Abstract: A cooling system is provided employing at least two modular cooling units (MCUs). Each MCU is capable of providing system coolant to multiple electronics subsystems to be cooled, and each includes a heat exchanger, a first cooling loop with at least one control valve, and a second cooling loop. The first cooling loop receives chilled facility coolant from a source and passes at least a portion thereof through the heat exchanger, with the portion being controlled by the at least one control valve. The second cooling loop provides cooled system coolant to the multiple electronics subsystems, and expels heat in the heat exchanger from the multiple electronics subsystems to the chilled facility coolant in the first cooling loop. The at least one control valve allows regulation of facility coolant flow through the heat exchanger, thereby allowing control of temperature of system coolant in the second cooling loop.

Abstract: A cooling approach is provided for cooling an electronics subsystem, such as an electronics rack. The cooling approach includes a coolant conditioning unit and a thermal capacitor unit. The coolant conditioning unit has a heat exchanger, a first cooling loop and a second cooling loop. The first cooling loop receives facility coolant from a facility coolant source and passes at least a portion thereof to the heat exchanger. The second cooling loop provides system coolant to the electronics subsystem, and expels heat in the heat exchanger from the electronics subsystem to the facility coolant in the first cooling loop. The thermal capacitor unit is in fluid communication with the second cooling loop to maintain temperature of the system coolant within a defined range for a period of time upon shutdown or failure of the facility coolant in the first cooling loop, thereby allowing continued operation of the electronics subsystem.

Abstract: A thermal dissipation structure and method are provided which include a heat sink having a surface configured to couple to a surface of an electronic component for facilitating removal of heat from the component. The heat sink surface and the electronic component surface comprise dissimilar materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion. The heat sink surface has a pattern of channels therein which define multiple heat sink substructures. Each heat sink substructure includes a portion of the heat sink surface. The portions of the heat sink surface are coplanar and provide a reduced distance to neutral point across the heat sink surface. When the portions of the heat sink surface are bonded to the electronic component surface, shear stress within the bond is reduced.

Abstract: An integrated cooling unit configured to effect the removal of heat via a circulating liquid coolant includes a reservoir to contain the liquid coolant, a tubing arrangement disposed at an outer surface of the reservoir, a pump disposed within the reservoir, and a fan configured to provide a flow of air across the tubing arrangement to remove the heat. The tubing arrangement is fluidly communicable with a heat exchanging device, and the pump is configured to circulate the liquid coolant through the tubing arrangement to the heat exchanging device.

Abstract: A thermal dissipation assembly and method, and a cooled multi-drawer electronics rack are provided having a first cooling loop and a second cooling loop. The first cooling loop is disposed substantially within an electronics drawer and positioned to extract heat from an electronics module within the drawer. The first cooling loop further includes a first planar heat transfer surface. The second cooling loop is disposed substantially external to the electronics drawer and includes a second planar heat transfer surface. A biasing mechanism mechanically forces the first planar heat transfer surface and the second heat transfer surface coplanar when the electronics drawer is in a docked position in the electronics rack to facilitate the transfer of heat from the first cooling loop to the second cooling loop.

Abstract: Method, system and program product are provided for monitoring coolant within a cooling system designed to provide system coolant to one or more electronics subsystems. The monitoring technique includes employing at least one pressure transducer to obtain multiple pressure measurements related to an amount of coolant within an expansion tank of the cooling system, and determining a rate of volume change of coolant within the expansion tank employing the multiple pressure measurements. Successive pressure measurements can be taken at a known time interval to determine the rate of volume change of coolant within the expansion tank. An automatic determination can also be made on the immediacy of action to be taken for service of the cooling system based on the rate of volume change of coolant within the expansion tank.

Abstract: A cooling approach is provided for one or more subsystems of an electronics rack. The cooling approach employs a coolant distribution unit and a thermal dissipation unit. The coolant distribution unit has a first heat exchanger, a first cooling loop and a second cooling loop. The first cooling loop passes facility coolant through the first heat exchanger, and the second cooling loop provides system coolant to an electronics subsystem, and expels heat in the first heat exchanger from the subsystem to the facility coolant. The thermal dissipation unit is associated with the electronics subsystem and includes a second heat exchanger, the second cooling loop, and a third cooling loop. The second cooling loop provides system coolant to the second heat exchanger, and the third cooling loop circulates conditioned coolant within the electronics subsystem and expels heat in the second heat exchanger from the electronics subsystem to the system coolant.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for electronic drawers utilizing a passive fluid cooling loop in conjunction with an air cooled drawer cover. The air cooled cover provides an increased surface area from which to transfer heat to cooling air flowing through the drawer. The increased cooling surface uses available space within the drawer, which may be other than immediately adjacent to a high power device within the drawer. The passive fluid cooling loop provides heat transfer from the high power device to the air cooled cover assembly, allowing placement of the air cooled cover assembly other than immediately adjacent to the high power device. The cooling apparatus is easily disengaged from the electronics drawer, providing access to devices within the drawer.

