Compact radiator for an electronic device

Abstract

A compact radiator for a coolant used in cooling an electronic device, including inlet and outlet headers, a plurality of parallel flat tubes defining coolant flow paths between the inlet and outlet headers, and serpentine fins between adjacent tubes. The tubes have a minor dimension in the range of 0.75 mm to 1.2 mm, and the fins have a height in the range of 3 mm to 7 mm. Particularly advantageously, extruded aluminum tubes have a minor dimension of 0.75 mm to 0.85 mm, the fin height of 3.0 mm to 3.25 mm, a tube major dimension on the order of 28 to 32 times the tube minor dimension, and a wall thickness of 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm.

1 . A compact radiator for a coolant used in cooling an electronic device, comprising: 
 first and second headers;    an inlet for receiving the coolant into said first header;    an outlet for discharging the coolant from one of said first and second headers;    a plurality of parallel flat tubes defining coolant flow paths between said headers, said tubes having a minor dimension in the range of 0.75 mm to 1.2 mm; and    serpentine fins between adjacent tubes, said fins having a height in the range of 3 mm to 7 mm.    
   
   
       2 . The compact radiator of  claim 1 , wherein at least said first header includes a baffle, whereby said flat tubes define multiple passes for said coolant.  
   
   
       3 . The compact radiator of  claim 2 , wherein said one of said first and second headers is said first header, and said baffle is in said first header.  
   
   
       4 . The compact radiator of  claim 1 , wherein said flat tubes are extruded aluminum.  
   
   
       5 . The compact radiator of  claim 1 , wherein said minor dimension of said tubes is in the range of 0.75 mm to 0.85 mm.  
   
   
       6 . The compact radiator of  claim 1 , wherein said fin height is in the range of 3.0 mm to 3.25 mm.  
   
   
       7 . The compact radiator of  claim 1 , wherein the tube major dimension is on the order of 10 to 40 times the tube minor dimension.  
   
   
       8 . The compact radiator of  claim 7 , wherein said tube major dimension is on the order of 22 to 32 times the tube minor dimension.  
   
   
       9 . The compact radiator of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said minor dimension of said tubes is in the range of 0.75 mm to 0.85 mm; and    said fin height is in the range of 3.0 mm to 3.25 mm.    
   
   
       10 . The compact radiator of  claim 8 , wherein said tube major dimension is on the order of 28 to 32 times the tube minor dimension.  
   
   
       11 . The compact radiator of  claim 1 , wherein said tubes have a wall thickness in the range of 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm.  
   
   
       12 . A compact radiator for a coolant used in cooling an electronic device, comprising: 
 first and second headers;    an inlet for receiving the coolant into said first header;    an outlet for discharging the coolant from one of said first and second headers;    a plurality of parallel flat tubes defining coolant flow paths between said headers, said tubes having a minor dimension in the range of 0.75 mm to 0.85 mm; and    serpentine fins between adjacent tubes, said fins having a height in the range of 3.0 mm to 3.25 mm.    
   
   
       13 . The compact radiator of  claim 12 , wherein at least said first header includes a baffle, whereby said flat tubes define multiple passes for said coolant.  
   
   
       14 . The compact radiator of  claim 13 , wherein said one of said first and second headers is said first header, and said baffle is in said first header.  
   
   
       15 . The compact radiator of  claim 12 , wherein said flat tubes are extruded aluminum.  
   
   
       16 . The compact radiator of  claim 12 , wherein the tube major dimension is on the order of 10 to 40 times the tube minor dimension.  
   
   
       17 . The compact radiator of  claim 16 , wherein said tube major dimension is on the order of 22 to 32 times the tube minor dimension.  
   
   
       18 . The compact radiator of  claim 17 , wherein said tube major dimension is on the order of 28 to 32 times the tube minor dimension.  
   
   
       19 . The compact radiator of  claim 12 , wherein said tubes have a wall thickness in the range of 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm.  
   
   
       20 . A compact radiator for an electronic device that rejects heat to a coolant, comprising: 
 first and second headers;    an inlet for receiving the coolant into said first header;    an outlet for discharging the coolant from one of said first and second headers;    a plurality of extruded aluminum parallel flat tubes each defining a plurality of coolant flow paths between said headers, said tubes having a minor dimension in the range of 0.75 mm to 0.85 mm and a tube major dimension on the order of 22 to 32 times the tube minor dimension; and    serpentine fins between adjacent tubes, said fins having a height in the range of 3.0 mm 3.25 mm.    
   
   
       21 . The compact radiator of  claim 20 , wherein said tube wall thickness is in the range of 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm.  
   
   
       22 . An electronic device, comprising: 
 at least one heat generating processor chip;    a compact radiator including 
 first and second headers;  
 an inlet for receiving the coolant into said first header;  
 an outlet for discharging the coolant from one of said first and second headers;  
 a plurality of parallel flat tubes defining flow paths between said headers, said tubes having a minor dimension in the range of 0.75 mm to 1.2 mm; and  
 serpentine fins between adjacent tubes, said fins having a height in the range of 3 mm to 7 mm;  
   a liquid coolant path defined from said radiator outlet to said at least one processor chip and then to said radiator inlet; and    a pump adapted to circulate liquid coolant through said radiator and liquid coolant path.    
   
   
       23 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein at least said first header includes a baffle, whereby said flat tubes define multiple passes for said coolant.  
   
   
       24 . The electronic device of  claim 23 , wherein said one of said first and second headers is said first header, and said baffle is in said first header.  
   
   
       25 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein said flat tubes are extruded aluminum  
   
   
       26 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein said minor dimension of said tubes is in the range of 0.75 mm to 0.85 mm.  
   
   
       27 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein said fin height is in the range of 3.0 mm to 3.25 mm.  
   
   
       28 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein the tube major dimension is on the order of 10 to 40 times the tube minor dimension.  
   
   
       29 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein said tube major dimension is on the order of 22 to 32 times the tube minor dimension.  
   
   
       30 . The electronic device of  claim 29 , wherein: 
 said minor dimension of said tubes is in the range of 0.75 mm to 0.85 mm; and    said fin height is in the range of 3.0 mm to 3.25 mm.    
   
   
       31 . The electronic device of  claim 29 , wherein said tube major dimension is on the order of 28 to 32 times the tube minor dimension.  
   
   
       32 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein said tubes have a wall thickness in the range of 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm.