Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/378,261, filed on Aug. 12, 2014 and entitled “COOLING ELECTRONIC DEVICES INSTALLED IN A SUBSURFACE ENVIRONMENT”, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,593,876, issued on Mar. 14, 2017, which claims the priority of U.S. Provisional 61/698,365, filed on Sep. 7, 2012 and entitled “GEOTHERMALLY COOLED COMPUTER HARDWARE SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR SUBSURFACE INSTALLATION”. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to a system and method for cooling electronic devices, including but not limited to computer systems, by installing the electronic devices in subsurface environments such as boreholes, excavations, or bodies of water. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Large-scale data centers typically house hundreds or thousands of computer systems in high-density configurations (side-by-side racks, with multiple computing nodes per rack) in an above-ground building. Some sources estimate that up to 50% of the electrical power consumption for data centers is dedicated to cooling the environment in which the computer systems operate. 
         [0004]    The heat generated by the internal electronic components of computing devices has long been a significant factor determining the overall system design of computer systems. The most common forms of heat dissipation in early personal computer designs were direct physical contact between the heat-generating integrated circuit chip and a heat-conducting mass such as aluminum, and non-turbulent airflow, typically generated by electrical fans, to circulate cool air through a space interior to the computer system housing. In the early large-scale computing systems of the 1940s and 1950s, heat dissipation consisted primarily of ventilation apertures in housings, followed by ambient-air fans and blowers which cooled by forced air convection. 
         [0005]    Zelina, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,566,958 (1971), describes a means of thermally coupling heat conductors to integrated circuit chips, though without addressing how to transport the heat contained in the heat-conducting material away from the space surrounding the electrical device. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,113 (1972) Rathjen describes a means of stacking planar electronic devices, with spacing between the flat planes, and cooling the entire assembly using fluid flow across the flat surfaces; the cooling fluid exits the entire assembly, thereby transporting heat away from the heat-generating electronics. Austin, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,728 (1973) discloses a mounting structure for fragile heat-generating devices (e.g. devices used in computer apparatuses), as well as uniformity of heat conduction and good heat dissipation away from the core assembly area. These ideas are combined in U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,183 (1975), in which Roush describes a more comprehensive means of constructing a full computer assembly with good heat dissipation characteristics of the individual circuit boards in the module, with fluid flow for removal of heat energy from the assembly. 
         [0006]    As semiconductor densities in computing devices continued to increase, progressively more heat was generated by the devices. Beginning in the 1980s a series of advancements was made in the heat removal capabilities of computer systems, primarily through the use of liquids. Oktay, in 1980 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,129) described the bonding of a heat sink to the surface of a heat-generating electronic device, and immersing the other surfaces of the heat sink in a liquid, which circulates through tunnels in the heat sink material. This innovation was followed by others too numerous to mention by inventor and patent number, including: jacketing the CPU of a computer and placing liquid coolant directly in contact with the CPU jacket, with or without pumps for circulation of the liquid; increasingly complex valves and other electronically controlled redundant cooling components for one or more CPUs or other heat generating electronic components; various designs for the channels and pipes carrying the liquid coolant; closed loop and open loop systems with physical contact between loop housings and varying degrees of fluid exchange between them. 
         [0007]    The cooling capacity of the earth&#39;s subsurface has long been recognized as a potential energy-saving feature of systems that cool inhabited environments. Because the subsurface maintains essentially a constant temperature at a given depth and the rock and/or artesian mass and volume of the subsurface are vast, heat can be exchanged with either warmer surface fluid, thereby providing cooling, or cooler surface fluid, thereby providing warming. Vignal and Chapuis, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,694 (1976) describe a means of exchanging heat with the earth&#39;s subsurface via a U-shaped line or pipe buried in a deep hole bored in the earth; their design is directed at systems for warming or cooling above-ground air. Many devices since then have been disclosed that improve on various aspects of air-conditioning designs and provide for more efficient heat transfer between above-ground fluids and subsurface rock or liquid. 
         [0008]    The use of subsurface thermal capacity to control the operating temperature of electronic equipment was disclosed by Enlund in U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,933 (2002) for equipment installed in a station and by Kidwell and Fraim in U.S. Pat. No. 7,363,769 (2008) for the cooling of electronic equipment at the base of an electromagnetic signal transmission/reception tower. The subject matter disclosed by Kidwell and Fraim describes a method and apparatus for using coaxial flow heat exchanging structures for regulating the temperature of heat-generating electronics installed in the base housing of an electromagnetic signal transmission/reception tower. The heat transfer is effected using a fluid flow loop from the surface to the underground environment and back to the surface. Chainer, in U.S. Pat. Application No. 2013/0081781 describes a system for data center cooling wherein heat transfer fluid is removed from the indoor volume of the data center and cooled via ambient air and geothermal heat exchange processes. 
         [0009]    Attlesey, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,724,517 (2010) disclose a design of a case for a liquid submersion cooled electronic device; the embodiments described therein include a liquid-tight case for enclosing electronic equipment, with at least a portion of one of the walls composed of translucent or transparent material for visibility into the interior of the case. In several subsequent patents, Attlesey describes cooling of electronic equipment by means of a dielectric liquid circulating in and through a fluid-tight container. Tufty et al. disclose a similar approach in U.S. Pat. Application No. 2013/0081790 (April 2013). Campbell, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,961,475 (June 2011) describe an apparatus and method for immersion cooling of one or more electronic subsystems in which cooling fluid passes in and out of one or more containers docked within an electronics rack. 
         [0010]    In conclusion, the heat generated by computer and other electronic hardware results in significant cooling costs in environments, such as data centers, where systems are deployed in high density configurations. 
         [0011]    Unless specifically stated as such, the preceding is not admitted to be prior art and no statement appearing in this section should be interpreted as a disclaimer of any features or improvements listed. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    At least one embodiment described herein provides a cooling mechanism for electronic devices and systems of devices, including but not limited to computer hardware systems, installed in a subsurface environment. The design provides a significant improvement in long-term electronic equipment operating costs by eliminating the inefficiencies inherent in removing heat from the human-inhabited environment of the facility in which the hardware is installed. The unique installation characteristics of this invention are likely to lead to a lower average operating temperature of the hardware, which will translate into a longer average operational lifetime of the hardware. The design also results in a very high security physical installation for electronic equipment systems. 
         [0013]    In its most basic embodiment, the design comprises electronic devices, either as individual units or as a cluster of units, installed in a containment vessel designed to conduct heat from the electronic devices to a fluid within a containment vessel; cooling of the electronic devices is accomplished by heat transfer from the electronic devices to a fluid within the containment vessel and finally heat transfer from the fluid to an external environment. The containment vessel exists primarily or entirely in a subsurface environment and can have any size, shape, or orientation as dictated by the constraints of the particular installation requirements. 
         [0014]    Electronic devices are installed in a containment vessel as individual units or in a grouped as units in a high-density configuration. Multiple containment vessels may be installed together to form a group of containment vessels that collectively house a large-scale installation of electronic devices. Designs are optimized for effective and efficient direct transfer of thermal energy away from heat-generating electronic devices enclosed in a containment vessel which is primarily or entirely installed in a subsurface environment. 
         [0015]    Heat generated by the electronic devices is transported away from the electronic devices by either direct, indirect, or direct and indirect contact with a cooling fluid that transports the captured heat to a) thermally conductive walls of a containment vessel and into the environment surrounding a containment vessel and/or b) an external heat exchanger assembly. Heat may be transferred from the fluid directly into the subsurface environment via passive or forced circulation, or the fluid may be circulated away from a containment vessel, cooled in an external location, and then re-circulated back to a containment vessel at a lower temperature. A containment vessel may have entrances, optionally fluid-tight, for power, networking, control, monitoring signals, and/or cooling fluid inlets and outlets. 
         [0016]    Multiple configuration options are described for optimized installation of containment vessels into a variety of subsurface environments, such as, but not limited to, a naturally occurring or man-made borehole, excavation, structure, well hole, or body of water (e.g. stock tank, reservoir, lake, pool, river, ocean, sea, stream, wetland, etc.). The installation of a containment vessel can be in any orientation and can be positioned at the surface or any distance below the surface, with or without direct contact to the above-surface environment. Electronic devices are disposed within a containment vessel in a variety of configurations that allow cooling fluid to flow over, around, through, and in the electronic devices to provide for heat transfer from the electronic device to the cooling fluid. Electronics device units may be stacked or grouped together to form a single structural unit, or they may be in close proximity as single units not in direct contact with other units. 
         [0017]    These and other aspects of the disclosed subject matter, as well as additional novel features, will be apparent from the description provided herein. The intent of this summary is not to be a comprehensive description of the claimed subject matter, but rather to provide a short overview of some of the subject matter&#39;s functionality. Other systems, methods, features and advantages here provided will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following FIGS and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages that are included within this description, be within the scope of the claims and any claims filed later. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         [0018]    The features characteristic of the invention are set forth in the claims and any claims filed later. However, the invention itself and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the left-most significant digit(s) in the reference numerals denote(s) the first figure in which the respective reference numerals appear, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a conceptual cross-section of a containment vessel with convection cooling that encloses electronic devices with flow-over cooling which is designed for subsurface installation according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a conceptual cross-section of a containment vessel with convection cooling that encloses electronic devices with cooling which is designed for subsurface installation according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a conceptual cross-section of a containment vessel with external heat exchanger that encloses electronic devices with flow-over cooling which is designed for subsurface installation according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a conceptual cross-section of a containment vessel with external heat exchanger that encloses electronic devices with cooling which is designed for subsurface installation according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows a conceptual cross-section of a containment vessel with external subsurface heat exchanger that encloses electronic devices with cooling which is designed for subsurface installation according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a conceptual cross-section of a containment vessel with external heat exchanger that encloses electronic devices with cooling which is designed for human-accessible subsurface installation according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  shows a conceptual cross-section of an electronic device designed for subsurface installation that comprises electronic components that are cooled by external cooling fluid circulation according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  shows a conceptual cross-section of an electronic device designed for subsurface installation that comprises electronic components that are cooled by interior channel and external cooling fluid circulation according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  shows a conceptual cross-section of an electronic device designed for subsurface installation that comprises electronic components that are cooled by internal cooling fluid circulation according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  shows a conceptual cross-section of an electronic device designed for subsurface installation that comprises electronic components that are cooled by interior channel and internal cooling fluid circulation according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    Although described with reference to certain embodiments, those with skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed embodiments have relevance to a wide variety of areas in addition to the specific examples described below. Further, elements from one or more embodiments may be used in other embodiments and elements may be removed from an embodiment and remain within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0030]    All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein; provided, however, to the extent there exists a conflict between this disclosure and a document incorporated by reference, this disclosure shall control. 
