WICKLESS CAPILLARY DRIVEN CONSTRAINED VAPOR BUBBLE HEAT PIPES FOR APPLICATION IN HEAT SINKS

Abstract

A system and method for providing and using wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipes for application in heat sinks are disclosed. An example embodiment includes: a base; and a plurality of fins in thermal coupling with the base, each fin of the plurality of fins having a wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe embedded in the fin, each wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe including a body having a capillary therein with generally square corners and a high energy interior surface, and a highly wettable liquid partially filling the capillary to dissipate heat between an evaporator region and a condenser region.

Description

PRIORITY PATENT APPLICATION

This is a non-provisional patent application claiming priority to U.S. provisional patent application, Ser. No. 62/329,359; filed Apr. 29, 2016. This non-provisional patent application draws priority from the referenced provisional patent application. The entire disclosure of the referenced patent application is considered part of the disclosure of the present application and is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent application relates to electronic systems and devices, mobile devices, and the fabrication and thermal dissipation of such devices and systems, according to various example embodiments, and more specifically to a system and method for providing and using wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipes for application in heat sinks.

BACKGROUND

Modern electric or electronic devices include many components that generate heat, including, but not limited to processors/controllers, signal processing devices, memory devices, communication/transceiver devices, power generation devices, and the like. Adequate thermal management of these components is critical to the successful operation of these systems and devices. When components generate a large amount of heat, the heat must be dissipated or transported quickly away from the heat source in order to prevent failure of the heat producing components.

In the past, thermal management of electronic components has included air-cooling systems and liquid-cooling systems. Regardless of the type of fluid used (e.g., air or liquid), it may be challenging to deliver the fluid to the heat source, e.g., the component generating large amounts of heat. For example, electronic devices, such as mobile devices or wearables, may include processors and/or integrated circuits within enclosures that make it difficult for a cooling fluid to reach the heat generating components.

To transfer the heat away from these difficult to access components, conventional solutions use plates made from highly thermally-conductive material, such as graphite or metal, that have been placed in thermal contact with the heat generating components such that the heat is carried away via conduction through the plate. However, the speed and efficiency of the heat transport in a solid plate is limited by the thermal resistance of the material.

Conventional solutions also use wicked heat pipes to transfer heat from a heated region (also referred to as an evaporator region) to a cooled region (also referred to as a condenser region). A traditional wicked heat pipe consists of a tube with a wick running along the interior surface of the tube. The tube is filled with a liquid that evaporates into a vapor at the evaporator region, which then flows toward the condenser region. The vapor condenses back into a liquid at the condenser region. The wick enables the condensed liquid to flow back to the evaporator region for the cycle to repeat.

However, there are many challenges with wicked or grooved structures in integrated vapor chambers or liquid cooled heat pipes on standard Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), for example. A few of these disadvantages with conventional wicked or grooved structures are summarized below:

• • Micro-grooved structures showed poor performance in gravity operations;
  • Lack of fluid crossover ability causes circulation challenges;
  • The wicks cause a thermal resistance inside the pipe itself;
  • Insertion of a wick structure (regardless of porosity and design) is a challenge and not a common practice for PCB manufacturers;
  • Insertable wick requires an additional copper restraint to hold it in place to allow for a cavity for vapor;
  • The inside of vapor chambers and heat pipes is usually coated in sintered metal, which creates problems. The basic problem is that the inside of both the vapor chamber and the heat pipe have very little surface area.

There are also problems with the conventional heat sinks. Typical heat sink designs require a significant level of airflow through the heat sink fins to achieve adequate cooling. In many cases, the source of the airflow consumes too much power, cannot fit in desired form factors, or requires an awkward installation. Also, conventional heat sinks require a large base and large fins to provide enough surface area to dissipate the required levels of excess heat. The large size of conventional heat sinks prevents their usage in small device form factors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of the wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble (CVB) heat pipe as disclosed herein;

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate some of the disadvantages of the conventional wicked or grooved heat pipe structures;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of nucleate boiling in porous wick structures;

FIG. 5 illustrates some of the techniques with which the embodiments described herein overcome some of the challenges;

FIG. 6 illustrates example embodiments showing novel cavity shapes;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example embodiment showing the idea behind the new cavity shapes;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example embodiment showing the manufacturability of the new cavity shapes;

FIG. 9 illustrates a typical Printed Circuit Board (PCB) fabrication process;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example embodiment of a CVB heat pipe fabrication process using chemical etching;

FIG. 11 illustrates an example embodiment of a CVB heat pipe fabrication process using laser/mechanical subtraction;

FIG. 12 illustrates an example embodiment of a CVB charging process using vacuum, fill, and seal;

FIG. 13 illustrates an example embodiment showing capillary heights for CVB for different cavity shapes;

FIG. 14 illustrates a temperature comparison between a CVB fin and a metal fin;

FIGS. 15 through 17 illustrate the effects of ultrasonic on capillary forces as discussed in the prior art;

FIG. 18 illustrates the results of operation with an example embodiment as shown with a prior art simulation tool (e.g., Flow3D simulations);

FIG. 19 illustrates an example embodiment of a three-dimensional shape embedded with a computational mesh of wickless capillary driven heat pipes, shown using a prior art simulation tool;

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of the temperature variations in a wickless capillary driven heat pipe of an example embodiment, shown using a prior art simulation tool;

FIG. 21 illustrates an example of the vapor movement velocity variations in a wickless capillary driven heat pipe of an example embodiment, shown using a prior art simulation tool;

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of the pressure variations in a wickless capillary driven heat pipe of an example embodiment, shown using a prior art simulation tool;

FIG. 23 illustrates an example of the velocity variations in a wickless capillary driven heat pipe of an example embodiment, shown using a prior art simulation tool;

FIG. 24 illustrates an example embodiment of a heat sink having fins embedded with the wickless capillary driven heat pipes;

FIG. 25 illustrates an example embodiment of heat sinks with innovative wickless heat pipe geometries acting as fins;

FIG. 26 illustrates an example embodiment of a combined capillary and piezo electric driven wickless heat pipe;

FIG. 27 illustrates an example embodiment of various CVB channel patterns;

FIG. 28 illustrates an example embodiment showing the addition of copper blocks to the base of the fins for increasing efficiency of the overall CVB heat pipe application;

FIG. 29 is a process flow chart illustrating an example embodiment of a method as described herein; and

FIG. 30 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the example form of a mobile computing and/or communication system within which a set of instructions when executed and/or processing logic when activated may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies described and/or claimed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments. It will be evident, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.

