JP2005045031A - Cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an economical and reliable cooling device having an abundance of versatility and expandability. <P>SOLUTION: The cooling device 100 comprises a heat radiating part 110 having a heat radiating structure for cooling a refrigerant, a heat abosorbing part 120 for absorbing heat from an object to be cooled, a refrigerant circulation path 130 in which the refrigerant circulates from the heat radiating part to the heat absorbing part, then back to the heat radiating part, and a pump 140 for circulating the refrigerant. The heat radiating part includes a refrigerant container 110A comprising a refrigerant path having a flow cross section area larger than that of the refrigerant circulation path, and the heat radiating structure. The pump is connected to the refrigerant container and the refrigerant path is directly communicated with a pump chamber of the pump. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooling device, and more particularly to a configuration of a cooling device suitable as a cooling device built in a small computer device such as a personal computer or a portable electronic device.

  In general, an air cooling fan is used as a cooling device for cooling a CPU (central processing unit) of a personal computer. However, the amount of heat generated in a CPU or the like has increased rapidly with the recent increase in the frequency of clocks. In order to avoid an increase in power consumption of the air-cooling fan and an increase in noise, a water-cooling type cooling device is one. Department has begun to be used.

As a conventional water-cooled cooling device, a heat receiving member (heat absorbing portion) in thermal contact with a semiconductor element, a heat radiating member (heat radiating portion) having a radiator structure, and a liquid medium ( A device in which a liquid driving means (pump) for driving (water) and a reservoir tank for storing a liquid medium are connected by a tube is known (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).
JP 2003-78271 A

  However, in the above-described conventional cooling device, there are many tube connection parts, and the number and types of parts are large, so that the assembly work becomes complicated and the risk of water leakage is high, so that the economy and reliability are lacking. There is a problem.

  In addition, the cooling device described above is composed of dedicated parts suitable for mounted equipment such as a notebook personal computer, so it lacks versatility and expandability, has large restrictions on the dimensions of the mounting part, and has a waste heat capacity. If it increases, there is a problem that it is difficult to cope with it, for example, it is necessary to redesign the entire apparatus.

  Therefore, in view of such a situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device that is highly economical and reliable. Another object is to realize a cooling device rich in versatility and expandability.

  The cooling device of the present invention includes a heat dissipating part having a heat dissipating structure for cooling the refrigerant, a heat absorbing part that takes heat away from the object to be cooled, a refrigerant circulation path that returns from the heat dissipating part to the heat dissipating part through the heat absorbing part, In the cooling device having a pump for circulating the refrigerant, the heat radiating portion includes a refrigerant passage having a flow cross-sectional area larger than a flow cross-sectional area of the refrigerant circulation path and a refrigerant container having the heat radiating structure, and the pump Is connected to the refrigerant container, and the refrigerant passage is in direct communication with the pump chamber of the pump.

  According to this invention, by making the flow cross-sectional area of the refrigerant container provided in the heat radiating section larger than that of the refrigerant circulation path, the refrigerant container of the heat radiating section can have the same function as the reservoir tank. Since the pump is connected to the refrigerant container and the refrigerant passage is in direct communication with the pump chamber, the pump and the heat radiating portion can be integrated in a compact manner. As a result, in the cooling device of the present invention, the conventional heat radiating section, the pump and the reservoir tank can be integrally formed, and the number of tube connecting portions is reduced, so that the economy and reliability can be improved. Further, as components other than the integrated heat radiating section and the pump, a heat absorbing section that is in thermal contact with the object to be cooled is provided, and if necessary, a piping member such as a tube for configuring a refrigerant circulation path is provided. Therefore, restrictions on the installation location are reduced, and versatility can be improved. Furthermore, since the refrigerant passage has a larger flow cross-sectional area than the refrigerant circulation path, the refrigerant passage and the pump chamber can be directly communicated with each other through a large flow cross-sectional area. Since it can be integrated functionally with a large flow cross-sectional area, it is possible to efficiently circulate the refrigerant.