         [0031]    For the purposes of the present invention, the terms “electronic device”, “electronic devices”, “computer”, “computer systems”, “computer hardware systems”, “computer cluster”, “physical computer”, “computer server”, and “server” are used interchangeably, and unless otherwise specified comprise any number of electronic components or electronic component assemblies. 
         [0032]    For the purposes of the present invention, the term “fluid” is defined as a liquid, a gas, or a combination of liquid and gas. 
         [0033]    For the purposes of the present invention, the terms “thermally conductive fluid” and “cooling fluid” are used interchangeably and are defined as a fluid capable of absorbing and rejecting heat. 
         [0034]    For the purposes of the present invention, the term “adjacent” is defined as adjoining, bordering, touching along an edge or a point, or having a common endpoint or border. 
         [0035]    For the purposes of the present invention, the term “remote” is defined as not adjacent. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  shows a conceptual cross-section of a containment vessel with convection cooling that encloses electronic devices with flow-over cooling which is designed for subsurface installation. The containment vessel  100  encloses one or more electronic devices  116 . The containment vessel  100  is a sealed or unsealed structure which is near or any distance below surface level  108 . The containment vessel  100  is installed in either a removable or non-removable fashion in surrounding physical materials  112  such as earth, water, or concrete. The sealed embodiment will have a sealing cap  104  which may be covered by surrounding physical materials  112 . The unsealed embodiment will have containment vessel walls  110  that extend to the surface of the surrounding physical materials  112 . A fluid-tight connector assembly  114  extends through any sealing cap  104  to provide an entry port for power, control and electrical signal cabling  126  to and from a) one or more electronic devices  116 , and b) any optional fluid circulators  132 . The cooling fluid  120  with surface level  122  partially or completely fills the interior volume of the containment vessel  100  and surrounds the electronic devices  116 . The cooling fluid  120  circulates within the containment vessel  100  in a manner as to effect the heat removal from the electronic devices  116 . Fluid flow in and around the electronic devices  116  may be accomplished by embodiments of electronic devices  116  such as those described in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0037]    Heat from the warmer electronic devices  116  is transferred to the cooling fluid  120 . The cooling fluid  120  convectively moves toward the upper region of the containment vessel  100  optionally assisted by one or more fluid circulators  132 . The cooling fluid  120  moves toward the walls of the containment vessel  100  and flows along the walls of the containment vessel  100  toward the lower region of the containment vessel  100 . As the cooling fluid  120  moves along the walls of the containment vessel  100 , heat is transferred from the cooling fluid  120  to the walls of the containment vessel  100  and into the surrounding physical materials  112 . The cooling fluid  120  flows to the lower region of the containment vessel  100  and then begins to move upward, flowing over the electronic devices  116  to continue the heat removal cycle. The flow of cooling fluid  120  over electronic devices  116  may be augmented by one or more optional fluid circulators  132  which move the cooling fluid  120  from the lower region of the containment vessel  100  to the upper region of the containment vessel  100 . An optional fluid control structure  136  may be used to promote uniform fluid flow over electronic devices  116 . Fluid control structures  134  may be located within the containment vessel  100  in order assist in internal fluid circulation by providing a flow separation boundary between the cooler cooling fluid  120  which moves downward near the containment vessel  100  walls and the warmer cooler fluid  120  which moves upward over the electronic devices  116 . Multiple containment vessels  100  may be installed together to form a group of containment vessels  100  that collectively house a large-scale installation of electronic devices  116 . The containment vessel  100  is optionally comprised of thermally conductive materials. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  shows a conceptual cross-section of a containment vessel with convection cooling that encloses electronic devices with cooling which is designed for subsurface installation. The containment vessel  100  encloses one or more electronic devices  116 . The containment vessel  100  is a sealed or unsealed structure which is near or any distance below surface level  108 . The containment vessel  100  is installed in either a removable or non-removable fashion in surrounding physical materials  112  such as earth, water, or concrete. The sealed embodiment will have a sealing cap  104  which may be covered by surrounding physical materials  112 . The unsealed embodiment will have containment vessel walls  110  that extend to the surface of the surrounding physical materials  112 . A fluid-tight connector assembly  114  extends through any sealing cap  104  to provide an entry port for power, control and electrical signal cabling  126  to and from a) one or more electronic devices  116 , and b) one or more fluid pumps  210 . The cooling fluid  120  with surface level  122  partially or completely fills the interior volume of the containment vessel  100  and surrounds the electronic devices  116 . The cooling fluid  120  circulates within the containment vessel  100  in a manner as to effect the heat removal from the electronic devices  116 . Heat from the warmer electronic devices  116  is transferred to the cooling fluid  120 . The cooling fluid  120  flows in and around the electronic devices  116  in a manner that includes fluid flows described in embodiments of electronic devices  116  such as shown in  FIGS. 8, 9 , and/or  10 . 
