Liquid submersion cooling system
A portable, self-contained liquid submersion cooling system that is suitable for cooling a number of electronic devices, including cooling heat-generating components in computer systems and other systems that use electronic, heat-generating components. The electronic device includes a housing having an interior space, a dielectric cooling liquid in the interior space, a heat-generating electronic component disposed within the space and submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid, and a pump for pumping the liquid into and out of the space, to and from a heat exchanger that is fixed to the housing outside the interior space. The heat exchanger includes a cooling liquid inlet, a cooling liquid outlet, and a flow path for cooling liquid therethrough from the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet. An air-moving device such as a fan can be used to blow air across the heat exchanger to increase heat transfer.
1. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing having an interior space;
a heat-generating component disposed within the interior space;
a dielectric cooling liquid within the interior space with the heat-generating component being submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid in direct contact with the cooling liquid;
a pump within the interior space and submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid, the pump including an inlet and an outlet;
a heat exchanger fixed to the housing outside the interior space, the heat exchanger including a cooling liquid inlet, a cooling liquid outlet, and a flow path for cooling liquid therethrough from the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet;
a first passageway connecting the pump outlet to the cooling liquid inlet;
a second passageway connecting the cooling liquid outlet to the interior space; and
an air-moving device adjacent to the heat exchanger, the air-moving device configured to move air past the heat exchanger.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines the interior space.
3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a computer and the heat-generating component is at least one of a processor, memory, and a power supply.
4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the air-moving device is a fan.
5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is adjacent to a wall of the housing.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a high-efficiency particulate air filter adjacent to the air-moving device.
7. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a hard drive mechanism disposed in the interior space and submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid, and a snorkel connected to the hard drive mechanism and connected with the exterior of the interior space using a conduit to achieve pressure equilibrium between the hard drive and outside air pressure.
8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric cooling liquid is a soy-based dielectric liquid.
9. A personal computer with a self-contained liquid cooling system comprising:
a case having an interior space;
a motherboard disposed within the interior space, the motherboard including at least one heat-generating component disposed thereon;
a dielectric cooling liquid within the interior space with the heat-generating component being submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid in direct contact with the cooling liquid;
a pump including an inlet and an outlet for pumping cooling liquid into and from the interior space, the pump is disposed within the interior space and is submerged in the cooling liquid;
a heat exchanger fixed to the case outside the interior space, the heat exchanger including a cooling liquid inlet, a cooling liquid outlet, and a flow path for cooling liquid therethrough from the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet;
a first fluid passage connecting the pump outlet to the cooling liquid inlet; and
a second fluid passage connecting the cooling liquid outlet to the interior space.
10. The personal computer of claim 9 , wherein the case defines the interior space.
11. The personal computer of claim 9 , wherein the heat-generating component comprises at least one of a processor, memory, and a power supply.
12. The personal computer of claim 9 , further comprising an air-moving device adjacent to the heat exchanger to move air past the heat exchanger.
13. The personal computer of claim 12 , wherein the air-moving device comprises a fan.
14. The personal computer of claim 12 , further comprising a high-efficiency particulate air filter adjacent to the air-moving device.
15. The personal computer of claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger is adjacent to a wall of the case.
16. The personal computer of claim 9 , wherein the dielectric cooling liquid is a soy-based dielectric liquid.
17. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing defining a liquid-tight interior space, a liquid inlet to the interior space from an exterior of the interior space, and a liquid outlet from the interior space to the exterior thereof;
a heat-generating component disposed within the interior space;
a dielectric cooling liquid within the interior space with the heat-generating component being submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid in direct contact with the cooling liquid;
a heat exchanger fixed to the housing outside the interior space, the heat exchanger including a cooling liquid inlet exterior of the interior space, a cooling liquid outlet exterior of the interior space, and a flow path for cooling liquid therethrough from the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet;
a first fluid passage connecting the liquid outlet to the cooling liquid inlet, and a second fluid passage connecting the liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet; and
a hard drive mechanism disposed in the interior space and submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid, and a snorkel connected to the hard drive mechanism and in communication with the exterior of the interior space to achieve pressure eqiulibrium between the hard drive and outside air pressure.
18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the electronic device is a computer and the heat-generating component is at least one of a processor, memory, and a power supply.
19. The electronic device of claim 17 , further comprising an air-moving device adjacent to the heat exchanger to move air past the heat exchanger.
20. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the heat exchanger is adjacent to a wall of the housing.
21. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the dielectric cooling liquid is a soy-based dielectric liquid.
22. A personal computer with a self-contained liquid cooling system comprising:
a case having an interior space;
a motherboard disposed within the interior space, the motherboard including at least one heat-generating component disposed thereon;
a dielectric cooling liquid within the interior space with the heat-generating component being submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid in direct contact with the cooling liquid;
a pump including an inlet and an outlet for pumping cooling liquid into and from the interior space;
a heat exchanger fixed to the case outside the interior space, the heat exchanger including a cooling liquid inlet, a cooling liquid outlet, and a flow path for cooling liquid therethrough from the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet;
a first fluid passage connecting the pump outlet to the cooling liquid inlet;
a second fluid passage connecting the cooling liquid outlet to the interior space; and a hard drive mechanism disposed in the interior space and submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid, and a snorkel connected to the hard drive mechanism and in communication with the exterior of the interior space to achieve pressure equilibrium between the hard drive and outside air pressure.