  Note that the refrigerant passage is in direct communication with the pump chamber means that the refrigerant passage and the pump chamber do not directly pass through a flow path in which the flow passage area of the refrigerant passage is substantially reduced, such as a tube or other piping. Say that they communicate with each other. In addition, the flow cross-sectional area of the refrigerant passage is preferably 5 times or more, and particularly preferably 10 times or more the flow cross-sectional area of the refrigerant circulation path. Considering the capacity of the cooling device, it is preferably within a range of 5 to 50 times in a normal use mode. If this range is exceeded, the heat dissipation efficiency will decrease and the cooling performance will deteriorate, and if the amount of heat dissipation is ensured, the heat dissipation part will be enlarged. On the other hand, if the temperature is below the above range, the heat dissipation efficiency is good, but the amount of refrigerant stored decreases, making it difficult to perform the function as a reservoir tank. From this point of view, the ratio of the flow cross-sectional area is preferably about 10 to 35 times.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that at least a part of the pump is disposed inside the refrigerant passage. By disposing at least a part of the pump inside the refrigerant passage, in particular, a pump action part such as an impeller and a screw, the integrity of the heat radiating part and the pump can be further increased, and the whole can be configured more compactly. In this case, since the refrigerant passage has a refrigerant cross-sectional area larger than that of the refrigerant circulation path, a part of the pump structure can be accommodated without difficulty.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the refrigerant container includes an integral unit container including the heat dissipation structure and the refrigerant passage. According to this, since the heat dissipation structure and the refrigerant passage are integrally configured, the number of parts can be reduced and problems such as refrigerant leakage can be reduced, thereby further improving the economy and reliability. Can do.

  In this invention, it is preferable that the said refrigerant | coolant container is comprised by connecting the said several unit container provided with the said thermal radiation structure and the said refrigerant | coolant channel | path. According to this, since the refrigerant container is configured by connecting the unit containers, the size of the refrigerant container can be increased / decreased according to the waste heat capacity and the installation location, so that versatility and expandability can be improved. .

  In this invention, it is preferable that the said refrigerant | coolant container is arrange | positioned in parallel with the aspect in which the said some unit container has a clearance gap mutually. According to this, a plurality of unit containers can be arranged in a compact manner, and at the same time, the heat dissipation performance of each unit container can be ensured by having a gap therebetween. Here, a plurality of unit containers being arranged in parallel means that the refrigerant passages are arranged in parallel, that is, arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction in which the refrigerant passages extend. In this case, it is preferable that the refrigerant passage is formed in a meandering manner by the connection between the unit containers. Here, in each unit container, it is preferable that the refrigerant passage is linearly configured.

  In the present invention, the unit container is preferably formed by extrusion molding or pultrusion molding in the extending direction of the refrigerant passage. According to this, since even a relatively complicated cross-sectional structure can be easily formed, a heat dissipation structure having good heat dissipation can be integrally formed with the refrigerant passage. Moreover, since an integrated unit container provided with a heat dissipation structure and a refrigerant passage can be configured, the number of parts can be reduced and refrigerant leakage can be prevented, so that the economy and reliability can be improved. The unit container of the present invention is preferably composed of a material having good thermal conductivity such as aluminum, copper, or an alloy mainly composed of them.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the refrigerant container is provided with an opening configured to be able to open the refrigerant passage to the outside. According to this, the refrigerant container can be replenished through the opening provided in the refrigerant container, and the refrigerant container can be moved in and out according to the increase or decrease of the internal pressure of the refrigerant container. It can be configured to have the same function as the reservoir tank.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described together with illustrated examples. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the overall configuration of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cooling unit of the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a pump structure of the cooling unit, and FIG. 4 is the cooling unit. FIG. 5 is a front view (a) and a longitudinal front sectional view (b) of the cooling unit.

  Although the embodiment described below relates to a cooling device configured inside a personal computer, the present invention is not limited to such a mode, and a cooling action using a refrigerant for various applications. The apparatus which makes | forms is included widely. However, the present invention is particularly effective when used for various small electronic devices including portable electronic devices such as desktop personal computers, portable information terminals, projectors, and portable medical devices such as portable drug administration devices. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling device 100 of the present embodiment includes a heat dissipating unit (radiator) 110 that draws heat from a refrigerant (not shown) and dissipates heat, and a heat absorbing unit (cooling jacket) 120 that cools a cooling target (not shown) with the refrigerant. And a refrigerant circulation path (pipe portion) 130 formed between the heat radiation part 110 and the heat absorption part 120, and a pump 140 for circulating the refrigerant in the heat radiation part 110, the heat absorption part 120 and the refrigerant circulation path 130. And have. Examples of the refrigerant used in the present embodiment include liquids such as water and various coolants. However, the refrigerant may be a gas, or may be a liquid by heat dissipation and a gas by heat absorption.

  The heat dissipating unit 110 includes a refrigerant container 110A that stores the refrigerant. The refrigerant container 110 </ b> A includes a plurality of unit containers 111 and a connecting member 112 that connects the unit containers 111. A terminal member 113 is connected to the end of the unit container 111 disposed at one end of the plurality of unit containers 111 that is not connected to the other unit container 111, and the other end of the unit container 111 is connected to the other end. A pump 140 is connected to the end of the arranged unit container 111.

  Each unit container 111 is provided with a refrigerant passage 111a penetrating in the longitudinal direction of the unit container as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 (b) and FIG. 5 (b). In addition, a large number of fins 111 b constituting the heat dissipation structure are formed on the outer surface of each unit container 111. The fins 111b have a small amount of protrusion on the surface (side surface in the illustrated example) in the arrangement direction of the unit containers 111, and a large amount of protrusion on the surface in the other direction (upper surface in the illustrated example).

  In each unit container 111, the refrigerant passage 111a and the heat dissipation structure having the fins 111b are integrally configured. More specifically, the refrigerant passage 111a is formed to penetrate linearly. And the unit container 111 has the structure where the cross-sectional shape cut | disconnected by the plane orthogonal to the axis line of the refrigerant path 111a does not change to the direction of the said axis line. The unit container 111 is made of a material having good thermal conductivity such as aluminum, copper, or an alloy mainly composed of these. As a manufacturing method of the unit container 111, it is possible to use a molding method such as a drawing process or an extrusion process using a die by having the above structure. It can also be formed by die casting.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of unit containers 111 are connected to form a refrigerant container 110A. However, the refrigerant container 110A can also be obtained by connecting the terminal member 113 and the pump 140 to both ends of the single unit container 111, respectively. Can be configured. In the configuration of the present embodiment, by increasing or decreasing the number of unit containers 111 constituting the refrigerant container 110A, it is possible to flexibly cope with the required waste heat capacity and the like, and to provide cooling performance according to the situation. This has the advantage that it can be made as compact as possible corresponding to the required cooling performance. The connection mode of the plurality of unit containers 111 is originally arbitrary, and may be a mode in which the refrigerant passages 111a are connected in cascade or a mode in which they are connected in parallel. Further, although the plurality of unit containers 111 may be arranged so as to be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the refrigerant passage 111a, in the present embodiment, the plurality of unit containers 111 are arranged in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the refrigerant passage 111a. Has been placed. At this time, the unit containers 111 arranged in parallel are arranged so as to have a gap therebetween. This suppresses a decrease in heat dissipation effect due to the heat dissipation structure having the fins 111b.

  The connecting member 112 is connected to the end portions of the adjacent unit containers 111 to connect the refrigerant passages 111a. Further, the terminal member 113 closes the end of the refrigerant passage 111 a of the unit container 111. The terminal member 113 has a connection port 113a and an open port 113b communicating with the refrigerant passage 111a. The connection port 113a is connected to a pipe line 132 such as a tube constituting the refrigerant return portion of the refrigerant circulation path 130. The opening 113b functions as a refrigerant replenishing port for replenishing the refrigerant in the refrigerant passage 111a or a vent opening that opens the refrigerant passage 111a to the outside. Of course, it may function as both a refrigerant replenishing port and a vent. A lid that can be opened and closed or a valve that can be opened and closed may be attached to the opening 113b as necessary. In the present embodiment, both the connection port 113 a and the opening port 113 b are opened obliquely upward in the terminal member 113.

  The pump 140 is connected to one end of the refrigerant container 110A. More specifically, the pump 140 is connected at the end of one unit container 111 so as to directly communicate with the refrigerant passage 111a. As a result, at least a part of the refrigerant passage 111a constitutes a pump chamber of the pump 140. In the present embodiment, a part of the pump 140 is disposed inside the refrigerant passage 111a, and the pump 140 is configured integrally with the refrigerant container 110A, that is, the unit container 111.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pump 140 includes a casing 141 and an end plate 142 in which a driving body 143 having an electromagnet structure or a motor structure fixed to the end plate 142, a partition wall 144, and an impeller 145 are sequentially arranged. Yes. The impeller 145 includes a magnet 145a that is driven to rotate by a rotating magnetic field generated by the driving body 143, and an impeller 145b. The impeller 145 is rotationally driven by the driving body 143, so that the pump 140 functions as a centrifugal pump. Further, the impeller 145 is connected to the screw 146 in the rotation direction, so that the screw 146 rotates together with the impeller 145. The screw 146 is not necessarily provided, but by providing the screw 146, the head of the pump 140 can be increased while maintaining compactness. The casing 141 is provided with a discharge port 147 at a portion where the impeller 145 is accommodated.

