Case for a liquid submersion cooled electronic device

Abstract

A portable, self-contained liquid submersion cooling system that is suitable for cooling a number of electronic devices, including cooling heat-generating components in computer systems and other systems that use electronic, heat-generating components. The electronic device includes a housing having an interior space, a dielectric cooling liquid in the interior space, a heat-generating electronic component disposed within the space and submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid, and a pump for pumping the liquid into and out of the space, to and from a heat exchanger that is fixed to the housing outside the interior space. The heat exchanger includes a cooling liquid inlet, a cooling liquid outlet, and a flow path for cooling liquid therethrough from the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet. An air-moving device such as a fan can be used to blow air across the heat exchanger to increase heat transfer.

1 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing having an interior space;   a heat-generating component disposed within the interior space;   a dielectric cooling liquid within the interior space with the heat-generating component being submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid in direct contact with the cooling liquid;   a pump within the interior space and submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid, the pump including an inlet and an outlet;   a heat exchanger fixed to the housing outside the interior space, the heat exchanger including a cooling liquid inlet, a cooling liquid outlet, and a flow path for cooling liquid therethrough from the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet;   a first passageway connecting the pump outlet to the cooling liquid inlet;   a second passageway connecting the cooling liquid outlet to the interior space; and   an air-moving device adjacent to the heat exchanger, the air-moving device configured to move air past the heat exchanger.   
   
   
       2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines the interior space. 
   
   
       3 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a computer and the heat-generating component is at least one of a processor, memory, and a power supply. 
   
   
       4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein air-moving device is a fan. 
   
   
       5 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is adjacent to a wall of the housing. 
   
   
       6 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a high-efficiency particulate air filter adjacent to the air-moving device. 
   
   
       7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a hard drive mechanism disposed in the interior space and submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid, and a snorkel connected to the hard drive mechanism and connected with the exterior of the interior space using a conduit to achieve pressure equilibrium between the hard drive and outside air pressure. 
   
   
       8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric cooling liquid is a soy-based dielectric liquid. 
   
   
       9 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing defining a liquid-tight interior space, a liquid inlet to the interior space from an exterior of the interior space, and a liquid outlet from the interior space to the exterior thereof;   a heat-generating component disposed within the interior space;   a dielectric cooling liquid within the interior space with the heat-generating component being submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid in direct contact with the cooling liquid;   a heat exchanger fixed to the housing outside the interior space, the heat exchanger including a cooling liquid inlet exterior of the interior space, a cooling liquid outlet exterior of the interior space, and a flow path for cooling liquid therethrough from the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet; and   a first fluid passage connecting the liquid outlet to the cooling liquid inlet, and a second fluid passage connecting the liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet.   
   
   
       10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device is a computer and the heat-generating component is at least one of a processor, memory, and a power supply. 
   
   
       11 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , further comprising an air-moving device adjacent to the heat exchanger to move air past the heat exchanger. 
   
   
       12 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the beat exchanger is adjacent to a wall of the housing. 
   
   
       13 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , further comprising a hard drive mechanism disposed in the interior space and submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid, and a snorkel connected to the hard drive mechanism and in communication with the exterior of the interior space to achieve pressure equilibrium between the hard drive and outside air pressure. 
   
   
       14 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the dielectric cooling liquid is a soy-based dielectric liquid. 
   
   
       15 . A personal computer with a self-contained liquid cooling system comprising:
 a case having an interior space;   a motherboard disposed within the interior space, the motherboard including at least one heat-generating component disposed thereon;   a dielectric cooling liquid within the interior space with the heat-generating component being submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid in direct contact with the cooling liquid;   a pump including an inlet and an outlet for pumping cooling liquid into and from the interior space;   a heat exchanger fixed to the case outside the interior space, the heat exchanger including a cooling liquid inlet, a cooling liquid outlet, and a flow path for cooling liquid therethrough from the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet;   a first fluid passage connecting the pump outlet to the cooling liquid inlet; and   a second fluid passage connecting the cooling liquid outlet to the interior space.   
   
   
       16 . The personal computer of  claim 15 , wherein the case defines the interior space. 
   
   
       17 . The personal computer of  claim 15 , wherein the heat-generating component comprises at least one of a processor, memory, and a power supply. 
   
   
       18 . The personal computer of  claim 15 , further comprising an air-moving device adjacent to the heat exchanger to move air past the heat exchanger. 
   
   
       19 . The personal computer of  claim 18 , wherein the air-moving device comprises a fan. 
   
   
       20 . The personal computer of  claim 18 , further comprising a high-efficiency particulate air filter adjacent to the air-moving device. 
   
   
       21 . The personal computer of  claim 15 , wherein the heat exchanger is adjacent to a wall of the case. 
   
   
       22 . The personal computer of  claim 15 , wherein the pump is disposed within the interior space and is submerged in the cooling liquid. 
   
   
       23 . The personal computer of  claim 15 , further comprising a hard drive mechanism disposed in the interior space and submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid, and a snorkel connected to the hard drive mechanism and in communication with the exterior of the interior space to achieve pressure equilibrium between the hard drive and outside air pressure. 
   
   
       24 . The personal computer of  claim 15 , wherein the dielectric cooling liquid is a soy-based dielectric liquid. 
   
   
       25 . A cooling system for a power supply of a computer, comprising:
 a housing having an interior space in which heat-generating components of the power supply are disposed, a liquid inlet to the interior space from an exterior of the housing, and a liquid outlet from the interior space to the exterior of the housing;   a dielectric cooling liquid within the interior space in which the heat-generating components of the power supply are submerged in direct contact with the cooling liquid;   a heat exchanger attached to the housing, the heat exchanger including a cooling liquid inlet exterior of the interior space, a cooling liquid outlet exterior of the interior space, and a flow path for cooling liquid therethrough from the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet;   a first fluid passage connecting the liquid outlet to the cooling liquid inlet, and a second fluid passage connecting the liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet; and   a pump circulating the cooling liquid between the interior space and the heat exchanger.   
   
   
       26 . The cooling system of  claim 25 , wherein the power supply is mounted on a board. 
   
   
       27 . A method of cooling a computer power supply of a computer, comprising:
 submerging heat-generating components of the power supply in a dielectric cooling liquid in an interior space within the computer so that the heat-generating components are in direct contact with the cooling liquid; and   circulating the dielectric cooling liquid to an external heat exchanger that is mounted on the computer for cooling the dielectric cooling liquid.