JP2002261480A - Cooler and cooling method of heating component in computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooler and a cooling method of heating components, e.g. a central processing unit or integrated circuits, in a computer in which cooling efficiency is enhanced by eliminating the temperature layer of refrigerant in a cooling pipe. SOLUTION: The cooler comprises a cold plate 10 for cooling the heating components in a computer by touching them, and a cooling pipe 20 penetrating the cold plate 10 and forming a channel for circulating refrigerant wherein the heating components are cooled with refrigerant through the cold plate 10. When two plates 12A and 12B each provided with grooves 12a having one or more than one protrusion 14 are pressed under a state where the cooling pipe 20 is fitted in the grooves 12a and, at the same time, one or more than one constricted part 22 is formed by further tightening the cooling pipe 20 in the grooves 12a, a cooler 50 provided with the constricted part 22 can be manufactured easily while reducing the manufacturing cost.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooler for cooling a heat-generating component such as a central processing unit or an integrated circuit of a computer, and a method for cooling the heat-generating component.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, the configuration of a business computer 100 used for an Internet server or the like will be described.
This will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the computer 100. FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which one unit 110 constituting the computer 100 is taken out. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of one unit 110.

[0003] The business computer 100 used for the Internet server or the like is usually constructed by stacking several to several tens of units 110 according to the design capacity as shown in FIG. In addition, each unit 1
As shown in FIG. 4, reference numeral 10 denotes a heat generating component 114 of the computer 100 such as a central processing unit or an integrated circuit of the computer 100, and a cooling device 200 for the heat generating component 114.
Is stored in the metal case 112.

[0004] If the heat-generating components 114 of the business computer 100, such as the central processing unit and the integrated circuit, are not cooled, the temperature may rise to, for example, about 150 ° C, and may not operate normally. So, next,
Cooling device 20 for heat-generating component 114 of computer 100
0 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG.
Computer 1 housed in one unit 110
It is a top view which shows the cooling device 200 of 00. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of a cooler 210 which constitutes a part of the cooling device 200. FIG. 6 (a) is a front view, and FIG. 6 (b) is a vertical sectional side view taken along line BB of FIG. It is.

[0005] As shown in FIG.
The cooling device 200 of FIG. 1 includes a cold plate 120 and a cooling pipe 1 for circulating a refrigerant to the cold plate 120.
30, a cooler 210 composed of a connector 140 for communicating each cooling pipe 130 with each other, and a cooling pipe 1
A pump 150 for forcibly circulating the refrigerant in the coolant 30, a refrigerant tank 130 for injecting the refrigerant into the cooling pipe 130 as needed, and a radiator 170 for circulating the refrigerant in the cooling pipe 130 and air-cooling the refrigerant, and And a fan (cross flow fan) 180 for sending cooling air to the radiator 170. Although water is mainly used as the refrigerant of the cooling device 200 shown in FIG. 5, another refrigerant (brine) such as pure water or an antifreeze such as ethylene glycol may be used in some cases.

As described above, the conventional cooler 210 constituting a part of the cooling device 200 for the heat-generating component 114 includes the cold plate 120 and the cooling pipe 13 through which the refrigerant circulates.
0, a connector 140 for connecting each cooling pipe 130 to each other. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the cold plate 120 is composed of two plates 122A and 122B having substantially the same shape and a plate thickness in which a groove 120a for engaging the tubular cooling pipe 130 is formed. 130 is fixed in the groove 120a. Therefore, the cooling pipe 130 penetrates the center plane of the cold plate 120. Usually, the cold plate 12
Numeral 0 is aluminum for ease of processing, light weight, and thermal conductivity, and cooling pipe 130 is made of copper for strength.

On the other hand, although not shown in the drawings, the heat-generating components 114 such as the central processing unit and the integrated circuit are mounted on a printed circuit board via a socket. The refrigerant is cooled by directly contacting the cold plate 120 and circulating the refrigerant in the cooling pipe 130 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.

