Method and system of cooling components of a computer system

Abstract

An example cooling system for a computer includes a canister that holds a compressed fluid and a gas cooling device having an inlet port and a chilled gas outlet port. In addition, the cooling system includes a valve that couples between the canister and the inlet port of the gas cooling device, the valve selectively couples the compressed fluid to the inlet port. Further, the cooling system includes a pressure regulator that coupled between the canister and the inlet port of the gas cooling device, wherein the pressure regulator selectively regulates the flow rate of gas to the inlet port of the gas cooling device. Still further, the cooling system includes a chilled gas duct system that couples to the chilled gas outlet port, the chilled duct system configured to direct the chilled gas to be incident upon at least one heat generating element of the computer system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling system for a computer comprising:
 a canister that holds a compressed fluid;   a gas cooling device having an inlet port and a chilled gas outlet port;   a valve that couples between the canister and the inlet port of the gas cooling device, the valve selectively couples the compressed fluid to the inlet port;   a pressure regulator that couples between the canister and the inlet port of the gas cooling device, wherein the pressure regulator selectively regulates the flow rate of gas to the inlet port of the gas cooling device; and   a chilled gas duct system that couples to the chilled gas outlet port, the chilled duct system configured to direct the chilled gas to be incident upon at least one heat generating element of the computer system.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the gas cooling device is a vortex cooler. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling system as defined in  claim 2  further comprising a hot gas duct system configured to direct hot gas to a location external of a case of the computer system. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the gas cooling device is an expansion orifice. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling system as defined in  claim 4  wherein the expansion orifice is integral with the canister. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the valve is a solenoid operated valve. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 operating a processor of a computer system;   monitoring a temperature of the processor;   applying a burst of chilled gas to a heat transfer element thermally coupled to the processor if the temperature of the processor reaches a predetermined threshold;   supplying compressed fluid to a gas cooling device;   directing chilled gas from the gas cooling device on the heat transfer element; and   selectively regulating a flow rate of the compressed fluid to the gas cooling device with a pressure regulator.   
     
     
         8 . The method as defined in  claim 7  wherein applying further comprises:
 supplying compressed fluid to a vortex cooler; 
 directing chilled gas from the vortex cooler on the heat transfer element; and 
 directing hot gas from the vortex cooler outside an outer enclosure of the computer system. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method as defined in  claim 7  wherein applying further comprises:
 supplying compressed fluid to a gas expansion orifice; and 
 directing chilled gas from the gas expansion orifice on the heat transfer element. 
 
     
     
         10 . A computer system comprising:
 a means for enclosing computer system components;   a means for executing instructions and generating heat, the means for executing instructions coupled within the means for enclosing;   a means for containing a compressed fluid, the means for containing coupled to the means for enclosing;   a means for producing chilled gas selectively fluidly coupled to the means for containing; and   a pressure regulator for selectively regulating a flow rotate of the chilled gas from the means for containing to the means for producing chilled gas;   wherein the chilled gas produced cools the means for executing instructions.   
     
     
         11 . The computer system as defined in  claim 10  wherein the means for containing couples to an exterior surface of the means for enclosing. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system as defined in  claim 10  further comprising:
 a means for sensing temperature of the means for executing; 
 wherein a signal to fluidly couple the means for containing to the means for producing chilled gas is generated when a temperature sensed by the means for sensing temperature reaches a predetermined threshold. 
 
     
     
         13 . The computer system as defined in  claim 10  further comprising a means to trigger coupling of the means for containing to the means for producing chilled gas.