Modular capillary pumped loop cooling system

• Main Authors: FANEUF BARRETT M, MONTGOMERY STEPHEN W, CHESSER JASON B
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.03.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; BLASTING; CALCULATING; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL; HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS,IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT; HEATING; LIGHTING; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PHYSICS; PRINTED CIRCUITS; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; WEAPONS

A modular capillary pump loop (CPL) cooling system and associated components. The modular CPL cooling system transfers heat from high-power circuit components, such as microprocessors disposed within computer chassis, to other locations within or external to the chassis, where the heat can be more easily removed. In various embodiments, the CPL cooling system includes one or more evaporators connected to one or more condensers via flexible liquid transport and vapor transport lines. A wicking structure, such as a volume of sintered copper, is disposed within each condenser. The wicking structure draws working fluid (e.g., water) in a liquid state into the evaporator based on a capillary mechanism and a pressure differential across a meniscus/vapor interface on an upper surface of the wicking structure. As the liquid meniscus is evaporated, additional fluid is drawn into the evaporator. The working fluid is then condensed back into a liquid in the condenser.