In the various embodiments described herein, a system and method for providing and using a wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble (CVB) heat pipe are disclosed. FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of the wickless capillary driven CVB heat pipe as disclosed herein. The various example embodiments disclosed herein provide a variety of advantages over conventional solutions. For example, the wickless CVB heat pipe of the various example embodiments disclosed herein:

• • Leads to simpler and lighter systems;
  • Can be used for space and electronic cooling applications;
  • Is effective as the dimension of the cavity can be reduced and the heat pipe can become a micro heat pipe;
  • Is easier to manufacture by PCB manufacturers or other device fabricators, as there are no wick structures to insert or adhere to the walls of the heat pipe;
  • Does not require moving parts; and
  • Capillary forces in the corners of the channels drive the liquid to the evaporator. As a result, there are no challenges because of wicks or grooved structures as described above. Circular or rounded corner channels do not provide this advantage.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate some of the disadvantages of the conventional wicked or grooved heat pipe structures. A few of these disadvantages with conventional wicked or grooved structures are summarized below:

• • Micro-grooved structures showed poor performance in gravity operations;
  • Lack of fluid crossover ability causes circulation challenges;
  • The wicks cause a thermal resistance inside the pipe itself;
  • Insertion of a wick structure (regardless of porosity and design) is a challenge and not a common practice for PCB manufacturers;
  • Insertable wicks require an additional copper restraint to hold it in place to allow a cavity for vapor;
  • The insides of the vapor chambers and the heat pipes are usually coated in sintered metal, which creates problems. The basic problem is that the inside of both the vapor chamber and the heat pipe have very little surface area; and
  • Wicked heat pipes have a tendency to experience “dry-out,” whereby the liquid in the evaporator region is fully vaporized and the wick becomes void of liquid.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of nucleate boiling in porous wick structures. Conventional wisdom calls for nucleate boiling to be avoided in wicked heat pipes having longitudinal groove wick structures. In these wicks, nucleation of vapor bubbles completely obstructs the non-communicating individual paths of capillary liquid return to the evaporator section; a boiling limit is imposed in this case based on the conventional nucleation incipience superheat criterion. Alternatively, sintered screen mesh, sintered powder, and fibrous wick structures affixed to the wall of a heat pipe can continue to feed liquid to the heat source during boiling via the inherently stochastic network of interconnected pores. The various embodiments disclosed herein avoid these problems inherent in wicked heat pipes.

The table below provides a comparison between wicked and wickless heat pipes.

	Wick-type heat pipes	Wickless (CVB) heat pipes
Manufacturing	The fabrication consists of added	These are much simpler to
	steps and complexity due to the	fabricate as there are no wick
	varied nature of the wicks and	structures to insert or adhere to
	inserts needed to keep them in place	the walls of the heat pipe.
	(adhered to the wall of the pipe).
Performance	The performance can be better than	Performance could be hindered
	the wickless type as it can avoid dry	on high heat loads if capillary
	out for longer heat loads with aided	pumping head drops off (too
	capillary flow to the heated end. The	long of a bubble). The size of
	combination of the wick structure	the Constrained Vapor Bubble
	and material would determine	would drive the performance
	performance.	and when compared to a
		similar sized wick type pipe,
		the ease of manufacturability
		and longevity of this type of
		heat pipe wins.
Simplicity	Wick structure and material of	Lack of a material wick makes
	the wick can be complex and	this simpler and lighter to use.
	tough to maintain. Wicks add to	Also, less expensive to build.
	cost of the device.
Challenges	Longevity of wicks is a challenge,	Long dry-out lengths at high
	cost incurred due to addition of a	heat loads for large bubble
	wick is another challenge. PCB	sizes creates challenges.
	manufacturers do not have a	Maintaining symmetry of
	standard process for inserting the	capillary flow in a horizontal
	wicks. Nucleate boiling within wick	direction on Earth could be an
	structure creates problems.	issue.

The tables below provide a summary of fluid possibilities and material compatibility for various operating temperature ranges for the CVB wickless heat pipes of example embodiments.

TABLE 1
Working fluids and temperature ranges of heat pipes.
		Melting	Boiling	Useful
	Working	Point,	Point,	Range,
	Fluid	K at 1 atm	K at 1 atm	K
	Helium	1.0	4.21	2-4
	Hydrogen	13.8	20.38	14-31
	Neon	24.4	27.09	27-37
	Nitrogen	63.1	77.35	70-103
	Argon	83.9	87.29	84-116
	Oxygen	54.7	90.18	73-119
	Methane	90.6	111.4	91-150
	Krypton	115.8	119.7	116-160
	Ethane	89.9	184.6	150-240
	Freon 22	113.1	232.2	193-297
	Ammonia	195.5	239.9	213-373
	Freon 21	138.1	282.0	233-360
	Freon 11	162.1	296.8	233-393
	Pentane	143.1	309.2	253-393
	Freon 113	236.5	320.8	263-373
	Acetone	180.0	329.4	273-393
	Methanol	175.1	337.8	283-403
	Flutec PP2	223.1	349.1	283-433
	Ethanol	158.7	351.5	273-403
	Heptane	182.5	371.5	273-423
	Water	273.1	373.1	303-550
	Toluene	178.1	383.7	323-473
	Flutec PP9	203.1	433.1	273-498
	Naphthalene	353.4	490	408-623
	Dowtherm	285.1	527.0	423-668
	Mercury	234.2	630.1	523-923
	Sulphur	385.9	717.6	530-947
	Cesium	301.6	943.0	723-1173
	Rubidium	312.7	959.2	800-1275
	Potassium	336.4	1032	773-1273
	Sodium	371.0	1151	873-1473
	Lithium	453.7	1615	1273-2073
	Calcium	1112	1762	1400-2100
	Lead	600.6	2013	1670-2200
	Indium	429.7	2353	2000-3000
	Silver	1234	2485	2073-2573