         [0039]    The cooling fluid  120  is circulated within the containment vessel  100  by means of one or more fluid pumps  210  that may be at any location and are shown as positioned in the lower region of the containment vessel  100 . A fluid pump  210  has an inlet for cooling fluid  120 , performs a pumping action on cooling fluid  120  and delivers the cooling fluid  120  to an outlet that is attached to fluid distribution piping  220  which delivers cooling fluid  120  to each electronic device  116  as appropriate. The pumping action of the fluid pump  210  moves cooling fluid  120  into electronic devices  116  and the fluid is discharged back into the containment vessel  100  through fluid exit ports  221 . Fluid exit ports  221  are shown as representative of ports that allow cooling fluid  120  to be discharged from the interior of any electronic device  116 . Each electronic device  116  may include any number of fluid exit ports  221  that may be located at any appropriate location on electronic device  116 . The cooling fluid  120  moves both convectively and under pumping action toward the upper region of the containment vessel  100 . The fluid pump  210  may be optionally configured to allow a portion of the circulating cooling fluid  120  to bypass the fluid pump  210  inlet and flow upward in the containment vessel  100  over the electronic devices  116  toward the upper region of the containment vessel  100  thereby effecting additional heat transfer from the electronic devices  116 . An optional fluid control structure  136  may be used to promote uniform fluid flow over electronic devices  116 . Upon reaching the upper region of the containment vessel  100 , the cooling fluid  120  moves toward the walls of the containment vessel  100  and flows along the walls of the containment vessel  100  toward the lower region of the containment vessel  100 . As the cooling fluid  120  moves along the walls of the containment vessel  100 , heat is transferred from the cooling fluid  120  to the walls of the containment vessel  100  and into the surrounding physical materials  112 . The cooling fluid  120  flows to the lower region of the containment vessel  100  to continue the heat removal cycle. Fluid control structures  134  may be located within the containment vessel  100  in order assist in internal fluid circulation by providing a flow separation boundary between the cooler cooling fluid  120  which moves downward near the containment vessel  100  walls and the warmer cooler fluid  120  which moves upward over the electronic devices  116 . Multiple containment vessels  100  may be installed together to form a group of containment vessels  100  that collectively house a large-scale installation of electronic devices  116 . The containment vessel  100  is optionally comprised of thermally conductive materials. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  shows a conceptual cross-section of a containment vessel with external heat exchanger that encloses electronic devices with flow-over cooling which is designed for subsurface installation. The containment vessel  100  encloses one or more electronic devices  116 . The containment vessel  100  is a sealed or unsealed structure which is near or any distance below surface level  108 . The containment vessel  100  is installed in either a removable or non-removable fashion in surrounding physical materials  112  such as earth, water, or concrete. The sealed embodiment will have a sealing cap  104  which may be covered by surrounding physical materials  112 . The unsealed embodiment will have containment vessel walls  110  that extend to the surface of the surrounding physical materials  112 . A fluid-tight connector assembly  114  extends through any sealing cap  104  to provide an entry port for power, control and electrical signal cabling  126  to and from one or more electronic devices  116 . The cooling fluid  120  partially or completely fills the interior volume of the containment vessel  100  and surrounds the electronic devices  116 . The cooling fluid  120  circulates in a manner as to effect the heat removal from the electronic devices  116 . In this embodiment the cooling fluid  120  circulates to a heat exchanger assembly  356  installed external to, and either adjacent to or remote from, the containment vessel  100 . 
