Phase-change cooling system and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A cooling performance of a phase-change cooling system that circulates a refrigerant liquid using a driving source is remarkably lowered immediately after the startup. Thus, the phase-change cooling system according to the present invention includes: an evaporator that contains the refrigerant liquid for receiving the heat from the heating source; a condenser that releases the heat of the refrigerant vapor generated by the vaporization of the refrigerant liquid at the evaporator and generates the refrigerant liquid; the refrigerant liquid driving means for circulating the refrigerant liquid; the first piping unit for connecting the evaporator with the condenser; the second piping unit for connecting the condenser with the refrigerant liquid driving means; the third piping unit for connecting the refrigerant liquid driving means with the evaporator; and the fourth piping unit that has one end, at the first connection point, connected with the first piping unit and the other end, at the second connection point, connected with the second piping unit, in which the first connection point is positioned at a lower place than a position of an interface between the refrigerant liquid and the refrigerant vapor within the first piping unit when the refrigerant liquid driving means is started up.

1 . A phase-change cooling system comprising:
 an evaporation unit for holding a refrigerant liquid receiving heat from a heat generating source;   a condensing unit releasing heat of a refrigerant vapor generated by vaporization of the refrigerant liquid at the evaporation unit and generating the refrigerant liquid;   refrigerant liquid driving unit circulating the refrigerant liquid;   a first piping unit for connecting the evaporation unit and the condensing unit;   a second piping unit connecting the condensing unit and the refrigerant liquid driving unit;   a third piping unit connecting the refrigerant liquid driving unit and the evaporation unit; and   a fourth piping unit having one end connected to the first piping unit at a first connection point and another end connected to the second piping unit at a second connection point; wherein   the first connection point is positioned at a lower place than a position of an interface between the refrigerant liquid and the refrigerant vapor in the first piping unit at a time when the refrigerant liquid driving unit is started up.   
     
     
         2 . The phase-change cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second connection point is positioned at a lower place than a position of an interface between the refrigerant liquid and the refrigerant vapor retained in the second piping unit at a time when the refrigerant liquid driving unit is started up.   
     
     
         3 . The phase-change cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the position of an interface between the refrigerant liquid and the refrigerant vapor at a time when the refrigerant liquid driving unit is started up is positioned at a lower place than the condensing unit.   
     
     
         4 . The phase-change cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first connection point is positioned above the second connection point.   
     
     
         5 . The phase-change cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the condensing unit is positioned above the evaporation unit and the refrigerant liquid driving unit.   
     
     
         6 . The phase-change cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a refrigerant storage unit storing the refrigerant liquid, the refrigerant storage unit being provided within a flow channel formed with the second piping unit.   
     
     
         7 . The phase-change cooling system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the refrigerant storage unit is arranged in such a way that an interface between the refrigerant liquid and the refrigerant vapor at a time when the refrigerant liquid driving unit is stopped is positioned at a lower place than a top of the refrigerant storage unit.   
     
     
         8 . The phase-change cooling system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the refrigerant storage unit is positioned above the refrigerant liquid driving unit.   
     
     
         9 . The phase-change cooling system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the refrigerant storage unit is positioned at a lower place than the first connection point.   
     
     
         10 . The phase-change cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a plurality of the evaporation units are included;   the first piping unit includes, at a part between the evaporation unit and the first connection point, common transport unit to which the plurality of evaporation units are connected in common; and   the common transport unit is inclined in such a way that a side of the common transport unit closer to the first connection point is positioned at a lower place than a side of the common transport unit closer to the evaporation unit.   
     
     
         11 . A control method of a phase-change cooling system including:
 an evaporation unit holding a refrigerant liquid receiving heat from a heat generating source;   a condensing unit releasing heat of a refrigerant vapor generated by vaporization of the refrigerant liquid at the evaporation unit and generating the refrigerant liquid;   a refrigerant liquid driving unit circulating the refrigerant liquid;   a first piping unit connecting the evaporation unit and the condensing unit;   a second piping unit for connecting the condensing unit and the refrigerant liquid driving unit;   a third piping unit connecting the refrigerant liquid driving unit and the evaporation unit; and   a fourth piping unit having one end connected to the first piping unit at a first connection point and another end connected to the second piping unit at a second connection point;   
       the method comprising:
 controlling the phase-change cooling system in such a way that a position of an interface between the refrigerant liquid and the refrigerant vapor retained in the first piping unit at a time when the refrigerant liquid driving unit is started up is above the first connection point.