Two-Phase Jet Impingement Cooling for Electronic Hot Spots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling methods for electronic devices, such as air-cooled and liquid-cooled systems, are inefficient in managing high heat densities and often require significant energy and space, with limitations in scalability and ability to handle local hot spots effectively.
Innovation Solution
A two-phase direct impingement cooling system using a chamber with non-perpendicularly angled tubular nozzles to project coolant streams against the surface, allowing for efficient heat transfer and phase change without the need for thermal interface materials, and automatically managing hot spots through evaporation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If air-cooled systems are used to cool electronic devices, then the system is simple in structure, but the volumetric heat capacity is very low requiring large volume of air flow and resulting in low cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from air-cooled (pneumatic) systems to liquid-cooled (hydraulic) systems. Liquid coolants have much higher volumetric heat capacity than air, enabling efficient heat removal with smaller flow volumes. The system uses liquid coolant circulating through channels in direct contact with or near the heat-generating components, replacing the inefficient large-volume air flow requirement.
2Temperature
If liquid cooling schemes with thermal interface materials are used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but thermal resistance increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the thermal interface materials (thermal paste, direct bond metal layers) from the cooling system. Instead of using indirect cooling through multiple material layers, the liquid coolant flows in channels that are in direct contact with or extremely close to the heat-generating surfaces, eliminating the thermal resistance introduced by intervening materials and simplifying the manufacturing process.
3Device complexity
If dielectric coolants are used for direct contact cooling, then thermal interface materials are eliminated, but the cooling efficiency is reduced compared to water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cooling system, specifically the flow velocity and pressure of the dielectric coolant, to compensate for its lower heat capacity compared to water. By increasing the flow rate and optimizing the pressure differential, the system achieves adequate cooling efficiency while maintaining the benefits of direct contact cooling without thermal interface materials.
4Loss of energy
If spray cooling with atomized liquid is used, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the system requires significant working volume and high upstream pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a liquid flow system with controlled pressure and velocity rather than spray atomization. The liquid coolant flows through defined channels with sufficient velocity to enhance heat transfer while avoiding the need for high-pressure atomization equipment and large working volumes. This hydraulic approach provides efficient cooling in a compact configuration.
5Loss of energy
If conventional jet impingement systems are used, then heat transfer performance is improved, but scalability to large areas is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling system into multiple parallel channels that can be arranged to cover large surface areas. Each channel operates independently with its own flow path, allowing the system to scale to large areas by simply adding more channels in parallel rather than increasing the complexity of individual jet impingement points.
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
The system achieves higher thermal energy removal per unit fluid flow and temperature difference, maintains temperature uniformity, and allows for more compact designs with lower pumping power, effectively addressing inefficiencies and scalability limitations of existing cooling technologies.
Implementation Method 1
projecting streams of coolant against the surface
Implementation Method 2
two-phase direct impingement cooling system
Implementation Method 3
The pump is configured to project a stream of fluid through the inlet into the chamber and against the surface
Implementation Method 4
The pressurizer is configured to maintain a fluid pressure in the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for cooling a work piece surface using two-phase impingement, such as direct jet impingement. Preferred method include flowing a coolant through a chamber comprising a surface to be cooled by projecting a jet stream of coolant against the surface while maintaining pressure in the chamber to permit at least a portion of coolant contacting the surface to boil. Preferred apparatuses include a chamber comprising the surface and tubular nozzles configured to project a stream of coolant against the surface, a pump for forcing coolant through the tubular nozzles, a pressurizer for maintaining an appropriate pressure in the chamber, and a heat exchanger for cooling the coolant exiting the chamber. The apparatuses may further include a pressure regulator for detecting changes in temperature of the coolant exiting the chamber and communicating with the pressurizer to adjust the maintained pressure accordingly. The methods and apparatuses disclosed herein provide for effective and efficient cooling or work piece surfaces.