Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronics rack employing a closed loop heat exchange system. The closed loop heat exchange system includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a coolant distribution loop connecting the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. When operational, the coolant distribution loop allows coolant to circulate between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The closed loop heat exchange system couples to the electronics rack with the first heat exchanger disposed at an air inlet side of the electronics rack, and the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger disposed in different inlet-to-outlet air flow paths through the electronics rack to reduce an imbalance in air flow temperature of the different inlet-to-outlet air flow paths through the electronics rack.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus and method of fabrication are provided for facilitating removal of heat from a heat generating electronic device. The cooling apparatus includes an integrated coolant inlet and outlet manifold having a plurality of inlet orifices for injecting coolant onto a surface to be cooled, and a plurality of outlet openings for exhausting coolant after impinging on the surface to be cooled. The inlet orifices and the outlet openings are interspersed in a common surface of the integrated manifold. A plurality of exit openings are also provided on at least one edge surface of the manifold. These exit openings are in fluid communication through the manifold with the outlet openings to facilitate exhausting of coolant through the outlet openings and minimize pressure drop through the manifold. At least one surface plane projection of the at least one edge surface intersects a surface plane projection of the common surface.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus and method of fabrication are provided for facilitating removal of heat from a heat generating electronic device. The cooling apparatus includes a plurality of thermally conductive fins coupled to and projecting away from a surface to be cooled. The fins facilitate transfer of heat from the surface to be cooled. The apparatus further includes an integrated manifold having a plurality of inlet orifices for injecting coolant onto the surface to be cooled, and a plurality of outlet openings for exhausting coolant after impinging on the surface to be cooled. The inlet orifices and the outlet openings are interspersed in a common surface of the integrated manifold. Further, the integrated manifold and the surface to be cooled are disposed with the common surface of the manifold and the surface to be cooled in spaced, opposing relation, and with the plurality of thermally conductive fins disposed therebetween.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronics rack employing a heat exchange assembly mounted to an outlet door cover hingedly affixed to an air outlet side of the rack. The heat exchange assembly includes a support frame, an air-to-liquid heat exchanger, and first and second perforated planar surfaces covering first and second main sides, respectively, of the air-to-liquid heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is supported by the support frame and includes inlet and outlet plenums disposed adjacent to the edge of the outlet door cover hingedly mounted to the rack. Each plenum is in fluid communication with a respective connect coupling, and the heat exchanger further includes multiple horizontally-oriented heat exchange tube sections each having serpentine cooling channel with an inlet and an outlet coupled to the inlet plenum and outlet plenum, respectively. Fins extend from the heat exchange tube sections.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for an electronics assembly having a substrate and one or more electronics devices includes an enclosure sealably engaging the substrate to form a cavity, with the electronics devices and a heat exchange assembly being disposed within the cavity. The heat exchange assembly defines a primary coolant flow path and a separate, secondary coolant flow path. The primary coolant flow path includes first and second chambers in fluid communication, and the secondary flow path includes a third chamber disposed between the first and second chambers. The heat exchange assembly provides a first thermal conduction path between primary coolant in the first chamber and secondary coolant in the third chamber, and a second thermal conduction path between primary coolant in the second chamber and secondary coolant in the third chamber. The heat exchange assembly further includes coolant nozzles to direct primary coolant towards the electronics devices.

Abstract: A coolant flow drive apparatus is provided for facilitating removal of heat from a cooling structure coupled to a heat generating electronics component. The coolant flow drive apparatus includes a turbine in fluid communication with a primary coolant flowing within a primary coolant flow loop, and a pump in fluid communication with a secondary coolant within a secondary coolant flow path. The secondary fluid flow path is separate from the primary coolant flow path. The flow drive apparatus further includes a magnetic coupling between the turbine and the pump, wherein the turbine drives the pump through the magnetic coupling to pump secondary coolant through the secondary coolant flow path.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus and method of fabrication are provided for facilitating removal of heat from a heat generating electronic device. The cooling apparatus includes a thermally conductive base having a substantially planar main surface, and a plurality of thermally conductive pin fins wire-bonded to the main surface of the thermally conductive base and disposed to facilitate the transfer of heat from the thermally conductive base. The thermally conductive base can be a portion of the electronic device to be cooled or a separate structure coupled to the electronic device to be cooled. If a separate structure, the thermally conductive base has a coefficient of thermal expansion within a defined range of a coefficient of thermal expansion of the electronic device. In one implementation, the wire-bonded pin fins are discrete, looped pin fins separately wire-bonded to the main surface and spaced less than 300 micrometers apart in an array.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for real-time thermal characterization of a fully operating cooling device (1002). A heat source (1004) is applied to one or more areas on a cooling device (1002) to produce non-uniform heating of the cooling device. Infrared (IR) temperature imaging (1006) detects and measures the thermal distribution of the heat source (1004) on the cooling device (1002) to develop a thermal characterization of the cooling device (1002).

Abstract: An inlet recirculation apparatus for an air moving device includes a housing defined by a wall extending from a base. The base includes an aperture therethrough receptive to alignment with an inlet of the air moving device. A plurality of flaps each pivotally extends radially outwardly from a center pivot to another corresponding pivot disposed around a perimeter of the wall. The center pivot is coaxial with a center of the aperture. Each flap moves to an open position due to air pressure from the air moving device causing air to flow into the inlet wherein each flap pivotally rotates about the center pivot and corresponding pivot at the wall, and moves to a closed position when air pressure from the air moving device ceases wherein a space between contiguous flaps is eliminated when each flap pivotally rotates to the closed position about the center pivot and corresponding pivot at the wall to prevent reverse airflow through the air moving device.

