JP5609442B2 - Radiators and electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a radiator and an electronic device.

  Electronic devices such as personal computers and workstations include electronic components that generate heat, such as a central processing unit (CPU). In order to absorb the heat generated by the electronic component, the electronic device is provided with a cooling unit.

  In the cooling unit that circulates the refrigerant and absorbs the heat generated by the electronic component, the refrigerant that has absorbed the heat and has risen in temperature is cooled by the radiator. For example, a heat exchanger is known in which a single flat tube is formed in a spiral shape within a plane with a certain interval, and a refrigerant flows from the center toward the outer periphery.

JP 2005-214545 A

  When a fan provided adjacent to the core portion of the radiator sends wind to cool the refrigerant flowing through the core portion, the wind speed distribution is not uniform. However, since the conventional radiator does not consider the wind speed distribution of the wind blown into the core portion, the cooling efficiency by the fan is not necessarily high.

  Therefore, an object is to improve the cooling efficiency of the radiator as compared with the conventional art.

In order to solve the above-described problem, in a first aspect, an inflow port into which a refrigerant flows, an outflow port from which the refrigerant flows out, a branch point where the refrigerant branches, a merge point where the branched refrigerant merges, A plurality of refrigerant flow paths disposed outside the refrigerant flow path, and the adjacent refrigerant flow paths. A connecting path that connects the junction point of the outer refrigerant flow path and the branch point of the inner refrigerant flow path, and the inlet is the refrigerant flow located on the outermost side among the plurality of refrigerant flow paths A radiator having a core portion, wherein the radiator is in communication with a branch point of the path, and the outlet is in communication with a confluence point of an innermost refrigerant flow path among the plurality of refrigerant flow paths; Provided.
According to a second aspect, an electronic device including the radiator is provided.

  According to the disclosed radiator, the cooling efficiency can be improved as compared with the conventional radiator.

It is the schematic which shows an example of the internal structure of the personal computer of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the liquid cooling unit of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the radiator of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view showing an example of an axial flow fan of a 1st embodiment. It is a top view which shows an example of the core part of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the radiator of the modification 1. FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a radiator of a second modification. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a radiator according to Modification 3. It is a top view which shows an example of the core part of 2nd Embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
First, with reference to FIG. 1, a personal computer 100 which is an example of an electronic device will be described based on an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an internal structure of a personal computer 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the personal computer 100 includes an electronic component 110 and a liquid cooling unit 120.

The electronic component 110 is, for example, an LSI circuit (Large Scale Integration). For example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) chip is mounted on the electronic component 110 such as an LSI circuit. The CPU chip executes predetermined arithmetic processing in accordance with execution of an OS (Operating System) and application programs. When the CPU chip executes arithmetic processing, the electronic component 110 such as an LSI circuit generates heat.
A liquid cooling unit 120 is attached to the personal computer 100 to absorb heat generated by the electronic component 110.

  In addition to the electronic component 110 and the liquid cooling unit 120, the personal computer 100 further includes a hard disk drive, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) drive, a card unit, and the like as appropriate. The hard disk drive stores, for example, the OS and application software described above. The DVD drive device reads data from a recording medium such as a DVD and writes data to a recording medium such as a DVD. For example, a memory card or a LAN (Local Area Network) card is inserted into the card unit.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 2, the liquid cooling unit 120 of this embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the liquid cooling unit 120 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid cooling unit 120 of this embodiment includes a pump 122, a heat receiver 124, and a radiator 130. Each member constituting the liquid cooling unit 120 is connected by a plurality of hoses 126 to form a circulation path. The heat generated by the electronic component 110 is released to the outside of the personal computer 100 by the refrigerant flowing through the circulation path. As the refrigerant, for example, a propylene glycol antifreeze is used.

The pump 122 is provided on the downstream side of the radiator 130. The pump 122 discharges the refrigerant and generates a flow of the refrigerant flowing through the circulation path. Specifically, the pump 122 generates a refrigerant flow in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. The pump 122 is, for example, a piezoelectric pump.
The heat receiver 124 is provided on the downstream side of the pump 122. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat receiver 124 is provided on the electronic component 110 that generates heat. The heat receiver 124 absorbs heat generated by the electronic component 110.

The radiator 130 is provided on the downstream side of the heat receiver 124. The radiator 130 takes heat from the refrigerant flowing into the radiator 130. The radiator 130 is provided in the vicinity of an exhaust port (not shown) formed on the side surface of the housing of the personal computer 100. The radiator 130 includes an axial fan 140 and a core unit 150. The axial fan 140 generates an airflow that goes to the outside of the exhaust port. Therefore, the heat taken away from the refrigerant by the radiator 130 is released to the outside of the personal computer 100 through the exhaust port. In the example shown in FIG. 2, two axial fans 140 and two core parts 150 are shown. The detailed configuration of the radiator 130 will be described later.
In the liquid cooling unit 120, the circulation path as described above is formed.

