Fluid heat exchange sytems
A fluid heat exchanger includes: a heat spreader plate including an intended heat generating component contact region; a plurality of microchannels for directing heat transfer fluid over the heat spreader plate, the plurality of microchannels each having a first end and an opposite end and each of the plurality of microchannels extending substantially parallel with each other microchannel and each of the plurality of microchannels having a continuous channel flow path between their first end and their opposite end; a fluid inlet opening for the plurality of microchannels and positioned between the microchannel first and opposite ends, a first fluid outlet opening from the plurality of microchannels at each of the microchannel first ends; and an opposite fluid outlet opening from the plurality of microchannels at each of the microchannel opposite ends, the fluid inlet opening and the first and opposite fluid outlet openings providing that any flow of heat transfer fluid that passes into the plurality of microchannels, flows along the full length of each of the plurality of microchannels in two directions outwardly from the fluid inlet opening. A method of cooling a heat generating component uses a fluid heat exchanger that splits a mass flow of coolant.
1. A heat exchange system comprising:
a housing defining a recessed region and an outlet port fluidicly coupled with the recessed region;
a heat sink having a plurality of juxtaposed fins defining a corresponding plurality of microchannels between adjacent fins;
a manifold body at least partially defining an opening overlying the microchannels,
wherein the manifold body defines a pair of compliant surfaces flanking the opening,
wherein the compliant surfaces urge against the fins, defining a flow boundary of the microchannels,
wherein the opening extends transversely relative to the fins and is configured to distribute a working fluid among the microchannels,
wherein the manifold body partially occupies the recessed region of the housing, leaving a pair of opposed portions of the recessed region unfilled, defining opposed exhaust manifold portions flanking the opening and being configured to receive the working fluid from the microchannels, and
wherein the housing further defines an outlet plenum configured to receive the working fluid from the exhaust manifold portions and to convey the working fluid to the outlet port.
2. The heat exchange system according to claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a pump volute and a segment of a flow path, the segment configured to convey the working fluid from the pump volute to the opening at least partially defined by the manifold body, the heat exchange system further comprising an impeller positioned in the pump volute and configured to urge the working fluid along the flow path.
3. The heat exchange system according to claim 2 , wherein the pump volute is positioned opposite the recessed region of the housing relative to the housing.
4. The heat exchange system according to claim 2 , wherein the housing defines a boundary of the pump volute, and wherein the flow path extends through the boundary of the pump volute.
5. The heat exchange system according to claim 2 , wherein the housing defines an inlet port, wherein the flow path extends from the inlet port to the outlet port and is configured to convey the working fluid from the inlet port through the pump volute, the manifold body, the microchannels, the opposed exhaust manifold portions, and the outlet plenum to the outlet port.
6. The heat exchange system according to claim 5 , wherein, in each of the microchannels, the flow path bifurcates into a pair of opposed, outwardly directed flow paths, wherein each outwardly directed flow path exhausts from the respective microchannels into a corresponding one of the exhaust manifold portions.
7. The heat exchange system according to claim 6 , wherein each pair of bifurcated flow paths recombine in the outlet plenum.
8. A heat exchange system according to claim 5 , further comprising a heat exchanger configured to reject heat from the working fluid, wherein the heat exchanger has an inlet fluidicly coupled with the outlet port defined by the housing, wherein the heat exchanger further has an outlet fluidicly coupled with the inlet port defined by the housing.
9. The heat-exchange module according to claim 1 , wherein a flow of the working fluid defines a flow path, wherein the flow path is distributed among the plurality of microchannels, and, within each microchannel, the flow path bifurcates into a pair of opposed sub-flow paths directed away from each other.
10. The heat-exchange module according to claim 9 , wherein one in each pair of sub-flow paths extends into the first exhaust region and the corresponding other sub-flow path extends into the second exhaust region.
11. The heat-exchange module according to claim 9 , wherein each pair of opposed sub-flow paths recombine with each other in the outlet plenum.
12. The heat-exchange module according to claim 1 , wherein the compliant surfaces of the manifold body conform to and seal against the fins, inhibiting the working fluid from bypassing the plurality of microchannels.
13. A fluid heat exchanger for cooling an electronic device, the heat exchanger comprising:
a plurality of walls defining a corresponding plurality of microchannels, wherein each microchannel extends from a first end to a second end;
a plate overlying the walls; and
a seal, wherein the seal is a portion of the plate;
a fluid inlet passage configured to deliver a heat-exchange fluid through one aperture in the plate to each microchannel at a position between the corresponding first end and the corresponding second end of the respective microchannel;
a fluid outlet passage configured to receive the heat-exchange fluid from the first end and the second end of each microchannel, wherein the fluid outlet passage has a first outlet region positioned adjacent the microchannel first ends and a second outlet region positioned adjacent the microchannel second ends, wherein the seal separates the fluid inlet passage from the fluid outlet passage;
wherein a flow of the heat-exchange fluid through the one aperture in the plate bifurcates into two sub flows within each microchannel, wherein the first outlet region receives one of the two sub flows adjacent the microchannel first ends and the second outlet region receives the other of the two sub flows adjacent the microchannel second ends, wherein the two sub flows recombine in the outlet passage.
14. The fluid heat exchanger according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of microchannels comprises at least two opposed outer microchannels and a centrally located microchannel positioned between the opposed outer microchannels, wherein the first outlet region is smaller adjacent at least one of the outer microchannels relative to adjacent the centrally located microchannel.
15. The fluid heat exchanger according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of microchannels comprises at least two opposed outer microchannels and a centrally located microchannel positioned between the opposed outer microchannels, wherein the first outlet region comprises an outlet opening from each microchannel, wherein the outlet opening from the centrally located microchannel is larger than the outlet opening from at least one of the outer microchannels.
16. The fluid heat exchanger according to claim 12 , wherein the plate and the seal comprise a unitary manifold body defining a pair of compliant surfaces flanking the one aperture through which the heat exchange fluid is delivered to each of the microchannels.
17. The fluid heat exchanger according to claim 16 , wherein the compliant surfaces urge against the walls, defining a flow boundary of the microchannels.
18. The fluid heat exchanger according to claim 16 , further comprising a housing defining a recessed region at least partially occupied by the unitary manifold body.
19. The fluid heat exchanger according to claim 18 , wherein the housing defines a pump volute fluidicly coupled with the fluid inlet passage.
20. The fluid heat exchanger according to claim 13 , further comprising a housing defining a recessed region at least partially occupied by the unitary manifold body.
21. The fluid heat exchanger according to claim 20 , wherein the housing defines a pump volute fluidicly coupled with the fluid inlet passage.