Abstract: Some modular heat-transfer systems can have an array of at least one heat-transfer element being configured to transfer heat to a working fluid from an operable element. A manifold module can have a distribution manifold and a collection manifold. A decoupleable inlet coupler can be configured to fluidicly couple the distribution manifold to a respective heat-transfer element. A decoupleable outlet coupler can be configured to fluidicly couple the respective heat-transfer element to the collection manifold. An environmental coupler can be configured to receive the working fluid from the collection manifold, to transfer heat to an environmental fluid from the working fluid or to transfer heat from an environmental fluid to the working fluid, and to discharge the working fluid to the distribution manifold.

Abstract: A heat-transfer system includes a cooling circuit configured to convey heated coolant from one or more cooling nodes to one or more heat-rejection devices, and to convey the cooled coolant from the one or more heat-rejection devices to the one or more cooling nodes. Each cooling node facilitates a transfer of heat to the coolant, the heat being from one or more heat-dissipation devices and a corresponding heat load on the respective cooling node. Each heat-rejection device facilitates heat transfer from the coolant to another medium. The heat-transfer system also has a selectively operable flow-control device configured to control a flow rate of the coolant through a segment of the coolant circuit. A control logic selectively operates the flow-control device responsive to an output from one or more sensors to tailor a cooling capacity available to each cooling node to the real-time heat load on the respective cooling node.

Abstract: A pump tray has a liquid pump with an inlet and outlet. A blindly matable liquid coupler fluidicly couples with the pump inlet and a blindly matable liquid coupler fluidicly couples with the pump outlet. A chassis of the pump tray has an alignment member configured to removably engage with another device and to restrict, to a limited number of degrees-of-freedom, movement of the chassis relative to the other device (e.g., a liquid pumping unit). The blindly matable liquid couplers are so physically coupled with the chassis as to inhibit movement of them relative to the chassis. A liquid pumping unit also has a chassis defining a bay configured to receive a pump tray, a liquid inlet coupler and a liquid outlet coupler, and a reservoir fluidicly coupled with the liquid inlet coupler. A blindly-matable liquid coupler fluidicly couples with the reservoir outlet and a blindly-matable liquid coupler fluidicly couples with the liquid outlet coupler.

Abstract: A modular heat exchange assembly includes a cold plate defining a finned surface and a corresponding plurality of microchannels. Selected ones of the plurality of microchannel extend from a first end to an opposed second end. A fluid receiver unit defines an inlet port and a first fluid connector fluidically coupled with the inlet port. A fluid transfer unit defines an outlet port and a second fluid connector matingly engageable with and disengageable from the first fluid connector to fluidly couple the fluid receiver unit and the fluid transfer unit together. The fluid transfer unit defines a distribution manifold configured to distribute coolant among the selected microchannels at a position between the first ends and the second ends of the selected microchannels. The fluid transfer unit further defines a collection manifold configured to receive coolant from the selected microchannels. The collection manifold and the outlet port are fluidically coupled together.

Abstract: Active two-phase cooling systems incorporate a cooling medium that changes phase as it absorbs heat dissipated by a heat source and a pump or a compressor that urges the cooling medium through a cooling loop. Operation of some heat sources, e.g., electronic devices, can improve if maintained at a substantially uniform operating temperature. A cooling medium can enter a node for cooling such a heat source at or near a saturation state and can exhaust from the node as a saturated mixture, providing a substantially uniform temperature across the node while taking advantage of the cooling medium's relatively high latent-heat of phase-change to provide a high rate of cooling to the heat source. Although counterintuitive, a cooling loop can pre-heat a sub-cooled flow of the cooling medium to provide the medium to the node in a saturated state. Such pre-heating can be achieved by the saturated mixture of the cooling medium after exhausting from the node.