  Next, the structure of the radiator 130 of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. In FIG. 2, two axial fans 140 and two core parts 150 are shown. However, in FIGS. 3 to 5, only one axial fan 140 and one core part 150 will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the radiator 130 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the axial fan 140 is simplified and shown in broken lines. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the axial flow fan 140. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of the core unit 150. The arrows shown in FIG. 5 indicate the flow of the refrigerant.

  First, the structure of the axial fan 140 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the axial fan 140 includes a plurality of blades 142. The plurality of blades 142 rotate around the rotation shaft 144. As the plurality of blades 142 rotate around the rotation shaft 144, wind flowing from the rear to the front of the axial fan 140 is generated.

  Since the blades 142 are not present in the portion of the axial fan 140 close to the rotating shaft 144, even if the blades 142 rotate, it is difficult for wind to be generated. Moreover, in the area | region where the blade | wing 142 of the axial flow fan 140 is arrange | positioned, generally the wind speed distribution which arises when the blade | wing 142 rotates is not uniform. Specifically, the wind speed increases as the distance from the rotating shaft 144 along the extending direction of the blade 142 increases.

Next, the structure of the core part 150 of this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the core unit 150 includes an inflow port 152, an outflow port 154, a plurality of refrigerant flow paths 156, a connection path 162, and a plurality of heat radiation fins 164. The core part 150 in the example shown in FIG. 5 includes five refrigerant channels 156. The plurality of refrigerant channels 156 are arranged so that the refrigerant channel 156 located on the outside surrounds the refrigerant channel 156 located on the inside.
The refrigerant flows into the core unit 150 through the inflow port 152. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerant flows into the inflow port 152 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface (for example, from the front to the back). Further, the refrigerant flows out of the core part 150 through the outlet 154. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerant flows out from the outflow port 154 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface (for example, from the back to the front).

The refrigerant flow path 156 has a shape formed so that the refrigerant can circulate around the core portion 150. The shape of the coolant channel 156 is, for example, a rectangle. However, the shape of the coolant channel 156 is not particularly limited as long as the coolant is formed so as to be able to go around the core portion 150. For example, the coolant channel 156 may be circular.
In addition, the refrigerant flow path 156 includes a branch point 158 and a junction point 160. The refrigerant flowing into the branch point 158 branches at the branch point 158 and then circulates in the refrigerant flow paths 156 in different directions. Refrigerants that have circulated in different directions merge at a junction 160. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the branch point 158 and the junction point 160 are located at the vertices on the diagonal line of the rectangular refrigerant flow path 156.

  Between the adjacent refrigerant flow paths 156, the connection path 162 connects the junction 160 of the outer refrigerant flow path 156 and the branch point 158 of the inner refrigerant flow path 156. The core unit 150 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes four connection paths 162. The refrigerant merged at the merge point 160 of the outer refrigerant flow path 156 passes through the connection path 162 and branches at the branch point 158 of the inner refrigerant flow path 156.

  Further, the plurality of heat radiating fins 164 are disposed between the adjacent refrigerant flow paths 156. The heat radiating fins 164 extend along a direction parallel to the rotating shaft 144 of the axial fan 140. The heat generated by the electronic component 110 is absorbed by the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 158, then transmitted to the heat radiating fins 164, and exhausted to the outside of the personal computer 100 by the wind generated by the axial fan 140.

As shown in FIG. 5, the inflow port 152 communicates with a branch point 158 of the refrigerant channel 156 located on the outermost side among the plurality of refrigerant channels 156. Further, the outlet 154 communicates with a junction 160 of the refrigerant flow channel 156 located on the innermost side among the plurality of refrigerant flow channels 156.
Therefore, the refrigerant that has flowed into the core portion 150 from the inflow port 152 branches at the branch point 158 of the outermost refrigerant flow path 156, and then circulates in the outermost refrigerant flow path 156 in different directions. Refrigerants that have circulated in different directions merge at the junction 160 of the refrigerant flow channel 156 located on the outermost side. The refrigerant merged at the junction 160 of the outermost refrigerant flow path 156 passes through the coupler 162 and branches at the branch point of the one inner refrigerant flow path 156, and then flows through the refrigerant flow paths 156 in different directions. Go around. Thereafter, the joining of the refrigerant at the joining point 160 and the branching of the refrigerant at the branching point 158 are repeated, and the refrigerant flows out from the core part 150 through the outlet 154 from the joining point 160 of the coolant channel 156 located on the innermost side.

  As described in FIG. 3, the axial fan 140 and the core unit 150 described above are arranged so that the rotation shaft 144 of the axial fan 140 is located in the central region of the core unit 150. Here, a region inside the coolant channel 156 located on the innermost side is defined as a central region of the core portion 150. In the radiator 130 of the present embodiment, the refrigerant flow path 156 has a core portion so that the refrigerant flows from a region where the wind speed away from the rotation shaft 144 along the extending direction of the blades 142 is high to a region where the wind speed near the rotation shaft 144 is low. 150. Therefore, the refrigerant whose temperature has increased by absorbing the heat of the electronic component 110 is first, the refrigerant flow path 156 outside the core portion 150, which is a region where the wind speed is high, away from the rotating shaft 144 along the extending direction of the blades 142. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the refrigerant can be improved.

(Modification 1)
With reference to FIG. 6, the radiator 130 of the modification 1 is demonstrated. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the radiator 130 of the first modification. The radiator 130 shown in FIG. 6 includes two core parts 150 and two axial fans 140. The two core parts 150 are arranged in parallel. The two axial fans 140 are arranged in parallel so that each of the two core parts 150 is air-cooled. The configurations of the core units 150 and the axial fans 140 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.
The radiator 130 may include three or more core parts 150 and three or more axial fans 140.

  This modification can be suitably applied when the area where the radiator 130 can be provided is relatively large. According to this modification, since the refrigerant whose temperature has been increased by the heat absorbed by the heat receiver 124 flows through the plurality of core parts 150, the cooling efficiency of the refrigerant can be further improved.

(Modification 2)
With reference to FIG. 7, the radiator 130 of the modification 2 is demonstrated. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the radiator 130 of the second modification. The radiator 130 shown in FIG. 7 includes two core parts 150 and one axial fan 140. The two core parts 150 are arranged along the direction in which the wind generated by the axial fan 140 flows. The inflow ports 152 of the two core parts 150 communicate with each other. Further, the outlets 154 of the two core portions 150 communicate with each other. The configurations of the core units 150 and the axial fans 140 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.
Note that the radiator 130 may include three or more core portions 150.

  This modification can be suitably applied when the area where the radiator 130 can be provided is relatively small. According to the present modification, the refrigerant whose temperature has risen due to the heat absorbed by the heat receiver 124 flows through the plurality of core portions 150 arranged along the direction in which the wind generated by the axial fan 140 flows. Even when the area where 130 can be provided is small, the cooling efficiency of the refrigerant can be improved.

(Modification 3)
With reference to FIG. 8, the radiator 130 of the modification 3 is demonstrated. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the radiator 130 of the third modification. The radiator 130 shown in FIG. 8 includes two core parts 150 and one axial fan 140. The two core portions 150 are arranged with the axial fan 140 interposed therebetween in the direction in which the wind generated by the axial fan 140 flows. The inflow ports 152 of the two core parts 150 communicate with each other. Further, the outlets 154 of the two core portions 150 communicate with each other. The configurations of the core units 150 and the axial fans 140 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.
Note that the radiator 130 may include three or more core portions 150.

  Similar to the second modification, also in the second modification, the plurality of core parts 150 are arranged along the direction in which the refrigerant whose temperature is increased by the heat absorbed by the heat receiver 124 flows through the wind generated by the axial fan 140. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the refrigerant can be improved even when the area where the radiator 130 can be provided is small.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, the radiator 130 of 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated. A radiator 130 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the core unit 150. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the core unit 150 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of the core unit 150 of the present embodiment. The arrows shown in FIG. 9 indicate the flow of the refrigerant.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the core portion 150 of the present embodiment includes an inflow port 152, an outflow port 154, and a refrigerant channel 156. The refrigerant flows into the core unit 150 through the inflow port 152. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the refrigerant flows into the inflow port 152 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface (for example, from the front to the back). Further, the refrigerant flows out of the core part 150 through the outlet 154. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the refrigerant flows out from the outflow port 154 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface (for example, from the back to the front).

The refrigerant channel 156 of this embodiment has a spiral shape. As shown in FIG. 9, the inflow port 152 communicates with the outermost end of the coolant channel 156. Further, the outlet 154 communicates with the innermost end of the refrigerant flow path 156.
Therefore, the refrigerant that has flowed into the core portion 150 from the inlet 152 flows in from the outermost end of the refrigerant flow path 156, flows inward through the helical refrigerant flow path 156, and is located on the innermost side of the refrigerant flow path 156. It flows out from the core part 150 through the outflow port 154 from the end.

  As in the first embodiment, the axial fan 140 and the core unit 150 are arranged such that the rotation shaft 144 of the axial fan 140 is located in the central region of the core unit 150. Also in the radiator 130 of the present embodiment, the refrigerant flow path 156 is spiral so that the refrigerant flows from a region where the wind speed away from the rotation shaft 144 along the extending direction of the blade 142 is high to a region where the wind speed near the rotation shaft 144 is low. The core part 150 is formed in a shape. Therefore, the refrigerant whose temperature has increased by absorbing the heat of the electronic component 110 is first located in a region where the wind speed is high, away from the rotating shaft 144 along the extending direction of the blade 142, and the refrigerant flow outside the core portion 150. Since it flows through the path 156, the cooling efficiency of the refrigerant can be improved.