         [0041]    Heat from the warmer electronic devices  116  is transferred to the cooling fluid  120 . The cooling fluid  120  is warmed and moves toward the upper region of the containment vessel  100  where the warmer cooling fluid  372  is circulated away from the containment vessel  100  via outlet  330  and connecting line  324  that extends through fluid-tight connector assembly  314  and connects to one or more external adjacent or remote heat exchanger assemblies  356 . Outlet  330  may be disposed at any location inside the containment vessel  100  and may comprise one or more outlets  330 . The heat exchanger assembly  356  removes a portion of the heat from the warmer cooling fluid  372  and returns the resulting cooler cooling fluid  376  to the containment vessel  100  via connecting line  326  that extends through fluid-tight connector assembly  316  and further extends to any location in the containment vessel  100  returning the cooler cooling fluid  376  to the containment vessel  100  through inlet  328 . Fluid-tight connector assemblies  314 ,  316  are comprised of one or more fluid-tight connections through any sealing cap  104 . The cooling fluid  120  begins to move upward in the containment vessel  100 , flowing over the electronic devices  116  to continue the heat removal cycle. An optional fluid control structure  336  may be used to promote uniform fluid flow over electronic devices  116 . Fluid flow in and around the electronic devices  116  may be accomplished by embodiments of electronic devices  116  such as those described in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0042]    The heat exchanger assembly  356  is comprised of at least one heat exchanger system that removes heat from the cooling fluid  120 ,  372  and rejects the removed heat into the adjacent environment of the heat exchanger assembly  356  or an environment remote to the heat exchanger assembly  356 . The heat exchanger assembly  356  is comprised of at least one heat exchange system that may accomplish heat rejection by a variety of heat rejection means that include, but are not limited to, ventilation, compression, evaporation, dry cooler, fluid to fluid, and geothermal. The heat exchanger assembly  356  may use one or more fluid pumps  322  to assist in the circulation action of the cooling fluid  120 ,  372 ,  376 . The heat exchanger assembly  356  is located external to, and either adjacent to or remote from, the containment vessel  100 . A heat exchanger assembly  356  may function to remove heat from the cooling fluid  120  for more than one containment vessel  100 . Multiple containment vessels  100  may be installed together to form a group of containment vessels  100  that collectively house a large-scale installation of electronic devices  116 . The containment vessel  100  is optionally comprised of thermally conductive materials. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  shows a conceptual cross-section of a containment vessel with external heat exchanger that encloses electronic devices with cooling which is designed for subsurface installation. The containment vessel  100  encloses one or more electronic devices  116 . The containment vessel  100  is a sealed or unsealed structure which is near or any distance below surface level  108 . The containment vessel  100  is installed in either a removable or non-removable fashion in surrounding physical materials  112  such as earth, water, or concrete. The sealed embodiment will have a sealing cap  104  which may be covered by surrounding physical materials  112 . The unsealed embodiment will have containment vessel walls  110  that extend to the surface of the surrounding physical materials  112 . A fluid-tight connector assembly  114  extends through any sealing cap  104  to provide an entry port for power, control and electrical signal cabling  126  to and from one or more electronic devices  116 . The cooling fluid  120  partially or completely fills the interior volume of the containment vessel  100  and surrounds the electronic devices  116 . The cooling fluid  120  circulates in a manner as to effect the heat removal from the electronic devices  116 . In this embodiment the cooling fluid  120  circulates to a heat exchanger assembly  356  installed external to, and either adjacent to or remote from, the containment vessel  100 . 
         [0044]    Heat from the warmer electronic devices  116  is transferred to the cooling fluid  120 . The cooling fluid  120  flows in and around the electronic devices  116  in a manner that includes fluid flows described in embodiments of electronic devices  116  such as shown in  FIGS. 8, 9 , and/or  10 . The cooling fluid  120  is warmed and moves toward the upper region of the containment vessel  100  where the warmer cooling fluid  372  is circulated away from the containment vessel  100  via outlet  330  and connecting line  324  that extends through fluid-tight connector assembly  314  and connects to one or more external adjacent or remote heat exchanger assemblies  356 . Outlet  330  may be disposed at any location inside the containment vessel  100  and may comprise one or more outlets  330 . The heat exchanger assembly  356  removes a portion of the heat from the warmer cooling fluid  372  and returns the resulting cooler cooling fluid  376  to the containment vessel  100  via connecting line  326  that extends through fluid-tight connector assembly  316  and further extends to any location in the containment vessel  100  returning the cooler cooling fluid  376  to within the containment vessel  100  through fluid distribution piping  428  which delivers cooling fluid  120 ,  376  to each electronic device  116  as appropriate. Fluid-tight connector assemblies  314 ,  316  are comprised of one or more fluid-tight connections through any sealing cap  104 . The cooling fluid  120  flows through electronic devices  116  and the fluid is discharged back into the containment vessel  100  through fluid exit ports  221 . Fluid exit ports  221  are shown as representative of ports that allow cooling fluid  120  to be discharged from the interior of any electronic device  116 . Each electronic device  116  may include any number of fluid exit ports  221  that may be located at any appropriate location on a electronic device  116 . The cooling fluid  120  moves both convectively and under circulation action toward the upper region of the containment vessel  100 . The fluid distribution piping  428  may be optionally configured to allow a portion of the circulating cooling fluid  120  to be released into the containment vessel  100  via ports  429  enabling cooling fluid  120  to flow upward in the containment vessel  100  over the electronic devices  116  toward the upper region of the containment vessel  100  thereby effecting additional heat transfer from the electronic devices  116 . An optional fluid control structure  336  may be used to promote uniform fluid flow over electronic devices  116 . 
