Thermally enhanced cold plate having high conductivity thermal transfer paths

Abstract

A cold plate comprises a cold plate body having a base for thermally engaging a heat-generating device, a plurality of internal channels extending through the cold plate body for the passage of a liquid coolant, a first region between the base and the plurality of internal channels, and a second region between the plurality of internal channels and a top that is generally opposite the base from the plurality of internal channels. The cold plate body is made from a first thermally conductive material. The cold plate also comprises at least one thermally conductive member extending around the plurality of channels from the first region below the plurality of channels to the second region above the plurality of channels. The at least one thermally conductive member has a greater thermal conductivity than the first thermally conductive material to move heat from the first region to the second region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cold plate, comprising:
 a cold plate body having a base for thermally engaging a heat-generating device, a plurality of internal channels extending through the cold plate body for the passage of a liquid coolant, a first region between the base and the plurality of internal channels, and a second region between the plurality of internal channels and a top that is generally opposite the base from the plurality of internal channels, wherein the cold plate body is made from a first thermally conductive material; and   at least one thermally conductive member extending around the plurality of channels from the first region below the plurality of channels to the second region above the plurality of channels, wherein the thermally conductive member has a greater thermal conductivity than the first thermally conductive material to move heat from the first region to the second region.   
     
     
         2 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member has a first end that extends around a first side of the plurality of channels and a second end that extends around a second side of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
         3 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member forms a loop that extends through the first region, around a first side of the plurality of channels, through the second region, and around a second side of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
         4 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member is a plurality of thermally conductive members, and wherein at least one of the plurality of thermally conductive members has a first end in the first region and second end in the second region. 
     
     
         5 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member is a plurality of thermally conductive members, wherein a first thermally conductive member extends around a first side of the cold plate body and a second thermally conductive member extends around a second side of the cold plate, and wherein the first and second sides are adjacent sides of a generally rectangular cold plate. 
     
     
         6 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member includes a first thermally conductive member and a second thermally conductive member, wherein the first thermally conductive member has a first end that extends around a first side of the plurality of channels and a second end that extends around a second side of the plurality of channels, and wherein the second thermally conductive member has a first end that extends around a third side of the plurality of channels and a second end that extends around a fourth side of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
         7 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member is embedded in the base with an exposed surface that is flush with the base for thermally engaging the heat-generating device. 
     
     
         8 . The cold plate of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member is embedded in the base by being received within an open groove formed in an exterior surface of the cold plate body. 
     
     
         9 . The cold plate of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member conforms to the walls of the open groove for thermal engagement with the walls. 
     
     
         10 . The cold plate of  claim 8 , wherein the exposed surface of the at least one thermally conductive member is flattened to provide a flat area for thermally engaging the heat-generating device. 
     
     
         11 . The cold plate of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member is a plurality of thermally conductive members, and wherein each of the plurality of thermally conductive members extend into an area of the base that thermally engages the heat generating device. 
     
     
         12 . The cold plate of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of thermally conductive members are spaced apart through the second region. 
     
     
         13 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member is secured to an exterior surface of the cold plate body for thermally engaging the cold plate body. 
     
     
         14 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member is selected from a heat pipe, a vapor chamber, metal, graphite, and diamond. 
     
     
         15 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member is copper. 
     
     
         16 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one thermally conductive member is a heat pipe having a thermally conductive outer wall forming a sealed chamber containing a volatile fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first thermally conductive material is aluminum, and wherein the at least one thermally conductive member is made from copper. 
     
     
         18 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first thermally conductive material is selected from aluminum and copper, and wherein the at least one thermally conductive member is a heat pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The cold plate of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a liquid coolant supply line and a liquid coolant return line that are fluidically coupled to the plurality of internal channels.   
     
     
         20 . The cold plate of  claim 19 , wherein the liquid coolant supply line, the liquid coolant return line, or both are fluidically coupled to the plurality of internal channels through a side of the cold plate body. 
     
     
         21 . The cold plate of  claim 19 , wherein the liquid coolant supply line, the liquid coolant return line, or both are fluidically coupled to the plurality of internal channels through the top of the cold plate body.