TABLE 2
Generalized results of
experimental compatibility test
Working	Compatible	Incompatible
Fluid	Material	Material
Water	Stainless Steela,	Aluminum,
	Copper, Silica,	Inconel
	Nickel, Titanium
Ammonia	Aluminum, Stainless
	Steel, Cold Rolled
	Steel, Iron, Nickel
Methanol	Stainless Steel, Iron,	Aluminum
	Copper, Brass,
	Silica, Nickel
Acetone	Aluminum, Stainless
	Steel, Copper,
	Brass, Silica
Freon-11	Aluminum
Freon-21	Aluminum, Iron
Freon-113	Aluminum
Heptane	Aluminum
Dowtherm	Stainless Steel,
	Copper, Silica
Lithium	Tungsen, Tantalum,	Stainless Steel,
	Molybdenum,	Nickel, Inconel,
	Niobium	Titanium
Sodium	Stainless Steel,	Titanium
	Nickel, Inconel,
	Niobium
Cesium	Titanium, Niobium,
	Stainless Steel,
	Nickel-based
	superalloys
Mercury	Stainless Steelb	Molybdenum, Nickel,
		Tantalum, Inconel,
		Titanium, Niobium,
Lead	Tungsten, Tantalum	Stainless Steel,
		Nickel, Inconel,
		Titanium, Niobium
Silver	Tungsten, Tantalum	Rhenium
aSensitive to cleaning; bwith Austenitic SS

FIG. 5 illustrates some of the techniques with which the embodiments described herein overcome some of the challenges. In some circumstances, the wickless CVB heat pipe can also encounter some implementation issues. In particular, a lack of wettability of liquid to the surface, a high heat load, and opposing gravity can cause longer dry out lengths where the liquid loses contact with the wall and degrades the CVB's performance However, the embodiments described herein overcome these challenges in a variety of ways including by use of one or more of the techniques listed below and shown in FIG. 5:

• • Array (daisy chaining) of shorter CVB cells can be used to increase the total CVB length. In this embodiment, the condenser for one cell acts as the evaporator of an adjacent cell;
  • Cross patterns of CVB arrays can make them work in any gravity orientation;
  • Using a highly wettable liquid with a high energy surface can decrease dry outs; and
  • Micro-sized piezo devices can be used to help increase capillary lengths.

The wickless CVB heat pipe of various example embodiments is designed with regard to several important parameters as listed below:

• • Gravity impact
  • Fin effectiveness
  • Dry out lengths
  • Dimensions and shapes
  • Heat transfer rates
  • Liquid vapor interface
  • Surface tension
  • Wettability

FIG. 6 illustrates example embodiments showing novel cavity shapes. Liquid rising in the capillary formed by the vapor bubble and cavity walls can be manipulated by use of various cavity shapes. Through innovative cavity shapes as shown in FIG. 6, CVB capillary lengths can be tuned for the same vapor bubble diameter. Geometries that create smaller corner angles with effectively smaller hydraulic radii can lead to larger capillary lengths. Tools can help to predict approximate capillary lengths for different corner areas, bubble diameters, contact angles, and different fluid properties. This can help to tune the cavity dimensions per the available surface dimensions and fluids in products.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example embodiment showing the idea behind the new cavity shapes. The circular part of the shape maintains CVB vapor geometry. Sharper corner geometry help reduce the corner liquid interface radius. The base opening creates sharper corner angles with the vapor bubble and reduces overall hydraulic diameter.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example embodiment showing the manufacturability of the new cavity shapes. In various example embodiments, non-standard/novel shapes can include flowers, octagons, stars, triangles, and the like. Most metal manufacturers can make it (as long as it's under 2″ in diameter), which is ideal for micro heat pipes. Like standard shapes, the tubing is formed and welded into the “mother” round shape before it can be finalized. In the case of the x-shaped tubing as shown in FIG. 8, the tubing went from round to square, and then was formed into the “x” shape. Uncommon shapes may go through many different shaping processes to meet the client's requirements. Different techniques used include welding, laser cutting, injection molding, etc. For non-metallic tube material, one can use chemical etch or heat shaping.

FIG. 9 illustrates a typical Printed Circuit Board (PCB) fabrication process. Such processes can be modified and applied to the fabrication of CVB heat pipes. FIG. 10 illustrates an example embodiment of a CVB heat pipe fabrication process using chemical etching. In general, the CVB heat pipe fabrication process of an example embodiment is an extension of the PCB fabrication or silicon patterning process. FIG. 11 illustrates an example embodiment of a CVB heat pipe fabrication process using laser/mechanical subtraction. FIG. 12 illustrates an example embodiment of a CVB charging process using vacuum, fill, and seal.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example embodiment showing capillary lengths for CVB heat pipes for different cavity shapes. The corner angles of the cavity can be modified and adjusted to determine a corresponding capillary length. A tool can help to predict an approximate capillary length for different corner angles, channel diameters, contact angles, and different fluid properties. This can help to tune the cavity dimensions per the available surface dimensions and fluids in products.

