Patent NZ-595477-A (NZ)
Title: Refrigeration system for compact equipment
Inventor: RIBEIRO GUILHERME BORGES
IPC: G06F1/16
Filed: 2010-03-30
Abstract: A refrigeration system for compact equipment E comprising electronic circuits and internally provided with a heat source to be cooled, comprises a heat dissipation device10 mounted in the equipment E and including a heat absorbing portion 11, absorbing heat from the heat source, and a heat dissipation portion 12 disposed so as to release the heat absorbed from the heat source to an environment external to the equipment E. The heat dissipation portion 12 is accessible through the exterior of the equipment E. The system further comprises an auxiliary refrigeration circuit CA, external to the equipment E and having: a heat absorbing means to be selectively coupled to the heat dissipation portion 12, to receive therefrom, by conduction, at least part of the heat received from the heat source and to be dissipated by the heat dissipation portion 12, and a heat dissipation means 30 to release the heat to the environment external to the equipment E. The heat dissipation device 10 is defined by any one refrigeration system of the type: heat conduction in a solid medium, heat-pipe, thermosiphon, circulating fluid pumping and mechanical vapour compression, and transfers heat from the heat absorbing portion 11 to the heat dissipation portion 12. The heat dissipation portion 12 is defined by at least one heat exchange housing formed, at least in part, by a heat exchange wall, whilst the heat absorbing means comprises at least one plug element formed, at least in part, by an outer heat exchange surface. The plug element is tightly and removably fitted in the interior of a respective heat exchange housing, so as to provide the coupling of the heat absorbing means to the heat dissipation portion 12 and to allow heat exchange, by conduction, to occur between the heat exchange wall and the outer heat exchange surface of the parts. The heat exchange housing comprises an elongated hole provided in a body made of a high thermal conductivity material and which is thermally connected to the heat dissipation portion 12, the heat exchange wall of the elongated hole tightly surrounding and contacting the heat exchange surface of the plug element when the latter is fitted in the interior of the elongated hole. The auxiliary refrigeration circuit CA is provided in an interior of a compact casing, and comprises a refrigeration circuit containing a working fluid to thermally connect the heat absorbing means to the heat dissipation means 30, the auxiliary refrigeration circuit CA being a refrigeration circuit by mechanical compression of a refrigerant fluid, including a compressor 70, a condenser defining in the heat dissipation means 30, receiving refrigerant fluid from the compressor 70 and releasing it to an expansion device and, subsequently, to an evaporator defined by the plug element of the heat absorbing means. The plug element is defined by a refrigerant fluid tube having an inlet end and an outlet end and longitudinally and internally comprises a plurality of peripheral channels and a central channel. A first end of the peripheral channels is connected to the inlet end of the refrigerant fluid tube, and a second end of the peripheral channels is open to a first end of the central channel, with a second end of the central channel being open to the outlet end of the refrigerant fluid tube.