Cooling module with leak detector and related systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023013003-A1
Application number	US-202217952101-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2022
Priority date	Apr 25, 2019
Publication date	Jan 19, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

In some respects, concepts disclosed herein generally concern systems, methods and components to detect a presence of a liquid externally of a desired primary flow path through a segment of a fluid circuit, e.g., throughout a cooling loop. Some disclosed concepts pertain to systems, methods, and components to direct seepage or leakage of a liquid coolant toward a lead-detection sensor. As but one example, some disclosed liquid-cooled heat exchangers incorporate a leak-detection sensor, which, in turn, can couple with a computing environment that monitors for detected leaks, and, responsive to an indication of a detected leak, invokes a task to control or to mitigate the detected leak.

First claim

We currently claim:

1 . A liquid-cooled heat exchanger configured to cool a heat-dissipation component by transferring heat dissipated by the heat-dissipation component to a liquid coolant in the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising:
a heat sink having a first major surface defining a region configured to be placed into thermal contact with a corresponding surface of a heat-dissipation component, wherein such thermal contact conductively transfers heat from the heat-dissipation component to the heat sink, wherein the heat sink has a second major surface positioned opposite the first major surface; a housing assembly coupled with the heat sink, defining an internal passageway configured to direct a flow of liquid coolant over the second major surface of the heat sink, wherein such flow of liquid coolant convectively transfers heat from the heat sink to the liquid coolant; a peripheral channel extending at least partially around the region of the first major surface configured to be placed into thermal contact with the heat-dissipation component; and a liquid-detection sensor positioned in the peripheral channel.

2 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid-detection sensor extends at least partially around the region of the first major surface of the heat sink.

3 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the heat sink defines the channel.

4 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the housing defines the channel.

5 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the heat sink defines a portion of the channel and the housing defines a portion of the channel.

6 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein each of the housing and the second major surface of the heat sink has corresponding peripheral region, wherein the peripheral region of the housing and the peripheral region of the second major surface face each other in an opposed relationship, defining an interface between the housing and the heat sink, wherein the interface defines an interstitial gap extending toward the liquid-detection sensor positioned in the peripheral channel.

7 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises two members coupled together, defining an interface between the two members, wherein one or both of the members so defines a corresponding recess from the interface as to define an interface channel extending along the interface.

8 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further comprising an inlet to the liquid-cooled heat exchanger and an outlet from liquid-cooled heat exchanger, wherein the flow path extends through the liquid-cooled heat exchanger and from the inlet to the outlet.

9 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 8 , wherein the inlet comprises a coupler configured to sealably couple with a liquid conduit, and wherein the coupler defines a lumen fluidly coupled with the flow path.

10 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 9 , wherein the coupler extends into the housing and an interstitial region between the coupler and the housing fluidly couples, directly or indirectly, with the peripheral channel.

11 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 8 , wherein the outlet comprises a coupler configured to sealably couple with a conduit for liquid, and wherein the coupler defines a lumen fluidly coupled with the flow path.

12 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein the coupler extends into the housing and an interstitial region between the coupler and the housing fluidly couples, directly or indirectly, with the peripheral channel.

13 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the flow path is a primary flow path for the liquid coolant, wherein the liquid-cooled heat exchanger defines one or more interstitial flow paths between adjacent regions, wherein at least one of the interstitial flow paths fluidly couples with the channel.

14 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an assembly of at least two members, wherein the assembly of two members defines an interstitial region positioned between the members and the interstitial region fluidly couples with the peripheral channel.

15 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the channel defines a peripherally extending, open face, and wherein the heat-exchange module further comprises a cover so overlying the open face as to enclose the peripheral channel.

16 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 15 , wherein the cover is substantially planar and defines opposed first and second major surfaces, wherein the first major surface of the cover is positioned in an opposed relationship with the first major surface of the heat sink and extends across the peripheral channel.

17 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 16 , wherein the cover defines an aperture extending around the region of first major surface configured to be placed into thermal contact with the heat-dissipation component.

18 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 15 , wherein the liquid-cooled heat exchanger defines an outer peripheral wall extending in a transverse direction relative to a plane defined by the first major surface of the heat sink, wherein the outer peripheral wall defines a corresponding outer surface, wherein the liquid-cooled heat exchanger further defines a secondary channel extending from the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall to the peripherally extending channel.

19 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 18 , wherein an electrical conductor associated with the liquid-detection sensor extends through the secondary channel.

20 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 19 , further comprising a grommet positioned within the secondary channel, wherein the electrical conductor extends from secondary channel, through the grommet, and externally of the liquid-cooled heat exchanger.

21 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 20 , further comprising an electrical connector coupled with the electrical conductor, wherein the electrical connector is configured to matingly engage with a correspondingly configured electrical connector coupled with a computing environment.

22 . The liquid-cooled heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further comprising an electrical circuit configured to output an electrical signal responsive to a detected presence of liquid by the liquid-detection sensor.

23 . A cooling system for a computer system, the cooling system comprising:
a liquid-cooled heat exchanger configured to cool a heat-dissipation component by transferring heat dissipated by the heat-dissipation component to a liquid coolant in a primary flow path of the heat exchanger; a liquid-detection sensor coupled with the liquid-cooled heat exchanger and so positioned relative to the primary flow path as to be exposed to a leak of the liquid coolant from the primary flow path.

24 . The cooling system according to claim 23 , wherein the liquid-cooled heat exchanger comprises at least two members defining an interface region therebetween, wherein the primary flow path extends adjacent the interface region, and wherein the liquid-detection sensor extends adjacent the interface re

Assignees

• Coolit Systems Inc

Inventors

• Holden Mike
• Mostafavi Yazdi Seyed Kamaleddin
• Kubik Randy

Classifications

• H05K7/20509

  Multiple-component heat spreaders; Multi-component heat-conducting support plates; Multi-component non-closed heat-conducting structures · CPC title

• H05K7/20272

  Accessories for moving fluid, for expanding fluid, for connecting fluid conduits, for distributing fluid, for removing gas or for preventing leakage, e.g. pumps, tanks or manifolds · CPC title

• G01M3/16

  using electric detection means ({G01M3/045,} G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/20254

  Cold plates transferring heat from heat source to coolant · CPC title

• F28F2265/16

  for preventing leakage · CPC title