Cooling systems and methods

1. A method for cooling a heat source, comprising:

a. providing a cooling system comprising a plurality of cooling interfaces in fluid communication with a first channel, a second channel, and a condenser, wherein each cooling interface is in contact with said heat source to be cooled, each cooling interface is configured to retain a level of liquid coolant and each cooling interface comprises: (i) a coolant inlet comprising a shut-off valve, (ii) at least one heat exchange unit configured to permit heat to flow between said heat source and said liquid coolant via thermal conduction, and (iii) a coolant outlet;

b. directing heat from said heat source to said heat exchange unit that is in fluid communication with the cooling interface that is in contact with said heat source;

c. directing said liquid coolant from said first channel to said cooling interfaces and, in said cooling interfaces, using said heat to subject said liquid coolant to a first phase transition to form a vapor coolant;

d. directing said vapor coolant through said second channel to said condenser; and

e. subjecting said vapor coolant to a second phase transition back into liquid form,

wherein:

said shut-off valve controls the level of liquid coolant in said cooling interfaces, and is: (i) a float valve; or (ii) an electric or mechanical valve; and

the level of said liquid coolant in each cooling interface is self-regulated by automatically delivering said liquid coolant only to said respective cooling interface while undergoing heat removal.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising activating a flow generator to direct flow of said liquid coolant and said vapor coolant.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one cooling interface is in direct contact with said heat source.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one cooling interface is in indirect contact with said heat source.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein an individual shut-off valve of an individual cooling interface of said cooling interfaces is independently operable from another individual shut-off valve of another individual cooling interface of said cooling interfaces.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one cooling interface comprises two or more cooling interfaces and wherein said two or more cooling interfaces are connected in series.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cooling interfaces are connected in parallel.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said two or more cooling interfaces share said shut-off valve.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein said two or more cooling interfaces do not share said shut-off valve.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said shut-off valve is self-regulating.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said liquid coolant is directed to said at least one cooling interface when a temperature of said heat source exceeds a threshold.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said liquid coolant vaporizes between about 5° C. and about 50° C.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, subsequent to e), directing said liquid coolant to said first channel.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cooling system dissipates greater than or equal to 300 watts per square centimeters of heat.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one cooling interface, first channel, second channel, condenser, and at least one cooling interface are part of a closed loop fluid flow path.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said closed loop fluid flow path is operated under low pressure.

17. The method of claim 7 , wherein said two or more cooling interfaces share said shut-off valve.

18. The method of claim 7 , wherein said cooling interfaces do not share said shut-off valve.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of cooling interfaces share said shut-off valve.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of cooling interfaces do not share said shut-off valve.