Heat exchangers for dual-sided cooling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10475724-B2
Application number	US-201615755688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2016
Priority date	Aug 27, 2015
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

A heat exchanger for cooling a plurality of heat-generating components with flat surfaces arranged in spaced parallel relation to one another has at least three flat, fluid-carrying panels, including a first end panel, a second end panel, and at least one middle panel. The middle panels have both of their opposed surfaces in thermal contact with a surface of a heat generating component. The end panels each have one surface in thermal contact with a surface of a heat-generating component. Inlet and outlet manifolds of the heat exchanger are in communication with the inlet and outlet openings of the middle panels. The inlet manifold communicates with the inlet opening of the first end panel, the outlet manifold communicates with the outlet opening of the second end panel, and the outlet opening of the first end panel communicates with the inlet opening of the second end panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger for cooling a plurality of heat-generating components, each having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first and second surfaces of each said heat-generating component are substantially flat and planar, and wherein the heat-generating components are arranged in spaced, parallel relation to one another, with spaces being provided between adjacent pairs of said heat-generating components;
the heat exchanger comprising at least three flat, fluid-carrying panels, including a first end panel, a second end panel, and at least one middle panel, wherein each said fluid-carrying panel has a first surface, an opposed second surface, and an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a fluid-flow passageway in flow communication with the inlet and outlet openings;
wherein each of the at least one middle panels is adapted to be at least partially received in one of said spaces with its first surface in thermal contact with the first or second surface of one said heat-generating component, and with its second surface in thermal contact with the first or second surface of another said heat-generating component; and
wherein each of the first end panel and the second end panel is adapted to be in thermal contact with the first or second surface of an endmost one of said heat-generating components;
the heat exchanger further comprising an inlet manifold which is in flow communication with the inlet opening of each of the middle panels, and an outlet manifold which is in flow communication with the outlet opening of each of the middle panels;
wherein the inlet manifold is in flow communication with the inlet opening of the first end panel, and the outlet manifold is in flow communication with the outlet opening of the second end panel; and
wherein the outlet opening of the first end panel is in direct flow communication with the inlet opening of the second end panel, such that the inlet opening of the second end panel receives fluid only from the outlet opening of the first end panel.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein each of the fluid-carrying panels has a tubular inlet fitting and a tubular outlet fitting, and wherein the inlet manifold comprises a plurality of inlet openings adapted to sealingly receive the tubular inlet fittings of the fluid-carrying panels, and wherein the outlet manifold comprises a plurality of outlet openings adapted to sealingly receive the tubular outlet fittings of the fluid-carrying panels,
wherein the tubular inlet and outlet fittings are sealingly connected to the inlet and outlet openings of the manifolds by resilient sealing members; and
wherein a resilient sealing member is provided between each of the inlet openings of the inlet manifold and one of the tubular inlet fittings, and between each of the outlet openings of the outlet manifold and one of the tubular outlet fittings.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow passageways of the middle panels are divided into a first portion along the first surface of the middle panel, and a second portion along the second surface of the middle panel, wherein the inlet opening is in direct flow communication with the first portion, and the outlet opening is in direct flow communication with the second portion;
wherein the first and second portions of the fluid flow passageway are separated from one another by a partition plate, and wherein the partition plate includes an opening to permit fluid flow between the first and second portions of the fluid flow passageway.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein each of the fluid-carrying panels further comprises a heat sink along each of its first and second surfaces, wherein the heat sink comprises a flat plate which is optionally subjected to a flattening operation after assembly of the fluid-carrying panels.

5. The A heat exchanger for cooling a plurality of heat-generating components, each having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first and second surfaces of each said heat-generating component are substantially flat and planar, and wherein the heat-generating components are arranged in spaced, parallel relation to one another, with spaces being provided between adjacent pairs of said heat-generating components;
the heat exchanger comprising at least three flat, fluid-carrying panels, including a first end panel, a second end panel, and at least one middle panel, wherein each said fluid-carrying panel has a first surface, an opposed second surface, and an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a fluid-flow passageway in flow communication with the inlet and outlet openings;
wherein each of the at least one middle panels is adapted to be at least partially received in one of said spaces with its first surface in thermal contact with the first or second surface of one said heat-generating component, and with its second surface in thermal contact with the first or second surface of another said heat-generating component;
wherein each of the first end panel and the second end panel is adapted to be in thermal contact with the first or second surface of an endmost one of said heat-generating components;
wherein each of the fluid-carrying panels has an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting, and wherein the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold are both provided in a manifold structure, comprising:

a first portion including a plurality of apertures adapted to sealingly receive ends of the inlet and outlet fittings of the fluid-carrying panels, the first portion comprising one or more plates;
a second portion including the inlet and outlet manifolds, an inlet port in flow communication with the inlet manifold, an outlet port in flow communication with the outlet manifold, and holes providing communication between the manifolds and the apertures in the top portion, the second portion comprising one or more plates;
wherein the first and second portions are sealingly joined together to form the manifold structure.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 5 , wherein the first portion comprises a top plate and the second portion comprises at least a middle plate and a bottom plate;
wherein the top plate comprises said plurality of apertures adapted to sealingly receive the ends of the inlet and outlet fittings, wherein said apertures extend through the top plate and are arranged in pairs; and
wherein the inlet and outlet fittings are tubular, and wherein the apertures in the top plate are each provided with an annular recess adapted to receive a resilient sealing element.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 6 , wherein the second portion further comprises a fitting plate, and wherein:
(a) the bottom plate includes a first longitudinal slot, a second longitudinal slot, and a third slot, each of which extends through the bottom plate, wherein the first and second longitudinal slots extending along opposite sides of the bottom plate, and the third slot extends generally diagonally across the bottom plate, the third slot having a central portion located between the first and second longitudinal slots, and having first and second end portions aligned longitudinally with the respective first and second longitudinal slots;
(b) the middle plate having a plurality of openings extending through the middle plate and arranged in pairs, each of the openings in the middle plate being positioned to align with one of the apertures in the top plate, and each of the openings in the middle plate being aligned with one of the first longitudinal slot, the second longitudinal slot, and one of the end portions of the third slot of the bottom plate, wherein the middle plate covers and seals an open top of the third slot, other than the end portions which are aligned with the openings in the middle plate;
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Assignees

• Dana Canada Corp

Inventors

• Machler Meinrad K A
• Shore Colin A

Classifications

• H05K7/20927

  Liquid coolant without phase change · CPC title

• H10W40/611

  Bolts or screws · CPC title

• H10W40/237

  attached to additional arrangements for cooling · CPC title

• H10W40/60

  Securing means for detachable heating or cooling arrangements, e.g. clamps · CPC title

• H10W40/47

  by flowing liquids, e.g. forced water cooling · CPC title