[Technical Field]
[0001]
The present invention relates to refrigerant intermediary devices,
cooling devices including the refrigerant intermediary devices, and cooling
methods, and, in particular, to a refrigerant intermediary device, a cooling
10 device including the refrigerant intermediary device, and a cooling method
that are used for cooling electronic equipment and the like,.
[Background Art]
[0002]
A phase-change cooling system IS known as an example of an
15 efficient cooling system for electronic equipment and the like. In the
phase-change cooling system, the heat generated in heat sources such as
electronic equipment is received and released using the latent heat of the
refrigerant. This system enables the refrigerant to circulate without any
power supply due to the buoyancy of refrigerant vapor and the force of
20 gravity on refrigerant liquid. Consequently, the phase-change cooling
system makes it possible to cool electronic equipment and the like
efficiently with energy saving.
[0003]
Because the cooling device employing the phase-change cooling
25 system (phase-change cooling device) cools a heating element by
transferring the heat from the heating element to refrigerant liquid m a
heat receiving unit, a great amount of refrigerant liquid is filled that
corresponds to the greatest amount of heat generation. Because refrigerant
vapor evaporated due to receiving heat in the heat receiving unit rises
2
involving the surrounding refrigerant liquid of liquid phase, a vapor tube
through which the refrigerant vapor flows also contains a relatively large
amount of refrigerant liquid. The refrigerant liquid included in the vapor
tube, however, becomes a factor for increasing fluid resistance to the
5 refrigerant vapor. This leads to the problem that the cooling performance
of the phase-change cooling device decreases.
[0004]
A technique to solve such a problem is disclosed Ill Patent
Literature 1. An ebullient cooling device for electronic equipment
10 disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a jacket, a cooling liquid drive
unit, a radiation unit, a tank, and tubes connecting these elements; and an
encapsulated refrigerant circulates in the device. The jacket is thermally
connected with a heat generating body constituting part of electronic
equipment, and propagates heat to the refrigerant circulating inside the
15 jacket. The cooling liquid drive unit drives the refrigerant flowing in the
jacket. The radiation unit releases the heat propagated from the jacket to
the outside. The tank contains the refrigerant inside.
[0005]
The tank is connected with the outlet of the jacket, and the internal
20 space of the tank is separated by a porous body into a gas-liquid mixing
region and a refrigerant liquid retention region. The refrigerant liquid
retention region of the tank is connected to the tube between the radiation
unit and the cooling liquid drive unit, and the gas-liquid mixing region is
connected to the radiation unit through an opening different from a supply
25 port for the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant from the jacket.
[0006]
This configuration makes it possible to prevent the liquid from
adhering in the tube connecting the jacket and the radiator, and reduce the
pressure loss between the jacket and the radiator, according to the ebullient
3
cooling device for electronic equipment disclosed in Patent Literature 1.
[Citation List]
[Patent Literature]
[0007]
5 [PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2008-130746 (paragraphs [0015] to [0037], FIG. 1)
10
[Summary of Invention]
[Technical Problem]
[0008]
As mentioned above, the related ebullient cooling device for
electronic equipment disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is configured in
which the refrigerant liquid retention region of the tank is connected to the
tube between the radiation unit and the cooling liquid drive unit through a
bypass tube. This requires inserting a branch tube into the flow path of the
15 refrigerant liquid; consequently, there has been the problem that the tube
structure becomes complex.
[0009]
Thus, there has been the problem that the tube structure becomes
complex if a gas-liquid separation structure is introduced into a
20 phase-change cooling device to prevent the cooling performance from
decreasing.
[0010]
The object of the present invention IS to provide a refrigerant
intermediary device, a cooling device including the refrigerant
25 intermediary device, and a cooling method to solve the problem that the
tube structure becomes complex if a gas-liquid separation structure is
introduced into a phase-change cooling device to prevent the cooling
performance from decreasing.
