Cooling system for a computer system
A cooling system for a computer system comprises at least one unit such as a central processing unit (CPU) generating thermal energy and a reservoir having an amount of cooling liquid, said cooling liquid intended for accumulating and transferring of thermal energy dissipated from the processing unit to the cooling liquid. The cooling system has a heat exchanging interface for providing thermal contact between the processing unit and the cooling liquid for dissipating heat from the processing unit to the cooling liquid. Different embodiments of the heat exchanging system as well as means for establishing and controlling a flow of cooling liquid and a cooling strategy constitutes the invention of the cooling system.
1. A cooling system for a computer system processing unit, comprising:
a reservoir configured to circulate a cooling liquid therethrough, the reservoir including:
an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the upper chamber and the lower chamber are vertically displaced fluid-containing chambers that are each surrounded by boundary walls;
a first passage that fluidly couples the lower chamber to the upper chamber, wherein the first passage is substantially central to the lower chamber;
a second passage positioned at a perimeter of the lower chamber;
wherein the lower chamber includes a plurality of parallel channels configured to split the flow of cooling liquid and direct the cooling liquid from the central region toward the perimeter of the lower chamber where the cooling liquid is collected along the perimeter and directed from the lower chamber through the second passage;
a heat exchanging interface attached to the reservoir to form a boundary wall of the lower chamber, the heat exchanging interface configured to provide thermal contact between a processing unit and the cooling liquid;
a pump having a motor and an impeller, the impeller being positioned within the upper chamber of the reservoir; and
a radiator spaced apart from and fluidly coupled to the reservoir.
2. The cooling system of claim 1 , configured to function with a control system that can adjust a speed of the pump.
3. The cooling system of claim 2 , wherein the cooling system is further configured to function with a control system that is configured to measure one of an operating load or an operating temperature of a processing unit and adjust the pump speed based on the measured value.
4. The cooling system of claim 2 , wherein the cooling system is further configured to function with a control system that is configured to determine a required cooling capacity of the cooling system and adjust a rotational speed of the pump based on the required cooling capacity.
5. The cooling system of claim 4 , wherein the cooling system is further configured to function with a control system that is configured to reduce the rotational speed of the pump if lower cooling capacity is required.
6. A cooling system for a computer system processing unit, comprising:
a reservoir configured to circulate a cooling liquid therethrough, the reservoir including:
an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the upper chamber and the lower chamber are vertically displaced fluid-containing chambers that are each surrounded by boundary walls;
a first passage that fluidly couples the lower chamber to the upper chamber, wherein the first passage is substantially central to the lower chamber;
a second passage positioned at a perimeter of the lower chamber;
wherein the lower chamber includes a plurality of channels configured to split the flow of cooling liquid and direct the cooling liquid from the central region toward the perimeter of the lower chamber;
a heat exchanging interface attached to the reservoir to form a boundary wall of the lower chamber, the heat exchanging interface configured to provide thermal contact between a processing unit and the cooling liquid;
a pump having a motor and an impeller, the impeller being positioned within the upper chamber of the reservoir; and
a radiator spaced apart from and fluidly coupled to the reservoir;
a frame configured to fasten the reservoir to a board on which a computer system processing unit is configured to be mounted, wherein the frame has four holes, one provided in each corner of the frame configured to correspond to holes in the board;
a gasket configured to seal between the reservoir and the heat exchanging interface.
7. The cooling system of claim 6 , wherein the cooling system is further configured to function with a control system, wherein the control system is configured to adjust a speed of the pump.
8. The cooling system of claim 7 , wherein the cooling system is further configured to function with a control system that can measure one of an operating load or an operating temperature of a processing unit and adjust the pump based on the measured value.
9. The cooling system of claim 7 , wherein the cooling system is further configured to function with a control system that can determine a required cooling capacity of the cooling system and adjust a rotational speed of the pump based on the required cooling capacity.
10. The cooling system of claim 7 , wherein the cooling system is further configured to function with a control system that can reduce the rotational speed of the pump if lower cooling capacity is required.
11. The cooling system of claim 7 , wherein the cooling system is further configured to function with a control system that can adjust a rotational speed of a fan and a rotational speed of the pump to reduce noise and provide a required cooling capacity of the cooling system.
12. A cooling system for a computer system processing unit, comprising:
a reservoir configured to circulate a cooling liquid therethrough, the reservoir including:
an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the upper chamber and the lower chamber are vertically displaced fluid-containing chambers that are each surrounded by boundary walls;
a first passage that fluidly couples the lower chamber to the upper chamber, wherein the first passage is substantially central to the lower chamber;
a second passage positioned at a perimeter of the lower chamber;
wherein the lower chamber includes a plurality of parallel channels configured to split the flow of cooling liquid and direct the cooling liquid from the central region toward the perimeter of the lower chamber where the cooling liquid is collected along the perimeter and directed from the lower chamber through the second passage;
a heat exchanging interface attached to the reservoir to form a boundary wall of the lower chamber, the heat exchanging interface configured to provide thermal contact between a processing unit and the cooling liquid;
a pump having a motor and an impeller, the impeller being positioned within the upper chamber of the reservoir; and
a radiator spaced apart from and fluidly coupled to the reservoir;
a frame configured to fasten the reservoir to a board on which a computer system processing unit is configured to be mounted, wherein the frame has four holes, one provided in each corner of the frame configured to correspond to holes in the board;
a gasket configured to seal between the reservoir and the heat exchanging interface.
13. The cooling system of claim 12 , configured to function with a control system that can adjust a speed of the pump.
14. The cooling system of claim 13 , wherein the cooling system is further configured to function with a control system that is configured to measure one of an operating load or an operating temperature of a processing unit and adjust the pump speed based on the measured value.
15. The cooling system of claim 13 , wherein the cooling system is further configured to function with a control system that is configured to determine a required cooling capacity of the cooling system and adjust a rotational speed of the pump based on the required cooling capacity.
16. The cooling system of claim 13 , wherein the cooling system is further configured to function with a control system that is configured to reduce the rotational speed of the pump if lower cooling capacity is required.