Patent ID: 7147823

Claim:
A method for cooling a heat source, said method comprising: a) providing a cooling system in thermal association with said heat source, said cooling system comprising a closed-loop, thermally-conductive containment vessel with an oxidizable interior wall forming a hollow interior in which is housed a liquid metal cooling composition circulating through said interior, said containment vessel comprising a first portion positioned in thermal communication with said heat source for acceptance of heat, and a second portion positioned in thermal communication with a heat exchanger for dissipation of heat; b) introducing an oxidizing agent into said cooling composition for oxidizing said interior wall of said containment vessel in order to form an oxide barrier layer on said interior wall so that said interior wall is protected from reaction with said cooling composition; c) monitoring said cooling system in order to determine if an excess amount of said oxidizing agent is present; and d) introducing a reducing agent comprised of carbon in solid form into said cooling composition when said monitoring of said cooling system detects an excess amount of said oxidizing agent, said introducing of said reducing agent being done separately from said introducing of said oxidizing agent, with said introducing of said oxidizing agent and said introducing of said reducing agent occurring non-simultaneously.