Abstract: A fluid heat exchanger for cooling an electronic device can have a plurality of walls. The walls can define a corresponding plurality of microchannels. Each microchannel can extend from a first end to a second end. The plurality of microchannels can define at least two opposed outer microchannels and a centrally located microchannel positioned between the opposed outer microchannels. A fluid inlet passage can be configured to deliver a heat-exchange fluid to each microchannel between the corresponding first end and the corresponding second end of the respective microchannel. A fluid outlet passage can have an enlarged outlet region from the centrally located microchannel compared to a corresponding outlet region from one or both of the opposed outer microchannels. Related methods are disclosed.

Abstract: In some respects, concepts disclosed herein generally concern systems, methods and components to detect a presence of a liquid externally of a desired primary flow path through a segment of a fluid circuit, e.g., throughout a cooling loop. Some disclosed concepts pertain to systems, methods, and components to direct seepage or leakage of a liquid coolant toward a lead-detection sensor. As but one example, some disclosed liquid-cooled heat exchangers incorporate a leak-detection sensor, which, in turn, can couple with a computing environment that monitors for detected leaks, and, responsive to an indication of a detected leak, invokes a task to control or to mitigate the detected leak.

Abstract: 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 microc

Abstract: A modular heat exchange assembly includes a cold plate defining a finned surface and a corresponding plurality of microchannels. Selected ones of the plurality of microchannel extend from a first end to an opposed second end. A fluid receiver unit defines an inlet port and a first fluid connector fluidically coupled with the inlet port. A fluid transfer unit defines an outlet port and a second fluid connector matingly engageable with and disengageable from the first fluid connector to fluidly couple the fluid receiver unit and the fluid transfer unit together. The fluid transfer unit defines a distribution manifold configured to distribute coolant among the selected microchannels at a position between the first ends and the second ends of the selected microchannels. The fluid transfer unit further defines a collection manifold configured to receive coolant from the selected microchannels. The collection manifold and the outlet port are fluidically coupled together.

Abstract: In some respects, concepts disclosed herein generally concern systems, methods and components to detect a presence of a liquid externally of a desired primary flow path through a segment of a fluid circuit, e.g., throughout a cooling loop. Some disclosed concepts pertain to systems, methods, and components to direct seepage or leakage of a liquid coolant toward a lead-detection sensor. As but one example, some disclosed liquid-cooled heat exchangers incorporate a leak-detection sensor, which, in turn, can couple with a computing environment that monitors for detected leaks, and, responsive to an indication of a detected leak, invokes a task to control or to mitigate the detected leak.

Abstract: An observed operational state can include an operational state of one or more system devices. A sensor can emit, in response to a detected observable condition reflective of a given operational state, a simulated signal reflective of a different operational state as a proxy for the detected condition. A controller receiving such a proxy signal can, at least partially responsively to the proxy signal, issue a command corresponding to the given operational state. An electro-mechanical actuator can be selectively activatable responsive to the command.

Abstract: An observed operational state can include an operational state of one or more system devices. A sensor can emit, in response to a detected observable condition reflective of a given operational state, a simulated signal reflective of a different operational state as a proxy for the detected condition. A controller receiving such a proxy signal can, at least partially responsively to the proxy signal, issue a command corresponding to the given operational state. For example, a leak detector can emit in response to a detected leak, or a flow-rate sensor can emit in response to a detected flow-rate of a liquid, a simulated fan-speed tachometer signal representative of a selected fan speed. At least partially in response to observing a simulated tachometer signal, a controller can issue a system command corresponding to an underlying system condition for which the simulated tachometer signal is a proxy.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve includes a valve body having a bore configured to convey fluid from an inlet port to an outlet port. The inlet and outlet ports, and the bore therebetween, define a fluid flow path through the valve body. A gate element is disposed in the bore. The gate element is positionable in the bore from a first position, which allows fluid flow through the bore, to a second position which restricts fluid flow through the bore. An actuator is coupled to the gate element and is configured to urge the gate element from the first position toward the second position. A fuse consisting of a transformable retainer is configured to retain the gate element in the first position, while the retainer is in a first condition, and to allow the gate element to move toward the second position when the retainer transforms to a second condition. The transformable retainer may be configured to transform from the first condition to the second condition responsive to a signal, e.g.