[Solution to Problem]
4
[0011]
A refrigerant intermediary device according to an exemplary aspect
of the present invention includes a refrigerant container configured to
contain refrigerant; a first inlet, provided for an outer periphery of the
5 refrigerant container, through which a vapor-phase refrigerant and a first
liquid-phase refrigerant flowing in; a first outlet, provided for the outer
periphery of the refrigerant container, through which the vapor-phase
refrigerant flowing out; a second inlet, provided for the outer periphery of
the refrigerant container, through which a second liquid-phase refrigerant
10 flowing in; and a second outlet, provided for the outer periphery of the
refrigerant container, through which the first liquid-phase refrigerant and
the second liquid-phase refrigerant flowing.
[0012]
A cooling device including a refrigerant intermediary device
15 according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a heat
receiving unit configured to contain refrigerant for receiving heat from a
heat source; a condensing unit configured to condense and liquefy the
vapor-phase refrigerant that is a vapor-state refrigerant evaporated in the
heat receiving unit, and generate the second liquid-phase refrigerant; and a
20 refrigerant intermediary device respectively connected with the heat
recetvmg unit and the condensing unit, wherein the refrigerant
intermediary device is located above the heat receiving unit and includes a
refrigerant container configured to contain refrigerant; a first inlet,
provided for an outer periphery of the refrigerant container, through which
25 a vapor-phase refrigerant and a first liquid-phase refrigerant flowing in; a
first outlet, provided for the outer periphery of the refrigerant container,
through which the vapor-phase refrigerant flowing out; a second inlet,
provided for the outer periphery of the refrigerant container, through
which a second liquid-phase refrigerant flowing in; and a second outlet,
5
5
provided for the outer periphery of the refrigerant container, through
which the first liquid-phase refrigerant and the second liquid-phase
refrigerant flowing.
[0013]
A cooling method according to an exemplary aspect of the present
invention includes generating a vapor-phase refrigerant of a vapor-state
refrigerant and a first liquid-phase refrigerant of a liquid-state refrigerant
by receiving heat from a plurality of heat sources; converging streams of
the vapor-phase refrigerant generated by each of the plurality of heat
10 sources; separating the first liquid-phase refrigerant; generating a second
liquid-phase refrigerant by condensing and liquefying the vapor-phase
refrigerant; and generating refrigerant liquid by converging the second
liquid-phase refrigerant and the first liquid-phase refrigerant, pooling the
refrigerant liquid and then separating the refrigerant liquid into a plurality
15 of fluxes, and circulating the fluxes separated of the refrigerant liquid so
as to receive heat from the plurality of heat sources respectively.
[Advantageous Effects of Invention]
[0014]
According to the refrigerant intermediary device, the cooling
20 device including the refrigerant intermediary device, and the cooling
method of the present invention, it is possible to introduce a gas-liquid
separation structure without complexing a tube structure and prevent the
cooling performance of the cooling device from decreasing.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
25 [0015]
[FIG. 1A]
FIG. !A is a top vtew illustrating a schematic configuration of a
gas-liquid separation structure in accordance with the first example
embodiment of the present invention.
6
[FIG. 18]
FIG. 18 is a side cross-sectional view of the gas-liquid separation
structure in accordance with the first example embodiment of the present
invention.
5 [FIG. 2]
10
FIG. 2 is a schematic v1ew of a phase-change cooling device with
the gas-liquid separation structure in accordance with the first example
embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 3A]
FIG. 3A is a top v1ew illustrating a schematic configuration of a
gas-liquid separation structure in accordance with a second example
embodiment of the present invention
[FIG. 38]
FIG. 38 is a side cross-sectional view of the gas-liquid separation
15 structure in accordance with the second example embodiment of the
present invention.
[FIG. 4]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional v1ew for illustrating an advantageous
effect of the gas-liquid separation structure in accordance with the second
20 example embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 5A]
FIG. 5A is a top view illustrating another schematic configuration
of the gas-liquid separation structure in accordance with the second
example embodiment of the present invention.
25 [FIG. 58]
FIG. 58 is a side view illustrating another schematic configuration
of the gas-liquid separation structure in accordance with the second
example embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 6A]
5
7
FIG. 6A is a plane cross-sectional v1ew of yet another schematic
configuration of the gas-liquid separation structure in accordance with the
second example embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 6B]
FIG. 6B is a side cross-sectional v1ew of yet another schematic
configuration of the gas-liquid separation structure in accordance with the
second example embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 7]
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a phase-change cooling device with a
10 gas-liquid separation structure in accordance with a third example
embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 8]
FIG. 8 is a schematic v1ew of another configuration of the
phase-change cooling device with the gas-liquid separation structure in
15 accordance with the third example embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 9]
FIG. 9 is a schematic v1ew illustrating a related phase-change
cooling device.
