Heat transfer system applying boundary later penetration

Abstract

A heat transfer system is disclosed incorporating a passive pump utilizing bubble technology to cycle a coolant through associated channels. The system includes a housing and channels containing a slurry consisting of liquid having a low boiling point and microspheres formed of metallic foam introduced into said liquid. The microspheres are caused to flow onto a heat source and penetrate the coolant boundary layer and thereby provide an efficient and fast transfer of heat from the source onto the microspheres and the coolant. The microspheres further provide and efficient and fast transfer of heat through the slurry to a heat dissipating component.

1 . A heat transfer system comprising in combination
 a) a container for a flowing fluid slurry, said container having a panel with an interior bounding surface for said slurry and an exterior surface for receiving heat wherein a fluid boundary layer comprising a thin film of fluid formed on said bounding surface effectively comprises a heat transfer insulator;   b) an outlet channel and an inlet channel for said container;   c) a slurry comprising a fluid having a low boiling point and metal microspheres;   d) a heat source positioned to be thermally coupled to said container;   e) said fluid generating bubbles in response to heat received from said heat source;   f) said bubbles providing a pumping action to drive said heated slurry upwardly through said outlet channel   e) a large quantity of said metal microspheres in said slurry being moved over and engaging said interior bounding surface thereby penetrating said fluid boundary layer to obtain an efficient metal to metal heat transfer.   
     
     
         2 . A fluid flow system for transferring heat from a heat source to a heat dissipating region, said system comprising in combination
 a) a container inclosing a flowing liquid slurry;   b) a heat source mounted to provide heat to said container and said slurry;   c) said slurry containing a plurality of foamed copper microspheres that are substantially of the same density as said liquid;   d) said fluid generating bubbles in response to heat received from said heat source and said bubbles providing a pumping heated slurry to flow from said heat source toward said heat dissipating region and said microspheres to transfer heat generally upwardly and away from said heat source;   e) said copper microspheres in said flowing providing a fast rate of heat transfer through the spheres to adjacent liquid, said liquid slurry providing a slower rate of heat transfer to adjacent microsphere which next provides a fast rate of heat transfer to adjacent microspheres and liquid whereby a series of zones of fast heat transfer are provided to thereby in total effect a fast efficient transfer of heat from said heat source to said heat dissipating region.   
     
     
         3 . A heat transfer system comprising in combination
 a) a source of metallic microspheres;   b) a source of heated air;   c) a heat dissipating surface;   d) a chamber region into which said microspheres are introduced;   e) a nozzle for jetting said heated air into said chamber region and to impinge on said heat dissipating surface;   f) said jetted heated air driving said microsphere onto said heat dissipating surface and penetrating the air (fluid) boundary to provide a fast rate of heat transfer from said heated air to said dissipating surface.   
     
     
         4 . A heat transfer system as in  claim 1  wherein
 a) a portion of said flow path is angled causing said microspheres to strike against said interior boundary layer surface. 
 
     
     
         5 . A heat transfer system as in  claim 1  providing a relatively enlarged heating chamber enabling said bubbles to coalesce to the size of said outlet channel to drive said bubbles through said channel.