Abstract: An isolation valve assembly, a coolant connect/disconnect assembly, a cooled multi-blade electronics center, and methods of fabrication thereof are provided employing an isolation valve and actuation mechanism. The isolation valve is disposed within at least one of a coolant supply or return line providing liquid coolant to the electronics subsystem. The actuation member is coupled to the isolation valve to automatically translate a linear motion, resulting from insertion of the electronics subsystem into the operational position within the electronics housing, into a rotational motion to open the isolation valve and allow coolant to pass. The actuation mechanism, which operates to automatically close the isolation valve when the liquid cooled electronics subsystem is withdrawn from the operational position, can be employed in combination with a compression valve coupling, with one fitting of the compression valve coupling being disposed serially in fluid communication with the isolation valve.

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: Apparatus and methods are provided for microchannel cooling of electronic devices such as IC chips, which enable efficient and low operating pressure microchannel cooling of high power density electronic devices having a non-uniform power density distribution, which are mounted face down on a package substrate. For example, integrated microchannel cooler devices (or microchannel heat sink devices) for cooling IC chips are designed to provide uniform flow and distribution of coolant fluid and minimize pressure drops along coolant flow paths, as well as provide variable localized cooling capabilities for high power density regions (or “hot spots”) of IC chips with higher than average power densities.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for microchannel cooling of electronic devices such as IC chips, which enable efficient and low operating pressure microchannel cooling of high power density electronic devices. Apparatus for microchannel cooling include integrated microchannel heat sink devices and fluid distribution manifold structures that are designed to provide uniform flow and distribution of coolant fluid and minimize pressure drops along coolant flow paths.

Abstract: A thermally conductive composite interface and methods of fabrication are provided for coupling a cooling assembly and at least one electronic device. The interface includes a plurality of thermally conductive contacts for mechanically coupling the cooling assembly and electronic device, and an adhesive material at least partially surrounding the thermally conductive contacts. The thermally conductive contacts are made of a first material, which has a first thermal conductivity, and the adhesive material is a second material, which has a second thermal conductivity, with the first thermal conductivity being greater than the second thermal conductivity. The adhesive material rigidly bonds the cooling assembly and the at least one electronic device together, thereby relieving strain on the plurality of thermally conductive contacts resulting from a coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the cooling assembly and the at least one electronic device.

Abstract: An electronic device cooling assembly and fabrication method are provided which include a manifold with an orifice for injecting a cooling liquid onto a surface to be cooled, and an elastic pin support material with an opening aligned to the orifice of the manifold. Multiple thermally conductive pins are mounted within the support material, extending therefrom, and are sized to physically contact the surface to be cooled. The support material has a thickness and compliance which facilitates thermal interfacing of the pins to the surface by allowing second ends thereof to move vertically and tilt. The second end of each pin has a planar surface which is normal to an axis of the pin, and the support material facilitates the planar surfaces of the second pin ends establishing planar contact with the surface to be cooled, notwithstanding that the surface may be other than planar.

Abstract: In an integrated circuit packaging structure, such as in a SCM, DCM, or MCM, a method and apparatus for increasing heat spreader size and thus thermal performance is disclosed. The packaging structure includes a first substrate; an electronic device operably coupled to a top surface defining the first substrate; a heat spreader having a first surface operably coupled to a top surface defining the electronic device and an opposite second surface in thermal communication with a second substrate; and a frame defining an opening therethrough. The frame is further defined by an inwardly extending ledge configured to allow the heat spreader to extend at least to a peripheral edge defining a perimeter of the first substrate. In an exemplary embodiment, the second substrate includes one of a heat sink, cooling plate, thermal spreader, heat pipe, thermal hat, package lid, or other cooling member.

Abstract: A modular fluid unit for cooling heat sources located on a rack, the modular fluid unit comprising: a heat exchanger in fluid communication a pump; and wherein the modular fluid unit is mountable within the rack and is configurable to be in fluid communication with a cold plate return manifold, a cold plate supply manifold, and an end-user fluid supply. A method for cooling electronic components in a rack, the method comprising: circulating a first liquid from a cold plate to one of a plurality of heat exchangers mounted within the rack; circulating a second liquid from a second liquid supply to the one of a plurality of heat exchangers; and transferring heat from the first liquid to the second liquid at the one of a plurality of heat exchangers.

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: A method and apparatus is disclosed for liquid cooling an electronic device without wetting underside hardware of the electronic device and a substrate to which it is attached. In an exemplary embodiment, an electronic module substrate assembly includes a substrate, an electronic device electrically connected to the substrate, and an elastomer barrier. The barrier includes a cutout configured to sealably affix to chip edges defining the electronic device. The cutout provides fluid communication to a back surface of the electronic device exposed through the cutout while the barrier seals the substrate from such fluid communication.

Abstract: An air flow system and method are provided which include a duct configured to mount either as an inlet or outlet duct to an electronics rack. When mounted to cover an air-intake side of the electronics rack, a supply air flow plenum is defined for directing conditioned air to the air-intake side. The duct includes a first air inlet at a first end for receiving the conditioned air, and is tapered from the first end to a second end thereof, with the supply plenum having a varying air flow cross-section. The duct further includes a second air inlet for providing supplemental room air to the plenum. The second inlet is disposed adjacent to the first inlet, thereby facilitating mixing of conditioned air with room air within the supply air flow plenum prior to delivery thereof to the air-intake side of the electronics rack.