Apparatus, system, and method for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices

The disclosed apparatus may include (1) a cold plate base that (A) is thermally coupled to a component and (B) includes a set of heatsink fin structures that facilitate absorbing heat generated by the component and (2) a cold plate cover that (A) sits atop the cold plate base and (B) directs a cooling fluid across the set of heatsink fin structures to cool the cold plate base despite the heat absorbed by the cold plate base from the component. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Cold plates are often used to meet the thermal demands of today's high-power electronics. Cold plates are a thermal management technology that often involves a heat transfer interface cooled by a cold flowing fluid. While this cold flowing fluid potentially improves the heat transfer capabilities of the interface, traditional cold plate technology may still suffer from certain deficiencies and/or shortcomings.

For example, a traditional cold plate may be too large and/or cumbersome to meet the size and/or design constraints of certain computing devices with limited available space. As another example, to reach peak performance, a traditional cold plate may necessitate a high amount of fluid flow across the heat transfer interface. Unfortunately, the fluid flow may require a lot of electricity, thereby potentially driving up energy costs for users operating computing devices that implement such cold plate technology.

The instant disclosure, therefore, identifies and addresses a need for additional and improved apparatuses, systems, and methods for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices.

SUMMARY

As will be described in greater detail below, the instant disclosure generally relates to apparatuses, systems, and methods for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. In one example, an apparatus for accomplishing such a task may include (1) a cold plate base that (A) is thermally coupled to a component and (B) includes a set of heatsink fin structures that facilitate absorbing heat generated by the component and (2) a cold plate cover that (A) sits atop the cold plate base and (B) directs a cooling fluid across the set of heatsink fin structures to cool the cold plate base despite the heat absorbed by the cold plate base from the component.

Similarly, a two-phase cooling system incorporating the above-described apparatus may include (1) a circuit that includes at least one component, (2) a cold plate base that (A) is thermally coupled to the component and (B) includes a set of heatsink fin structures that facilitate absorbing heat generated by the component, and (3) a cold plate cover that (A) sits atop the cold plate base and (B) directs a cooling fluid across the set of heatsink fin structures to cool the cold plate base despite the heat absorbed by the cold plate base from the component.

A corresponding method may include (1) thermally coupling, to a component, a cold plate base that (A) includes a set of heatsink fin structures that facilitate absorbing heat generated by the component and (B) forms a channel that sits between the set of heatsink fin structures, (2) mating a cold plate cover with the cold plate base that is thermally coupled to the component, and (3) directing the cooling fluid into the cold plate cover such that the cooling fluid flows over the set of heatsink fin structures to cool the cold plate base despite the heat absorbed by the cold plate base from the component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure describes various apparatuses, systems, and methods for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. As will be explained in greater detail below, embodiments of the instant disclosure may reduce the size requirements of cold plate designs and/or enable cold plate designs to fit within smaller, tighter spaces. By doing so, these embodiments may help reduce the overall size and/or spatial impact or requirements of computing devices that implement cold plate technology.

Additionally or alternatively, embodiments of the instant disclosure may help optimize cold plate technology by absorbing, transferring, and/or rejecting the greatest amount of heat with the smallest physical design and/or layout. Moreover, embodiments of the instant disclosure may reduce the energy costs resulting from the operation and/or maintenance of computing devices that implement cold plate technology.

The following will provide, with reference toFIGS. 1-10, detailed descriptions of an exemplary apparatuses and corresponding implementations for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. In addition, the discussion corresponding toFIG. 11will provide a detailed description of an exemplary method for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices.

FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary apparatus100for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. As illustrated inFIG. 1, exemplary apparatus100may include and/or represent a cold plate base102and a cold plate cover104. Together, cold plate base102and/or cold plate cover104may form and/or represent all or a portion of a cold plate. As will be described in greater detail below, this cold plate may serve as a two-phase cooling system that absorbs heat and/or transfers heat away from at least one component of a computing device.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, cold plate base102may include various features that contribute to and/or facilitate the cold plate's cooling capabilities. For example, cold plate base102may include a set of heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) that effectively form a channel120. In addition, cold plate base102may include a set of alignment pins108(1) and108(2) that extend perpendicularly from cold plate base102and facilitate mating and/or aligning cold plate base102and cold plate cover104with one another.