The heat generating component 1 of the computer 100
The refrigerant that has absorbed the heat generated from the heat sink 14 through the cold plate 120 circulates through the cooling pipe 130, is cooled by the fan 180 by the radiator 170, and circulates again through the cooling pipe 130 to cool the heat generating component 114. Is done. As a result, the heat-generating component 114 is always cooled to a temperature range in which it operates normally.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a conventional cooler 210 includes a plurality (three in the illustrated case) of cold plates 120. Here, the cold plate 12
0 is a plurality of heat generating components 1 in the cooler 210.
The space between the cold plates 120 is set according to the mounting position of the heat generating component 114 in order to cool the heat generating component 114.

[0010]

In the above-described cooler of the cooling device for the heat-generating components of the computer, the refrigerant circulating in the cooling pipe travels in parallel with the inner peripheral wall of the cooling pipe. The refrigerant near the inner peripheral wall moves along the vicinity of the inner peripheral wall, and the refrigerant traveling near the center of the cooling pipe travels near the center.

As a result, the temperature of the refrigerant near the inner peripheral wall of the cooling pipe, which easily absorbs the heat of the heat-generating component via the cold plate, becomes higher than the temperature of the refrigerant near the central portion, and the utilization efficiency of the refrigerant is reduced. Efficiency decreases. In addition, there is not much convection between the refrigerant near the center and the refrigerant at the periphery,
Different temperature layers occur at the periphery and the center. That is, the cooling device provided with the conventional cooler using the tubular cooling pipe has a problem that the cooling efficiency is reduced due to the temperature layer of the refrigerant.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-5755, spiral grooves or fins are provided on the inner peripheral wall surface of the cooling pipe in the direction of travel of the refrigerant to promote mixing of the flow of the refrigerant. It is designed to do this.

However, even if such a plurality of grooves and fins are provided on the inner peripheral wall surface of the cooling pipe, the refrigerant is effective when the refrigerant is in a gas-liquid two-phase flow state, but the refrigerant is a liquid such as water. Has been found to be almost ineffective in the case of a single phase.

The present invention solves the above problems (problems),
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooler that eliminates a temperature layer of a refrigerant in a cooling pipe and has improved cooling efficiency when cooling a heat-generating component such as a central processing unit or an integrated circuit of a computer, and a method of cooling the same.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer according to the present invention is arranged such that the heat-generating component is brought into contact with the heat-generating component of the computer. A cold plate to cool,
A cooling pipe for circulating a coolant through the cold plate, and a cooler for a heating component of a computer comprising a coolant flow path for cooling the heating component with the coolant via the cold plate; Is configured to form one or more narrow portions in the flow path near the cold plate that cause turbulence in the flow of the refrigerant in the cold plate.

According to this structure, when the refrigerant circulating in the cooling pipe passes through the narrow portion formed in the flow path, a turbulent flow is generated. As a result, the refrigerant is stirred, and the peripheral portion and the central portion are stirred. This eliminates the temperature layer of the refrigerant, and can provide a cooler with improved cooling efficiency when cooling the heat-generating components. Further, by providing the narrow portion in the vicinity of the refrigerant flowing into the cold plate, turbulence occurs in the cold plate, and the cooling efficiency of the heat-generating component is further improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer, comprising: a cold plate that contacts the heat-generating component of the computer to cool the heat-generating component; A cooling pipe for a computer, comprising: a cooling pipe configured to cool the heat-generating component with the refrigerant via the cold plate. It is configured to form one or more constrictions where turbulence is created.

Thus, specifically, in the cooling pipe,
It is preferable to form a narrow portion that causes turbulence in the refrigerant.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer. The cooler has a coolant passage formed therein, and a cold plate for cooling the heat-generating component by contacting the heat-generating component of the computer. A cooling pipe for circulating through the cold plate, and a cooler for a heat generating component of a computer configured to cool the heat generating component with the refrigerant through the cold plate. It is configured to form one or more narrow portions that cause turbulence.

