System and Method for Boiling Heat Transfer Using Self-Induced Coolant Transport and Impingements

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a cooling system for a heat-generating structure comprises a chamber and structure disposed within the chamber. The chamber has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet receives fluid coolant into the chamber substantially in the form of a liquid. The outlet dispenses the fluid coolant out of the chamber at least partially in the form of a vapor. The structure disposed within the chamber receive thermal energy from the heat generating structure and transfers at least a portion of the thermal energy to the fluid coolant. The thermal energy from the heat-generating structure causes at least a portion of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to boil and effuse vapor upon contact with a portion of the structure. The effusion of vapor creates a self-induced flow in the chamber. The self-induced flow distributes non-vaporized fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to other portions of the structure.

1 . A cooling system for a heat-generating structure, the cooling system comprising: 
 a fluid coolant;    a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet operable to receive a fluid coolant into the chamber substantially in the form of a liquid, the outlet operable to dispense of the fluid coolant out of the chamber at least partially in the form of a vapor;    a structure which directs a flow of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid into the chamber through the inlet;    a structure disposed in the chamber, the structure operable to receive thermal energy from the heat generating structure and transfer at least a portion of the thermal energy to the fluid coolant, the thermal energy from the heat-generating structure causing at least a portion of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to boil and effuse vapor upon contact with a portion of the structure; and    wherein the effusion of vapor creates a self-induced flow in the chamber, the self-induced flow distributing non-vaporized fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to other portions of the structure.    
   
   
       2 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the flow of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid into the chamber through the inlet is less than double the amount of flow necessary to absorb thermal energy with one hundred percent conversion.    
   
   
       3 . The cooling system of  claim 2 , wherein 
 the flow of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid into the chamber through the inlet is less than thirty percent more than the amount of flow necessary to absorb thermal energy with one hundred percent conversion.    
   
   
       4 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the self-induced flow is chaotic.  
   
   
       5 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is a plurality of pin fins.  
   
   
       6 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a structure which reduces a pressure of the fluid coolant to a subambient pressure at which the fluid coolant has a boiling temperature less than a temperature of the heat-generating structure.    
   
   
       7 . A cooling system for a heat-generating structure, the cooling system comprising: 
 a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet operable to receive a fluid coolant into the chamber substantially in the form of a liquid, the outlet operable to dispense of the fluid coolant out of the chamber at least partially in the form of a vapor;    a structure disposed in the chamber, the structure operable to receive thermal energy from the heat generating structure and transfer at least a portion of the thermal energy to the fluid coolant, the thermal energy from the heat-generating structure causing at least a portion of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to boil and effuse vapor upon contact with a portion of the structure;    wherein the effusion of vapor creates a self-induced flow in the chamber, the self-induced flow distributing non-vaporized fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to other portions of the structure.    
   
   
       8 . The cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein the self-induced flow is chaotic.  
   
   
       9 . The cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein the structure is a plurality of pin fins.  
   
   
       10 . The cooling system of  claim 9 , wherein the self-induced flow includes globs of fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid thrown against pin fins.  
   
   
       11 . The cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein the system creates a maximum temperature differential between different portions of the structure disposed in the chamber less than two degrees Celsius.  
   
   
       12 . The cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein a flow of fluid coolant into the chamber is gravity fed.  
   
   
       13 . The cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein a portion of the system operates as a thermal siphon to circulate fluid through the system.  
   
   
       14 . The cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein structure is a plurality of pin fins.  
   
   
       15 . The cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein a flow of fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid into the chamber through the inlet is less than double the amount of flow necessary to absorb thermal energy with one hundred percent conversion.  
   
   
       16 . The cooling system of  claim 14 , wherein 
 the flow of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid into the chamber through the inlet is less than thirty percent more than the amount of flow necessary to absorb thermal energy with one hundred percent conversion.    
   
   
       17 . The cooling system of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a structure which reduces a pressure of the fluid coolant to a subambient pressure at which the fluid coolant has a boiling temperature less than a temperature of the heat-generating structure.    
   
   
       18 . A method for cooling a heat-generating structure, the method comprising: 
 transferring thermal energy from a heat generating structure to a structure disposed in a chamber;    introducing a fluid coolant into the chamber;    exposing the fluid coolant to at least a portion of the structure disposed in the chamber, thereby causing at least a portion of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to boil and effuse vapor, the effused vapor creating a self-induced flow in the chamber;    distributing non-vaporized fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to other portions of the structure using the self-induced flow; and    transferring at least a portion of the thermal energy from the structure disposed in the chamber to the fluid coolant.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the introduction of fluid coolant into the chamber has a flow that is less than double the amount of flow necessary to absorb thermal energy with one hundred percent conversion.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 reducing a pressure of the fluid coolant to a subambient pressure at which the fluid coolant has a boiling temperature less than a temperature of the heat-generating structure.