Similarly, cold plate cover104may include various features that contribute to and/or facilitate the cold plate's cooling capabilities. For example, cold plate cover104may include at least one inlet port (not explicitly visible inFIG. 1due to the perspective illustrated) and/or at least one outlet port110that collectively facilitate the flow of cooling fluid into, through, and/or out of the cold plate. In addition, cold plate cover104may include an internal wall114that causes cooling fluid to accumulate in channel120of the cold plate and then flow in opposite directions over heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2), respectively. Cold plate cover104may also include a set of alignment receptacles112(1) and112(2) that are fitted to accept alignment pins108(1) and108(2), respectively, and facilitate mating and/or aligning cold plate base102and cold plate cover104with one another.

Cold plate base102generally represent any type or form of heatsink plate that conducts, transfers, absorbs, and/or sinks heat. In one example, cold plate base102may serve as a heat transfer interface that makes contact with a component of a computing device for the purpose of conducting, transferring, absorbing, and/or sinking heat generated by the component. Accordingly, cold plate base102may effectively cool the component of the computing device. In this example, while cold plate base102may cool the component of the computing device, cold plate base102may also itself be cooled by cooling fluid that flows through the cold plate, thus demonstrating and/or achieving the cold plate's two-phase cooling functionality.

Cold plate base102may be of various shapes and/or dimensions. In some examples, cold plate base102may form a square and/or a rectangle. Additional examples of shapes formed by cold plate base102include, without limitation, ovals, circles, triangles, diamonds, parallelograms, variations or combinations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable shapes.

In some examples, cold plate base102may be sized in a particular way to maximize the amount of heat transferred from the component and/or fit within a certain space. In one example, cold plate base102may run the length of one side of the component. Additionally or alternatively, cold plate base102may include and/or incorporate a Thermal Interface Material (TIM) on the surface that makes contact with the component.

Cold plate base102may include and/or contain a variety of thermally conductive materials. In one example, cold plate base102may be made of copper. Additional examples of such thermally conductive materials include, without limitation, aluminum, diamond, alloys, combinations or variations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable materials.

Heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) generally represent any type or form of finned configuration or design that extends the surface area of a cold plate base. In some examples, heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may each include an array of skived fins that are thermally coupled to one another on cold plate base102. In one example, heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may each appear and/or serve as a series of thermally conductive folds and/or skived fins atop and/or incorporated into cold plate base102.

Heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may each be of various shapes and/or dimensions. In some examples, heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may each form a square and/or a rectangle. In one example, the fins included in heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may be angled (by, e.g., a few degrees) to accommodate manufacturing variations and/or tolerances between cold plate base102and cold plate cover104. In other words, the fins included in heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may be inclined at a non-right angle to accommodate the worst-case tolerances of cold plate base102and cold plate cover104. These inclined heatsink fins may be specifically designed to sustain and/or accommodate the weight of cold plate cover104due to the thermally conductive material (e.g., copper) softening in a vacuum brazing oven.

For example, rather than standing completely vertically and/or straight (at, e.g., a 90-degree angle) with respect to the base plate, the fins included in heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may be angled at 87 degrees to ensure that cold plate base102and cold plate cover104mate and/or fit together properly despite certain manufacturing variations and/or gap tolerances. Additionally or alternatively, the fins included in heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may be arranged and/or disposed across cold plate base102in parallel to one another.

In some examples, heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may be sized in a particular way to fit properly inside cold plate cover104. In one example, when cold plate base102and cold plate cover104are mated together, heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may be enclosed and/or encapsulated within the resulting cold plate. Additionally or alternatively, heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may have the same height as the corresponding gap and/or opening in cold plate cover104.

Heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may include and/or contain a variety of thermally conductive materials. In one example, heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) may be made of copper. Additional examples of such thermally conductive materials include, without limitation, aluminum, diamond, alloys, combinations or variations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable materials.

Alignment pins108(1) and108(2) generally represent any type or form of physical material, structure, and/or support feature that holds and/or aligns a cold plate cover in a specific position when placed atop a cold plate base. In one example, alignment pins108(1)-(N) may each include and/or represent physical member and/or peg capable of supporting and/or maintaining cold plate cover104in place on cold plate base102.