Abstract: An electronic module, substrate assembly, and fabrication method, the assembly providing thermal conduction between an electronic device to be cooled and an aqueous coolant, while maintaining physical separation between the coolant and electronic device. The assembly includes a substrate, one or more electronic devices to be cooled, and a multilayer, impermeable barrier. The multilayer barrier includes a first layer, providing mechanical support for a second layer. The second, thinner layer provides an impermeable barrier, and a high effective thermal conductivity path between an electronic device and a cooling fluid in contact with an upper surface of the second barrier layer. Mechanical stresses are minimized by appropriate material selection for the first layer, and a thin second layer.

Abstract: An enclosure apparatus provides for combined air and liquid cooling of rack mounted stacked electronic components. A heat exchanger is mounted on the side of the stacked electronics and air flows side to side within the enclosure, impelled by air-moving devices mounted behind the electronics. Auxiliary air-moving devices may be mounted within the enclosure to increase the air flow. In an alternative embodiment, air-to-liquid heat exchangers are provided across the front and back of the enclosure, and a closed air flow loop is created by a converging supply plenum, electronics drawers through which air is directed by air-moving devices, diverging return plenum, and a connecting duct in the bottom. In a variant of this embodiment, connecting ducts are in both top and bottom, and supply and return ducts are doubly convergent and doubly divergent, respectively. Auxiliary blowers may be added to increase total system air flow.

Abstract: One embodiment of a heat sink comprises a metal support member having a groove disposed at a surface thereof and a fin disposed at the groove. The fin comprises a graphite-based material having a metal-based coating disposed thereon, and the fin is retained at the groove via a soldered joint at the metal-based coating and the groove. Another exemplary embodiment of a heat sink comprises a plurality of fins alternatingly arranged with a plurality of spacers. A method of fabricating a heat sink comprises preparing a surface of a graphite-based substrate, removing particulate matter generated from the preparation of the surface of the substrate, applying a metal-based coating at the surface of the substrate, and arranging the substrate to form a heat sink structure.

Abstract: A cooling system and method, and a cooled electronics assembly are provided employing a thermal spreader having an inner chamber evacuated and partially filled with a liquid. A phase separator is disposed within the thermal spreader to at least partially divide the inner chamber into a boiling section and a condensing section, while allowing vapor and liquid to circulate between the sections. A heat extraction assembly is disposed at least partially within the inner chamber to extract heat therefrom. When the thermal spreader is coupled to a heat generating component with the boiling section disposed adjacent thereto, liquid within the thermal spreader boils in the boiling section, producing vapor which flows upward from the boiling section and causes liquid to flow into the boiling section from the condensing section, thereby providing circulatory flow between the sections and facilitating removal of heat from the heat generating component.

Abstract: A thermal spreading device disposable between electronic circuitry and a heat sink includes a substrate having parallel first and second faces and conduits extending through the substrate between the faces. The substrate material has a first thermal conductivity value in a direction parallel to the faces and a second thermal conductivity value in a direction normal to the faces, with the second thermal conductivity value being less than the first thermal conductivity value. The conduit material has a thermal conductivity value associated with it, with the thermal conductivity value being greater than the second thermal conductivity value of the substrate. One method of fabricating the thermal spreading device includes disposing a molding material radially about the rods and hardening the material. Other methods include press fitting and shrink fitting the rods into a substrate material.

Abstract: Augmenting air cooling of electronics systems using a cooling fluid to cool air entering the electronics system, and to remove a portion of the heat dissipated by the electronics. A cooled electronics system includes a frame, electronics drawers, fans or air moving devices, and an inlet heat exchanger. A cooling fluid such as chilled water is supplied to the inlet heat exchanger, to cool incoming air below ambient temperature. Fans cause ambient air to enter the system, flow through the inlet heat exchanger, through electronic devices, and exit the system. An optional exhaust heat exchanger further transfers heat dissipated by electronic devices to the cooling fluid. Heat exchangers are pivotally mounted, providing drawer access. Segmented heat exchangers provide access to individual drawers. Heat exchangers are integrated into cover assemblies. Airflow guides such as louvers are provided at inlets and outlets. Cover assemblies provide a degree of acoustic and electromagnetic shielding.