  The impeller 145 is disposed inside the pump chamber that communicates directly with the refrigerant passage 111a in the pump 140. Further, the screw 146 is disposed inside the refrigerant passage 111a. That is, at least a part of the pump action portion (corresponding to the impeller 145 and the screw 146) of the pump 140 is disposed inside the refrigerant passage 111a. When the impeller 145 and the screw 146 are rotated by the drive body 143, the screw 146 pushes the refrigerant inside the refrigerant passage 111a to the impeller 145 side. Further, the impeller 145 applies centrifugal pressure to the refrigerant, and discharges the refrigerant from the discharge port 147.

  In the present embodiment, by operating the pump 140, the refrigerant is discharged from the refrigerant container 110 </ b> A, and is sent to the heat absorbing unit 120 via the pipe 131 constituting the refrigerant delivery portion of the refrigerant circulation path 130. The heat absorbing unit 120 is in thermal contact with a cooling target (not shown) such as a semiconductor element constituting a CPU (Central Processing Unit), for example, and is subject to cooling (for example, a semiconductor element such as a CPU chip or a power transistor, Cool drive units such as motors). The refrigerant that has received heat from the object to be cooled by the heat absorption unit 120 returns to the refrigerant container 110A again via the pipe line 132 and is gradually cooled while passing through the refrigerant passage 111a inside the refrigerant container 110A.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the integrated part of the heat radiating unit 110 and the pump 140 is installed on the bay chassis 151 inside the personal computer. At this time, it is preferable that the air flow generated by a cooling fan (not shown) arranged in the front or rear of the unit container 111 in the axial direction flows through the heat radiating unit. This is because the fin 111b constituting the heat dissipation structure of the unit container 111 is formed in such a manner that it extends in the axial direction of the unit container 111 because the shaft unit container 111 has a structure in which the cross-sectional shape does not change in the axial direction as described above. Therefore, heat can be efficiently radiated through the fins 111b by forming the airflow direction in the axial direction.

  In the present embodiment, the refrigerant container 110 </ b> A of the heat radiating unit 110 is configured to have a refrigerant passage 111 a having a flow cross-sectional area larger than the flow cross-sectional area of the refrigerant circulation path 130 constituted by pipes 131 and 132 such as tubes. Has been. Thus, the refrigerant container 110A functions as a heat radiating container that radiates heat by a heat radiating structure such as the fins 111b, and also functions as a reservoir tank that stores the refrigerant. In addition, since the pump 140 is connected to the refrigerant container 110A in such a manner that the pump chamber communicates directly with the refrigerant passage 111a having such a large flow cross-sectional area, the heat radiating unit 110 and the pump 140 are integrated. Since it can be made compact and the introduction side of the pump 140 can be opened widely, the refrigerant can be sent out efficiently. Efficient delivery of the refrigerant leads to reduction in power consumption of the pump and downsizing of the pump. In this embodiment, since the screw 146 of the pump 140 is disposed inside the refrigerant passage 111a, the refrigerant passage 111a itself constitutes a pump chamber, thereby further connecting the pump 140 more compactly. Has succeeded.

