Method, apparatus and system for flow distribution through a heat exchanger

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system are described for flow distribution through a heat exchanger. The system may include a chassis and an apparatus. The apparatus may include a heat exchanger, and a cold plate. In some embodiments, a pump may provide for the flow of the fluid between the heat exchanger and the cold plate. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger may include a tube to transport a first fluid, a plurality of fins coupled to the tube to facilitate transfer of thermal energy from the first fluid to the plurality of fins, and a gate coupled to the plurality of fins to direct flow of a second fluid through passages between the fins, where the gate includes a deformable laminate of a plurality of layers having different coefficients of thermal expansion, the plurality of layers being bonded to one another. Other embodiments may be described.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a tube to transport a first fluid;    a plurality of fins coupled to the tube to facilitate transfer of thermal energy from the first fluid to the plurality of fins; and    a gate coupled to the plurality of fins to direct flow of a second fluid through passages between the fins, wherein the gate includes a deformable laminate of a plurality of layers having different coefficients of thermal expansion, the plurality of layers being bonded to one another.    
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is a liquid or a solid.  
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the second fluid is air.  
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins is arranged in a stack of mutually parallel plates.  
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the gate is deformable towards one or more sides with changes in temperature.  
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the gate is deformable towards a contracted state at a low temperature, wherein the flow of the second fluid through the plurality of fins is reduced.  
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the gate is deformable towards an expanded state at a high temperature, wherein the flow of the second fluid through the plurality of fins is increased.  
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein the contracted state includes one of the layers having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion contracts to deform the gate toward the near side of the layer.  
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the expanded state includes one of the layers having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion expands to deform the gate toward the far side of the layer.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a heat exchanger including a tube to transport a first fluid; a plurality of fins coupled to the tube to facilitate transfer of thermal energy from the first fluid to the plurality of fins; a gate coupled to the plurality of fins to direct flow of a second fluid through passages between the fins, wherein the gate includes a deformable laminate of a plurality of layers having different coefficients of thermal expansion, the plurality of layers being bonded to one another; and    a cold plate coupled to the tube and coupled to an electronic component from which thermal energy is to be transferred.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a pump coupled to the tube, wherein the pump circulates the first fluid through the tube between the cold plate and the heat exchanger.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first fluid is a liquid or a solid.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second fluid is air.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of fins is arranged in a stack of mutually parallel plates.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the gate is deformable towards one or more sides with changes in temperature.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the gate is deformable towards a contracted state at a low temperature, wherein the flow of the second fluid through the plurality of fins is reduced.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the gate is deformable towards an expanded state at a high temperature, wherein the flow of the second fluid through the plurality of fins is increased.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the contracted state includes one of the layers having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion contracts to deform the gate toward the near side of the layer.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the expanded state includes one of the layers having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion expands to deform the gate toward the far side of the layer.  
   
   
       20 . A system comprising: 
 a chassis including airflow vents;    a plurality of components capable of generating heat, the components mounted within the chassis; and    an apparatus including a heat exchanger including a tube to transport a first fluid; a plurality of fins coupled to the tube to facilitate transfer of thermal energy from the first fluid to the plurality of fins; a gate coupled to the plurality of fins to direct flow of a second fluid through passages between the fins, wherein the gate includes a deformable laminate of a plurality of layers having different coefficients of thermal expansion, the plurality of layers being bonded to one another; and a cold plate coupled to the tube and coupled to an electronic component from which thermal energy is to be transferred.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a second apparatus including a second heat exchanger including a second tube to transport a third fluid; a second plurality of fins coupled to the second tube to facilitate transfer of thermal energy from the third fluid to the second plurality of fins; a second gate coupled to the second plurality of fins to direct flow of a fourth fluid through passages between the fins, wherein the second gate includes a deformable laminate of a second plurality of layers having different coefficients of thermal expansion, the second plurality of layers being bonded to one another; and a second cold plate coupled to the second tube and coupled to a second electronic component from which thermal energy is to be transferred.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first and third fluids are a liquid or a solid.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the second and fourth fluids are air.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of fins is arranged in a stack of mutually parallel plates.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the gate is deformable towards one or more sides with changes in temperature.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the gate is deformable towards a contracted state at a low temperature, wherein the flow of the second fluid through the plurality of fins is reduced.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the gate is deformable towards an expanded state at a high temperature, wherein the flow of the second fluid through the plurality of fins is increased.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the contracted state includes one of the layers having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion contracts to deform the gate toward the near side of the layer.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the expanded state includes one of the layers having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion expands to deform the gate toward the far side of the layer.  
   
   
       30 . A method comprising: 
 determining a threshold temperature for a transition between a contracted state and an expanded state;    determining one or more layers based on the threshold temperature; and    configuring a gate with a plurality of layers including the one or more layers based on the threshold temperature.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 directing flow of a fluid through the gate, wherein the flow is reduced when the gate is in the contracted state.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the flow is increased when the gate is in the expanded state.