[Example Embodiment]
20 [0016]
Example embodiments of the present invention will be described
with reference to drawings below.
[0017]
(A first example embodiment)
25 FIG. lA and FIG. IB are schematic views illustrating a
configuration of a gas-liquid separation structure I 00 in "accordance with a
first example embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a top view
and FIG. 1 B is a side cross-sectional view. The gas-liquid separation
structure (refrigerant intermediary device) 100 according to the present
(
8
example embodiment includes a refrigerant container II 0 configured to
contain refrigerant, a gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlet (first inlet) 120, a
refrigerant vapor outlet (first outlet) 130, a condensate refrigerant liquid
inlet (second inlet) 140, and a refrigerant liquid outlet (second outlet) !50.
5 [0018]
The gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlet 120 is provided for the outer
periphery of the refrigerant container II 0, and a gas-liquid mixing
refrigerant I 0 I in which a vapor-state refrigerant and a liquid-state
refrigerant are mixed flows into the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlet 120.
10 The refrigerant vapor outlet 13 0 is provided for the outer periphery of the
refrigerant container II 0, and refrigerant vapor (vapor-phase refrigerant)
102 of a vapor-state refrigerant included in the gas-liquid mixing
refrigerant 101 flows out through the refrigerant vapor outlet 130. The
condensate refrigerant liquid inlet 140 is provided for the outer periphery
15 of the refrigerant container II 0, and condensate refrigerant liquid (second
liquid-phase refrigerant) I 03 resulting from condensing and liquefying the
refrigerant vapor 1 02 flows in through the condensate refrigerant liquid
inlet 140. The refrigerant liquid outlet 150 is provided for the outer
periphery of the refrigerant container II 0, and the condensate refrigerant
20 liquid I 03 together with mixed refrigerant liquid (first liquid-phase
refrigerant) I 04 of a liquid-state refrigerant included in the gas-liquid
mixing refrigerant I 0 I flows out through the refrigerant liquid outlet !50.
[00 19]
According to the gas-liquid separation structure I 00 of the present
25 example embodiment, the refrigerant vapor I 02 included in the gas-liquid
mixing refrigerant (the vapor-phase refrigerant and the first liquid-phase
refrigerant) I 0 I flowing into the refrigerant container II 0 flows out from
the refrigerant vapor outlet 130, and the mixed refrigerant liquid I 04 flows
out from the refrigerant liquid outlet 150 together with the condensate
9
refrigerant liquid 103. This makes it possible to remove the mixed
refrigerant liquid 104 from the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant 101.
Consequently, it is possible to prevent the increase in the fluid resistance
to the refrigerant vapor that causes the cooling performance of the
5 phase-change cooling device to decrease.
[0020]
In the gas-liquid separation structure 100 according to the present
example embodiment, the mixed refrigerant liquid 104 flows back to the
refrigerant liquid side through the flow path of the condensate refrigerant
10 liquid 103 from the condensate refrigerant liquid inlet 140 toward the
refrigerant liquid outlet 150. This eliminates the need for disposing a new
tube and inserting a branch tube.
[0021]
As described above, according to the gas-liquid separation structure
15 100 of the present example embodiment, it is possible to introduce a
gas-liquid separation structure without increasing manufacturing costs and
prevent the cooling performance of the phase-change cooling device from
decreasing.
20
[0022]
Next, a phase-change cooling device including the gas-liquid
separation structure 100 according to the present example embodiment will
be described.
[0023]
FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of a phase-change cooling
25 device I 000 including the gas-liquid separation structure 100 according to
the present example embodiment. The phase-change cooling device 1000
according to the present example embodiment includes the gas-liquid
separation structure I 00, a heat receiving unit I 0 I 0, and a condensing unit
1020. The gas-liquid separation structure I 00 is located above the heat
receiving unit 1010.