FIG. 14 illustrates a temperature comparison between a CVB fin and a metal fin. The basic calculations show a potential for a high temperature profile for a longer length CVB fin. Higher temperatures over the fin result in higher heat transfer. This indicates the potential for taller, thinner, and efficient fins with the CVB embodiments described herein. The CVB embodiments described herein avoid dry outs and maximize two phase heat transfer for a given fin length. Heat sink based on CVB fins can be expected to be lighter as compared to non-CVB based heat sinks for similar thermal performance.

FIGS. 15 through 17 illustrate the effects of ultrasonic on capillary forces through data published in the prior art. The prior art is referenced here only to indicate that capillary force can be influenced through external means besides geometry.

FIG. 18 illustrates the results of the operation of an example embodiment as shown with a prior art simulation tool (e.g., Flow3D simulations). The Flow3D simulations show very promising thermal results and indicate how simulating this complex phenomenon can work with new and sophisticated tools. The simulation can be tuned and used to our advantage to yield sensitivity analysis.

FIG. 19 illustrates an example embodiment of a three-dimensional shape embedded with a computational mesh of wickless capillary driven heat pipes, shown using a prior art simulation tool.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of the temperature variations in a wickless capillary driven heat pipe of an example embodiment, shown using a prior art simulation tool.

FIG. 21 illustrates an example of the vapor movement velocity variations in a wickless capillary driven heat pipe of an example embodiment, shown using a prior art simulation tool.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of the pressure variations in a wickless capillary driven heat pipe of an example embodiment, shown using a prior art simulation tool.

FIG. 23 illustrates an example of the velocity variations in a wickless capillary driven heat pipe of an example embodiment, shown using a prior art simulation tool.

As described above, the wickless CVB heat pipes of the various embodiments can be formed in a variety of shapes and configurations and fabricated in a variety of ways to accommodate a variety of different applications. Some of these applications for various example embodiments are described in more detail below.

Application in Heat Sinks

FIG. 24 illustrates an example embodiment of a heat sink 2610 having a plurality of fins 2612, each fin embedded with the wickless capillary driven heat pipes 2614. As well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art, heat sinks can be used to dissipate heat from a variety of devices and systems, including electronic devices, electrical devices, electrical power transmission or storage devices, other electrical heat generating devices, non-electrical heat generating devices, and the like. In a common configuration, each of the fins 2612 of the heat sink 2610 can be attached to, integrated into, or otherwise in thermal coupling with a base 2616 with highly heat conductive properties. The fins 2612 are also fabricated from materials with a high level of heat conductive properties. The fins 2612 are typically configured to provide a high level of surface area, which serves to dissipate heat into the surrounding atmosphere. In many cases, fans or other air circulation devices are used to move air through the fins 2612 to improve the efficiency of the heat dissipation from the fins 2612. The base 2616 is typically attached or brought into physical contact with a portion of a heat generating device, such as those described above. The heat generated by the heat generating device is transferred into the base 2616 because of the highly heat conductive properties of the base 2616. The heat continues to be transferred into the fins 2612 where the heat is dissipated into the surrounding atmosphere because of the high level of surface area provided by the fins 2612. Although the conventional heat sink is effective in dissipating heat from heat generating devices, it can take a significant amount of time for heat to move from the heat generating device, through the base, and into the fins where the heat is eventually dissipated. As such, the efficiency of conventional heat sinks has inherent limitations.

In various example embodiments disclosed herein, the efficiency of conventional heat sinks can be significantly improved. In an example embodiment, wickless capillary driven heat pipes 2614 are embedded within the fins 2612 of a heat sink 2610 to improve fin efficiency of the heat sink 2610. Each fin 2612 of the heat sink 2610 can act as a heat pipe cell with an embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipe 2614 for more efficient cooling. The embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipe 2614 within each fin 2612 can serve to speed the transfer of heat from the base 2616 to the heat dissipation surfaces of the fins 2612. For example, the fluid moving within the embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipes 2614 can facilitate the transfer of heat from the base 2616 to the heat dissipation surfaces of the fins 2612 at very low temperature drop through an evaporation and condensation process. This helps to maintain very close temperatures on the surfaces of fins 2612 as that of the base 2616, which is not possible by traditional fins of the same size. As a result, the heat transferred from the base 2616 into the fins 2612 spreads out more rapidly by the operation of the embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipe 2614. This process increases the efficiency of the heat sink 2610. In the example embodiment, channels or voids can be fabricated into the fins 2612 during manufacture of the heat sink 2610. The wickless capillary driven heat pipe 2614 can be inserted, integrated, or otherwise embedded into the in-built channels or voids. In other embodiments, the fluid within the embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipes 2614 can be channeled into the base 2616 wherein the base 2616 serves as a cooling fluid reservoir. This configuration can accelerate the transfer of heat from the base 2616 to the heat dissipation surfaces of the fins 2612. The example embodiment shown in FIG. 24 can provide several benefits, including effective heat transfer from the base 2616, a reduction in the required airflow through the fins, the opportunity to configure the fins in smaller, thinner, or taller fin lengths, and the opportunity to configure the fins in decreased or increased densities or with a decrease or an increase in the number of fins. The embodiment shown in FIG. 24 can provide several advantages over the existing technologies including providing more efficient heat sinks, lighter weight heat sinks, and heat sinks fabricated with non-metal surfaces, and heat sinks with more variation in structure, shape, configuration, and materials.

