Vacuum pumped liquid cooling system for computers

摘要

A reliable, leak tolerant liquid cooling system with a backup air-cooling system for computers is provided. The system may use a vacuum pump and a liquid pump in combination to provide negative fluid pressure so that liquid does not leak out of the system near electrical components. The system distributes flow and pressure with a series of pressure regulating valves so that an array of computers can be serviced by a single cooling system. The system provides both air and liquid cooling so that if the liquid cooling system does not provide adequate cooling, the air cooling system will be automatically activated. A connector system is provided to automatically evacuate the liquid from the heat exchangers before they are disconnected.

主权项

1. A system for cooling an electrical device, comprising:
a fluid-containing heat exchanger thermally coupled to the electrical device; a fluid-containing reservoir in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, the reservoir further comprising a main chamber and an auxiliary chamber, each chamber containing a coolant fluid; a pressure pump in pressure communication with each chamber through at least one pressure valve for each chamber, wherein the pressure pump pressurizes either chamber when the respective pressure valve for one of the main chamber or auxiliary chamber is actuated; a vacuum pump in vacuum communication with each chamber through at least one vacuum valve for each chamber, wherein the vacuum pump depressurizes either chamber when the respective vacuum valve for one of the main chamber or auxiliary chamber is actuated; and a controller connected to each pressure valve and each vacuum valve; wherein the controller actuates the pressure valves and the vacuum valves to serially pressurize and depressurize the main and auxiliary chambers and thereby cause the coolant fluid to flow from the reservoir through the heat exchanger and back to the reservoir under less than atmospheric pressure.