As described above, when a cold plate having a refrigerant flow path formed therein is used, a narrow portion that generates turbulent flow in the refrigerant may be formed in this flow path.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer, comprising: a cold plate which is in contact with the heat-generating component of the computer to cool the heat-generating component; A cooling pipe for a heat-generating component of a computer, comprising: a cooling pipe for cooling the heat-generating component with the refrigerant via the cold plate. It is configured to form one or two or more narrow portions that generate turbulence in the flow.

As described above, the connector may be formed with a narrow portion that causes a turbulent flow in the refrigerant.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer, wherein the cold plate is provided with two or more grooves formed with one or more projections into which the cooling pipe through which the refrigerant circulates is fitted. In the state where the cooling pipe is mounted in the groove, the two plates are pressed, and at the same time, the cooling pipe is crimped with the groove, and one or more narrow portions are formed in the cooling pipe. It was configured to form.

According to this structure, a cooler having a narrow portion can be easily manufactured, and the manufacturing cost of the cooler can be reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer, wherein a contact surface between the cold plate and the cooling pipe is coated with, for example, a heat conductive agent to improve heat conduction. Was adopted.

With this configuration, it is possible to provide a cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer with further improved cooling efficiency.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cooling a heat-generating component of a computer, comprising using the cooler for the heat-generating component of the computer according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein a turbulent flow And the cooling efficiency of the heat generating component is improved.

With this arrangement, when the refrigerant circulating in the cooling pipe passes through the narrow portion formed in the flow path, a turbulent flow is generated. As a result, the refrigerant is stirred, and the peripheral portion and the central portion are mixed. This eliminates the temperature layer of the refrigerant, thereby providing a cooling method with improved cooling efficiency when cooling the heat-generating components.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a cooler 50 for a heat-generating component of a computer according to the present invention.
FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of a main part of one embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 2B is a vertical sectional side view taken along the line A-A.

The cooler (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as a “cooler”) 50 for the heat-generating component of the computer according to the present embodiment is similar to the conventional cooler 210 (see FIG. 6). , The cooling pipe 20, although not shown in FIG. 1, is constituted by a connector communicating with the cooling pipe 20.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the cold plate 10 has grooves 12a for engaging cooling pipes 20 formed in two aluminum plates 12A and 12B, as shown in FIG. Are formed. On the other hand, in the cold plate 10 used in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, one or a plurality of (two in the illustrated) projections 14 are provided in the groove 12a.
Is formed in the vicinity of the left end.

The heat-generating component cooler 50 of the computer according to the present embodiment is shown with the cooling pipe 20 mounted in the groove 12a formed in the two plates 12A and 12B for engaging the cooling pipe 20. The plates 12A and 12B are pressed by a pressing machine that does not
It is formed by caulking to a. When the cooler 50 is formed in this manner, the cooling pipe 20 is apparently crushed by the protrusions 14 formed in the grooves 12 a of the cold plate 10, and forms the narrow portions 22 equal to the number of the protrusions 14 into the refrigerant. Is formed in the vicinity of flowing into the cold plate 10.

The cooling pipe 20 is provided with such a narrow portion 22.
Is formed, when the heat generating component 114 (see FIG. 4) of the computer is cooled, the refrigerant circulating in the cooling pipe 20 passes through the narrow portion 22 as shown in FIG. Turbulence is generated inside the cold plate 10,
As a result, the refrigerant is agitated, the temperature layer of the refrigerant at the peripheral edge portion and the central portion is eliminated, and the cooling efficiency when cooling the heat generating component 114 can be improved.

Further, the cooler 50 of the heat-generating component of the computer according to the present embodiment has two plates 12A and 12B.
The cooling pipe 20 is mounted in the groove 12a for engaging the cooling pipe 20 formed in the above, and the cooling pipe 20 is formed by caulking the groove 12a. That is, the two plates 12A and 12B
If the protrusions 14 are provided in advance in the grooves 12a, the production can be performed in the same process as that of the conventional cooler 210, so that an increase in production cost can be suppressed.

