Flexible cooling line assembly

Abstract

A flexible cooling line assembly, when fluidly connected to a two-phase cooling apparatus, can provide device-level cooling to one or more devices. The assembly can include a first section of flexible, low-pressure tubing fluidly connected to an inlet port of a heat sink module. The heat sink module can include an inlet chamber fluidly connected to the inlet port and a plurality of orifices fluidly connecting the inlet chamber to an outlet chamber. The outlet chamber can be fluidly connected to an outlet port of the module, and a second section of flexible, low-pressure tubing can be fluidly connected to the outlet port. The plurality of orifices can deliver a plurality of jet streams of coolant into the outlet chamber and against a heat providing surface when the first heat sink module is mounted to the heat providing surface and when pressurized coolant is delivered to the inlet chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hot-swappable, flexible cooling line assembly for use with a two-phase cooling apparatus, the flexible cooling line assembly comprising:
 a first quick-connect fitting comprising a first non-spill shut-off valve and a first connection feature;   a first section of flexible tubing comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first section of tubing is fluidly connected to the first connection feature of the first quick-connect fitting;   a first heat sink module comprising: a first inlet port fluidly connected to a first inlet chamber; a first plurality of orifices fluidly connecting the first inlet chamber to a first outlet chamber; and a first outlet port fluidly connected to the first outlet chamber, the second end of the first section of flexible tubing being fluidly connected to the first inlet port;   a second section of flexible tubing comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second section of flexible tubing is fluidly connected to the first outlet port of the first heat sink module;   a second heat sink module comprising: a second inlet port fluidly connected to a second inlet chamber; a second plurality of orifices fluidly connecting the second inlet chamber to a second outlet chamber; and a second outlet port fluidly connected to the second outlet chamber, the second end of the second section of flexible tubing being fluidly connected to the second inlet port;   a third section of flexible tubing comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the third section of flexible tubing is fluidly connected to the second outlet port of the second heat sink module; and   a second quick-connect fitting comprising a second non-spill shut-off valve and a second connection feature fluidly connected to the second end of the third section of flexible tubing.   
     
     
         2 . The hot-swappable flexible cooling line assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first thermally conductive base member, wherein the first heat sink module is mounted against a surface of the first thermally conductive base member;   a first sealing member compressed between a bottom surface of the first heat sink module and the surface of the first thermally conductive base member to provide a first liquid-tight seal around a perimeter of the first outlet chamber;   a second thermally conductive base member, wherein the second heat sink module is mounted against a surface of the second thermally conductive base member; and   a second sealing member compressed between a bottom surface of the second heat sink module and the surface of the second thermally conductive base member to provide a second liquid-tight seal around a perimeter of the second outlet chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The hot-swappable flexible cooling line assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first section of flexible tubing has a maximum operating pressure of less than about 35, 50, 75, or 100 psi rated at 100 degrees C. 
     
     
         4 . The hot-swappable flexible cooling line assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first section of flexible tubing has an outer diameter less than about 0.3 in. and a minimum bend radius of less than or equal to about 2.5 in. 
     
     
         5 . The hot-swappable flexible cooling line assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of orifices have an average diameter of about 0.001-0.020, 0.001-0.2, 0.001-0.150, 0.001-0.120, 0.001-0.005, 0.020-0.045, 0.030-0.050 in, or 0.040 in. 
     
     
         6 . The hot-swappable flexible cooling line assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of orifices have an average jet height of about 0.01-0.75, 0.05-0.5, 0.05-0.25, 0.020-0.25, 0.03-0.125, or 0.04-0.08 in., wherein jet height for each orifice is measured as a shortest distance from an exit of an orifice to the surface of the first thermally conductive base member. 
     
     
         7 . The hot-swappable flexible cooling line assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of orifices have an average diameter of D and an average length of L, and wherein L divided by D is greater than or equal to one or about 1-10, 1-8, 1-6, 1-4, or 1-3. 
     
     
         8 . The hot-swappable flexible cooling line assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a vapor quality sensor attached to the third section of flexible tubing. 
     
     
         9 . The hot-swappable flexible cooling line assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the vapor quality sensor is an ultrasonic sensor capable of detecting density variations between vapor coolant and liquid coolant. 
     
     
         10 . The hot-swappable flexible cooling line assembly of  claim 2 , wherein an inner volume of the flexible cooling line assembly is filled with dielectric coolant. 
     
     
         11 . A modular cooling line assembly for a low pressure, two-phase cooling apparatus, the cooling line assembly comprising:
 a first fitting comprising a first connection feature;   a first section of flexible tubing comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first section of tubing is fluidly connected to the first connection feature of the first fitting;   a first heat sink module comprising: a first inlet port fluidly connected to a first inlet chamber; a first plurality of orifices fluidly connecting the first inlet chamber to a first outlet chamber; and a first outlet port fluidly connected to the first outlet chamber, the second end of the first section of flexible tubing being fluidly connected to the first inlet port; and   a second section of flexible tubing comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second section of flexible tubing is fluidly connected to the outlet port of the first heat sink module.   
     
     
         12 . The modular cooling line assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a second fitting comprising a second connection feature, the second end of the second section of flexible tubing fluidly connected to the second connection feature. 
     
     
         13 . The modular cooling line assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second heat sink module comprising: a second inlet port fluidly connected to a second inlet chamber; a second plurality of orifices fluidly connecting the second inlet chamber to a second outlet chamber; and a second outlet port fluidly connected to the second outlet chamber, the second end of the second section of flexible tubing being fluidly connected to the second inlet port;   a third section of flexible tubing comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the third section of flexible tubing is fluidly connected to the second outlet port of the second heat sink module; and   a second fitting comprising a second connection feature fluidly connected to the second end of the third section of flexible tubing.   
     
     
         14 . The modular cooling line assembly of  claim 11  wherein the first fitting is a quick-connect fitting comprising a non-spill shut-off valve. 
     
     
         15 . The modular cooling line assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first inlet chamber is formed within the first heat sink module, the first outlet chamber is formed within the heat sink module, the first outlet chamber having an open portion, the open portion configured to be enclosed by a heat providing surface when the first heat sink module is installed on the heat providing surface; and a dividing member disposed between the first inlet chamber and the first outlet chamber, the first plurality of orifices formed in the dividing member, the first plurality of orifices extending from a top surface of the dividing member to a bottom surface of the dividing member, the first plurality of orifices configured to deliver a plurality of jet streams of coolant into the first outlet chamber and against the heat providing surface when the first heat sink module is installed on the heat providing surface and when pressurized coolant is provided to the first inlet chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The modular cooling line assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first section of flexible tubing comprises nylon or fluorinated ethylene propylene tubing with a maximum operating pressure of less than about 35, 50, 75, or 100 psi rated at 100 degrees C. 
     
     
         17 . The modular cooling line assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of orifices have an average diameter of about 0.001-0.020, 0.001-0.2, 0.001-0.150, 0.001-0.120, 0.001-0.005, 0.020-0.045, 0.030-0.050 in, or 0.040 in. 
     
     
         18 . The modular cooling line assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a thermally conductive base member, wherein the first heat sink module is mounted against a surface of the thermally conductive base member;   a sealing member compressed between a bottom surface of the first heat sink module and the surface of the thermally conductive base member to provide a liquid-tight seal around a perimeter of the first outlet chamber, wherein the first inlet chamber is formed within the first heat sink module, the first outlet chamber is formed within the heat sink module, the first outlet chamber having an open portion, the open portion enclosed by the surface of the thermally conductive base member; and   a dividing member disposed between the first inlet chamber and the first outlet chamber within the first heat sink module, the first plurality of orifices formed in the dividing member, the first plurality of orifices extending from a top surface of the dividing member to a bottom surface of the dividing member, the first plurality of orifices configured to deliver a plurality of jet streams of coolant into the first outlet chamber and against the surface of the thermally conductive base member when pressurized coolant is provided to the first inlet chamber.   
     
     
         19 . The modular cooling line assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first plurality of orifices have an average jet height of about 0.01-0.75, 0.05-0.5, 0.05-0.25, 0.020-0.25, 0.03-0.125, or 0.04-0.08 in., and wherein jet height for each orifice is measured as a shortest distance from an exit of an orifice proximate the bottom surface of the dividing member to the surface of the first thermally conductive base member. 
     
     
         20 . A flexible cooling line assembly for a cooling apparatus, the flexible cooling line assembly comprising:
 a first section of flexible tubing comprising a first end and a second end;   a heat sink module mounted to a surface of a thermally conductive base member, the heat sink module comprising:
 an inlet chamber formed within the heat sink module and fluidly connected to an inlet port; 
 an outlet chamber formed within the heat sink module and fluidly connected to an outlet port, the outlet chamber having an open portion, the open portion enclosed by the surface of the thermally conductive base member; and 
 a dividing member disposed between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber, the dividing member comprising a first plurality of orifices formed in the dividing member, the first plurality of orifices extending from a top surface of the dividing member to a bottom surface of the dividing member and fluidly connecting the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber, the first plurality of orifices configured to deliver a plurality of jet streams of coolant into the outlet chamber and against the surface of the thermally conductive base member when pressurized coolant is provided to the inlet chamber, the second end of the first section of flexible tubing being fluidly connected to the first inlet port; and 
   a second section of flexible tubing comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second section of flexible tubing is fluidly connected to the outlet port of the heat sink module.