Alignment pins108(1) and108(2) may each include and/or form any suitable shape. In some examples, alignment pins108(1) and108(2) may form a square, a circle, an oval, a cube, a cylinder, portions of one or more of the same, and/or variations or combinations of one or more of the same. In one example, alignment pins108(1) and108(2) may each be incorporated into and/or formed by cold plate base102itself. Additionally or alternatively, cold plate base102may include and/or form holes through which alignment pins108(1) and108(2) are able to pass. For example, alignment pins108(1) and108(2) may form and/or represent part of a mount plate (e.g., mount plate302inFIG. 3). In this example, alignment pins108(1) and108(2) may pass through holes in cold plate base102to support and/or align cold plate cover104with respect to cold plate base102.

Alignment pins102(1)-(N) may each include and/or contain any of a variety of materials. Examples of such materials include, without limitation, metals, plastics, ceramics, polymers, composites, combinations or variations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable materials. In addition, alignment pins102(1)-(N) may each be of any suitable dimensions.

Channel120generally represents any type or form of groove and/or trench incorporated into and/or formed by or within a cold plate. In one example, channel120may run through cold plate base102and/or be formed at least in part by heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2). Accordingly, channel120may reside and/or sit between heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2). In addition, channel120may direct and/or control at least a portion of the flow path of cooling fluid within the cold plate. In one example, the cooling fluid may flow through channel120as the cooling fluid enters the inlet port. In other words, channel120may represent the first leg of the fluid's flow path upon entry into the cold plate.

In some examples, channel120may run through a central plane of cold plate base102. As will be described in greater detail below, channel120may accumulate cooling fluid that presses against an internal wall of cold plate cover104. The resulting pressure and/or resistance from that internal wall may cause the cooling fluid to flow over heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) in opposite directions, thereby cooling heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) and/or cool plate base102.

Cold plate cover104generally represents any type or form of covering, enclosure, and/or turret that covers and/or encloses a cold plate base. In some examples, cold plate cover104may mate and/or physically connect with cold plate base102. Like cold plate base102, cold plate cover104may conduct, transfer, absorb, and/or sink heat generated by a component thermally coupled to cold plate base102. Accordingly, cold plate cover104may also serve to cool the component. In this example, while cold plate cover104may serve to cool the component, cold plate cover104may also itself be cooled by cooling fluid that flows through the cold plate, thus achieving and/or demonstrating the cold plate's two-phase cooling functionality.

Cold plate cover104may be of various shapes and/or dimensions. In some examples, cold plate cover104may form a circle, an oval, a square, a rectangle, and/or a cube. Additional examples of shapes formed by cold plate cover104include, without limitation, triangles, diamonds, parallelograms, variations or combinations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable shapes.

In some examples, cold plate cover104may be sized in a particular way to maximize the amount of heat transferred from the component and/or fit within a certain space. In one example, cold plate cover104may be sized to cover and/or enclose heatsink fin structure106(1) and106(2). In this example, the size of cold plate cover104may be limited to the amount of space necessary to cover and/or enclosure heatsink fin structure106(1) and106(2). Additionally or alternatively, cold plate cover104may include and/or incorporate a TIM along the surface that makes contact with cold plate base102

Cold plate cover104may include and/or contain a variety of thermally conductive materials. In one example, cold plate cover104may be made of copper. Additional examples of such thermally conductive materials include, without limitation, aluminum, diamond, alloys, combinations or variations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable materials.

In some examples, cold plate base102and cold plate cover104may represent and/or be manufactured as individual pieces and/or units that, when mated together, form a cold plate. In other examples, cold plate base102and cold plate cover104may represent and/or be manufactured as a single inseparable piece and/or unit that itself constitutes a cold plate.

Circumferential channel114generally represents to any type or form of groove and/or trench incorporated into and/or formed by or within a cold plate. In some examples, circumferential channel114may run through and/or be formed by cold plate cover104. In one example, circumferential channel114may run along a perimeter and/or circumference of cold plate cover104. Circumferential channel114may direct and/or control at least a portion of the flow path of cooling fluid within the cold plate.

In one example, upon traversing over heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2), the cooling fluid may flow through circumferential channel114to exit the cold plate via outlet port110. In other words, circumferential channel114may represent the last leg of the fluid's flow path prior to exiting the cold plate. In some examples, circumferential channel114may form a somewhat rounded shape, such as an arc and/or a semicircle.