Abstract: In some respects, concepts disclosed herein generally concern systems, methods and components to detect a presence of a liquid externally of a desired primary flow path through a segment of a fluid circuit, e.g., throughout a cooling loop. Some disclosed concepts pertain to systems, methods, and components to direct seepage or leakage of a liquid coolant toward a lead-detection sensor. As but one example, some disclosed liquid-cooled heat exchangers incorporate a leak-detection sensor, which, in turn, can couple with a computing environment that monitors for detected leaks, and, responsive to an indication of a detected leak, invokes a task to control or to mitigate the detected leak.

Abstract: Aspects of liquid operational systems are described. According to one aspect, a system to automatically fill a liquid operational component is described. According to another aspect, a self-diagnostic system is described. According to yet another aspect, a flow conditioning arrangement is described. A control system for a heat-transfer system includes a plurality of sensors. Each sensor is configured to observe an operational parameter indicative of a thermodynamic quantity and to emit a signal containing information corresponding to the observed operational parameter.

Abstract: A pump tray has a liquid pump with an inlet and outlet. A blindly matable liquid coupler fluidicly couples with the pump inlet and a blindly matable liquid coupler fluidicly couples with the pump outlet. A chassis of the pump tray has an alignment member configured to removably engage with another device and to restrict, to a limited number of degrees-of-freedom, movement of the chassis relative to the other device (e.g., a liquid pumping unit). The blindly matable liquid couplers are so physically coupled with the chassis as to inhibit movement of them relative to the chassis. A liquid pumping unit also has a chassis defining a bay configured to receive a pump tray, a liquid inlet coupler and a liquid outlet coupler, and a reservoir fluidicly coupled with the liquid inlet coupler. A blindly-matable liquid coupler fluidicly couples with the reservoir outlet and a blindly-matable liquid coupler fluidicly couples with the liquid outlet coupler.

Abstract: Some modular heat-transfer systems can have an array of at least one heat-transfer element being configured to transfer heat to a working fluid from an operable element. A manifold module can have a distribution manifold and a collection manifold. A decoupleable inlet coupler can be configured to fluidicly couple the distribution manifold to a respective heat-transfer element. A decoupleable outlet coupler can be configured to fluidicly couple the respective heat-transfer element to the collection manifold. An environmental coupler can be configured to receive the working fluid from the collection manifold, to transfer heat to an environmental fluid from the working fluid or to transfer heat from an environmental fluid to the working fluid, and to discharge the working fluid to the distribution manifold.

Abstract: An electric pump can have a stator with a stator core defining a plurality of poles, a coil of electrically conductive material extending around each respective one of the plurality of poles, and a stator-cooling chamber, as well as an impeller coupled to a rotor. A first region can be at least partially occupied by the impeller and fluidicly coupled with the stator-cooling chamber to convey a working fluid from the first region into the stator-cooling chamber. The stator-cooling chamber can be configured to facilitate heat transfer from the stator core and/or the coils to the working fluid in the stator-cooling chamber. Cooling systems can incorporate such a pump. Related methods also are disclosed.

Abstract: An observed operational state can include an operational state of one or more system devices. A sensor can emit, in response to a detected observable condition reflective of a given operational state, a simulated signal reflective of a different operational state as a proxy for the detected condition. A controller receiving such a proxy signal can, at least partially responsively to the proxy signal, issue a command corresponding to the given operational state. An electro-mechanical actuator can be selectively activatable responsive to the command.

Abstract: An observed operational state can include an operational state of one or more system devices. A sensor can emit, in response to a detected observable condition reflective of a given operational state, a simulated signal reflective of a different operational state as a proxy for the detected condition. A controller receiving such a proxy signal can, at least partially responsively to the proxy signal, issue a command corresponding to the given operational state. For example, a leak detector can emit in response to a detected leak, or a flow-rate sensor can emit in response to a detected flow-rate of a liquid, a simulated fan-speed tachometer signal representative of a selected fan speed. At least partially in response to observing a simulated tachometer signal, a controller can issue a system command corresponding to an underlying system condition for which the simulated tachometer signal is a proxy.