Pulsating fluid cooling with frequency control

Abstract

A pulsating fluid cooling device comprising a transducer (1) for generating a pulsating fluid flow and a fluid guiding structure (3) for directing the pulsating flow towards an object (4) to be cooled. The device further comprises a sensor (7) for detecting at least one variable external to the transducer, a feedback path (6) for providing a feedback signal 5 indicative of this variable, and control circuitry (5) arranged to receive the feedback signal and generate a frequency control signal based on said feedback, for controlling a working frequency of the transducer. By providing the control circuitry with information about the conditions at the object, the frequency can be controlled based on actual performance. The performance can be 10 optimized in terms of the measured variable. For example, if the feedback signal includes information about the temperature change of the object, the control circuitry can be arranged to select a working frequency that results in optimal cooling.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to pulsating fluid cooling, i.e. cooling where a transducer induces an oscillation creating a pulsating fluid stream that can be directed towards an object that is to be cooled. It may be advantageous to drive the system at, or at least close to, its resonance frequency, in order to obtain a high fluid velocity.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The need for cooling has increased in various applications due to higher heat flux densities resulting from newly developed electronic devices, being, for example, more compact and / or higher power than traditional devices. Examples of such improved devices include, for example, higher power semiconductor light-sources, such as lasers or light-emitting diodes, RF power devices and higher performance micro-processors, hard disk drives, optical drives like CDR, DVD and Blue ray drives, and large-area devices such as flat TVs and luminaires.[0003]As an alternative to cooling by fans, docume...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]In the context of the first inventive concept, a control system according to WO 2005/027569 is complemented by the external feedback from the senso

Problems solved by technology

Prior art cooling devices lack satisfactory means to ensure such efficient driving.

More generally stated, conventional pulsating cooling devices lack the ability to adapt and control the working frequency of the transducer based on the conditions and performance of the cooling device.

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