Internal Coolant Recirculation for Low-Flow Impingement Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling infrastructure cannot support the peak performance of jet impingement cooling modules due to the inability to maintain a 2×-4× increase in flow rate, necessitating a reduction in flow requirements without compromising cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing internal recirculation of liquid coolant fluid within the cooling module, allowing it to impinge on cooling surfaces multiple times before exiting, thereby reducing flow rate demand and minimizing pressure losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If impingement cooling modules operate at higher flow rates to achieve peak performance, then cooling performance is improved, but flow rate consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling module is divided into multiple impingement zones with nozzle arrays positioned at different locations. The coolant flow path is segmented into multiple stages where coolant serves different cooling zones sequentially, allowing the same coolant to perform multiple cooling functions before exiting the module.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant undergoes periodic recirculation through multiple impingement zones in sequence. The flow path is designed so that coolant passes through nozzle arrays at different positions, creating a periodic action where the same coolant volume is repeatedly used for cooling different sections of the heat source.
2Quantity of substance
If external recirculation is used to reduce flow rate demand, then flow rate consumption is reduced, but additional external seals and pressure losses are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculation function is merged into the internal structure of the cooling module itself. Multiple nozzle arrays and impingement zones are integrated within the module housing, eliminating the need for separate external recirculation systems and their associated seals.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling module is designed to recirculate coolant internally through its own structured flow paths and impingement zones without requiring external recirculation infrastructure. The module serves its own recirculation needs using internally integrated components.
3Productivity
If multiple impingement zones are added to increase cooling coverage, then cooling performance is improved, but flow rate demand increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling surface is divided into multiple zones served by different nozzle arrays positioned at various locations. Each zone receives coolant from dedicated nozzles, allowing targeted cooling of specific high-heat areas without requiring proportional increases in overall flow rate.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the heat source are addressed by locally positioned nozzle arrays that deliver coolant precisely where needed. The flow distribution is optimized for local cooling requirements rather than uniform coverage, reducing total flow demand while maintaining effective cooling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces flow rate requirements by approximately 50% to 67% while maintaining cooling performance, avoiding additional external seals and pressure drops.
Implementation Method 1
Impingement cooling modules produce very high local heat transfer coefficients. Performance of cooling modules utilizing impingement cooling are driven by both flow rate and pressure drop.
Implementation Method 2
The cooling performance of direct-to-chip single phase liquid cooling (DLC) devices is typically measured in terms of heat transfer coefficients.
Implementation Method 3
the same liquid cooling fluid impinges the surfaces of the heat-generating electronic components (or cooling plates in thermal communication with the heat-generating electronic components) multiple times
Data Source
AI summary
Improved cooling modules and methods are configured to recirculate the liquid coolant fluid inside the cooling modules so that the same liquid cooling fluid impinges the surfaces of the heat-generating electronic components (or cooling plates in thermal communication with the heat-generating electronic components) multiple times before exiting the cooling module, thereby allowing a given flow of coolant fluid to be re-used several times over. With each re-use of the coolant fluid, the flow rate demand drops, reducing infrastructure required to achieve higher performance in direct and indirect micro-convective impingement cooling applications.