         [0045]    The heat exchanger assembly  356  is comprised of at least one heat exchanger system that removes heat from the cooling fluid  120 ,  372  and rejects the removed heat into the adjacent environment of the heat exchanger assembly  356  or an environment remote to the heat exchanger assembly  356 . The heat exchanger assembly  356  is comprised of at least one heat exchange system that may accomplish heat rejection by a variety of heat rejection means that include, but are not limited to, ventilation, compression, evaporation, dry cooler, fluid to fluid, and geothermal. The heat exchanger assembly  356  may use one or more fluid pumps  322  to assist in the circulation action of the cooling fluid  120 ,  372 ,  376 . The heat exchanger assembly  356  is located external to, and either adjacent to or remote from, the containment vessel  100 . A heat exchanger assembly  356  may function to remove heat from the cooling fluid  120  for more than one containment vessel  100 . Multiple containment vessels  100  may be installed together to form a group of containment vessels  100  that collectively house a large-scale installation of electronic devices  116 . The containment vessel  100  is optionally comprised of thermally conductive materials. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  shows a conceptual cross-section of a containment vessel with external subsurface heat exchanger that encloses electronic devices with cooling which is designed for subsurface installation.  FIG. 5  shows a configuration similar to that of  FIG. 4 , the primary difference being that heat exchanger assembly  356  and optional fluid pump  322  are located in a subsurface environment external to, and either adjacent to or remote from, the containment vessel  100 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 6  shows a conceptual cross-section of a containment vessel with external heat exchanger that encloses electronic devices with cooling which is designed for human-accessible subsurface installation.  FIG. 6  shows a configuration similar to that of  FIG. 4 , the primary difference being the presence of a secondary containment vessel  610  that is sufficiently large and of the correct environment and structure to facilitate human access, inspection, and maintenance of at least a portion of the containment vessel  100 . Multiple containment vessels  100  may be installed in a single secondary containment vessel  610 . The containment vessel  100  is installed in either a removable or non-removable fashion inside the secondary containment vessel  610 . The secondary containment vessel  610  is installed in surrounding physical materials  112  such as earth, water, or concrete and contains a human accessible extension  612  to the surface. The containment vessel  100  will allow human access inside the containment vessel  100 , optionally through an access panel or port  606 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 7  shows a conceptual cross-section of an electronic device designed for subsurface installation that comprises electronic components that are cooled by external cooling fluid circulation.  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , and/or  6  above refer to the electronic device of this section as an electronic device  116 . This embodiment provides an enclosure  700  for the electronic device, with a fluid filled interior space  704 , and an entry port for power, control and electrical signal cabling  726 . The exterior surface of the enclosure  700  is in contact with a surrounding cooling fluid  712  which circulates and is cooled in any of the manners described for  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , and/or  6  above. 
         [0049]    The electronic components which are interior to the enclosure  700  include one or more power supplies  716 , one or more data storage assemblies  720  comprising disk drives or other type of storage units, one or more motherboard assemblies  724 , and other custom electronic device assembly  728  that may be required by a particular application. The motherboard assembly  724 , power supply assembly  716 , data storage assembly  720 , and custom electronic device assembly  728  are electronic component assemblies that contain electronic components that have been arranged in a manner to facilitate proper operation and optimal heat transfer; they may be bracket mounted and open to the interior of the enclosure  700  or each electronic component assembly  724 ,  716 ,  720 ,  728  may be fully enclosed as a unit in order to either contain a secondary cooling fluid such as a dielectric or to isolate the electronic component assembly  724 ,  716 ,  720 ,  728  from direct contract with either the cooling fluid  712  or another secondary cooling fluid. Each electronic component assembly  724 ,  716 ,  720 ,  728  will have cable entrances for power and electrical signaling that serve to interconnect the electronic component assemblies. Each electronic component assembly  724 ,  716 ,  720 ,  728  may be mounted in such a fashion as to transfer heat directly from the electronic component assembly  724 ,  716 ,  720 ,  728  to the wall of the enclosure  700 . The interior  704  of the enclosure  700  may contain fluids separated by interior partitions and control structures that serve to transfer heat from the inward facing surfaces of electronic component assemblies  724 ,  716 ,  720 ,  728  to the outer wall of the enclosure  700 . The electronic component assemblies interior to the enclosure  700  do not need to be arranged exactly as shown and may have various arrangements to facilitate heat transfer and operation. Multiple enclosures  700  may be connected in a single logical and/or physical structure as to form a single operating and/or installed unit. 