Although not shown in the drawings, if a heat conductive agent such as grease is applied to the contact surface between the cold plate and the cooling pipe, even if a gap is formed when a narrow portion is formed, heat is not applied. The conduction does not decrease and the cooling efficiency can be improved. Although only one cold plate is shown in FIG. 1, it is needless to say that any number of cold plates can be used.

The cooler for the heat-generating component of the computer according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified. A feature of the present invention is that one or two or more narrow portions are formed in a flow path of a refrigerant to cause a turbulent flow in a circulating refrigerant, thereby eliminating a temperature layer and increasing cooling efficiency. Therefore, the location where the narrow portion is formed is not necessarily limited to the cooling pipe, but may be provided, for example, on a cold plate or a connector. Further, the number and shape of the narrow portions are not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0037]

The cooler for the heat-generating component and the method for cooling the heat-generating component of the computer according to the present invention have the following excellent effects because they are configured as described above. (1) The cooler for the heat-generating component of the computer of the present invention
As described in claim 1, there is provided a cold plate for cooling the heat-generating component by contacting the heat-generating component of the computer, and a cooling pipe for circulating a refrigerant through the cold plate, and the heat-generating component is formed by the refrigerant via the cold plate. In a cooler of a heat-generating component of a computer comprising a flow path of a refrigerant for cooling the refrigerant, the flow of the refrigerant causes a turbulent flow in the cold plate in a flow path near the flow of the refrigerant into the cold plate. When configured to form one or more narrow portions, turbulence occurs when the refrigerant circulating in the cooling pipe passes through the narrow portion formed in the flow path, and as a result, the refrigerant is stirred. In addition, the temperature layer of the refrigerant at the peripheral portion and the central portion is eliminated, and a cooler with improved cooling efficiency when cooling the heat-generating components can be provided. (2) Further, by providing the narrow portion in the vicinity where the refrigerant flows into the cold plate, turbulence occurs in the cold plate, and the cooling efficiency of the heat-generating component is further improved.

(3) As described in claim 2, specifically, a cold plate that contacts a heat-generating component of a computer to cool the heat-generating component, and a flow plate that penetrates the cold plate and circulates a refrigerant. The cooling pipe of the computer has a cooling pipe forming a passage, and the cooling element cools the heating element with the refrigerant through the cold plate.In the cooling pipe, a turbulent flow of the refrigerant flows in the cold plate. It may be arranged to form one or more constrictions to be created.

(4) As described in the third aspect, a cold plate which has a coolant passage formed therein and which is in contact with a heat-generating component of a computer to cool the heat-generating component; A cooling pipe that circulates through the cold plate, wherein the cooler for the heat generating component of the computer is configured to cool the heat generating component with the refrigerant via the cold plate. You may comprise so that two or more narrow parts may be formed.

(5) As described in claim 4, a cold plate for contacting a heat-generating component of a computer to cool the heat-generating component, and a plurality of cooling pipes inserted into the cold plate and forming a circulation path of a refrigerant. And a connector for communicating between the cooling pipes, and a heat generating component cooler for a computer in which the heat generating component is cooled by a refrigerant via a cold plate. You may comprise so that one or two or more narrow parts may be formed.

(6) As described in claim 5, the cold plate is composed of two plates provided with a groove formed with one or more projections into which a cooling pipe through which the refrigerant circulates fits. When two plates are pressed while the cooling pipe is mounted in the groove, and at the same time, the cooling pipe is swaged with the groove to form one or more narrow portions in the cooling pipe, A cooler having a narrow portion can be manufactured, and the manufacturing cost of the cooler can be reduced.

(7) As described in claim 6, when the contact surface between the cold plate and the cooling pipe has a structure in which, for example, a heat conductive agent is applied and heat conduction is improved,
A cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer with further improved cooling efficiency can be provided.