FIG. 25 illustrates an example embodiment of heat sinks 2710 with innovative wickless heat pipe geometries acting as fins 2712. In an example embodiment, wickless capillary driven heat pipes 2714 are embedded within the fins 2712 of a heat sink 2710 to improve fin efficiency of the heat sink 2710. Each fin 2712 of the heat sink 2710 can act as a heat pipe cell with an embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipe 2714 for more efficient cooling. The embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipe 2714 within each fin 2712 can serve to speed the transfer of heat from the base 2716 to the heat dissipation surfaces of the fins 2712. For example, the fluid moving within the embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipes 2714 can facilitate the transfer of heat from the base 2716 to the heat dissipation surfaces of the fins 2712 at very low temperature drop through an evaporation and condensation process. This helps to maintain very close temperatures on the surfaces of fins 2712 as that of the base 2716, which is not possible by traditional fins of the same size. In the example embodiments shown in FIG. 25, the cross-sectional geometries of each of the fins 2712 and the embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipes 2714 can be varied slightly to achieve different operational characteristics for various different applications of the heat sink 2710. For example, as shown in FIG. 25, the fins 2712 and the embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipes 2714 within can be configured in a variety of cross-sectional shapes including: rectangular or square, triangular, round or oval, curved, other polygonal shapes, polygonal shapes with beveled corners, or other geometries with a closed internal cavity. As described above, the varied geometries of the fins 2712 and the embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipes 2714 within can cause the fluid and the bubble within the embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipes 2714 to move differently. As a result, the heat dissipation performance of the varied geometries also changes. These heat dissipation performance changes can be customized for particular applications of the heat sink 2710. In the various example embodiments, this technique can improve two phase fin efficiency using modified geometries for wickless heat pipe channels. The embodiments shown in FIG. 25 can provide several benefits, including an increase in capillary flow, reduced airflow, higher power dissipation, and increased power density. As described above, the base 2716 can serve as the fluid reservoir after charging of the fins 2712 is complete. As shown in FIG. 25, a highly thermally conductive base 2716 can be attached to, integrated into, or otherwise in thermal coupling with the fins 2712, which can be configured in a variety of shapes as described above. Fluid can be charged through the base and applied concurrently to all attached fins 2712. The base 2716 can act as a fluid reservoir with a pool of liquid on the cold end of the heat pipes 2714. The embodiments shown in FIG. 25 can provide several advantages over the existing technologies including enabling the heat sink 2710 to achieve lighter weight, enabling the use of more creative fin shapes, and enabling the use of embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipes with a variety of different shapes. Different cross sections of the fins 2712 can also allow different fin lengths and non-traditional air mover types for a given cooling space.

FIG. 26 illustrates an example embodiment of a combined capillary and piezo electric driven wickless heat pipe. In an example embodiment, this technique can improve the capillary action of the working fluid for the wickless heat pipe. As shown in FIG. 26, a piezo electric device 2815 can be inserted, integrated, or otherwise installed in the interior cavity or capillary of the wickless capillary driven heat pipe 2814, which is embedded in a fin 2812 of a heat sink. As well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art, the piezo electric device 2815 can generate a mechanical strain or pressure when an electrical signal is applied to the device. As a result, a moving pressure wave can be selectively created in the interior cavity of the wickless capillary driven heat pipe 2814 when an electrical signal is applied to the piezo electric device 2815. The example embodiment can use the moving pressure wave created by a piezo actuator 2815 to improve liquid drain for the wickless capillary driven heat pipe 2814. The fluid tends to move toward the heat source. The piezo actuator 2815 can be selectively activated whenever required in a certain frequency range. The frequency range can be varied depending on a variety of variables including the dimensions of the wickless capillary driven heat pipe 2814, the dimensions of the cavity, the type of fluid in the cavity, the ambient pressure and temperature, etc. The embodiment shown in FIG. 26 can provide several benefits, including better performance against various gravity orientations and increased wettability. The embodiment shown in FIG. 26 can provide several advantages over the existing technologies including reduced dry outs and highly configurable pipe lengths.

FIG. 27 illustrates example embodiments of various CVB channel or fin patterns for heat sink bases 2910 and 2911. Heat-generating devices can be mounted or placed on the heat sinks of the example embodiment. The CVB channels, providing a plurality of heat sink fins 2912 and 2913 fabricated into the heat sink bases 2910 and 2911, can be used to draw heat away from the heat-generating devices and toward areas of the base that dissipate the excess heat. The wickless capillary driven heat pipes installed, integrated, or otherwise embedded into channels or fins 2912 and 2913 of the heat sink bases 2910 and 2911 can facilitate and improve the efficiency of this heat dissipation process. In addition, the heat sink base can provide a sturdy system platform on which the heat-generating devices can be mounted or placed. As a result, the CVB-based heat sink bases 2910 and 2911 can provide excellent thermal and structural performance. The CVB channels or fins 2912 and 2913 in the base can draw heat away from the heat-generating devices and deliver the excess heat to peripheral fins of the heat sink base where the excess heat can be dissipated. As shown in FIG. 27, the heat sink bases 2910 and 2911 of various example embodiments can provide a variety of arrangements and configurations of the CVB channels or fins 2912 and 2913 fabricated into the heat sink bases 2910 and 2911. As such, the CVB heat sink channels or fins 2912 and 2913 can be fabricated into the base in a variety of patterns for specific performance For example, as shown in FIG. 27, the CVB channels in the bases 2910 and 2911, providing the plurality of heat sink fins 2912 and 2913 with wickless capillary driven heat pipes installed, integrated, or otherwise embedded therein, can be fabricated in a linear pattern, a radial or spoked pattern, a serpentine pattern, any combinations thereof, or any other patterns that serve to efficiently remove excess heat from the heat-generating devices supported by the heat sink base.

FIG. 28 illustrates an example embodiment showing the addition of copper blocks 3015 to the base 3016 in proximity to the fins 3012 of a heat sink 3010 for increasing efficiency of the overall CVB heat pipe application. As shown in FIG. 28, the example embodiment comprises a heat sink 3010 with a plurality of fins 3012 within which embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipes 3014 have been inserted, integrated, or otherwise embedded. As described above, each fin 3012 of the heat sink 3010 can act as a heat pipe cell with an embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipe 3014 for more efficient cooling. The embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipe 3014 within each fin 3012 can serve to speed the transfer of heat from the base 3016 to the heat dissipation surfaces of the fins 3012. For example, the fluid moving within the embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipes 3014 can facilitate the transfer of heat from the base 3016 to the heat dissipation surfaces of the fins 3012 at very low temperature drop through an evaporation and condensation process. This helps to maintain very close temperatures on the surfaces of fins 3012 as that of the base 3016, which is not possible by traditional fins of the same size.

