Multi device cooling

Abstract

A micro scale cooling system comprises a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to a first heat source. The cooling system also has a second heat exchanger thermally coupled to a second heat source and a connection between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A fluid flows through the first and second cooling plates. The cooling system has a first pump for driving the fluid. The cooling system further includes a first radiator and tubing that interconnects the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, the first pump, and the first radiator. The tubing of some embodiments is designed to minimize fluid loss. Some embodiments optionally include a first fan to reject heat from the first radiator, and/or a volume compensator for counteracting fluid loss over time. In some embodiments, at least one heat exchanger has at least one micro scale structure. Some embodiments include a method of cooling the heat sources for a multi device configuration by using such a cooling system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a cooling module mounted on top of a computer chassis.

FIG. 1A illustrates several pump configurations for some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates the radiator of some embodiments.

FIG. 1C illustrates the dimensional elements of a radiator in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cooling module mounted on top of a computer chassis.

FIG. 3A illustrates a heat exchanger in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates the dimensional characteristics of a cooling plate heat exchanger according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 conceptually illustrates a closed cooling loop with a series heat exchanger for each of three processor devices.

FIG. 5 conceptually illustrates a closed cooling loop with two series heat exchangers in parallel with a third heat exchanger.

FIG. 6 conceptually illustrates a closed cooling loop with a heat exchanger in series with two parallel heat exchangers.

FIG. 7 conceptually illustrates two closed cooling loops, one for GPU cooling and the other for CPU cooling.

FIG. 8 is a process flow that illustrates the method of some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a CPU type semiconductor device having a case-to-ambient heat resistance.

FIG. 10 illustrates a GPU type semiconductor device having a junction-to-ambient heat resistance.

Claims

1. A cooling system for cooling an electronic system in a chassis, comprising: a. a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to a first heat source;b. a second heat exchanger thermally coupled to a second heat source;c. a fluid flowing through the first and second heat exchangers;d. a first pump for driving the fluid;e. a first radiator a first fan to reject heat from the first radiator; andf. tubing that interconnects the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, the first pump, and the first radiator, wherein the cooling system is mounted substantially interior of an upper surface of the chassis such that the first fan blows air through the first radiator and exterior of the chassis, and further wherein up to 600 W of heat is removed from the chassis while producing no more than 35 dB of noise.

2. The cooling system of claim 1 further comprising a third heat exchanger coupled to a third heat source.

3. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a micro scale cold plate.

4. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a micro channel.

5. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the tubing is designed to minimize fluid loss.

6. The cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a coupling between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, wherein the coupling is such that the first and second heat exchangers are in series.

7. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are in parallel.

8. The cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a second radiator, a second pump, and a second fan wherein the cooling system is mounted such that the second fan blows air through the second radiator and exterior of the chassis.

9. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the second heat source comprises a graphics processing unit (GPU).

10. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the first heat source comprises a central processing unit (CPU).

11. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling module is organized into a slim low profile assembly, with a maximum height of approximately 120 millimeters, wherein the length and width of the assembly are smaller than the dimensions of a computer chassis.

12. A cooling system for cooling an electronic system in a chassis, comprising: a first cooling plate adapted for use with a first processor;a second cooling plate adapted for use with a second processor;a tubing for interconnecting the cooling plates;a fluid flowing through the cooling plates and the tubing;a radiator for conducting heat from the fluid; anda first pump for driving the fluid through the tubing and the cooling plates to the radiator

13. The cooling system of claim 12 further comprising a reservoir for storing the fluid.

14. The cooling system of claim 12 further comprising a third cooling plate adapted for use with a third heat source.

15. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the module has a top exhaust and a side intake.

16. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein a volumetric air displacement for the system is approximately 50-60 cubic feet per minute.

17. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the junction-to-ambient resistance (Rj-a) is no more than 0.3 degrees Celsius per Watt for the each processor.

18. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the system comprises: a first cooling loop; anda second cooling loop.

19. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the radiator further comprises: a micro tube; andair fins.

20. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the design of the radiator is customized for the application of the cooling system, wherein the design further comprises one or more of: an optimized liquid flow through a micro tube; andan optimized airflow across one or more air fins.