Vacuum Pumped Liquid Cooling System for Computers

Abstract

A reliable, leak tolerant liquid cooling system with a backup air-cooling system for computers is provided. The system may use a vacuum pump and a liquid pump in combination to provide negative fluid pressure so that liquid does not leak out of the system near electrical components. The system distributes flow and pressure with a series of pressure regulating valves so that an array of computers can be serviced by a single cooling system. The system provides both air and liquid cooling so that if the liquid cooling system does not provide adequate cooling, the air cooling system will be automatically activated. A connector system is provided to automatically evacuate the liquid from the heat exchangers before they are disconnected.

1 . A system for cooling an electrical device, comprising:
 a fluid-containing heat exchanger thermally coupled to the electrical device;   a fluid-containing reservoir in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, the reservoir defining an opening, the reservoir partially full of coolant fluid such that the coolant fluid is at a level below the opening;   a fluid pump in fluid communication with the reservoir and the heat exchanger; and   a vacuum pump in vacuum communication with said opening in said reservoir;   wherein the fluid pump in combination with the vacuum pump causes the coolant fluid to flow from the reservoir through the heat exchanger and back to the reservoir under less than atmospheric pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second heat exchanger thermally coupled to the electrical device, the second heat exchanger adapted to transfer heat from the electrical device to the air surrounding the second heat exchanger; and   a fan adapted to move air past the fluid-containing heat exchanger.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-containing heat exchanger is adapted to transfer heat from the electrical device to the air surrounding the fluid-containing heat exchanger, further comprising a fan adapted to move air past the fluid-containing heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an evaporative cooling tower in fluid communication with and thermally coupled to the coolant fluid.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-containing heat exchanger further comprises a turbulator adapted to cause the coolant fluid to flow in a helical path. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant fluid flows over a plated surface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fluid level sensor located in the reservoir and providing an output based on the level of the fluid in the reservoir, the fluid pump being adapted to operate in response to the output of the fluid level sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fluid level sensor located in the reservoir and providing an output based on the level of the fluid in the reservoir, the fluid pump being adapted to operate in response to the output of the fluid level sensor and to maintain the fluid level in the reservoir within a range.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vacuum regulator in vacuum communication with the vacuum pump and adapted to maintain a pressure in the reservoir less than atmospheric pressure.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fluid filter in fluid communication with the fluid-containing heat exchanger and adapted to prevent debris from entering the fluid-containing heat exchanger.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a coolant fluid pressure regulator in fluid communication with the fluid-containing heat exchanger, the coolant fluid pressure regulator adapted to provide a constant pressure differential across the fluid-containing heat exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vacuum accumulator in fluid communication with the fluid-containing heat exchanger.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a connector releasably connecting the fluid-containing heat exchanger to the fluid-containing reservoir, the connector adapted to release the fluid-containing heat exchanger from the fluid-containing reservoir only when substantially all of the coolant fluid has been evacuated out of the fluid-containing heat exchanger.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fluid-containing heat exchangers thermally coupled to a plurality of electrical devices. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an air compressor in fluid communication with at least one reservoir, said compressor configured to pump said coolant fluid out of said reservoir.