Abstract: A thermoelectric assembly is provided for an electronic device, having a surface with a non-uniform thermal distribution between at least one first region and at least one second region, with the at least one first region having a higher heat flux than the at least one second region. The assembly includes at least one first area of thermoelectric elements and at least one second area of thermoelectric elements, which are configured to align over the at least one first region of higher heat flux, and the at least one second region, respectively, when the assembly is coupled to the device. The at least one first area of thermoelectric elements includes a greater density of thermoelectric elements than the at least one second area of thermoelectric elements for handling the higher heat flux.

Abstract: An enclosure apparatus provides for combined air and liquid cooling of rack mounted stacked electronic components. A heat exchanger is mounted on the side of the stacked electronics and air flows side to side within the enclosure, impelled by air-moving devices mounted behind the electronics. Auxiliary air-moving devices may be mounted within the enclosure to increase the air flow. In an alternative embodiment, air-to-liquid heat exchangers are provided across the front and back of the enclosure, and a closed air flow loop is created by a converging supply plenum, electronics drawers through which air is directed by air-moving devices, diverging return plenum, and a connecting duct in the bottom. In a variant of this embodiment, connecting ducts are in both top and bottom, and supply and return ducts are doubly convergent and doubly divergent, respectively. Auxiliary blowers may be added to increase total system air flow.

Abstract: An enclosure apparatus provides for combined air and liquid cooling of rack mounted stacked electronic components. A heat exchanger is mounted on the side of the stacked electronics and air flows side to side within the enclosure, impelled by air-moving devices mounted behind the electronics. Auxiliary air-moving devices may be mounted within the enclosure to increase the air flow. In an alternative embodiment, air-to-liquid heat exchangers are provided across the front and back of the enclosure, and a closed air flow loop is created by a converging supply plenum, electronics drawers through which air is directed by air-moving devices, diverging return plenum, and a connecting duct in the bottom. In a variant of this embodiment, connecting ducts are in both top and bottom, and supply and return ducts are doubly convergent and doubly divergent, respectively. Auxiliary blowers may be added to increase total system air flow.

Abstract: An electronic module and method of fabrication are provided employing an integrated thermal dissipation assembly. The thermal dissipation assembly includes a thermoelectric assembly configured to couple to an electronic device within the module for removing heat generated thereby, and a programmable power control circuit integrated with the thermoelectric assembly. The programmable power control circuit allows cooling capacity of the thermoelectric assembly to be tailored to anticipated heat dissipation of the electronic device by adjusting, for a given power source, voltage level to the thermoelectric elements of the thermoelectric assembly. Power to the thermoelectric assembly can be provided through conductive power planes disposed within a supporting substrate. The power control circuit includes one or more voltage boost circuits connected in series between the given power source and the thermoelectric elements of the associated thermoelectric assembly.

Abstract: One embodiment of a heat sink comprises a metal support member having a groove disposed at a surface thereof and a fin disposed at the groove. The fin comprises a graphite-based material having a metal-based coating disposed thereon, and the fin is retained at the groove via a soldered joint at the metal-based coating and the groove. Another exemplary embodiment of a heat sink comprises a plurality of fins alternatingly arranged with a plurality of spacers. A method of fabricating a heat sink comprises preparing a surface of a graphite-based substrate, removing particulate matter generated from the preparation of the surface of the substrate, applying a metal-based coating at the surface of the substrate, and arranging the substrate to form a heat sink structure.

Abstract: An enclosure apparatus provides for combined air and liquid cooling of rack mounted stacked electronic components. A heat exchanger is mounted on the side of the stacked electronics and air flows side to side within the enclosure, impelled by air-moving devices mounted behind the electronics. Auxiliary air-moving devices may be mounted within the enclosure to increase the air flow. In an alternative embodiment, air-to-liquid heat exchangers are provided across the front and back of the enclosure, and a closed air flow loop is created by a converging supply plenum, electronics drawers through which air is directed by air-moving devices, diverging return plenum, and a connecting duct in the bottom. In a variant of this embodiment, connecting ducts are in both top and bottom, and supply and return ducts are doubly convergent and doubly divergent, respectively. Auxiliary blowers may be added to increase total system air flow.