Alignment receptacles112(1) and112(2) each generally represent any type or form of housing, hole, and/or opening designed to accept and/or hold a corresponding alignment pin. In one example, alignment receptacles112(1) and112(2) may each be formed by and/or incorporated into cold plate cover104. In this example, alignment receptacles112(1) and112(2) may line up with and be sized to accept alignment pins108(1) and108(2), respectively. Accordingly, alignment pins108(1) and108(2) may fit inside alignment receptacles112(1) and112(2), respectively, and serve to align cold plate base102and cold plate cover104with respect to one another. Together, alignment pins108(1) and108(2) and alignment receptacles112(1) and112(2) may support and/or maintain cold plate base102and cold plate cover104in the proper mated position.

In some examples, cold plate base102may be thermally coupled to a component. In such examples, cold plate base102may include heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) that facilitate absorbing heat generated by that component. In addition, cold plate cover104may sit atop cold plate base102and/or direct cooling fluid across heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) to cool cold plate base102despite the heat generated by the component.

FIG. 2illustrates an exemplary implementation200for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. As illustrated inFIG. 2, exemplary implementation200may involve cold plate base102and a component202attached to a platform204. In some examples, component202may include and/or represent a high power electronic semiconductor device that is soldered to platform204(e.g., a printed circuit board).

Examples of component202include, without limitation, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Systems on a Chip (SoCs), lidless integrated circuits, microprocessors, microcontrollers, Central Processing Units (CPUs), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), memory devices, High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), flash memory, caches, semiconductor dies, portions of one or more of the same, variations or combinations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable component. Examples of platform204include, without limitation, circuit boards (e.g., printed circuit boards), semiconductor substrates, wafers, variations or combinations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable platform.

In one example, cold plate base102may be thermally coupled to component202. For example, cold plate base102may be placed, set, and/or secured atop component202such that cold plate base makes physical contact with component202.

FIG. 3illustrates an exemplary implementation300for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. As illustrated inFIG. 3, exemplary implementation300may involve cold plate base102and cold plate cover104, which are mated together to form a cold plate. In one example, cold plate base102may be placed and/or incorporated into a mount plate302inFIG. 3. In this example, mount plate302may enable cold plate base102to securely couple to component202. In other words, mount plate302may attach to platform204such that cold plate base102and component202make physical contact with each other, thereby establishing a thermal couple.

FIG. 4illustrates an exemplary implementation400for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. As illustrated inFIG. 4, exemplary implementation400may involve directing and/or pumping cooling fluid404into cold plate cover104via inlet port402. Various other features of the disclosed cold plate technology may also be visible inFIG. 4but not explicitly labeled inFIG. 4.

Examples of cooling fluid404include, without limitation, liquids, gases, plasmas, vapors, variations or combinations of one or more of the same. Virtually any liquid may serve as cooling fluid404. For example, cooling fluid404may include and/or represent water. In another example, cooling fluid404may include and/or represent a liquid refrigerant.

In one example, upon entering cold plate cover104via inlet port402, cooling fluid404may flow into channel120(not explicitly labeled inFIG. 4) and press against internal wall114. The pressure and/or resistance from internal wall114may cause cooling fluid404to build up and/or accumulate in channel120until cooling fluid404rises to the level and/or height of heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2). At that point, the pressure may cause cooling fluid404to flow over heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) in flow directions406and408, respectively, toward the outer perimeter and/or circumference of cold plate cover104. After passing over heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2), cooling fluid404may flow along circumferential channel114(not explicitly illustrated inFIG. 4) until exiting the cold plate via outlet port110.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, flow directions406and408may be opposite of one another. Accordingly, while traversing through the cold plate, cooling fluid404may pass over only one of heatsink fin structures106(1) and106(2) instead of both. By passing over only one of these heatsink fin structures instead of both, the temperature of cooling fluid404may remain lower and decrease the cooling requirements and/or resulting energy costs of the cold plate. The split-flow design and/or layout may also mitigate and/or reduce the need for such high flow of cooling fluid through the cold plate. Thus, this new cold plate technology may represent a more energy-efficient and/or cost-effective way to cool components for peak performance when compared to traditional cold plate solutions.

In addition, the split-flow design may facilitate that the partial removal of material at the cold plate's inlet port area. As a result, this area may provide impingement-friendly conditions that support better and/or increased vapor bubble nucleation and heat transfer for the cold plate.

