Boiling Liquid Microchannels Could Cool PCs and Autos
Posted 09/24/09 at 08:00:20 PM by Ryan Whitwam
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.

WTF!!
Submitted by gymbeau2000 on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 12:11pm
Who cares about the tech...the girl is HOT!
lol... here name is Tanaz.
Submitted by Sina on Sun, 09/27/2009 - 11:43am
lol... her name is Tanaz.
well, like always, persian
Submitted by Sina on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 10:52am
well, like always, persian scientists.
making it cheaper
Submitted by dbonderczuk on Thu, 09/24/2009 - 5:58pm
The advancement always lies in making a technology more practical in this industy.
Yeah, but......
Submitted by K0BALT on Thu, 09/24/2009 - 5:54pm
....... numerous fans and bulky water cooling systems are coooool.
How is this new? The only
Submitted by nsvander on Thu, 09/24/2009 - 5:34pm
How is this new? The only thing they did was shrink the process. This is the fundamental principle behind any refridgeration system.
pretty cool. If they make
Submitted by pl4t0 on Thu, 09/24/2009 - 6:24pm
pretty cool. If they make it affordable and simple, I can't wait.
I gather that by using such
Submitted by Ryan Whitwam on Thu, 09/24/2009 - 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.
Actually the refrigerant
Submitted by nsvander on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 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.
We're not really talking
Submitted by Ryan Whitwam on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 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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