Systems and methods for synthetic jet enhanced natural cooling

Abstract

A method and system for increasing cooling of an enclosure is provided. The component enclosure includes one or more sidewalls defining a volume, the sidewalls are configured to substantially surround a heat generating component positioned within the volume. The component enclosure further includes a synthetic jet assembly positioned adjacent at least one of the sidewalls. The synthetic jet assembly includes at least one synthetic jet ejector having a jet port. The jet port is aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of the at least one sidewall. The synthetic jet assembly is configured to direct a jet of fluid through the port at least one of substantially parallel to the surface, perpendicularly onto the surface, and obliquely toward the surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A component enclosure comprising:
 one or more sidewalls defining a volume configured to substantially surround a heat generating component positioned within said volume; and   a synthetic jet assembly positioned adjacent and is formed integrally with a surface of at least one of the sidewalls and external to said volume, said synthetic jet assembly including at least one synthetic jet ejector comprising a jet port, said jet port aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of said at least one sidewall, said synthetic jet assembly is configured to direct a jet of fluid through said port at least one of substantially parallel to said surface, perpendicularly onto said surface, and obliquely toward said surface, such that the jet of fluid flows external to said volume.   
     
     
       2. An enclosure in accordance with claim  1  3 wherein said synthetic jet assembly comprises a plurality of jet ports. 
     
     
       3. An enclosure in accordance with  claim 1  A component enclosure comprising:
 one or more sidewalls defining a volume configured to substantially surround a heat generating component positioned within said volume: and 
 a synthetic jet assembly positioned adjacent and is formed integrally with a surface of at least one of the sidewalls and external to said volume, said synthetic jet assembly including at least one synthetic jet ejector comprising a jet port, said jet port aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of said at least one sidewall, said synthetic jet assembly is configured to direct a jet of fluid through said port at least one of substantially parallel to said surface, perpendicularly onto said surface, and obliquely toward said surface, such that the jet of fluid flows external to said volume:  
 wherein said synthetic jet assembly comprises a plurality of synthetic jet ejectors enclosed in a single housing. 
 
     
     
       4. An enclosure in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said synthetic jet assembly comprises a plurality of synthetic jet ejectors coupled together in serial flow communication. 
     
     
       5. An enclosure in accordance with claim  1  3 wherein said synthetic jet ejector comprises ejectors each comprise a piezoelectric actuator, said actuator configured to vibrate such that a flow of fluid is generated. 
     
     
       6. An enclosure in accordance with claim  1  3 wherein at least one of said plurality of sidewalls comprises an extended surface, said jet port aligned at least one of perpendicularly and obliquely with a surface of said extended surface. 
     
     
       7. A method of increasing cooling of an enclosure, said method comprising coupling a synthetic jet assembly to an external surface of at least one of a plurality of sidewalls of the enclosure, the synthetic jet assembly including at least one synthetic jet ejector including a jet port, the jet port being aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of the at least one sidewall, the synthetic jet assembly being configured to direct a jet of fluid through the jet port at least one of substantially parallel to the surface, perpendicularly onto the surface, and obliquely toward the surface, such that the jet of fluid flows external to the enclosure. 
     
     
       8. A method in accordance with claim  7  9 wherein coupling a synthetic jet assembly comprises coupling a synthetic jet assembly having a plurality of jet ports. 
     
     
       9. A method in accordance with  claim 7  A method of increasing cooling of an enclosure, said method comprising coupling a synthetic jet assembly to an external surface of at least one of a plurality of sidewalls of the enclosure, the synthetic jet assembly including at least one synthetic jet ejector including a jet port, the jet port being aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of the at least one sidewall, the synthetic jet assembly being configured to direct a jet of fluid through the jet port at least one of substantially parallel to the surface, perpendicularly onto the surface, and obliquely toward the surface, such that the jet of fluid flows external to the enclosure; 
 wherein coupling a synthetic jet assembly comprises coupling a synthetic jet assembly having a plurality of synthetic jet ejectors enclosed in a single housing. 
 
     
     
       10. A method in accordance with  claim 7  A method of increasing cooling of an enclosure, said method comprising coupling a synthetic jet assembly to an external surface of at least one of a plurality of sidewalls of the enclosure, the synthetic jet assembly including at least one synthetic jet ejector including a jet port, the jet port being aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of the at least one sidewall, the synthetic jet assembly being configured to direct a jet of fluid through the jet port at least one of substantially parallel to the surface, perpendicularly onto the surface, and obliquely toward the surface, such that the jet of fluid flows external to the enclosure; 
 wherein coupling a synthetic jet assembly comprises coupling a synthetic jet assembly having a plurality of synthetic jet ejectors coupled together in serial flow communication. 
 
