Boiling Liquid Microchannels Could Cool PCs and Autos
Boiling Liquid Microchannels Could Cool PCs and Autos
Posted 09/24/2009 at 5:00pm
| by Ryan Whitwam
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Researchers at Purdue University claim to have developed a new kind of cooling technology. Tannaz Harirchia and Suresh Garimella, are using boiling liquid inside microchannels on specially fabricated chips to more efficiently cool components.
Fluids do not behave in the same way in microchannels as they do elsewhere, allowing for increased heat exchange. “Allowing a liquid to boil in cooling systems dramatically increases how much heat can be removed, compared to simply heating a liquid to below its boiling point," the researchers wrote. The device constructed at Purdue is basically a small one inch square heatsink. After liquid has boiled off in the microchannels, a small compressor disperses the heat, returning it to a liquid.
The technology has possible applications in both PC and automotive cooling. PCs are relying on numerous fans, or bulky water block cooling. Similarly, cars use both air and water cooling to remain in working order. Both these areas could see advancement if this microchannel cooling technology takes off.
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dbonderczuk
September 24, 2009 at 5:58pm
The advancement always lies in making a technology more practical in this industy.
K0BALT
September 24, 2009 at 5:54pm
....... numerous fans and bulky water cooling systems are coooool.
nsvander
September 24, 2009 at 5:34pm
How is this new? The only thing they did was shrink the process. This is the fundamental principle behind any refridgeration system.
pl4t0
September 24, 2009 at 6:24pm
pretty cool. If they make it affordable and simple, I can't wait.
Ryan Whitwam
September 24, 2009 at 5:37pm
I gather that by using such small channels they can allow the liquid to actually boil. In current systems, the coolant just heats up. This means more heat is transferred.
nsvander
September 25, 2009 at 4:45pm
Actually in refrigeration system the liquid evaportates to a gas and this allows the system to cool, it is then pumped outside of the cold area, and changed back into a super heated gas, that is then pumped back into the system to evaporate and cool again, it much more efficient then boiling.
Ryan Whitwam
September 25, 2009 at 7:08pm
We're not really talking about refrigeration systems though. Yes, air conditioning/refrigeration uses vapor compression cycles. But these use CFC/HFC refrigerants that boil a very low temperatures.
Current PC cooling systems just heat fluids below boiling. This system is circulating fluids (I imagine not an actual refrigerant) into a component to boil (evaporation is actually a spontaneous and slow process) quickly by effectively exposing an increased surface area to heat.
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