An important design aspect of heat sink technology is the selection of appropriate materials to conduct and transfer heat quickly and efficiently. Copper has many desirable properties for thermally-efficient and durable heat dissipation. Firstly, copper is an excellent conductor of heat. This means that copper has a high thermal conductivity that allows heat to pass through it quickly. Other desirable properties of copper include its corrosion resistance, biofouling resistance, strength, hardness, thermal expansion, specific heat, antimicrobial properties, tensile strength, yield strength, high melting point, alloyability, ease of fabrication, and ease of joining. Because of the favorable thermal characteristics of copper, the example embodiment shown in FIG. 28 includes copper blocks 3015 fabricated or embedded into the base 3016 below or in proximity to each of the fins 3012 and the embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipes 3014 therein. The copper blocks 3015 serve to facilitate or accelerate the transfer of heat between the base 3016 and the embedded wickless capillary driven heat pipes 3014. As a result, the heat sink 3010 can be more efficient in transferring excess heat from the base to the dissipating surfaces of the fins 3012. Thus, the heat sink 3010 can provide better heat dissipation performance by virtue of the copper blocks 3016 fabricated therein.

Referring now to FIG. 29, a processing flow diagram illustrates an example embodiment of a method 1100 as described herein. The method 1100 of an example embodiment includes: fabricating a base from a material with highly heat conductive properties (processing block 1110); fabricating a plurality of fins from a material with highly heat conductive properties, each fin of the plurality of fins having a wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe embedded in the fin, each wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe including a body having a capillary therein with generally square corners and a high energy interior surface, and a highly wettable liquid partially filling the capillary to dissipate heat between an evaporator region and a condenser region (processing block 1120); and coupling the plurality of fins to the base to enable thermal transfer between the base and the plurality of fins (processing block 1130).

Embodiments described herein are applicable for use with all types of semiconductor integrated circuit (“IC”) chips. Examples of these IC chips include but are not limited to processors, controllers, chipset components, programmable logic arrays (PLAs), memory chips, network chips, systems on chip (SoCs), SSD/NAND controller ASICs, and the like. In addition, in some of the drawings, signal conductor lines are represented with lines. Any represented signal lines, whether or not having additional information, may actually comprise one or more signals that may travel in multiple directions and may be implemented with any suitable type of signal scheme, e.g., digital or analog lines implemented with differential pairs, optical fiber lines, and/or single-ended lines.

Example sizes/models/values/ranges may have been given, although embodiments are not limited to the same. As manufacturing techniques (e.g., photolithography) mature over time, it is expected that devices of smaller size can be manufactured. In addition, well-known power/ground connections to integrated circuit (IC) chips and other components may or may not be shown within the figures, for simplicity of illustration and discussion, and so as not to obscure certain aspects of the embodiments. Further, arrangements may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring embodiments, and also in view of the fact that specifics with respect to implementation of such block diagram arrangements are highly dependent upon the system platform within which the embodiment is to be implemented, i.e., such specifics should be well within purview of one of ordinary skill in the art. Where specific details (e.g., circuits) are set forth in order to describe example embodiments, it should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that embodiments can be practiced without, or with variation of, these specific details. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.

The term “coupled” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms “first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

Included herein is a set of process or logic flows representative of example methodologies for performing novel aspects of the disclosed architecture. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the one or more methodologies shown herein are shown and described as a series of acts, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that the methodologies are not limited by the order of acts. Some acts may, in accordance therewith, occur in a different order and/or concurrently with other acts from those shown and described herein. For example, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology can alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all acts illustrated in a methodology may be required for a novel implementation. A logic flow may be implemented in software, firmware, and/or hardware. In software and firmware embodiments, a logic flow may be implemented by computer executable instructions stored on at least one non-transitory computer readable medium or machine readable medium, such as an optical, magnetic or semiconductor storage. The example embodiments disclosed herein are not limited in this respect.

The various elements of the example embodiments as previously described with reference to the figures may include or be used with various hardware elements, software elements, or a combination of both. Examples of hardware elements may include devices, logic devices, components, processors, microprocessors, circuits, processors, circuit elements (e.g., transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, and so forth), integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic devices (PLD), digital signal processors (DSP), field programmable gate array (FPGA), memory units, logic gates, registers, semiconductor device, chips, microchips, chip sets, and so forth. Examples of software elements may include software components, programs, applications, computer programs, application programs, system programs, software development programs, machine programs, operating system software, middleware, firmware, software modules, routines, subroutines, functions, methods, procedures, software interfaces, application program interfaces (API), instruction sets, computing code, computer code, code segments, computer code segments, words, values, symbols, or any combination thereof. However, determining whether an embodiment is implemented using hardware elements and/or software elements may vary in accordance with any number of factors, such as desired computational rate, power levels, heat tolerances, processing cycle budget, input data rates, output data rates, memory resources, data bus speeds and other design or performance constraints, as desired for a given implementation.

The example embodiments described herein provide a technical solution to a technical problem. The various embodiments improve the functioning of the electronic device and a related system by enabling the fabrication and use of systems and methods for providing and using a wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe to dissipate heat. The various embodiments also serve to transform the state of various system components based on better thermal dissipation characteristics of the electronic devices and systems. Additionally, the various embodiments effect an improvement in a variety of technical fields including the fields of thermal management, electronic systems and device fabrication and use, circuit board fabrication, semiconductor device fabrication and use, computing and networking devices, and mobile communication devices.