     
     
       11. A method in accordance with claim  7  9 wherein said synthetic jet ejector comprises ejectors each comprise a piezoelectric actuator, the actuator configured to vibrate. 
     
     
       12. A method in accordance with  claim 7  A method of increasing cooling of an enclosure, said method comprising coupling a synthetic jet assembly to an external surface of at least one of a plurality of sidewalls of the enclosure, the synthetic jet assembly including at least one synthetic jet ejector including a jet port, the jet port being aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of the at least one sidewall, the synthetic jet assembly being configured to direct a jet of fluid through the jet port at least one of substantially parallel to the surface, perpendicularly onto the surface, and obliquely toward the surface, such that the jet of fluid flows external to the enclosure; 
 wherein at least one of said plurality of sidewalls comprises an extended surface and wherein coupling a synthetic jet assembly comprises aligning the jet port at least one of perpendicularly and obliquely with a surface of the extended surface. 
 
     
     
       13. An electronic component system comprising:
 a component enclosure comprising a plurality of sidewalls defining a volume;   a heat generating component positioned within the volume; and   a synthetic jet assembly comprising a housing formed integrally with and positioned adjacent an external surface of at least one of the plurality of sidewalls, said synthetic jet assembly including at least one synthetic jet ejector comprising a jet port, said jet port aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of said at least one sidewall, said synthetic jet assembly is configured to direct a jet of fluid through said port at least one of substantially parallel to said surface, perpendicularly onto said surface, and obliquely toward said surface, such that the jet of fluid flows external to the volume.   
     
     
       14. An enclosure in accordance with claim  13  15 wherein said synthetic jet assembly comprises a plurality of jet ports. 
     
     
       15. An enclosure in accordance with  claim 13  An electronic component system comprising:
 a component enclosure comprising a plurality of sidewalls defining a volume; 
 a heat generating component positioned within the volume; and 
 a synthetic jet assembly comprising a housing formed integrally with and positioned adjacent an external surface of at least one of the plurality of sidewalls, said synthetic jet assembly including at least one synthetic jet ejector comprising a jet port, said jet port aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of said at least one sidewall, said synthetic jet assembly is configured to direct a jet of fluid through said port at least one of substantially parallel to said surface, perpendicularly onto said surface, and obliquely toward said surface, such that the jet of fluid flows external to the volume;  
 wherein said synthetic jet assembly comprises a plurality of synthetic jet ejectors enclosed in a single housing. 
 
     
     
       16. An enclosure in accordance with claim 17 wherein the synthetic jet assembly comprises a plurality of jet ports.  
     
     
       17. A component enclosure comprising:
 a synthetic jet assembly coupled to an external surface of at least one of a plurality of sidewalls of the enclosure, the synthetic jet assembly including at least one synthetic jet ejector including a jet port, the jet port being aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of the at least one sidewall, the synthetic jet assembly being configured to direct a jet of fluid through the jet port at least one of substantially parallel to the surface, perpendicularly onto the surface, and obliquely toward the surface, such that the jet of fluid flows external to the enclosure;   wherein the synthetic jet assembly comprises a plurality of synthetic jet ejectors enclosed in a single housing.    
     
     
       18. A component enclosure comprising:
 a synthetic jet assembly coupled to an external surface of at least one of a plurality of sidewalls of the enclosure, the synthetic jet assembly including at least one synthetic jet ejector including a jet port, the jet port being aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of the at least one sidewall, the synthetic jet assembly being configured to direct a jet of fluid through the jet port at least one of substantially parallel to the surface, perpendicularly onto the surface, and obliquely toward the surface, such that the jet of fluid flows external to the enclosure;   wherein the synthetic jet assembly comprises a plurality of synthetic jet ejectors coupled together in serial flow communication.    
     
     
       19. An enclosure in accordance with claim 17 wherein the synthetic jet ejectors each comprise a piezoelectric actuator, the actuator configured to vibrate.  
     
     
       20. A component enclosure comprising:
 a synthetic jet assembly coupled to an external surface of at least one of a plurality of sidewalls of the enclosure, the synthetic jet assembly including at least one synthetic jet ejector including a jet port, the jet port being aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of the at least one sidewall, the synthetic jet assembly being configured to direct a jet of fluid through the jet port at least one of substantially parallel to the surface, perpendicularly onto the surface, and obliquely toward the surface, such that the jet of fluid flows external to the enclosure;   wherein at least one of the plurality of sidewalls comprises an extended surface; and   wherein the jet port is aligned at least one of perpendicularly and obliquely with a surface of the extended surface.