Liquid-cooling heat dissipation apparatus

A liquid-cooling heat dissipation apparatus includes a casing, a first compartment defined in the casing for assembling a liquid driving unit, a cooling plate module on bottom of the casing, a second compartment defined between an inner space of the casing and the cooling plate module and containing a cooling liquid therein. At least one liquid inlet and liquid outlet are defined on the casing and communicated through the second compartment. Therefore, the liquid driving unit and the cooling plate module can be advantageously integrated into the casing while the duct is reduced to achieve compact space. Moreover, the overall structure achieves liquid storing, circulating and heat conveying function.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid-cooling heat dissipation apparatus, and more particularly to a liquid-cooling heat dissipation apparatus used for heat emitting device such as a CPU.

2. Description of Prior Art

The computers are developed with more powerful function and computation speed. Beside performance issue, the product appearance, the construction and motherboard connection ways are also under extensive exploited. As downsize of form factor and increasing of processing speed, the heat dissipation for central processing unit (CPU) is also an important issue to solve.

FIG. 1shows a perspective view of a prior art liquid-cooling heat dissipation system100a. As shown in this figure, the liquid-cooling heat dissipation system100acomprises a heat dissipation stage10a, a water outlet101aand a water inlet102aon both ends of the heat dissipation system stage10a, respectively, a duct103aconnected between the water inlet102aand a water outlet201aof a water pump20a, a duct104aconnected between the water outlet101aand a water inlet301aof a cooling stage30a, which is composed of a plurality of heat-dissipating fins303a. The cooling stage30acomprises a water outlet302aconnected to a water inlet401aof a water tank40athrough a duct402a.The water tank40acomprises a water outlet connected to the water inlet202aof the water pump20a, thus forming the liquid-cooling heat dissipation system100a. During operation, the water pump20aconveys cool water to the heat dissipation stage10afor heat exchanging into hot water. Afterward, hot water flows to the cooling stage30athrough the duct104afor heat exchanging into cool water there and cool water flows back to the water tank40athrough the duct304a. The above operations are repeated for cyclic heat exchange.

However, above-described prior art liquid-cooling heat dissipation system100ais composed of separate heat dissipation stage10a, water pump20a, cooling stage30aand water tank40aand ducts103a,104a,304aand402ainterconnecting between above devices. The liquid-cooling heat dissipation system100athus formed is bulky and hard to assemble. This is adverse to the compact trend of computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a liquid-cooling heat dissipation apparatus with such mechanical design that the liquid driving unit and the cooling plate module can be advantageously integrated into the casing while the duct is reduced to achieve compact space.

Moreover, the present invention provides a liquid-cooling heat dissipation apparatus with overall structure achieves liquid storing, circulating and heat conveying function.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the liquid-cooling heat dissipation apparatus comprises a casing comprising a first compartment, a liquid driving unit placed in the first compartment, a cooling plate module on bottom of the casing, a second compartment defined between an inner space of the casing and the cooling plate module and containing a cooling liquid, at least one liquid inlet and liquid outlet being defined on the casing and communicated through the second compartment. Therefore, the cooling liquid is circulated when the liquid driving unit operates.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the at least one liquid inlet and liquid outlet are communicated through a plurality of ducts and further communicated with a liquid cooling array through another end of the duct. The liquid cooling array comprises a box, wherein a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet are arranged on both sides of the box, respectively. A plurality of heat-dissipating fins are stacked in the center of the box and arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein runner is defined between two rows of heat-dissipating fins and communicates with the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet. When the hot water in the liquid inlet flows into the liquid outlet through the runner, the hot water is heat exchanged with the heat-dissipating fins into cool water and then the cool water flows to the liquid outlet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to provide a liquid-cooling heat dissipation apparatus.FIGS. 2 and 3show a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the liquid-cooling heat dissipation apparatus100is used for heat dissipating a heat emitting device200(such as CPU200). The heat dissipation apparatus100comprises a casing1, a first compartment13defined in the casing1and used for mounting a liquid driving unit2, a cooling plate module3arranged on bottom of the casing1, a second compartment14defined between inner space of the casing1and filled with cooling liquid, at least one liquid inlet11and liquid outlet12defined on the casing1for communicating the second compartment14. The cooling liquid is circulated when the liquid driving unit2operates.

In the present invention, the liquid driving unit2comprises a coil stage21, an upper cover22, an impeller stage23, and a lower cover24in the first compartment13. Moreover, at least one runner241is defined on bottom face of the lower cover24and corresponding to the liquid inlet11of the casing1, as shown inFIG. 7.

The cooling plate module3comprises a bottom plate31fixed to bottom of the casing1, a heat-dissipating plate32arranged on center of the bottom plate31and attached to the CPU200, a plurality of heat-dissipating fins33provided atop the bottom plate31. Sealing pads15,34are provided between the bottom of the casing1and the bottom plate31. Bolt members16fix the bottom plate31to the bottom of the casing1; and the sealing pads15,34place between the casing1and the bottom plate31hermitically to prevent leakage of the cooling liquid.

With reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, a frame4is screwed to bottom of the cooling plate module3and having an opening41defined at center thereof such that the heat-dissipating plate32exposes out from the opening41and is in contact with the CPU200. Locking tabs42extend outward from two opposite sides of the frame4and function as fixing unit to mount on the motherboard300.

With reference now toFIG. 6, a liquid cooling array20comprises a box5, wherein a liquid inlet51and a liquid outlet52are arranged on both sides of the box5, respectively. A plurality of heat-dissipating fins53are stacked in the center of the box5and arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein runner532is defined between two rows of heat-dissipating fins53and communicates with the liquid inlet51and the liquid outlet52. When the hot water in the liquid inlet51flows into the liquid outlet52through the runner532, the hot water is heat exchanged with the heat-dissipating fins53into cool water and then the cool water flows to the liquid outlet52.

In the shown embodiment, there are two liquid outlets12on the casing1. In case of only one liquid cooling array20, one outlet12is connected to the entrance511of the liquid inlet51through a duct6; the exit521of the liquid outlet52of the liquid cooling array20is connected to the liquid inlet11of the casing1through a duct6′. When two set of liquid cooling arrays20are to be used, two liquid outlets12on the casing1are connected to the two liquid cooling arrays20through the ducts6.

To assemble the liquid-cooling heat dissipation apparatus according to the present invention, the liquid-cooling heat dissipation apparatus100is first arranged atop the CPU200and the locking tabs42of the frame4is locked to the motherboard300by the bolt unit7. Therefore, the casing1is assembled atop the CPU200and liquid is circulated between the casing1and the liquid cooling array20through the ducts6and6′.

In the present invention, a vent hole (not shown) is additionally defined on the casing1and sealed by a cover (not shown). The cover is removed when liquid is to be filled into the casing1. Therefore, the casing1is no longer a closed space and liquid is filled into the second compartment14through the liquid inlet11of the casing1.

With reference toFIGS. 7 and 8, during operation of the liquid-cooling heat dissipation apparatus according to the present invention, cooling liquid in the liquid cooling array20is driven, by the liquid driving unit2, into the runner241of the lower cover24through the liquid inlet11of the casing1. Thereafter, cooling liquid is conveyed downward from the exit of the runner241of the lower cover24to the plurality of heat-dissipating fins33for heat exchanging into hot water. Therefore, the cooling plate module3has fast heat dissipation and the heat dissipation for the CPU200can be enhanced. Afterward, hot liquid flows to the liquid inlet51of the liquid cooling array20from the liquid outlet12of the casing1and through the duct6.

The hot liquid such as hot water conveyed to the liquid inlet51of the liquid cooling array20then flows to the runner532and undergoes heat exchange into cool water by the heat-dissipating fins53beside the runner532. The cool water is conveyed to the liquid outlet52of the liquid cooling array20. Thereafter, the cool water is sent to the second compartment14of the casing1through the duct6′ for next cycle of heat exchange.

The liquid driving unit2and the cooling plate module3can be advantageously integrated into the casing1according to the present invention, while the duct is reduced to achieve compact space. Moreover, the overall structure achieves liquid storing, circulating and heat conveying function.