         [0050]      FIG. 8  shows a conceptual cross-section of an electronic device designed for subsurface installation that comprises electronic components that are cooled by interior channel and external cooling fluid circulation.  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , and/or  6  above refer to the electronic device of this section as an electronic device  116 . This embodiment provides an enclosure  850  for the electronic device, with a fluid filled interior space  854 , and an entry port for power, control and electrical signal cabling  826 . This embodiment has a pipe-like cylindrical or tubular enclosure  850  of various cross-sectional geometries and lengths that allow the flow  862  of cooling fluid  860  through one or more channels in its central space. The exterior surface of the enclosure  850  is in contact with a surrounding cooling fluid  860 . The enclosure  850  has a sealing cap  866  with an entry port through which the cooling fluid  860  is forced  862 . The cooling fluid  860  is warmed by contact with the surfaces of the enclosure  850  as it flows downward  862 ; the cooling fluid  860  exits at the bottom of the enclosure  850 , then flows across the enclosure  850  surfaces as it rises  864 ; the cooling fluid  860  is circulated and cooled in any of the manners described for  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , and/or  6  above. 
         [0051]    The electronic components interior to the enclosure  850  include one or more power supplies  870 , one or more data storage assemblies  874  comprising disk drives or other type of storage units, one or more motherboard assemblies  878 , and other custom electronic device assembly  882  that may be required by a particular application. The motherboard assembly  878 , power supply assembly  870 , data storage assembly  874 , and custom electronic device assembly  882  are electronic component assemblies that contain electronic components that have been arranged in a manner to facilitate proper operation and optimal heat transfer; they may be bracket mounted and open to the interior of the enclosure  850  or each electronic component assembly  878 ,  870 ,  874 ,  882  may be fully enclosed as a unit in order to either contain a secondary cooling fluid such as a dielectric or to isolate the electronic component assembly  878 ,  870 ,  874 ,  882  from direct contract with either the cooling fluid  860  or another secondary cooling fluid. Each electronic component assembly  878 ,  870 ,  874 ,  882  will have cable entrances for power and electrical signaling that serve to interconnect the electronic component assemblies. Each electronic component assembly  878 ,  870 ,  874 ,  882  may be mounted in such a fashion as to transfer heat directly from the electronic component assembly  878 ,  870 ,  874 ,  882  to the wall of the enclosure  850 . The interior  854  of the enclosure  850  may contain fluids separated by interior partitions and control structures that serve to transfer heat from the inward facing surfaces of electronic component assemblies  878 ,  870 ,  874 ,  882  to the outer wall of the enclosure  850 . The electronic component assemblies interior to the enclosure  850  do not need to be arranged exactly as shown and may have various arrangements to facilitate heat transfer and operation. The circulation of the cooling fluid  860  may be reversed by moving the sealing cap  866 , through which the cooling fluid  860  is forced  862 , to the bottom of the enclosure  850 . Multiple enclosures  850  may be connected in a single logical and/or physical structure as to form a single operating and/or installed unit. 
         [0052]      FIG. 9  shows a conceptual cross-section of an electronic device designed for subsurface installation that comprises electronic components that are cooled by internal cooling fluid circulation.  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , and/or  6  above refer to the electronic device of this section as an electronic device  116 . This embodiment provides an enclosure  900  for the electronic device, with a fluid filled interior space  904 , and an entry port for power, control and electrical signal cabling  926 . This embodiment has a pipe-like cylindrical or tubular enclosure of various cross-sectional geometries and lengths that allow the flow  918  of cooling fluid  910  through the interior  904  of the enclosure  900  and around the interior electronic component assemblies. The exterior surface of the enclosure  900  is in contact with a surrounding cooling fluid  910 . The enclosure  900  has a sealing cap  916  with an entry port through which the cooling fluid  910  is forced  912 . The cooling fluid  910  is warmed by contact with the interior electronic component assemblies and exits the enclosure  914  through the exit ports  940  into the containment vessel. The cooling fluid  910  is circulated and cooled in any of the manners described for  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , and/or  6  above. 
         [0053]    The electronic components interior to the enclosure  900  include one or more power supplies  920 , one or more data storage assemblies  924  comprising disk drives or other type of storage units, one or more motherboard assemblies  928 , and other custom electronic device assembly  932  that may be required by a particular application. The motherboard assembly  928 , power supply assembly  920 , data storage assembly  924 , and custom electronic device assembly  932  are electronic component assemblies that contain electronic components that have been arranged in a manner to facilitate proper operation and optimal heat transfer; each electronic component assembly  928 ,  920 ,  924 ,  932  is fully enclosed as a unit in order to either contain a secondary cooling fluid such as a dielectric or to isolate the electronic component assembly  928 ,  920 ,  924 ,  932  from direct contract with either the cooling fluid  910  or another secondary cooling fluid. Each electronic component assembly  928 ,  920 ,  924 ,  932  will have cable entrances for power and electrical signaling that serve to interconnect the electronic component assemblies. Each assembly electronic component  928 ,  920 ,  924 ,  932  may be mounted in such a fashion as to transfer heat directly from the electronic component assembly  928 ,  920 ,  924 ,  932  to the wall of the enclosure  900 . Alternatively or additionally, each electronic component assembly  928 ,  920 ,  924 ,  932  could be mounted in a fashion to maximize the electronic component assembly  928 ,  920 ,  924 ,  932  contact with cooling fluid  910  within enclosure  900 . The electronic component assemblies interior to the enclosure  900  do not need to be arranged exactly as shown and may have various arrangements to facilitate heat transfer and operation. The circulation of the cooling fluid  910  may be reversed by moving the sealing cap  916  through which the cooling fluid  910  is forced to the bottom of the enclosure  900 . Multiple enclosures  900  may be connected in a single logical and/or physical structure as to form a single operating and/or installed unit. 