  As mentioned above, although the radiator and electronic device of this invention were demonstrated in detail, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. It goes without saying that various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(Appendix)
The present invention can be configured as described in the following supplementary notes.

(Appendix 1)
An inlet into which refrigerant flows,
An outlet through which the refrigerant flows out;
A plurality of refrigerant flow paths comprising a branch point where the refrigerant branches and a merge point where the branched refrigerant merges, such that the refrigerant flow path located outside surrounds the refrigerant flow path located inside. A plurality of arranged refrigerant flow paths;
A connecting path that connects the junction point of the outer refrigerant flow path and the branch point of the inner refrigerant flow path between the adjacent refrigerant flow paths;
The inflow port communicates with a branch point of the refrigerant channel located on the outermost side among the plurality of refrigerant channels,
The radiator including a core portion, wherein the outlet port communicates with a confluence of refrigerant channels located on the innermost side among the plurality of refrigerant channels.

(Appendix 2)
The refrigerant flow path is rectangular,
The radiator according to appendix 1, wherein the branch point and the junction point are located at the apex of the refrigerant flow path.

(Appendix 3)
The radiator according to appendix 1 or 2, comprising a heat radiation fin between the adjacent refrigerant flow paths.

(Appendix 4)
The radiator according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, further comprising an axial fan in which a rotation shaft is located in a central region of the core portion.

(Appendix 5)
A plurality of the core parts arranged in parallel;
A plurality of axial fans arranged in parallel so as to air-cool each of the plurality of core portions;
A radiator according to appendix 4, comprising:

(Appendix 6)
The radiator according to appendix 4, comprising a plurality of the core portions arranged along a direction in which wind generated by the axial flow fan flows.

(Appendix 7)
The radiator according to appendix 4, comprising a plurality of the core portions arranged with the axial flow fan sandwiched along a direction in which wind generated by the axial flow fan flows.

(Appendix 8)
Electronic components that emit heat,
The radiator according to any one of appendices 1 to 7,
Electronic equipment comprising.

(Appendix 9)
An inlet into which refrigerant flows,
An outlet through which the refrigerant flows out;
A spiral refrigerant flow path through which the refrigerant flows,
The radiator including a core part, wherein the inflow port communicates with an outermost end of the refrigerant flow path, and the outflow port communicates with an innermost end of the refrigerant flow path.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Personal computer 110 Electronic component 120 Cooling unit 122 Pump 124 Heat receiver 126 Hose 130 Radiator 140 Axial fan 142 Blade 144 Rotating shaft 150 Core part 152 Inlet 154 Outlet 156 Refrigerant channel 158 Branching point 160 Junction point 162 Connecting channel 164 Heat dissipation fin

Claims (7)

An inlet into which refrigerant flows,
An outlet through which the refrigerant flows out;
A plurality of refrigerant flow paths comprising a branch point where the refrigerant branches and a merge point where the branched refrigerant merges, such that the refrigerant flow path located outside surrounds the refrigerant flow path located inside. A plurality of arranged refrigerant flow paths;
A connecting path that connects the junction point of the outer refrigerant flow path and the branch point of the inner refrigerant flow path between the adjacent refrigerant flow paths;
The inflow port communicates with a branch point of the refrigerant channel located on the outermost side among the plurality of refrigerant channels,
The outlet port communicates with a confluence of refrigerant flow channels located on the innermost side among the plurality of refrigerant flow channels ; and
An axial fan in which a rotation shaft is located in a central region of the core portion, the axial fan having a plurality of blades, and when the axial fan rotates, a tip portion of each blade is the core. An axial flow fan disposed so as to pass through the vicinity of the inlet of the core, and so that the root of each blade passes through the vicinity of the outlet of the core
A radiator characterized by comprising The refrigerant flow path is rectangular,
The radiator according to claim 1, wherein the branch point and the junction point are located at a vertex of the refrigerant flow path.   The radiator according to claim 1, further comprising a heat radiating fin between the adjacent refrigerant flow paths. A plurality of the core parts arranged in parallel;
A plurality of axial fans arranged in parallel so as to air-cool each of the plurality of core portions;
Comprising a radiator according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The radiator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , comprising a plurality of the core portions arranged along a direction in which wind generated by the axial flow fan flows. The radiator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , comprising a plurality of the core portions arranged with the axial flow fan sandwiched along a direction in which wind generated by the axial flow fan flows. Electronic components that emit heat,
The radiator according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
Electronic equipment comprising.