each secondary fin extends from a respective primary fin at an angle other than 0° to facilitate airflow through the heat exchanger. Additionally, the secondary fins are fixedly positioned relative to and integral with the primary fins, thereby providing an increased heat transfer surface area. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090072967 | AUTO-LOCATING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA CENTER MAPPING AND MONITORING - Automated locating of electronics racks within a data center room is provided. The automated approach employs n wireless identification units associated with respective electronics racks of the data center, and first and second transceiver units positioned within the data center along a common plane at known X,Y locations. A monitor unit is in communication with the transceiver units, and automatically determines X,Y location within the data center room of each respective electronics rack employing, in part, first time differentials between transmission of a first broadcast signal by the first transceiver unit and receipt of response signals from the wireless identification units, second time differentials between transmission of a second broadcast signal from the second transceiver unit and receipt of response signals thereto from the wireless identification units, and the known X,Y locations within the data center of the transceiver units. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090086428 | DOCKING STATION WITH HYBRID AIR AND LIQUID COOLING OF AN ELECTRONICS RACK - A docking station is provided for cooling an electronics rack of a data center. The docking station includes an enclosure having at least one wall, a cover coupled to the at least one wall, and a central opening sized to receive the electronics rack therein. The enclosure is separate and freestanding from the electronics rack and surrounds the electronics rack, and facilitates establishing a closed loop airflow path passing through air inlet and outlet sides of the rack and through an air return pathway of the enclosure. The docking station further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchange assembly, disposed within the air return pathway for cooling circulating air passing through the closed loop airflow path, and at least one modular cooling unit, disposed within the enclosure for providing system coolant to the air-to-liquid heat exchange assembly and to at least one electronics subsystem of the electronics rack. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090086432 | DOCKING STATION WITH CLOSED LOOP AIRLFOW PATH FOR FACILITATING COOLING OF AN ELECTRONICS RACK - A docking station is provided for cooling an electronics rack of a data center. The docking station includes an enclosure having at least one wall, a cover coupled to the at least one wall, and a central opening sized to receive the electronics rack therein through an access opening in the wall. The enclosure is separate and freestanding from the electronics rack, and when the electronics rack is operatively positioned within the central opening, the enclosure surrounds the electronics rack and facilitates establishing a closed loop airflow path passing through air inlet and outlet sides of the rack and through an air return pathway of the enclosure. The docking station further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchange assembly disposed within the air return pathway of the enclosure for cooling circulating air passing through the closed loop airflow path. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090122487 | SYSTEM OF FACILITATING COOLING OF ELECTRONICS RACKS OF A DATA CENTER EMPLOYING MULTIPLE COOLING STATIONS - A cooling system and method are provided for cooling air exiting one or more electronics racks of a data center. The cooling system includes at least one cooling station separate and freestanding from at least one respective electronics rack of the data center, and configured for disposition of an air outlet side of electronics rack adjacent thereto for cooling egressing air from the electronics rack. The cooling station includes a frame structure separate and freestanding from the respective electronics rack, and an air-to-liquid heat exchange assembly supported by the frame structure. The heat exchange assembly includes an inlet and an outlet configured to respectively couple to coolant supply and coolant return lines for facilitating passage of coolant therethrough. The air-to-liquid heat exchange assembly is sized to cool egressing air from the air outlet side of the respective electronics rack before being expelled into the data center. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090126910 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING SERVICING OF A LIQUID-COOLED ELECTRONICS RACK - Apparatus and method for facilitating servicing of a liquid-cooled electronics rack are provided. The apparatus includes a coolant tank, a coolant pump in fluid communication with the coolant tank, multiple parallel-connected coolant supply lines coupling the coolant pump to a coolant supply port of the apparatus, and a coolant return port and a coolant return line coupled between the coolant return port and the coolant tank. Each coolant supply line includes a coolant control valve for selectively controlling flow of coolant therethrough pumped by the coolant pump from the coolant tank. At least one coolant supply line includes at least one filter, and one coolant supply line is a bypass line with no filter. When operational, the apparatus facilitates filling of coolant into a cooling system of a liquid-cooled electronics rack by allowing for selective filtering of coolant inserted into the cooling system. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090133866 | HYBRID AIR AND LIQUID COOLANT CONDITIONING UNIT FOR FACILITAATING COOLING OF ONE OR MORE ELECTRONICS RACKS OF A DATA CENTER - A hybrid air and liquid coolant conditioning unit is provided for facilitating cooling of electronics rack(s) of a data center. The unit includes a first heat exchange assembly, including a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger, a system coolant loop and a facility coolant loop, and a second heat exchange assembly, including an air-to-liquid heat exchanger, an air-moving device, and the facility coolant loop. The system coolant loop provides cooled system coolant to the electronics rack(s), and expels heat in the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger from the electronics rack(s) to the facility coolant. The air-to-liquid heat exchanger extracts heat from the air of the data center and expels the heat to the facility coolant of the facility coolant loop. The facility coolant loop provides chilled facility coolant in parallel to the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger and the air-to-liquid heat exchanger. In one implementation, the hybrid coolant conditioning unit includes a vapor-compression heat exchange assembly. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090161709 | MULTICHIP PACKAGE, METHODS OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF AND ARTICLES COMPRISING THE SAME - Disclosed herein is a multichip package comprising an optoelectronics assembly; a socket that houses the optoelectronics assembly; the socket being in electrical communication with the optoelectronics assembly; a plate having a first surface and a second surface; the first surface being opposedly disposed to the second surface; a portion of the first surface contacting a portion of the socket to provide thermal contact between the socket and the plate; a serpentine channel being disposed between the plate and the socket to provide a passage for a communication cable that is in operative communication with the optoelectronics assembly; and a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the plate; the heat exchanger being operative to cool the multichip package. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090205416 | MONITORING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING RACK AIRFLOW RATE AND RACK POWER CONSUMPTION - Monitoring method and system are provided for dynamically determining rack airflow rate and rack power consumption employing a heat exchanger disposed at an air outlet side of the electronics rack. The method includes: sensing air temperature at the air outlet side of the electronics rack, sensing coolant temperature at a coolant inlet and coolant temperature at a coolant outlet of the heat exchanger, and determining airflow rate through the electronics rack; and outputting the determined airflow rate through the electronics rack. The determining employs the sensed air temperature at the air outlet side of the rack and the sensed coolant temperatures at the coolant inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger is an air-to-air heat exchanger, and in another embodiment, the heat exchanger is an air-to-liquid heat exchanger. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090207564 | TEMPERATURE-BASED MONITORING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING FIRST AND SECOND FLUID FLOW RATES THROUGH A HEAT EXCHANGER - Monitoring method and system are provided for dynamically determining flow rate of a first fluid and a second fluid through a heat exchanger. The method includes: pre-characterizing the heat exchanger to generate pre-characterized correlation data correlating effectiveness of the heat exchanger to various flow rates of the first and second fluids through the heat exchanger; sensing inlet and outlet temperatures of the first and second fluids through the heat exchanger, when operational; automatically determining flow rates of the first and second fluids through the heat exchanger using the sensed inlet and outlet temperatures of the first and second fluids and the pre-characterized correlation data; and outputting the determined flow rates of the first and second fluids. The automatically determining employs the determined effectiveness of the heat exchanger in interpolating from the pre-characterized correlation data the flow rates of the first and second fluids. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090207567 | METHOD AND AIR-COOLING UNIT WITH DYNAMIC AIRFLOW AND HEAT REMOVAL ADJUSTABILITY - Method and air-cooling unit are provided for dynamically adjusting airflow rate through and heat removal rate of the air-cooling unit to facilitate cooling of one or more electronics racks of a data center. The air-cooling unit includes a housing, an air-moving device, and an air-to-liquid heat exchanger. The air-moving device moves air through the housing from the air inlet side to the air outlet side thereof, and the heat exchanger cools the air passing through the housing. A control unit controls the air-moving device and the flow of liquid coolant through the heat exchanger to automatically, dynamically adjust airflow rate and heat removal rate of the air-cooling unit to achieve a current airflow rate target and current heat removal rate target therefore. The current targets are based on airflow rate through and heat load generated by one or more associated electronics racks of the data center. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090238235 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEFECT DETECTION IN A COLD PLATE - Method and apparatus are provided for detecting a defect in a cold plate, configured for cooling an electronics component. The method includes: establishing a first fluid flow through the cold plate, the first fluid flow being at a first temperature; impinging a second fluid flow onto the interface surface, the second fluid flow being at a second temperature, the first temperature and the second temperature being different temperatures; obtaining an isotherm mapping of the interface surface of the cold plate while the first fluid flow passes through the cold plate and the second fluid flow impinges onto the interface surface; and using the isotherm mapping to determine whether the cold plate has a defect. In one embodiment, an infrared-transparent manifold is employed in impinging the second fluid flow onto the interface surface, and the isotherm mapping of the interface surface is obtained through the infrared-transparent manifold. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090314467 | COOLING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FABRICATION THEREOF WITH JET IMPINGEMENT STRUCTURE INTEGRALLY FORMED ON THERMALLY CONDUCTIVE PIN FINS - A cooling apparatus and method of fabrication are provided for facilitating removal of heat from a heat-generating electronic device. The method of fabrication includes: bonding a plurality of thermally conductive pin fins to a surface to be cooled, each pin fin including a stem with a bulb structure on its distal end; depositing material onto the plurality of thermally conductive pin fins to integrally form a jet impingement structure with the pin fins, wherein the distal ends of the plurality of thermally conductive pin fins form part of the jet impingement structure; and controlling the depositing of material onto the distal ends of the pin fins to form a plurality of jet orifices in the jet impingement structure, with the depositing resulting in the plurality of jet orifices automatically self-aligning between the plurality of thermally conductive pin fins. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090316360 | COOLING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FABRICATION THEREOF WITH A COLD PLATE FORMED IN SITU ON A SURFACE TO BE COOLED - A cooling apparatus and method of fabrication are provided for facilitating removal of heat from a heat-generating electronic device. The method of fabrication includes: obtaining a solder material; disposing the solder material on a surface to be cooled; and reflowing and shaping the solder material disposed on the surface to be cooled to configure the solder material as a base with a plurality of fins extending therefrom. In addition to being in situ-configured on the surface to be cooled, the base is simultaneously metallurgically bonded to the surface to be cooled. The solder material, configured as the base with a plurality of fins extending therefrom, is a single, monolithic structure thermally attached to the surface to be cooled via the metallurgical bonding thereof to the surface to be cooled. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100002393 | LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING COOLING OF AN ELECTRONICS SYSTEM - Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating liquid cooling one or more components of an electronic subsystem chassis disposed within an electronics rack. The apparatus includes a rack-level coolant manifold assembly and at least one movable chassis-level manifold subassembly. The rack-level coolant manifold assembly includes a rack-level inlet manifold and a rack-level outlet manifold, and each movable chassis-level manifold subassembly includes a chassis-level coolant inlet manifold coupled in fluid communication with the rack-level inlet manifold, and a chassis-level coolant outlet manifold coupled in fluid communication with the rack-level outlet manifold. The chassis-level manifold subassembly is slidably coupled to the electronics rack to facilitate access to one or more removable components of the electronic subsystem chassis. In one embodiment, the electronics subsystem chassis is a multi-blade center system having multiple removable blades, each blade being an electronics subsystem. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100101759 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING IMMERSION-COOLING OF AN ELECTRONIC SUBSYSTEM - Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating immersion-cooling of an electronic subsystem having multiple different types of components to be immersion-cooled. The apparatus includes a container sized to receive the electronic subsystem, and a hermetically sealed electrical connector disposed on a wall of the container. The electrical connector is sized and configured to receive an electrical and network connector of the electronic subsystem when the electronic subsystem is operatively inserted into the container, and to facilitate external electrical and network coupling to the subsystem. The apparatus further includes coolant inlet and outlet ports coupled to the container for facilitating ingress and egress of coolant through the container. When the electronic subsystem is operatively inserted into the container and coolant flows through the container, the electronic subsystem is immersion-cooled by the coolant. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100101765 | LIQUID COOLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COOLING BLADES OF AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM CHASSIS - Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating liquid cooling of a plurality of blades of an electronic system chassis. The apparatus includes a chassis-level manifold assembly with a first coolant path and a plurality of second coolant paths. The first coolant path is isolated from the plurality of second coolant paths by a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger facilitates transfer of heat from coolant within the second coolant paths to coolant within the first coolant path. Each second coolant path is isolated from the other second coolant paths, and coolant passing therethrough facilitates cooling of a respective blade. When operational, each second coolant path forms a portion of a respective closed loop coolant path extending between the manifold assembly and the electronic system chassis, and in one embodiment, each blade is an immersion-blade, with multiple components thereof immersion-cooled by coolant flowing through the respective second coolant path. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100103614 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMMERSION-COOLING OF AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM UTILIZING COOLANT JET IMPINGEMENT AND COOLANT WASH FLOW - Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating pumped, immersion-cooling of an electronic system having multiple different types of electronic components. The apparatus includes a container sized to receive the electronic system, a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port for facilitating ingress and egress of coolant through the container, and a manifold structure associated with the container. The manifold structure includes a coolant jet plenum with an inlet opening in fluid communication with the coolant inlet port, and one or more jet orifices in fluid communication with the coolant jet plenum. The jet orifices are positioned to facilitate cooling of at least one electronic component of the multiple different types of electronic components by jet impingement of coolant thereon when the electronic system is operatively positioned within the container for immersion-cooling thereof. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100103618 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING PUMPED IMMERSION-COOLING OF AN ELECTRONIC SUBSYSTEM - Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating pumped, immersion-cooling of an electronic subsystem having multiple different types of components to be immersion-cooled. The apparatus includes a container sized to receive the electronic subsystem, and a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port for facilitating ingress and egress of coolant through the container. The apparatus further includes a coolant pump assembly coupled in fluid communication with the coolant inlet and outlet ports of the container for facilitating active pumping of coolant through the container. When the electronic subsystem is operatively inserted into the container and coolant is pumped through the container, the multiple different types of components of the electronic subsystem are immersion-cooled by the coolant. In one embodiment, a filler element is disposed within the container, and is sized to reduce the amount of coolant within the container, while still maintaining the components of the electronic subsystem immersion-cooled. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100103620 | Open Flow Cold Plate For Liquid Cooled Electronic Packages - A method and associated assembly is provided for cooling of a computing embodiment having electronic components. The heat generating components are disposed in the vicinity of at least one cold plate providing direct liquid cooling. Coolant is provided to the cold plate which will eventually exit it through one or more ports or orifices placed on the sides or both side and bottom of the cold plate. The placement, size and number of port(s) or orifice(s) can be selectively adjusted to control amount of coolant flow. Effluent flow from the cold plate flows over the remaining immersion cooled components and then exits the liquid tight enclosure which houses the electronic components. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100118494 | HYBRID IMMERSION COOLED SERVER WITH INTEGRAL SPOT AND BATH COOLING - A hybrid immersion cooling apparatus and method is provided for cooling of electronic components housed in a computing environment. The components are divided into primary and secondary heat generating components and are housed in a liquid sealed enclosure. The primary heat generating components are cooled by indirect liquid cooling provided by at least one cold plate having fins. The cold plate is coupled to a first coolant conduit that circulates a first coolant in the enclosure and supplies the cold plate. Immersion cooling is provided for secondary heat generating components through a second coolant that will be disposed inside the enclosure such as to partially submerge the cold plate and the first coolant conduit as well as the heat generating components. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100142150 | COOLING APPARATUS WITH COLD PLATE FORMED IN SITU ON A SURFACE TO BE COOLED - A cooling apparatus and method of fabrication are provided for facilitating removal of heat from a heat-generating electronic device. The method of fabrication includes: obtaining a solder material; disposing the solder material on a surface to be cooled; and reflowing and shaping the solder material disposed on the surface to be cooled to configure the solder material as a base with a plurality of fins extending therefrom. In addition to being in situ-configured on the surface to be cooled, the base is simultaneously metallurgically bonded to the surface to be cooled. The solder material, configured as the base with a plurality of fins extending therefrom, is a single, monolithic structure thermally attached to the surface to be cooled via the metallurgical bonding thereof to the surface to be cooled. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100146996 | DATA CENTER COOLING ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM - A method and associated system is provided for cooling of a data center. The method includes providing coolant to multiple cooling elements in the data center using a heat pump refrigeration cycle to cool the coolant and provide a high temperature at the condenser. This allows the reclaiming of at least a portion of the heat removed from the refrigeration cycle using a heat engine. The engine is disposed between the refrigeration condenser and the ambient environment or cooling medium. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100147490 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING IN SITU COOLING OF COMPUTER DATA CENTERS DURING SERVICE CALLS - An apparatus and method for cooling electronic components housed in a computer rack while performing maintenance operations is provided. The apparatus, in one embodiment, comprises a heat exchange assembly disposed within an outlet door cover of the computer rack, having one or more perforations. One or more air moving device(s) are also disposed on the outlet door and activated by an activator when the door is opened such that the devices when activated force hot air into the heat exchanger. Cool air is then exhausted through a planar containment plate having a plurality of edges. The plate is secured to top of the outlet door along one of its edges. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100172099 | Metal Clad Fiber Optics for Enhanced Heat Dissipation - An integrated optical I/O and semiconductor chip with a direct liquid jet impingement cooling assembly are disclosed. Contrary to other solutions for packaging an optical I/O with a semiconductor die, this assembly makes use of a metal clad fiber, e.g. copper, which will actually enhance cooling performance rather than create a design restriction that has the potential to limit cooling capability. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100254758 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A MECHANICAL, FLUID-TIGHT CONNECTION - Apparatus and method are provided for forming a mechanical, fluid-tight connection. The apparatus includes a grooved fitting, which has an outer diameter sized to allow the fitting to reside within a tubing between which the fluid-tight connection is to be formed, and which includes a circumferential groove about an outer surface and one or more raised features within the circumferential groove. The apparatus also includes a ring formed of a shape memory alloy, which is transversely heat-shrinkable. The ring is sized to allow the ring to reside over the tubing. When the grooved fitting resides within the tubing and the ring is positioned over the tubing aligned over the circumferential groove in the grooved fitting, heat-shrinking of the ring results in deformation of the tubing into the circumferential groove and into contact with the raised feature(s) within the circumferential groove, thereby forming the mechanical, fluid-tight connection. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100296248 | DUAL-CHAMBER FLUID PUMP FOR A MULTI-FLUID ELECTRONICS COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A dual-chamber fluid pump is provided for a multi-fluid electronics cooling system and method. The pump has a first fluid path for pumping a first fluid coolant and a second fluid path for pumping a second fluid coolant, with the first fluid path including a first pumping chamber and the second fluid path including a second pumping chamber. The first and second pumping chambers are separated by at least one diaphragm, and an actuator is coupled to the diaphragm for transitioning the diaphragm between a first position and a second position. Transitioning of the diaphragm to the first position pumps first fluid coolant from the first pumping chamber while concurrently drawing second fluid coolant into the second pumping chamber, and transitioning of the diaphragm to the second position pumps second fluid coolant from the second pumping chamber while concurrently drawing first fluid coolant into the first pumping chamber. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100306994 | MULTI-FLUID COOLING OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method of fabricating a multi-fluid cooling system is provided for removing heat from one or more electronic devices. The cooling system includes a multi-fluid manifold structure with at least one first fluid inlet orifice and at least one second fluid inlet orifice for concurrently, separately injecting a first fluid and a second fluid onto a surface to be cooled when the cooling system is employed to cool one or more electronic devices, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are immiscible, and the first fluid has a lower boiling point temperature than the second fluid. When the cooling system is employed to cool one or more electronic devices and the first fluid boils, evolving first fluid vapor condenses in situ by direct contact with the second fluid of higher boiling point temperature. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100313590 | LIQUID-COOLED COOLING APPARATUS, ELECTRONICS RACK AND METHODS OF FABRICATION THEREOF - Liquid-cooled electronics racks and methods of fabrication are provided wherein a liquid-based cooling apparatus facilitates cooling of electronic subsystems when docked within the electronics rack. The cooling apparatus includes a liquid-cooled cooling structure mounted to a front of the rack, and a plurality of heat transfer elements. The cooling structure is a thermally conductive material which has a coolant-carrying channel for facilitating coolant flow through the structure. Each heat transfer element couples to one or more heat-generating components of a respective electronic subsystem, physically contacts the cooling structure when that electronic subsystem is docked within the rack, and provides a thermal transport path from the heat-generating components of the electronic subsystem to the liquid-cooled cooling structure. Advantageously, electronic subsystems may be docked within or undocked from the electronics rack without affecting flow of coolant through the liquid-cooled cooling structure. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100326628 | CONDENSER FIN STRUCTURES FACILITATING VAPOR CONDENSATION COOLING OF COOLANT - Vapor condensers and cooling apparatuses are provided herein which facilitate vapor condensation cooling of a coolant employed in cooling an electronic device or electronic subsystem. The vapor condenser includes a thermally conductive base structure having an operational orientation when the condenser is facilitating vapor condensate formation, and a plurality of thermally conductive condenser fins extending from the thermally conductive base structure. The plurality of thermally conductive condenser fins have a varying cross-sectional perimeter along at least a portion of their length. The cross-sectional perimeters of the plurality of thermally conductive condenser fins are configured to increase in a direction of condensate travel when the thermally conductive base structure is in the operational orientation and the vapor condenser is facilitating vapor condensate formation. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100328882 | DIRECT JET IMPINGEMENT-ASSISTED THERMOSYPHON COOLING APPARATUS AND METHOD - Cooling apparatuses and methods are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic device utilizing a cooling subassembly, a pump and a controller. The cooling subassembly includes a jet impingement structure, and a thermosyphon. The jet impingement structure directs coolant into a chamber of the subassembly onto a surface to be cooled when in a jet impingement mode, and the thermosyphon, which is associated with the chamber, facilitates convective cooling of the surface to be cooled via boiling of coolant within the chamber when in a thermosyphon mode. The controller, which is coupled to the pump to control activation and deactivation of the pump, also controls transitioning between the jet impingement mode and the thermosyphon mode based on a sensed temperature of the electronic device. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100328888 | COOLING APPARATUS WITH THERMALLY CONDUCTIVE POROUS MATERIAL AND JET IMPINGEMENT NOZZLE(S) EXTENDING THEREIN - A cooling apparatus and method of fabrication are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic device. The cooling apparatus includes a thermally conductive porous material and a liquid coolant supply. The thermally conductive porous material (such as metal foam material) is coupled to a surface of the electronic device to be cooled, or a structure coupled to the electronic device. The liquid coolant supply includes a jet impingement structure, which includes one or more jet nozzles for directing liquid coolant onto the surface to be cooled. The jet nozzle(s) extends into the thermally conductive porous material, and facilitates delivery of liquid coolant onto the surface to be cooled. The thermally conductive porous material is in thermal contact with the surface to be cooled and facilitates cooling of the electronic device by boiling of the liquid coolant passing through the porous material. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100328889 | COOLED ELECTRONIC MODULE WITH PUMP-ENHANCED, DIELECTRIC FLUID IMMERSION-COOLING - Cooled electronic modules and methods of fabrication are provided with pump-enhanced, dielectric fluid immersion-cooling of the electronic device. The cooled electronic module includes a substrate supporting an electronic device to be cooled. A cooling apparatus couples to the substrate, and includes a housing configured to at least partially surround and form a sealed compartment about the electronic device. Additionally, the cooling apparatus includes dielectric fluid and one or more pumps disposed within the sealed compartment. The dielectric fluid is in direct contact with the electronic device, and the pump is an impingement-cooling, immersed pump disposed to actively pump dielectric fluid within the sealed compartment towards the electronic device. Multiple condenser fins extend from the housing into the sealed compartment in an upper portion of the sealed compartment, and a liquid-cooled cold plate or an air-cooled heat sink is coupled to the top of the housing for cooling the condenser fins. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100328890 | CONDENSER STRUCTURES WITH FIN CAVITIES FACILITATING VAPOR CONDENSATION COOLING OF COOLANT - Vapor condensers and cooling apparatuses are provided which facilitate vapor condensation cooling of a coolant employed in cooling an electronic device. The vapor condenser includes a thermally conductive base structure with a plurality of condenser fins extending from the base structure. The condenser fins have a proximal end coupled to the base structure and a remote end remote from the base structure. At least one exposed cavity is provided within each condenser fin extending from the remote end towards the proximal end. The exposed cavities are sized to provide greater condenser fin surface area for facilitating vapor condensate formation, and thereby facilitate cooling of an electronic device using a two-phase coolant. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100328891 | CONDENSER BLOCK STRUCTURES WITH CAVITIES FACILITATING VAPOR CONDENSATION COOLING OF COOLANT - Condenser structures and cooling apparatuses are provided which facilitate vapor condensation heat transfer of a coolant employed in cooling an electronic device. The condenser structure includes a thermally conductive condenser block with multiple exposed cavities therein extending from a first main surface towards a second main surface. The condenser block is a monolithic structure, and the first main surface is a coolant vapor condensate formation surface when the condenser structure is operationally facilitating cooling of an electronic device. The exposed cavities extend from the first main surface into the condenser block to increase a condensation surface area of the condenser block, thereby facilitating coolant vapor condensate formation on the condenser block, and thus cooling of the electronic device using a two-phase coolant. The condenser structure also includes coolant-carrying channels for facilitating cooling of the condenser block, and thus vapor condensate formation on the condenser block. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110056225 | CONTROL OF SYSTEM COOLANT TO FACILITATE TWO-PHASE HEAT TRANSFER IN A MULTI-EVAPORATOR COOLING SYSTEM - A cooling system and method are provided for facilitating two-phase heat transfer from an electronics system including a plurality of electronic devices to be cooled. The cooling system includes a plurality of evaporators coupled to the electronic devices, and a coolant loop for passing system coolant through the evaporators. The coolant loop includes a plurality of coolant branches coupled in parallel, with each coolant branch being coupled in fluid communication with a respective evaporator. The cooling system further includes a control unit for maintaining pressure of system coolant at a system coolant supply side of the coolant branches within a specific pressure range at or above saturation pressure of the system coolant for a given desired saturation temperature of system coolant into the evaporators to facilitate two-phase heat transfer in the plurality of evaporators from the electronic devices to the system coolant at the given desired saturation temperature. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110056674 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING PARALLEL COOLING OF LIQUID-COOLED ELECTRONICS RACKS - A cooling system and method are provided for facilitating cooling of multiple liquid-cooled electronics racks. The cooling system includes a main system coolant supply loop with a plurality of system coolant supply branch lines for facilitating supply of cooled system coolant to the electronics racks, and a main system coolant return loop with a plurality of system coolant return branch lines for facilitating return of exhausted system coolant from the electronics racks. When operational, cooled system coolant circulates through the coolant supply loop and exhausted system coolant circulates through the coolant return loop. A plurality of modular cooling units are coupled to the coolant supply loop and coolant return loop. Each modular cooling unit includes a heat exchanger to facilitate cooling of a portion of the exhausted coolant circulating through the main system coolant return loop for return as cooled system coolant to the main system coolant supply loop. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110058637 | PRESSURE CONTROL UNIT AND METHOD FACILITATING SINGLE-PHASE HEAT TRANSFER IN A COOLING SYSTEM - A pressure control unit and method are provided for facilitating single-phase heat transfer within a liquid-based cooling system. The pressure control unit includes a pressure vessel containing system coolant, and a pressurizing mechanism associated with the pressure vessel. A coolant line couples system coolant in the pressure vessel in fluid communication with the coolant loop of the cooling system, and a regulator mechanism couples to the pressurizing mechanism to maintain pressure within the pressure vessel at or above a defined pressure threshold, thus maintaining pressure within the coolant loop above the pressure threshold. The defined pressure threshold is set to facilitate system coolant within the coolant loop remaining single-phase throughout an operational temperature range of the system coolant within the coolant loop. More particularly, the pressure threshold is set to ensure pressure of system coolant within the coolant loop remains above the coolant's saturation pressure at maximum operational temperature. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110060470 | COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD MINIMIZING POWER CONSUMPTION IN COOLING LIQUID-COOLED ELECTRONICS RACKS - A cooling system and method are provided for facilitating cooling of a liquid-cooled electronics rack. The cooling system includes a coolant flow controller, a modular cooling unit and a pressure controller. The flow controller is associated with a respective electronics rack and controls flow of coolant through that electronics rack based on its changing cooling requirements. The cooling unit includes an adjustable coolant pump for facilitating supply of coolant to the rack. The pressure controller is associated with the cooling unit for controlling pressure of coolant at an output of the cooling unit via control of pump speed of the pump. Responsive to adjusting coolant flow through the electronics rack, the pressure controller automatically adjusts pump speed of the adjustable pump to maintain pressure about a constant coolant pressure set point at an output of the cooling unit, thereby conserving power while still cooling the liquid-cooled electronics rack. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110067842 | FLUID ENCAPSULATED HEAT TRANSFER VESSEL AND METHOD - A heat transfer vessel is provided which facilitates heating of a substance when disposed therein. The vessel is a partially hollow structure which includes a chamber formed between an outer shell and an inner shell, in base and sidewall portions of the vessel. A heat transfer fluid is disposed within the chamber to facilitate transfer of heat from the outer shell to the inner shell, and therefore, to a substance when disposed within the vessel. The heat transfer fluid is a two-phase encapsulated fluid with a liquid state which undergoes boiling with the application of heat to the outer shell and a vapor state which condenses with contact to the inner shell, thereby facilitating transfer of heat from the outer shell to the inner shell, and hence to the substance when disposed within the vessel. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110069452 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING COOLING OF AN ELECTRONICS RACK - Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of air passing through an electronics rack. The apparatus includes a heat exchange assembly hingedly mounted above and external to the rack, such that air passing above the rack from an air outlet side to an air inlet side thereof passes through the heat exchange assembly, and is cooled. The heat exchange assembly includes a support structure to support hinged mounting of the assembly above the rack, and an air-to-liquid heat exchanger coupled to the support structure. The heat exchanger has an inlet plenum and an outlet plenum in fluid communication with respective connect couplings which facilitate connection of the plenums to coolant supply and return lines, respectively. The heat exchanger also includes heat exchange tube sections, each of which has a coolant channel with an inlet and an outlet coupled to the inlet and outlet plenums, respectively. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110069453 | APPARATUS AND METHOD WITH FORCED COOLANT VAPOR MOVEMENT FOR FACILITATING TWO-PHASE COOLING OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Apparatus and method are provided for two-phase dielectric cooling of an electronic device. The apparatus includes a coolant flow path, a vapor condenser and one or more vapor fans. The coolant flow path is in fluid communication with the electronic device, where liquid dielectric coolant within the flow path vaporizes upon contacting the electronic device, forming dielectric coolant vapor, and thereby facilitating cooling of the electronic device. The vapor condenser is also in fluid communication with the coolant flow path and facilitates condensate formation from the dielectric coolant vapor. The one or more vapor fans are disposed within the flow path to actively move dielectric coolant vapor into contact with the vapor condenser, and thereby enhance cooling of the electronic device by facilitating coolant condensate formation and thus recirculation of the coolant condensate as liquid dielectric coolant. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110069454 | LIQUID-COOLED ELECTRONICS APPARATUS AND METHODS OF FABRICATION - Liquid-cooled electronics apparatuses and methods are provided. The cooled electronics apparatuses include a liquid-cooled cold rail and an electronics subassembly. The liquid-cooled cold rail has a thermally conductive structure and a coolant-carrying channel extending within and cooling the thermally conductive structure. The electronics subassembly includes an electronics card(s) and one or more thermal transfer plates. The electronics card(s) includes electronic devices to be cooled, and the one or more thermal transfer plates are each rigidly affixed to one or more electronic devices of the electronics card(s). Each thermal transfer plate is thermally conductive and couples the electronics subassembly to the liquid-cooled cold rail to thermally interface the one or more electronic devices to the liquid-cooled cold rail to facilitate cooling of the electronic devices. In one embodiment, the electronics subassembly includes multiple interleaved electronics cards and thermal transfer plates. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110075367 | COMPLIANT CONDUCTION RAIL ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FACILITATING COOLING OF AN ELECTRONICS STRUCTURE - Compliant conduction rail assembly and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronics structure. The rail assembly includes a first thermally conductive rail mounted to a surface of the electronics structure, a second thermally conductive rail thermally conductively interfaced to the first rail, and a biasing mechanism biasing the second rail away from the first rail. The first and second rails and the biasing mechanism are configured for slidable insertion into a housing with the electronics structure, the housing containing a liquid-cooled cold plate(s). With insertion of the electronics structure into the housing, the second rail engages the liquid-cooled cold plate and is forced by the biasing mechanism into thermal contact with the cold plate, and is forced by the cold plate towards the first rail, which results in a compliant thermal interface between the electronics structure and the liquid-cooled cold plate of the housing. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110075373 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STANDBY MODE COOLING OF A LIQUID-COOLED ELECTRONICS RACK - System and method are provided for cooling an electronics rack. A modular cooling unit (MCU) is associated with the rack to provide system coolant to an electronics subsystem and a bulk power assembly. The MCU includes a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger, and defines portions of facility and system coolant loops. Chilled coolant from a facility source is passed through the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger to cool system coolant flowing through the system coolant loop. The system also includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger in fluid communication with the system coolant loop, a pump in fluid communication with the system coolant loop, and a controller. The controller controls operation of the pump to adjust flow of system coolant through the system coolant loop dependent upon a mode of operation. In a standby mode, system coolant flows through the air-to-liquid heat exchanger at a lower flow rate, and expels heat to ambient air. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110103019 | OPEN FLOW COLD PLATE FOR IMMERSION-COOLED ELECTRONIC PACKAGES - A method and associated assembly are provided for cooling of a computing embodiment having electronic components. The heat generating components are disposed in the vicinity of at least one cold plate providing direct liquid cooling. Coolant is provided to the cold plate which will eventually exit it through one or more ports or orifices placed on the sides or both side and bottom of the cold plate. The placement, size and number of port(s) or orifice(s) can be selectively adjusted to control amount of coolant flow. Effluent flow from the cold plate flows over the remaining immersion cooled components and then exits the liquid tight enclosure which houses the electronic components. | 05-05-2011 |