         [0054]      FIG. 10  shows a conceptual cross-section of an electronic device designed for subsurface installation that comprises electronic components that are cooled by interior channel and internal cooling fluid circulation.  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , and/or  6  above refer to the electronic device of this section as an electronic device  116 . This embodiment provides an enclosure  1050  for the electronic device, with a fluid filled interior space  1054 , and an entry port for power, control and electrical signal cabling  1026 . This embodiment has a pipe-like cylindrical or tubular enclosure of various cross-sectional geometries and lengths that allow the flow  1062  of cooling fluid  1060  through one or more channels in its central space, into the interior  1054  of the enclosure  1050 , and flows  1068  around the interior electronic component assemblies. The exterior surface of the enclosure  1050  is in contact with a surrounding cooling fluid  1060 . The enclosure  1050  has one or more upper and lower sealing caps  1066  through which the cooling fluid  1060  is forced  1062 . The cooling fluid  1060  enters the interior space  1054  through one or more entry ports  1070 ; once inside the interior space  1054 , the cooling fluid  1060  flows  1068  around the interior electronic component assemblies and is warmed by contact with the interior electronic component assemblies; the cooling fluid  1060  exits the enclosure  1064  through the exit ports  1090  into the containment vessel. The cooling fluid  1060  is circulated and cooled any of the manners described for  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , and/or  6  above. 
         [0055]    The electronic components interior to the enclosure  1050  include one or more power supplies  1074 , one or more data storage assemblies  1078  comprising disk drives or other type of storage units, one or more motherboard assemblies  1082 , and other custom electronic device assembly  1086  that may be required by a particular application. The motherboard assembly  1082 , power supply assembly  1074 , data storage assembly  1078 , and custom electronic device assembly  1086  are electronic component assemblies that contain electronic components that have been arranged in a manner to facilitate proper operation and optimal heat transfer; each electronic component assembly  1082 ,  1074 ,  1078 ,  1086  is fully enclosed as a unit in order to either contain a secondary cooling fluid such as a dielectric or to isolate the electronic component assembly  1082 ,  1074 ,  1078 ,  1086  from direct contract with either the cooling fluid  1060  or another secondary cooling fluid. Each electronic component assembly  1082 ,  1074 ,  1078 ,  1086  will have cable entrances for power and electrical signaling that serve to interconnect the electronic component assemblies. Alternatively or additionally, each electronic component assembly  1082 ,  1074 ,  1078 ,  1086  could be mounted in a fashion to maximize the electronic component assembly  1082 ,  1074 ,  1078 ,  1086  contact with cooling fluid  1060  within enclosure  1050 . Each electronic component assembly  1082 ,  1074 ,  1078 ,  1086  may be mounted in such a fashion as to transfer heat directly from the electronic component assembly  1082 ,  1074 ,  1078 ,  1086  to the wall of the enclosure  1050 . The electronic component assemblies interior to the enclosure  1050  do not need to be arranged exactly as shown and may have various arrangements to facilitate heat transfer and operation. The circulation of the cooling fluid  1060  may be reversed by removing the warmed fluid from one or more channels in central space of the enclosure  1050  and introducing the cooled fluid into the enclosure  1050  via the exit ports  1090 . Multiple enclosures  1050  may be connected in a single logical and/or physical structure as to form a single operating and/or installed unit. 
         [0056]    Although example diagrams to implement the elements of the disclosed subject matter have been provided, one skilled in the art, using this disclosure, could develop additional embodiments to practice the disclosed subject matter and each is intended to be included herein. Although many of the embodiments refer to a computer system or systems, this is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure as the disclosed subject matter could be employed by someone skilled in the art, with the assistance of this disclosure, to cool any item which produces heat. Further, although discussed throughout as being positioned predominantly subsurface, one skilled in the art, with the assistance of this disclosure, could implement the teachings in a non-subsurface position. Finally, the embodiments disclosed could function without the need for traditional forced or passive air cooling. 
         [0057]    In addition to the above described embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that this disclosure has application in a variety of arts and situations and this disclosure is intended to include the same.

Technology Category: f