Multi-state spray cooling system
View Patent ↗A cooling system including a thermosyphon subsystem and a spray cooling subsystem, each being configured to evaporatively cool a component, and a controller configured to selectively operate the spray cooling subsystem based on the cooling requirements of the component. The controller controls a valve limiting the operation of the thermosyphon when the spray cooling system is active. The component is configured to run in a plurality of performance states including a low power state and a high power state. The spray cooling system operates when the component is in the high power state. The controller can order the component to operate in a lower power state if the cooling systems are inadequate to the cooling needs. The cooling needs are determined with a component temperature sensor, a vapor temperature sensor, a vapor pressure sensor, or a power usage sensor.
1. A system for cooling a component with a liquid cooling fluid, comprising:
a first cooling subsystem configured to cool the component with the liquid cooling fluid;
a second cooling subsystem configured to cool the component using a phase change of the liquid cooling fluid, wherein the second cooling subsystem is separately operable from the first cooling subsystem, and wherein the same cooling fluid is used by the first and second cooling subsystems.
2. A system for cooling a component with a cooling fluid, comprising:
a first cooling subsystem configured to cool the component; and
a second cooling subsystem configured to cool the component using a phase change of the cooling fluid, wherein the second cooling subsystem is separately operable from the first cooling subsystem;
wherein the first cooling subsystem operates passively.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first cooling subsystem is a thermosyphon.
4. The system of claim 3 , and further comprising a valve that limits the operation of the thermosyphon.
5. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the first cooling subsystem is a thermosyphon; and
the second cooling subsystem is configured to spray-cool the component.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first cooling subsystem defines a first-subsystem pathway in which the cooling fluid circulates;
the second cooling subsystem defines a second-subsystem pathway in which the cooling fluid circulates; and
the first-subsystem pathway and the second-subsystem pathway are at least partially distinct.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second cooling subsystem is configured to cool the component at a heat flux substantially greater than the heat flux with which the first cooling subsystem is capable of cooling the component.
8. A system for cooling a component with a liquid cooling fluid, comprising:
a first cooling subsystem configured to cool the component; and
a second cooling subsystem configured to cool the component using a phase change of the liquid cooling fluid, wherein the second cooling subsystem is separately operable from the first cooling subsystem;
wherein the cooling system is a closed loop system incorporated in a cooling cap that can be adjoined to the component.
9. A system for cooling a component with a liquid cooling fluid, comprising:
a first cooling subsystem configured to cool the component; and
a second cooling subsystem configured to cool the component using a phase change of the liquid cooling fluid, wherein the second cooling subsystem is separately operable from the first cooling subsystem;
wherein the cooling system is incorporated in a cooling cap configured to form a closed loop system when affixed to a substrate mounting the component.
10. A system for cooling a component with a liquid cooling fluid, comprising:
a first cooling subsystem configured to cool the component;
a second cooling subsystem configured to cool the component using a phase change of the liquid cooling fluid, wherein the second cooling subsystem is separately operable from the first cooling subsystem; and
a controller configured to selectively operate the second cooling subsystem based on cooling requirements of the component.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to selectively operate the first cooling subsystem based on the cooling requirements of the component.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second cooling subsystem is a spray-cooling system.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to control the flux of coolant sprayed by the spray-cooling system.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the component is configured to run in a plurality of performance states including a low-heat-flux state and a high-heat-flux state.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the second cooling system when the component is operating in the high-heat-flux state.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to control the performance state of the component.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to control the performance state of the component based on the functionality of the second cooling system.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to control the performance state of the component based on parameters received from sources external to the component and cooling system.
19. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the first cooling subsystem uses a phase change of the liquid cooling fluid to cool a component;
the controller is configured to receive component dry-out information; and
the controller determines the cooling requirements of the component based on the received component dry-out information.
20. The system of claim 19 , and further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the component;
wherein the controller is configured to receive the component dry-out information from the temperature sensor.
21. The system of claim 19 , and further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of gaseous cooling fluid;
wherein the controller is configured to receive the component dry-out information from the temperature sensor.
22. The system of claim 19 , and further comprising a pressure sensor configured to sense the pressure of gaseous cooling fluid;
wherein the controller is configured to receive the component dry-out information from the pressure sensor.
23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the component dry-out information identifies the performance state of the component.
24. The system of claim 19 , wherein the component dry-out information identifies the power usage of the component.
25. The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to selectively operate the second cooling subsystem over thermally distinct portions of the component based on their individual cooling requirements.
26. A system for cooling a component with a liquid cooling fluid, comprising:
a first cooling subsystem configured to cool the component;
a second cooling subsystem configured to cool the component using a phase change of the liquid cooling fluid, wherein the second cooling subsystem is separately operable from the first cooling subsystem; and
a controller configured to control the performance state of the component.
27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the controller controls the performance state of the component based on cooling system functionality information.
28. The system of claim 26 , wherein the controller controls the performance state of the component based on parameters regarding conditions external to the component and cooling system.