  Here, the flow cross-sectional area of the refrigerant passage 111a is preferably at least 5 times the flow cross-sectional area of the refrigerant circulation path 130, and more preferably at least 10 times. In consideration of the volume of the cooling device 100, it is preferably within a range of 5 to 50 times in a normal use mode. Exceeding this range makes it difficult to dissipate heat from the refrigerant in the central portion of the refrigerant passage 111a. For example, the heat dissipating efficiency of the refrigerant container 110A deteriorates and the cooling performance deteriorates. There is a need to increase the size. Conversely, if the temperature falls below the above range, the heat dissipation efficiency of the refrigerant container 110A can be improved, but the amount of refrigerant stored decreases, making it difficult for the refrigerant container 110A to function as a reservoir tank. If it tries to ensure, it will be necessary to enlarge a thermal radiation part. From this point of view, the ratio of the flow cross-sectional area is preferably about 10 to 35 times.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the functions of the conventional heat radiating unit, the pump, and the reservoir tank are realized by the integrated heat radiating unit 110 and the pump 140. It is only necessary to configure 130. Accordingly, restrictions on installation locations in various devices are reduced, and installation can be easily performed. In addition, since the number of pipes (tubes) to be connected is reduced, the assembling work is facilitated and the risk of refrigerant leakage is also reduced, so that the economy and reliability can be improved.

  110 A of refrigerant containers are comprised so that the unit container 111 may become a structural unit, Therefore According to the calorie | heat amount which the cooling object generate | occur | produces, it is comprised so that the required number of unit containers 111 may be connected and the requirement of waste heat capacity may be satisfy | filled. can do. The unit container 111 has a linear refrigerant passage 111a, which can simplify the structure and improve the heat dissipation efficiency. Moreover, since the unit container 111 has integrally the heat dissipation structure provided with the fins 111b, the heat dissipation efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, since the unit container 111 has a shape in which the cross-sectional shape does not change in the axial direction of the linear refrigerant passage 111a including the heat dissipation structure, the unit container 111 is relatively easily manufactured by pultrusion molding or extrusion molding. be able to.

  Note that the cooling device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described illustrated examples, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the pump 140 is connected to the downstream end of the heat radiating unit, but the pump 140 may be connected to an upstream end or an intermediate part (for example, a connecting part of the unit container). Further, the refrigerant container may be configured by cascading a plurality of unit containers, or may be configured using only a single unit container. Further, a plurality of pumps may be connected to the refrigerant container. For example, a structure in which a pump is connected to a unit container is used as a unit structure, and this unit structure is connected (for example, connected in parallel) to cope with a large difference in height between the heat radiating part and the heat absorbing part.

The perspective view which shows the whole structure of the cooling device of embodiment. The disassembled perspective view of the thermal radiation part of a cooling device. The disassembled perspective view of the pump of a cooling device. Side surface sectional drawing (b) which shows a mode that it cut | disconnected along the 4b-4b line | wire of the top view (a) and FIG. 4 (a) of a thermal radiation part. Front sectional drawing (c) which shows a mode that it cut | disconnected along the 5b-5b line | wire of the front view (a) and FIG. 4 (a) of a thermal radiation part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Cooling device, 110 ... Radiation part, 110A ... Refrigerant container, 111 ... Unit container, 111a ... Refrigerant passage, 111b ... Fin, 112 ... Connection member, 113 ... Terminal member, 113a ... Connection port, 113b ... Opening port, 120 ... endothermic part, 130 ... refrigerant circulation path, 131, 132 ... pipe, 140 ... pump, 141 ... casing, 142 ... end plate, 143 ... drive body, 144 ... partition, 145 ... impeller, 146 ... screw, 151 ... bay Chassis

Claims (7)

A heat dissipating part having a heat dissipating structure for cooling the refrigerant, a heat absorbing part for removing heat from the object to be cooled, a refrigerant circulation path returning from the heat dissipating part to the heat dissipating part through the heat absorbing part, and a pump for circulating the refrigerant. Having a cooling device,
The heat dissipation portion includes a refrigerant passage having a flow cross-sectional area larger than a flow cross-sectional area of the refrigerant circulation path and a refrigerant container provided with the heat dissipation structure, the pump is connected to the refrigerant container, and the refrigerant passage is A cooling device characterized in that it is in direct communication with the pump chamber of the pump.   The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the pump is disposed inside the refrigerant passage.   The cooling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refrigerant container includes an integral unit container including the heat dissipation structure and the refrigerant passage.   The cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerant container is configured by connecting a plurality of the unit containers including the heat dissipation structure and the refrigerant passage.   The cooling device according to claim 4, wherein the refrigerant containers are arranged in parallel such that a plurality of the unit containers have a gap therebetween.   6. The cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the unit container is configured by extrusion molding or pultrusion molding in an extending direction of the refrigerant passage. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant container is provided with an opening configured to be able to open the refrigerant passage to the outside.

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