[0024]
10
The heat receiving unit 1010 contains refrigerant for receiving heat
from a heat source. The condensing unit 1020 condenses and liquefies
5 refrigerant vapor that IS a vapor-state refrigerant evaporated in the heat
receiving unit 1010, and generates condensate refrigerant liquid. The
gas-liquid separation structure 100 is connected with the heat receiving
unit 1010 and the condensing unit I 020, respectively.
10
[0025]
The condensing unit 1020 is connected with the condensate
refrigerant liquid inlet of the gas-liquid separation structure 100 by a
primary liquid tube 1110. The condensing unit 1020 is connected with the
refrigerant vapor outlet of the gas-liquid separation structure 100 by a
primary vapor tube 1210. The heat receiving unit 1010 is connected with
15 the refrigerant liquid outlet of the gas-liquid separation structure I 00 by a
20
secondary liquid tube 1120. The heat receiving unit I 010 is connected with
the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlet of the gas-liquid separation
structure 100 by a secondary vapor tube 1220.
[0026]
As illustrated in FIG. 1 B, the gas-liquid mlxlllg refrigerant inlet
120 and the refrigerant vapor outlet 130 can be disposed on the outer
periphery of the refrigerant container 110 away from the condensate
refrigerant liquid inlet 140 and the refrigerant liquid outlet 150. More
specifically, as illustrated Ill FIG. 2, with the gas-liquid separation
25 structure I 00 installed in the phase-change cooling device 1000, the
gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlet 120 and the refrigerant vapor outlet 130
can be disposed above the condensate refrigerant liquid inlet 140 and the
refrigerant liquid outlet 150. In this case, it is preferable for the gas-liquid
mixing refrigerant inlet 120 and the refrigerant vapor outlet 130 to be
II
located above the interface of the refrigerant liquid generated by the
convergence of the condensate refrigerant liquid 103 and the mixed
refrigerant liquid 104, as illustrated in FIG. 1 B.
[002 7]
5 As mentioned above, according to the phase-change cooling device
1000 including the gas-liquid separation structure 100 of the present
example embodiment, it is possible to introduce a gas-liquid separation
structure without increasing manufacturing costs and prevent the cooling
performance of the phase-change cooling device from decreasing.
10 [0028]
(A second example embodiment)
Next, a second example embodiment of the present invention will
be described. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrate the configurations of a
gas-liquid separation structure 200 according to the present example
15 embodiment. FIG. 3A is a top view, and FIG. 3B is a side cross-sectional
VIeW.
[0029]
The gas-liquid separation structure 200 according to the present
example embodiment includes a refrigerant container 110 configured to
20 contain refrigerant, a gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlet 220, a refrigerant
vapor outlet 130, a condensate refrigerant liquid inlet 140, and a
refrigerant liquid outlet 250.
[0030]
The gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlet 220 is provided for the outer
25 periphery of the refrigerant container 110, and a gas-liquid mixing
refrigerant I 01 in which a vapor-state refrigerant and a liquid-state
refrigerant are mixed flows into the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlet 220.
The refrigerant vapor outlet 130 is provided for the outer periphery of the
refrigerant container II 0, and refrigerant vapor I 02 of a vapor-state
12
refrigerant included in the gas-liquid mtxmg refrigerant I 0 I flows out
through the refrigerant vapor outlet 130. The condensate refrigerant liquid
inlet 140 is provided for the outer periphery of the refrigerant container
II 0, and condensate refrigerant liquid I 03 resulting from condensing and
5 liquefying the refrigerant vapor I 02 flows in through the condensate
refrigerant liquid inlet 140. The refrigerant liquid outlet 250 is provided
for the outer periphery of the refrigerant container II 0, and refrigerant
liquid 105 resulting from convergence of the condensate refrigerant liquid
103 and mixed refrigerant liquid 104 of a liquid-state refrigerant included
10 in the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant I 01 flows out through the refrigerant
liquid outlet 150.
[0031]
The gas-liquid separation structure 200 according to the present
example embodiment includes a plurality of gas-liquid mixing refrigerant
15 inlets 220 and a plurality of refrigerant liquid outlets 250. The gas-liquid
separation structure 200 differs in this point from the gas-liquid separation
structure 100 according to the first example embodiment. The gas-liquid
separation structure 200 includes a single refrigerant vapor outlet 130 and
a single condensate refrigerant liquid inlet 140, as is the case with the
20 gas-liquid separation structure I 00 according to the first example
embodiment.
[0032]
A gas is less dense and larger in volume per unit mass than a liquid.
Therefore, it is preferable for the bore of the refrigerant vapor outlet 130,
25 through which the refrigerant vapor I 02 flows out, to be larger than the
bore of the condensate refrigerant liquid inlet 140 through which the
condensate refrigerant liquid I 03 flows in.
[003 3]
This configuration enables a phase-change cooling device including
13
a plurality of heat receiving units to use the gas-liquid separation structure
200 according to the present example embodiment. In addition, as
described herein below, the gas-liquid separation structure 200 according
to the present example embodiment has the function of storing the
5 refrigerant liquid 105 in the refrigerant container 11 0; consequently, it is
possible to supply the refrigerant liquid evenly to the plurality of heat
receiving units from the plurality of refrigerant liquid outlets 250.
[0034]
In the gas-liquid separation structure 200 according to the present
10 example embodiment, the refrigerant vapor 102 included in the gas-liquid
mixing refrigerant 101, which flows into the refrigerant container 110
through a plurality of the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlets 220, flows
out through the refrigerant vapor outlet 130. The mixed refrigerant liquid
104 included in the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant 101 flows out through a
15 plurality of refrigerant liquid outlets 250 together with the condensate
refrigerant liquid 103. This makes it possible to remove the mixed
refrigerant liquid 104 from the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant 101.
Consequently, it is possible to prevent the increase in the fluid resistance
to the refrigerant vapor that causes the cooling performance of the
20 phase-change cooling device to decrease.
[0035]
\)
In the gas-liquid separation structure 200 according to the present
example embodiment, the mixed refrigerant liquid 104 flows back to the
refrigerant liquid side through the flow path of the condensate refrigerant
25 liquid 103 from the condensate refrigerant liquid inlet 140 toward the
refrigerant liquid outlet 250. This eliminates the need for disposing a new
tube and inserting a branch tube.
[0036]
Next, the advantageous effects of the gas-liquid separation
14
structure 200 according to the present example embodiment will be
described further in detail.
(0037]
FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view to illustrate the advantageous
5 effects of the gas-liquid separation structure 200 according to the present
example embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the gas-liquid m1xmg
refrigerant 101 including the mixed refrigerant liquid 104 flows into the
refrigerant container 110 through the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlet
220. At this time, the mixed refrigerant liquid 104 having larger density
10 falls gravitationally and pools in the lower portion of the refrigerant
container 110. This makes the mixed refrigerant liquid 104 removed from
the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant 10 I.
(0038]
The stream of the refrigerant vapor 102 resulting from removing the
15 mixed refrigerant liquid 104 converges with the other streams of the
refrigerant vapor I 02 flowing in through the plurality of the gas-liquid
mixing refrigerant inlets 220, and flows out through the refrigerant vapor
outlet 130. Since the mixed refrigerant liquid 104 is not included in the
refrigerant vapor 102, it is possible to prevent the pressure loss from
20 increasing. Consequently, it is possible to improve the heat absorption
performance of the phase-change cooling device including the gas-liquid
separation structure 200 according to the present example embodiment.
(0039]
The mixed refrigerant liquid I 04 is stored in the lower portion of
25 the refrigerant container 110 and flows out through the refrigerant liquid
outlet 250. The mixed refrigerant liquid 104 is then distributed to each of
the heat receiving units through the tubes connecting the refrigerant liquid
outlets 250 with the plurality of heat receiving units constituting the
phase-change cooling device. As describe above, the gas-liquid separation
15
structure 200 according to the present example embodiment makes it
possible to supply a large amount of refrigerant liquid to each heat
receiving unit because the mixed refrigerant liquid I 04 included in the
gas-liquid mixing refrigerant I 01 can be reused for receiving heat. In
5 addition, because the mixed refrigerant liquid I 04 is preheated in a state of
gas-liquid mixing refrigerant I 01, it evaporates on the arrival at the heat
receiving unit and absorbs heat from the heat source. This makes it
possible to improve heat absorption efficiency of the phase-change cooling
device.
