Abstract: An structure and method of manufacturing a microstructure for use in a heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a manifold layer and an microstructured region. The manifold layer comprises a structure to deliver fluid to the microstructured region. The microstructured region is formed from multiple windowed layers formed from heat conductive layers through which a plurality of microscaled apertures have been formed by a wet etching process. The plurality of windowed layers are then coupled together to form a composite microstructure.

Abstract: A portable recovery unit for automatically filling a background tank of blended refrigerant includes a main tank for holding recovered refrigerant from a vehicle A/C system which has a first chemical composition, and an auxiliary tank for holding an auxiliary supply of fresh refrigerant which has a second refrigerant composition. The auxiliary tank is arranged in fluid communication with the main tank so that fluid can be transferred from the auxiliary tank to the main tank. An electronic controller controls the flow of fluid from the auxiliary tank to the main tank. A refrigerant identifier is coupled to the main tank to sample and analyze the refrigerant in the main tank in order to determine the chemical composition of the refrigerant in the main tank, so the refrigerant in the main tank can be purified to an acceptable level based on that analysis.

Abstract: The rear panel of an electronics enclosure includes one or more heat exchangers. The rear panel can be cooling door configured to provide access to the cables and equipment located within the electronics enclosure. Such access can be provided by swinging the door open on hinges like a standard door. In the case where there are multiple heat exchangers, the door can be configured into segments, one segment per heat exchanger, and each segment includes hinges so as to be opened independently from the other segments. In some embodiments, each segment swivels open like a standard door. In other embodiments, each segment is configured to swivel up or down about a horizontal axis. In still other embodiments, each segment is configured to be disconnected from the electronics enclosure and moved out of the way, in which case each heat exchanger is connected using either flexible tubing that can be bent out of the way or quick disconnects.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery machine having two opposed and off-set pistons and its use are provided. The pistons are received in cylinders that are able to move depending on the alignment of the pistons. The two pistons in the compressor allow more volume of refrigerant than a single piston and because they are opposed and off-set allows for more even load on the motor.

Abstract: A ceramic assembly includes one or more electrically and thermally conductive pads to be thermally coupled to a heat generating device, each conductive pad is electrically isolated from each other. The ceramic assembly includes a ceramic layer to provide this electrical isolation. The ceramic layer has high thermal conductivity and high electrical resistivity. A top surface and a bottom surface of the ceramic layer are each bonded to a conductive layer, such as copper, using an intermediate joining material. A brazing process is performed to bond the ceramic layer to the conductive layer via a joining layer. The joining layer is a composite of the joining material, the ceramic layer, and the conductive layer. The top conductive layer and the joining layer are etched to form the electrically isolated conductive pads. The conductive layers are bonded to the ceramic layer using a bare ceramic approach or a metallized ceramic approach.

Abstract: A microheat exchanging assembly is configured to cool one or more heat generating devices, such as integrated circuits or laser diodes. The microheat exchanging assembly includes a first ceramic assembly thermally coupled to a first surface, and in cases, a second ceramic assembly thermally coupled to a second surface. The ceramic assembly includes one or more electrically and thermally conductive pads to be thermally coupled to a heat generating device, each conductive pad is electrically isolated from each other. The ceramic assembly includes a ceramic layer to provide this electrical isolation. A top surface and a bottom surface of the ceramic layer are each bonded to a conductive layer, such as copper, using an intermediate joining material. A brazing process is performed to bond the ceramic layer to the conductive layer via a joining layer. The joining layer is a composite of the joining material, the ceramic layer, and the conductive layer.

Abstract: Liquid-based cooling solutions used to transfer heat produced by one or more heat generating devices from one or more electronics servers to the ambient. Each electronics server includes one or more heat generating devices. Integrated onto each electronics server is a liquid based cooling system. Each liquid based cooling system includes a server pump and one or more microchannel cold plates (MCP) coupled together via fluid lines. The liquid based cooling system for each electronics server includes a rejector plate configured with micro-channels. The MCPs, the server pump and the rejector plate form a first closed loop. The rejector plate is coupled to a chassis cold plate via a thermal interface material. In a multiple electronics server configuration, the rejector plates for each of the electronics servers are coupled to the chassis cold plate configured with fluid channels which are coupled via fluid lines to a liquid-to-air heat exchanging system to form a second closed loop.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery unit that diverts blended refrigerant withdrawn out of a refrigerant system to an external tank outside the refrigerant recovery unit for reclamation includes a recovery circuit coupled on one end to the refrigerant system and coupled on another end to the external tank, a controller in communication with the recovery circuit for controlling a transfer of the refrigerant withdrawn from the refrigerant system to the external tank, and a valve operatively engaged with the controller and the recovery circuit and operable to transfer the refrigerant withdrawn from the refrigerant system to the external tank for recycling or reclamation.

Abstract: A cooling door assembly includes a frame and a cooling door coupled to the frame. The cooling door includes one or more heat exchangers. The frame is configured to mount to the back of a server rack or other electronics enclosure in such a manner that the cooling door opens to allow access to the electronics servers within the server rack while maintaining a fluidic connection to an external cooling system. The frame is coupled to the external cooling system and the cooling door includes swivel joints configured to provide a fluid path between the cooling door and the frame. In this manner, the frame remains in a fixed position, while the cooling door is configured to rotate relative to the frame so as to open and close, while maintaining the fluid path through the swivel joint.