(8) According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cooling a heat-generating component of a computer, comprising using the cooler for the heat-generating component of the computer according to any one of the first to sixth aspects. When turbulence is generated in the refrigerant in the flow path to improve the cooling efficiency of the heat-generating components, the turbulence is generated when the refrigerant circulating in the cooling pipe passes through a narrow portion formed in the flow path. As a result, the refrigerant is stirred, and the temperature layer of the refrigerant at the peripheral portion and the central portion is eliminated, so that a cooling method with improved cooling efficiency when cooling the heat generating component can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a main part of a cooler according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a front view, and FIG. 1 (b) is a vertical sectional side view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 (a).

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the computer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of one unit.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of one unit.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a cooling device of a computer housed in one unit.

6 is an enlarged view of a main part of a conventional cooler, wherein FIG. 6 (a) is a front view, and FIG. 6 (b) is a vertical sectional side view taken along line BB of FIG. 6 (a).

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Cold plate 12A, 12B: Plate 12a: Groove 14: Projection 20: Cooling pipe 22: Narrow part 50: Cooler 100: Computer 140: Connector

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takeo Komatsubara 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuki Kakinuma 2-5-2 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Naoki Otsuka 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka F-term in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 5E322 AA02 AA05 AA11 BA05 BC05 DA04 DB08 FA04

Claims (7)

[Claims] A cold plate for cooling a heat-generating component by contacting the heat-generating component of a computer, and a cooling pipe for circulating a refrigerant through the cold plate, wherein the heat-generating component is cooled by the refrigerant via the cold plate. In the cooler of the heat-generating component of the computer, the turbulence is generated in the flow of the refrigerant in the cold plate in a flow path near the flow of the refrigerant into the cold plate. A cooler for a heat-generating part of a computer, wherein one or more narrow portions are formed. 2. A cold plate that contacts a heat-generating component of a computer to cool the heat-generating component, and a cooling pipe that penetrates the cold plate and forms a flow path through which a refrigerant circulates. In a cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer, wherein the heat-generating component is cooled by the refrigerant, the cooling pipe has one or more narrow portions where a turbulent flow is generated in a flow of the refrigerant in the cold plate. A cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer, wherein the cooler is formed. 3. A cold plate, wherein a coolant flow path is formed therein and which is in contact with a heat-generating component of a computer to cool the heat-generating component, and a cooling pipe for circulating the coolant through the cold plate. In a cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer, wherein the heat-generating component is cooled by the refrigerant via a cold plate, one or more narrow portions that generate turbulence in the flow of the refrigerant flowing inside the cold plate are provided. A cooler for a heat-generating part of a computer, wherein the cooler is formed. 4. A cold plate that contacts a heat-generating component of a computer to cool the heat-generating component, a plurality of cooling pipes inserted into the cold plate to form a refrigerant circulation path, and a connector that allows communication between the cooling pipes. A cooling device for a heat-generating component of a computer, wherein the heat-generating component is cooled by the refrigerant via the cold plate, wherein a turbulent flow is generated in the flow of the refrigerant in the connector.
Alternatively, a cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer, wherein at least two narrow portions are formed. 5. The cold plate comprises two plates provided with a groove formed with one or more projections into which the cooling pipe through which the refrigerant circulates fits, and the cooling pipe is mounted in the groove. 3. The cooling pipe according to claim 2, wherein the two plates are pressed, and at the same time, the cooling pipe is swaged with the groove to form one or more narrow portions in the cooling pipe. A cooler for a heat-generating component of a computer according to claim 1. 6. The contact surface according to claim 1, wherein a contact surface between the cold plate and the cooling pipe is coated with, for example, a heat conducting agent to improve heat conduction. A cooler for the heating components of the computer. 7. A cooling device for a heat-generating component of a computer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a turbulent flow is generated in the refrigerant in a flow path of the refrigerant, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the heat-generating component. A method for cooling a heat-generating component of a computer, characterized in that: