Two-phase heat exchanger for cooling electrical components

Abstract

Described herein are passive cooling systems utilizing two-phase heat-transfer fluids for transferring heat from one or more heat sources.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An evaporator comprising:
 a first wall comprising:
 an external surface; 
 a first edge; and 
 a second edge, wherein:
 the first wall, the first edge, and the second edge are substantially parallel to a plane, and 
 the first edge and the second edge are substantially parallel to each other; 
 
   a second wall extending from the first edge and the external surface, substantially perpendicular to the plane, and substantially parallel to the first edge; and   a third wall extending from the second edge and the external surface, substantially perpendicular to the plane, and substantially parallel to the second edge, wherein:
 the external surface of the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall form a passage substantially parallel to the first edge, 
 the passage is configured to contain at least one heat source, and 
 at least the first wall is configured to be in thermal communication with the at least one heat source. 
   
     
     
         2 . The evaporator of  claim 1 , further comprising a conducting element, wherein:
 the conducting element is positioned within the passage,   the conducting element is configured to be in thermal communication with the at least one heat source, and   the conducting element is in thermal communication with at least one of the second wall or the third wall.   
     
     
         3 . The evaporator of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the conducting element comprises a block of material with a substantially triangular cross-section,   the block of material has a first side that is in thermal communication with either the second wall or the third wall, and   the block has a second side that is configured to be in thermal communication with the at least one heat source.   
     
     
         4 . The evaporator of  claim 2 , wherein the conducting element comprises:
 a first block of material with a substantially triangular cross-section; and   a second block of material with a substantially triangular cross-section, wherein:   the first block of material has a first side that is in thermal communication with the second wall, and a second side that is configured to be in thermal communication with the at least one heat source, and   the second block of material has a first side that is in thermal communication with the third wall, and a second side that is configured to be in thermal communication with the at least one heat source.   
     
     
         5 . The evaporator of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall further comprises an internal surface and the evaporator further comprises:
 a surface area extender that extends from the internal surface, wherein:   the internal surface is substantially parallel to the external surface, and   the surface area extender is substantially perpendicular to the plane.   
     
     
         6 . The evaporator of  claim 5 , wherein the surface area extender comprises a fin, wherein the fin is substantially parallel to the first edge. 
     
     
         7 . The evaporator of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the internal surface and the external surface define a width of the first wall, and   the fin comprises a height that is approximately equal to the width.   
     
     
         8 . The evaporator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second wall terminates with an edge,   the third wall terminates with an edge,   the edge of the second wall and the edge of the third wall are positioned below the external surface, and   the evaporator further comprises:   a first tab extending from the edge of the second wall, substantially perpendicular to the second wall, and away from the passage; and   a second tab extending from the edge of the third wall, substantially perpendicular to the third wall, and away from the passage.   
     
     
         9 . The evaporator of  claim 8 , further comprising a housing, wherein:
 the housing comprises:
 a first end connected to the first tab; 
 a second end connected to the second tab; and 
 at least one wall physically connecting the first end to the second end, wherein: 
 the housing forms a first interior channel between the interior surface of the first wall and the housing, 
 the housing forms a second interior channel between the second wall and the housing, and 
 the housing forms a third channel between the third wall and the housing. 
   
     
     
         10 . The evaporator of  claim 9 , wherein the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, the first tab, the second tab, and the housing are all a single piece of material. 
     
     
         11 . The evaporator of  claim 10 , wherein the single piece of material is aluminum. 
     
     
         12 . The evaporator of  claim 9 , wherein the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, the first tab, and the second tab are all a first single piece of material. 
     
     
         13 . The evaporator of  claim 12 , wherein the first single piece of material is aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The evaporator of  claim 13 , wherein the housing is a second single piece of material. 
     
     
         15 . The evaporator of  claim 14 , wherein the second single piece of material is copper. 
     
     
         16 . A cooling system comprising:
 an evaporator configured to cool a first heat source;   a condenser in fluid communication with the evaporator;   a refrigerant contained within the condenser and the evaporator; and   a circulating liquid system comprising:
 a liquid contained within the circulating liquid system; 
 a liquid reservoir; 
 a pump in liquid communication with the liquid reservoir; 
 a first heat exchanger in liquid communication with the pump, wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to deliver heat from the liquid to the refrigerant; and 
 a second heat exchanger in liquid communication with the first heat exchanger, wherein: 
 the second heat exchanger is configured to deliver heat from a second heat source to the liquid, 
 the second heat exchanger is in liquid communication with the liquid reservoir, and 
 the pump circulates the liquid through the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the liquid reservoir. 
   
     
     
         17 . The cooling system of  claim 16 , wherein the second heat exchanger comprises a spray nozzle, wherein the liquid is sprayed onto the second heat source. 
     
     
         18 . The cooling system of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid reservoir comprises a liquid collection pan configured to collect oil heated by the second heat source. 
     
     
         19 . The cooling system of  claim 16 , wherein the evaporator and the circulating liquid system are fluid-sealed within a container operating at a first average temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The cooling system of  claim 19 , wherein the condenser operates at a second average temperature that is less than the first average temperature.