Abstract: A cooling door assembly includes a frame and a cooling door coupled to the frame. The cooling door includes one or more heat exchangers. The frame is configured to mount to the back of a server rack or other electronics enclosure in such a manner that the cooling door opens to allow access to the electronics servers within the server rack while maintaining a fluidic connection to an external cooling system. The frame is coupled to the external cooling system and the cooling door includes swivel joints configured to provide a fluid path between the cooling door and the frame. In this manner, the frame remains in a fixed position, while the cooling door is configured to rotate relative to the frame so as to open and close, while maintaining the fluid path through the swivel joint.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery unit is provided that can clear oil from an oil inject path in order to prepare the unit to switch over to a different kind of oil. The refrigerant recovery unit includes an oil inject circuit that receives an oil from the oil bottle into the refrigerant system. The refrigerant recovery circuit is coupled in fluid communication with the oil inject circuit. The refrigerant recovery circuit is operable to receive and transfer a fluid drawn through the oil inject circuit. A controller is operatively connected to the refrigerant recovery circuit and to the oil inject circuit so that as the fluid is drawn through the oil inject circuit a quantity of the oil in the oil inject circuit is removed.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery unit is provided that can recover and recharge refrigerant. The unit is further configured with a pair of service hoses and a refrigerant control circuit operable to receive and transport the refrigerant between the hoses and the storage vessel and to process the refrigerant to substantially remove contaminants from the refrigerant. A fluid connector is provided in fluid communication with the hoses to enable the refrigerant to flow between the hoses and to establish a closed loop through the refrigerant control circuit, and a controller is operatively connected to the refrigerant control circuit and configured to control a flow of the refrigerant through the refrigerant control circuit and through the fluid connector.

Abstract: A refrigerant recovery unit for accurately filling a refrigerant system with a refrigerant is provided which includes a storage vessel for holding refrigerant, sensors to assist in determining the pressure of the refrigerant in the storage vessel, a controller to control the flow of refrigerant from the storage vessel to the refrigerant system to be serviced, and a heating device to heat the refrigerant, which is activated only if heating is required, as determined by data received by the controller.

Abstract: A mounting system provides mechanisms and form factors for bringing a heat exchanger from a server rack into thermal contact with a heat exchanger from a electronics server. To ensure good thermal contact, pressure is applied between the two heat exchangers, the rejector plate and the chassis cold plate. The mounting mechanism used to engage and disengage the heat exchangers is configured to isolate the force applied to the two heat exchangers. The mounting mechanism includes an interlocking mechanism that prevents transfer of the applied force to the rest of the electronics server. Without isolating this force, the force is applied to the electronics server and/or the rack chassis, possibly disconnecting the electrical connections between the electronics server and the rack, as well as providing mechanical stress to the electronics server and the rack chassis.

Abstract: A filter in some embodiments of the invention includes: a housing defining an interior chamber substantially sealed from outside of the housing; a valve located in the chamber biased to a first position where the valve maintains a seal between the interior chamber and outside of the housing; and an anchor fixed to the housing defining a surface for a spring to urge against and bias the valve to the first position and be compressed against when a receiver enters into the housing a moves the valve to a second position, the anchor defining, at least in part, flow paths wherein a pressurized fluid within the housing can communicate with an interior of the receiver to equalize a pressure within the chamber and the interior of the receiver; and a nipple attached to the housing having an interior passageway configured to permit the receiver to pass through in a substantially sealed manner. A method of attaching a filter to a filter receiver is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing cracking of a liquid system includes an enclosure and one or more compressible objects immersed in the enclosure. According to the present invention, the enclosure is configured to cause a fluid to begin to freeze at a location in the enclosure, and for freezing to advance towards the one or more compressible objects.

Abstract: The rear panel of an electronics enclosure includes one or more heat exchangers. The rear panel can be cooling door configured to provide access to the cables and equipment located within the electronics enclosure. Such access can be provided by swinging the door open on hinges like a standard door. In the case where there are multiple heat exchangers, the door can be configured into segments, one segment per heat exchanger, and each segment includes hinges so as to be opened independently from the other segments. In some embodiments, each segment swivels open like a standard door. In other embodiments, each segment is configured to swivel up or down about a horizontal axis. In still other embodiments, each segment is configured to be disconnected from the electronics enclosure and moved out of the way, in which case each heat exchanger is connected using either flexible tubing that can be bent out of the way or quick disconnects.

Abstract: An structure and method of manufacturing a microstructure for use in a heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a manifold layer and an microstructured region. The manifold layer comprises a structure to deliver fluid to the microstructured region. The microstructured region is formed from multiple windowed layers formed from heat conductive layers through which a plurality of microscaled apertures have been formed by a wet etching process. The plurality of windowed layers are then coupled together to form a composite microstructure.

Abstract: A heat collection apparatus is mounted to the heat source using a gimbal plate, which includes a gimbal joint. The gimbal joint enables application of a retaining force to the heat collection apparatus as a single-point load. The retaining force is applied along a vector that is collinear to the face-centered normal vector of the thermal interface of the heat source. This results in a balanced and centered application of the retaining force over the thermal interface area. The gimbal plate is mounted directly to a circuit board using spring means. The spring means regulate the amount of mating force directed through the gimbal joint to the heat collection device. Because the gimbal joint is rotation-compliant, the two mating faces making up the thermal interface are forced into a parallel mate. In this manner, a high performance TIM interface is generated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling freezing in a liquid system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a heat exchanger having a initial zone characterized by a surface area to volume ratio. The apparatus also includes means for initiating freezing of a fluid from the initial zone to facilitate volume expansion during freezing in the direction of a final zone characterized by a final zone surface area to volume ratio. The apparatus can further include a plurality of zones located between the initial zone and the final zone, wherein a zone surface area to volume ratio is calculated for each zone. Preferably, the zone surface area to volume ratio of each zone progressively decreases from the initial zone in the direction of the final zone. Preferably, the final freezing zone has the lowest surface area to volume ratio and has sufficient elasticity to accommodate the volume expansion of all the fluid that has frozen from the initial zone.