FIG. 30 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the example form of an electronic device, such as a mobile computing and/or communication system 700 within which a set of instructions when executed and/or processing logic when activated may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies described and/or claimed herein. In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a tablet computing system, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a web appliance, a set-top box (STB), a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) or activating processing logic that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” can also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions or processing logic to perform any one or more of the methodologies described and/or claimed herein.

The example mobile computing and/or communication system 700 includes a data processor 702 (e.g., a System-on-a-Chip [SoC], general processing core, graphics core, and optionally other processing logic) and a memory 704, which can communicate with each other via a bus or other data transfer system 706. The mobile computing and/or communication system 700 may further include various input/output (I/O) devices and/or interfaces 710, such as a touchscreen display and optionally a network interface 712. In an example embodiment, the network interface 712 can include one or more radio transceivers configured for compatibility with any one or more standard wireless and/or cellular protocols or access technologies (e.g., 2nd (2G), 2.5, 3rd (3G), 4th (4G) generation, and future generation radio access for cellular systems, Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), LTE, CDMA2000, WLAN, Wireless Router (WR) mesh, and the like). Network interface 712 may also be configured for use with various other wired and/or wireless communication protocols, including TCP/IP, UDP, SIP, SMS, RTP, WAP, CDMA, TDMA, UMTS, UWB, WiFi, WiMax, Bluetooth™, IEEE 802.11x, and the like. In essence, network interface 712 may include or support virtually any wired and/or wireless communication mechanisms by which information may travel between the mobile computing and/or communication system 700 and another computing or communication system via network 714.

The memory 704 can represent a machine-readable medium on which is stored one or more sets of instructions, software, firmware, or other processing logic (e.g., logic 708) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described and/or claimed herein. The logic 708, or a portion thereof, may also reside, completely or at least partially within the processor 702 during execution thereof by the mobile computing and/or communication system 700. As such, the memory 704 and the processor 702 may also constitute machine-readable media. The logic 708, or a portion thereof, may also be configured as processing logic or logic, at least a portion of which is partially implemented in hardware. The logic 708, or a portion thereof, may further be transmitted or received over a network 714 via the network interface 712. While the machine-readable medium of an example embodiment can be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single non-transitory medium or multiple non-transitory media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and computing systems) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” can also be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the various embodiments, or that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying data structures utilized by or associated with such a set of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” can accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical media, and magnetic media.

With general reference to notations and nomenclature used herein, the description presented herein may be disclosed in terms of program procedures executed on a computer or a network of computers. These procedural descriptions and representations may be used by those of ordinary skill in the art to convey their work to others of ordinary skill in the art.

A procedure is generally conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of operations performed on electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. These signals may be referred to as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. It should be noted, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to those quantities. Further, the manipulations performed are often referred to in terms such as adding or comparing, which operations may be executed by one or more machines. Useful machines for performing operations of various embodiments may include general-purpose digital computers or similar devices. Various embodiments also relate to apparatus or systems for performing these operations. This apparatus may be specially constructed for a purpose, or it may include a general-purpose computer as selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. The procedures presented herein are not inherently related to a particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purpose machines may be used with programs written in accordance with teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform methods described herein.

Various example embodiments using these new techniques are described in more detail herein. In various embodiments as described herein, example embodiments include at least the following examples.

A heat sink comprising: a base; and a plurality of fins in thermal coupling with the base, each fin of the plurality of fins having a wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe embedded in the fin, each wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe including a body having a capillary therein with generally square corners and a high energy interior surface, and a highly wettable liquid partially filling the capillary to dissipate heat between an evaporator region and a condenser region.

The heat sink as described above wherein each fin of the plurality of fins is of a cross-sectional shape from the group consisting of: rectangular, square, triangular, round, curved, oval, a polygonal shape, a polygonal shape with beveled corners, and a geometry with a closed internal cavity.

The heat sink as described above wherein the base includes a cooling fluid reservoir for filling the capillary of each embedded wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe with the highly wettable liquid.

The heat sink as described above wherein each embedded wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe includes a piezo electric device installed in the capillary.

The heat sink as described above wherein the heat sink being configured as a platform to place a heat-generating device thereon, the plurality of fins being fabricated into the base in a pattern of a type from the group consisting of: linear, radial, spoked, and serpentine.

The heat sink as described above wherein the base includes a plurality of copper blocks embedded into the base.

A system comprising: a base; a plurality of fins in thermal coupling with the base, each fin of the plurality of fins having a wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe embedded in the fin, each wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe including a body having a capillary therein with generally square corners and a high energy interior surface, and a highly wettable liquid partially filling the capillary to dissipate heat between an evaporator region and a condenser region; and a heat-generating device placed in thermal coupling with the base.

The system as described above wherein each fin of the plurality of fins is of a cross-sectional shape from the group consisting of: rectangular, square, triangular, round, curved, oval, a polygonal shape, a polygonal shape with beveled corners, and a geometry with a closed internal cavity.

The system as described above wherein the base includes a cooling fluid reservoir for filling the capillary of each embedded wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe with the highly wettable liquid.

The system as described above wherein each embedded wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe includes a piezo electric device installed in the capillary.

The system as described above wherein the system being configured as a platform to place a heat-generating device thereon, the plurality of fins being fabricated into the base in a pattern of a type from the group consisting of: linear, radial, spoked, and serpentine.

The system as described above wherein the base includes a plurality of copper blocks embedded into the base.

A method comprising: fabricating a base from a material with highly heat conductive properties; fabricating a plurality of fins from a material with highly heat conductive properties, each fin of the plurality of fins having a wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe embedded in the fin, each wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe including a body having a capillary therein with generally square corners and a high energy interior surface, and a highly wettable liquid partially filling the capillary to dissipate heat between an evaporator region and a condenser region; and coupling the plurality of fins to the base to enable thermal transfer between the base and the plurality of fins.