FIGS. 5 and 6illustrate exemplary implementations500and600, respectively, for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, exemplary implementations500and600may each involve cold plate base102, cold plate cover104with inlet port402and outlet port110, mount plate302, and platform204. Various other features of the disclosed cold plate technology may also be visible inFIGS. 5 and 6but not explicitly labeled inFIGS. 5 and 6. Implementations500and600may represent specific views of different cold plate designs and/or interpretations that implement apparatus100inFIG. 1.

FIG. 7illustrates a cross section of an exemplary implementation700for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. As illustrated inFIG. 7, exemplary implementation700may involve cold plate base102, cold plate cover104, and mount plate302. Various other features of the disclosed cold plate technology may also be visible inFIG. 7but not explicitly labeled inFIG. 7.

FIG. 8illustrates an exemplary implementation800for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. As illustrated inFIG. 8, exemplary implementation800may involve two-phase cooling systems802(1),802(2),802(3),802(4), and802(5) connected to one another in a daisy-chain layout by various tubes. In one example, a pump may inject and/or direct cooling fluid404into two-phase cooling systems802(1)-(5) to facilitate the cooling of various components to which two-phase cooling systems802(1)-(5) are thermally coupled. In this example, two-phase cooling system802(1) may pass cooling liquid404to two-phase cooling system802(2) via a tube804. In other words, tube804may carry cooling liquid404from two-phase cooling system802(1) to two-phase cooling system802(2).

In one example, each of two-phase cooling systems802(1)-(5) may include and/or represent a cold plate. For example, two-phase cooling systems802(1) may include and/or represent cold plate base102and/or cold plate cover104.

FIG. 9illustrates a cross section of an exemplary implementation900for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. As illustrated inFIG. 9, exemplary implementation900may involve cold plate base102, cold plate cover104, channel120, and/or circumferential channel114. Various other features of the disclosed cold plate technology may also be visible inFIG. 9but not explicitly labeled inFIG. 9.

FIG. 10illustrates an exemplary cold plate cover104for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. As illustrated inFIG. 10, cold plate cover104may include and/or form multiple inlet ports and/or outlet ports. For example, beyond inlet port402and/or outlet port110, cold plate cover104may also include and/or form an additional inlet port or outlet port at one or more of additional port location1010(1), additional port location1010(2), additional port location1010(3), and/or additional port location1010(4). By including and/or forming such additional inlet and/or outlet ports in this way, cold plate cover104may accommodate numerous connections and/or links to other cold plates and/or two-phase cooling systems. Accordingly, cold plate cover104may accommodate and/or support a very compact fluid distribution system and/or design.

FIG. 11is a flow diagram of an exemplary method1100for increasing the cooling efficiency of cold plate devices. Method1100may include the step of thermally coupling, with an electronic component, a cold plate base that includes a set of heatsink fin structures and forms a channel that sits between the set of heatsink fin structures (1110). Step1110may be performed in a variety of ways, including any of those described above in connection withFIGS. 1-10. For example, a computing equipment manufacturer or subcontractor may machine and/or assemble cold plate base102. The computing equipment manufacturer or subcontractor may then apply and/or physically interface (whether manually or by way of automation) cold plate base102to an electronic component that generates heat.

Method1100may also include the step of mating a cold plate cover with the cold plate base that is thermally coupled to the electronic component (1120). Step1120may be performed in a variety of ways, including any of those described above in connection withFIGS. 1-10. For example, the computing equipment manufacturer or subcontractor may attach cold plate cover104to cold plate base102by properly aligning cold plate cover104over cold plate base102and then pressing down firmly. In this example, the alignment pins and receptacles may help secure cold plate base102and cold plate cover104together and/or hold them in place.

Method1100may further include the step of directing the cooling fluid into the cold plate cover such that the cooling fluid flows over the set of heatsink fin structures to cool the cold plate base despite the heat absorbed by the cold plate base from the component (1130). Step1130may be performed in a variety of ways, including any of those described above in connection withFIGS. 1-10. For example, the computing equipment manufacturer or subcontractor may connect, to cold plate cover104, a pump and/or line that directs cooling fluid404into cold plate cover104. This pump and/or line may then pump and/or feed cooling fluid404into cold plate cover104.