Integrated bubble generation, transport and extraction for enhanced liquid cooling in a microchannel heat exchanger

Abstract

One embodiment can include a heat exchange system for heat exchange with a heat source and a cold source. The system can include a circulation loop. The circulation loop can include a heat emission portion configured to exchange heat with the cold source and a heat absorption portion configured to exchange heat with the heat source, the heat absorption portion comprising a channel. The embodiment can include a liquid pump configured to circulate a liquid through the circulation loop, from an inlet of the channel to an outlet of the channel and a bubble injector coupled to the circulation loop proximal to the inlet of the channel and configured to flow a gas to form a plurality of gas bubbles in the channel, with each of the plurality of gas bubbles monodispersed across the channel, with segments of liquid separating successive gas bubbles of the plurality of gas bubbles.

1 . A heat exchange system for heat exchange with a heat source and a cold source, the system comprising:
 a circulation loop comprising:
 a heat emission portion configured to exchange heat with the cold source; and 
 a heat absorption portion configured to exchange heat with the heat source, the heat absorption portion comprising a channel, 
   a liquid pump configured to circulate a liquid through the circulation loop, from an inlet of the channel to an outlet of the channel; and   a bubble injector coupled to the circulation loop proximal to the inlet of the channel and configured to flow a gas to form a plurality of gas bubbles in the channel, with each of the plurality of gas bubbles monodispersed across the channel, with segments of liquid separating successive gas bubbles of the plurality of gas bubbles.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a gas circulation loop coupled to the bubble injector and comprising a gas separator coupled to the circulation loop proximal to the outlet of the channel, the gas separator configured to remove the gas from the liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising a gas circulation loop coupled to the gas separator, with the bubble injector configured to draw the gas from the gas separator, through the gas circulation loop. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the gas separator includes a hydrophobic membrane. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is sized such that at least one of the plurality of gas bubbles has a bond number below around 3.6. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of bubbles has an aspect ratio of length to width less than or equal to 4:1. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is sized to maintain a wetted channel between successive segments of liquid. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the bubble injector is configured to disperse the segments of liquid over regular intervals. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bubble injector includes an jet pump. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid pump is peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bubble injector is configured to flow the plurality of gas bubbles, substantially free of bubbly flow. 
     
     
         12 . A method for heat exchange between a heat source and a heat exchanger, comprising:
 affixing the heat exchanger to the heat source, with the heat exchanger thermally communicative with the heat source;   flowing a liquid through a channel in the heat exchanger, at a determined flow rate and liquid pressure;   flowing a gas into the liquid and forming a plurality of gas bubbles in the liquid, with each of the plurality of gas bubbles monodispersed in the liquid, in the channel, with segments of liquid separating successive gas bubbles of the plurality of gas bubbles; and   exchanging heat between the heat exchanger and the heat source.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising separating the gas from the liquid after exchanging heat between the heat exchanger and the heat source. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein flowing the gas includes flowing gas separated from the liquid and circulated to an gas pump. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising extracting the gas from the liquid after exchanging heat between the heat exchanger and the heat source. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein segmenting the bubbles includes controlling the segmenting by adjusting at least one of a gas pressure of the gas, a gas-flow rate of the gas, a wetting angle of the liquid, a liquid flow rate of the liquid and a liquid pressure of the liquid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising circulating liquid through a circulation loop, and cooling the liquid along a heat emission portion of the circulation loop, wherein exchanging heat between the heat exchanger and the heat source includes heating the liquid along a heat absorption portion of the circulation loop. 
     
     
         18 . A heat exchange system for heat exchange with an integrated circuit, the system comprising:
 a heat exchanger comprising a close circulation loop comprising:
 a heat emission portion configured to exchange heat with a cold source; and 
 at least one heat absorption portion configured to exchange heat with the integrated circuit, the heat absorption portion comprising a microchannel, 
   a liquid pump configured to circulate a liquid through the circulation loop, from an inlet of the microchannel to an outlet of the microchannel;   a bubble injector coupled to the microchannel and configured to flow a gas to form a plurality of gas bubbles in the microchannel, with each of the plurality of gas bubbles monodispersed across the microchannel, with segments of liquid separating successive gas bubbles of the plurality of gas bubbles; and   a closed gas circulation loop, with a hydrophilic membrane coupled to the circulation loop proximal to the outlet of the microchannel and between the circulation loop and the gas circulation loop, the hydrophilic membrane configured to remove the gas from the liquid, the bubble injector configured to draw the gas from the hydrophilic membrane to the bubble injector.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the heat absorption portion defines a plurality of microchannels, each coupled to the circulation loop in parallel. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the integrated circuit forms a part of a computer comprising a random access memory coupled to the integrated circuit.