The method as described above wherein each fin of the plurality of fins is of a cross-sectional shape from the group consisting of: rectangular, square, triangular, round, curved, oval, a polygonal shape, a polygonal shape with beveled corners, and a geometry with a closed internal cavity.

The method as described above including fabricating the base with a cooling fluid reservoir for filling the capillary of each embedded wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe with the highly wettable liquid.

The method as described above including fabricating the plurality of fins wherein each embedded wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe includes a piezo electric device installed in the capillary.

The method as described above including configuring the base and the plurality of fins as a platform to place a heat-generating device thereon, the plurality of fins being fabricated into the base in a pattern of a type from the group consisting of: linear, radial, spoked, and serpentine.

The method as described above including fabricating the base with a plurality of copper blocks embedded into the base.

An apparatus comprising: a base; and a plurality of fin means in thermal coupling with the base, each fin of the plurality of fin means having a wickless heat dissipation means embedded in the fin, each wickless heat dissipation means including a body having a capillary therein with generally square corners and a high energy interior surface, and a highly wettable liquid partially filling the capillary to dissipate heat between an evaporator region and a condenser region.

The apparatus as described above wherein each fin of the plurality of fin means is of a cross-sectional shape from the group consisting of: rectangular, square, triangular, round, curved, oval, a polygonal shape, a polygonal shape with beveled corners, and a geometry with a closed internal cavity.

The apparatus as described above wherein the base includes a cooling fluid reservoir for filling the capillary of each wickless heat dissipation means with the highly wettable liquid.

The apparatus as described above wherein each embedded wickless heat dissipation means includes a piezo electric device installed in the capillary.

The apparatus as described above wherein the apparatus being configured as a platform to place a heat-generating device thereon, the plurality of fin means being fabricated into the base in a pattern of a type from the group consisting of: linear, radial, spoked, and serpentine.

The apparatus as described above wherein the base includes a plurality of copper blocks embedded into the base.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

Claims

1. A heat sink comprising:

a base; and

a plurality of fins in thermal coupling with the base, each fin of the plurality of fins having a wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe embedded in the fin, each wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe including a body having a capillary therein with generally square corners and a high energy interior surface, and a highly wettable liquid partially filling the capillary to dissipate heat between an evaporator region and a condenser region.

2. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein each fin of the plurality of fins is of a cross-sectional shape from the group consisting of: rectangular, square, triangular, round, curved, oval, a polygonal shape, a polygonal shape with beveled corners, and a geometry with a closed internal cavity.

3. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the base includes a cooling fluid reservoir for filling the capillary of each embedded wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe with the highly wettable liquid.

4. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein each embedded wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe includes a piezo electric device installed in the capillary.

5. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the heat sink being configured as a platform to place a heat-generating device thereon, the plurality of fins being fabricated into the base in a pattern of a type from the group consisting of: linear, radial, spoked, and serpentine.

6. The heat sink of claim 1 wherein the base includes a plurality of copper blocks embedded into the base.

7. A system comprising:

a base;

a plurality of fins in thermal coupling with the base, each fin of the plurality of fins having a wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe embedded in the fin, each wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe including a body having a capillary therein with generally square corners and a high energy interior surface, and a highly wettable liquid partially filling the capillary to dissipate heat between an evaporator region and a condenser region; and

a heat-generating device placed in thermal coupling with the base.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein each fin of the plurality of fins is of a cross-sectional shape from the group consisting of: rectangular, square, triangular, round, curved, oval, a polygonal shape, a polygonal shape with beveled corners, and a geometry with a closed internal cavity.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the base includes a cooling fluid reservoir for filling the capillary of each embedded wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe with the highly wettable liquid.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein each embedded wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe includes a piezo electric device installed in the capillary.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the system being configured as a platform to place a heat-generating device thereon, the plurality of fins being fabricated into the base in a pattern of a type from the group consisting of: linear, radial, spoked, and serpentine.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the base includes a plurality of copper blocks embedded into the base.

13. A method comprising:

fabricating a base from a material with highly heat conductive properties;

fabricating a plurality of fins from a material with highly heat conductive properties, each fin of the plurality of fins having a wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe embedded in the fin, each wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe including a body having a capillary therein with generally square corners and a high energy interior surface, and a highly wettable liquid partially filling the capillary to dissipate heat between an evaporator region and a condenser region; and

coupling the plurality of fins to the base to enable thermal transfer between the base and the plurality of fins.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein each fin of the plurality of fins is of a cross-sectional shape from the group consisting of: rectangular, square, triangular, round, curved, oval, a polygonal shape, a polygonal shape with beveled corners, and a geometry with a closed internal cavity.

15. The method of claim 13 including fabricating the base with a cooling fluid reservoir for filling the capillary of each embedded wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe with the highly wettable liquid.

16. The method of claim 13 including fabricating the plurality of fins wherein each embedded wickless capillary driven constrained vapor bubble heat pipe includes a piezo electric device installed in the capillary.

17. The method of claim 13 including configuring the base and the plurality of fins as a platform to place a heat-generating device thereon, the plurality of fins being fabricated into the base in a pattern of a type from the group consisting of: linear, radial, spoked, and serpentine.

18. The method of claim 13 including fabricating the base with a plurality of copper blocks embedded into the base.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a base; and

a plurality of fin means in thermal coupling with the base, each fin of the plurality of fin means having a wickless heat dissipation means embedded in the fin, each wickless heat dissipation means including a body having a capillary therein with generally square corners and a high energy interior surface, and a highly wettable liquid partially filling the capillary to dissipate heat between an evaporator region and a condenser region.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each fin of the plurality of fin means is of a cross-sectional shape from the group consisting of: rectangular, square, triangular, round, curved, oval, a polygonal shape, a polygonal shape with beveled corners, and a geometry with a closed internal cavity.