Remedies to prevent cracking in a liquid system
View Patent ↗A liquid cooling system utilizing minimal size and volume enclosures, air pockets, compressible objects, and flexible objects is provided to protect against expansion of water-based solutions when frozen. In such a system, pipes, pumps, and heat exchangers are designed to prevent cracking of their enclosures and chambers. Also described are methods of preventing cracking in a liquid cooling system. In all these cases, the system must be designed to tolerate expansion when water is frozen.
1. An apparatus for preventing cracking of a liquid system, comprising:
a housing for holding liquid having at least one inlet chamber and at least one outlet chamber structure separate from the at least one inlet chamber; and
at least one flexible object coupled to form a portion of at least one wall of the inlet and outlet chambers such that pressure exerted on the flexible object increases a volume of the housing; wherein at least a remaining portion of the at least one wall of the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber is rigid.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible object accommodates a predetermined level of fluid expansion.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined level of fluid expansion is between 5 to 25 percent.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible object being capable of contracting and expanding between a minimum volume condition and a maximum volume condition.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible object being secured within the inlet and outlet chambers.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible object is made of one of the following: rubber, plastic or foam.
7. A method of preventing cracking of a liquid system, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a housing for holding liquid having at least one inlet chamber and at least one outlet chamber separate from the at least one inlet chamber; and
disposing at least one flexible object to form a portion of at least one of the inlet and outlet chambers, a remaining portion of said chamber being rigid, such that pressure exerted on the flexible object increases a volume of the housing, the flexible objects accommodating a predetermined level of fluid expansion.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined level of fluid expansion is between 5 to 25 percent.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the flexible object being capable of contracting and expanding between a minimum volume condition and a maximum volume condition.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the flexible object is made of one of the following: rubber, plastic or foam.
11. An apparatus for preventing cracking in a pump, comprising:
a housing having at least one inlet chamber and at least one outlet chamber separate from the at least one inlet chamber; and
a plurality of spaced apart flexible objects coupled to form a portion of at least one wall of the housing such that pressure exerted on the plurality of spaced apart flexible objects increases a volume of the housing.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the flexible objects accommodate a predetermined level of fluid expansion.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined level of fluid expansion is between 5 to 25 percent.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the flexible objects being capable of contracting and expanding between a minimum volume condition and a maximum volume condition.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the pump is electro-osmotic.
16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the flexible objects are made of elastomer hinges.
17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the flexible objects are made of one of the following: plastic, rubber, or foam.
18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the flexible objects are fastened to rigid plates of the housing.
19. A method of preventing cracking in a pump, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a housing having at least one inlet chamber and at least one outlet chamber separate from the at least one inlet chamber; and
disposing a plurality of spaced apart flexible objects to form at least one wall of the housing such that pressure exerted on the plurality of spaced apart flexible objects increase a volume of the housing, the plurality of spaced apart flexible objects accommodating a predetermined level of fluid expansion.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the predetermined level of fluid expansion is between 5 to 25 percent.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the flexible objects being capable of contracting and expanding between a minimum volume condition and a maximum volume condition.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the pump is electro-osmotic.
23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the flexible objects are made of elastomer hinges.
24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the flexible objects are made of one of the following: plastic, rubber or foam.
25. The method of claim 19 , wherein the flexible objects are fastened to rigid plates of the housing.