10 [0040]
As described above, according to the gas-liquid separation structure
200 of the present example embodiment, it is possible to introduce a
gas-liquid separation structure without increasing manufacturing costs and
prevent the cooling performance of the phase-change cooling device from
15 decreasing.
[0041]
FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrate a configuration in which the
plurality of gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlets 220 are located on one side
surface of the refrigerant container II 0. However, the configuration is not
20 limited to this, and a plurality of gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlets 220
may be disposed, as illustrated in FIG. SA and FIG. SB, in positions such
that the lines along the inflowing directions of the gas-liquid mixing
refrigerant I 0 I do not intersect one another. In other words, the gas-liquid
separation structure 200 can be configured in such a manner that no
25 gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlet 220 is disposed in a position opposite to
another gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlet 220. This makes it possible to
avoid a situation where the streams of the refrigerant vapor I 02 inc! uded in
the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant I 0 I flowing into through the plurality of
the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlets 220 prevent the inflow interfering
16
with the stream each other. This configuration makes it possible to prevent
the heat absorption performance of the phase-change cooling device from
decreasing even though a plurality of heat receiving units constituting the
phase-change cooling device are connected by tubes.
5 [0042]
FIG. 6A and FIG. 68 illustrate another configuration of the
gas-liquid separation structure according to the present example
embodiment. FIG. 6A is a plane cross-sectional view, and FIG. 68 is a side
cross-sectional view. A gas-liquid separation structure 201 illustrated in
10 the figures includes a partition 260 with a plurality of open holes inside the
refrigerant container.
[0043]
In this case, when the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant 101 including
the mixed refrigerant liquid 104 flows into the refrigerant container 110
15 through the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlets 220, the mixed refrigerant
liquid 104 falls under its own weight, passes through the open holes of the
partition 260, and pools in the lower portion of the refrigerant container
110. In contrast, since the refrigerant vapor 102 flowing into through the
gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlets 220 has a volume flow rate larger than
20 that of the liquid-state refrigerant, a small amount of the refrigerant vapor
102 flows downward passing through the open holes of the partition 260.
This makes it possible to avoid a situation where the refrigerant liquid is
prevented from flowing from the condensate refrigerant liquid inlet 140 to
the refrigerant liquid outlets 250 below the partition 260 by the refrigerant
25 vapor 102 flowing in the opposite direction. As a result, it is possible to
improve the heat absorption performance of the phase-change cooling
device including the gas-liquid separation structure 201.
[0044]
(A third example embodiment)
17
A third example embodiment of the present invention will be
described below. FIG. 7 illustrates the configuration of a phase-change
cooling device 2000 including a gas-liquid separation structure according
to the present example embodiment. The phase-change cooling device 2000
5 according to the present example embodiment includes a gas-liquid
separation structure 200, a heat receiving unit 1010, and a condensing unit
1020. The gas-liquid separation structure 200 is located above the heat
receiving unit 1010. The configuration of the gas-liquid separation
structure 200 is similar to the configurations described in the second
10 example embodiment, including the gas-liquid separation structure 201.
[0045]
The heat receiving unit 1010 includes a plurality of units, each of
which contains refrigerant to receive heat from a heat source. The
condensing unit 1020 condenses and liquefies refrigerant vapor of a
15 vapor-state refrigerant evaporated in the heat receiving unit 1010, and
generates condensate refrigerant liquid. The gas-liquid separation structure
200 is connected with the plurality of heat receiving units 1010 and the
condensing unit 1020, respectively.
20
[0046]
As mentioned above, the gas-liquid separation structure 200
according to the present example embodiment has a plurality of gas-liquid
mixing refrigerant inlets 220 and a plurality of refrigerant liquid outlets .
250. In contrast, the gas-liquid separation structure 200 has a single
refrigerant vapor outlet 130 and a single condensate refrigerant liquid inlet
25 140.
[0047]
A primary liquid tube 1110 connects the condensing unit 1020 with
the condensate refrigerant liquid inlet 140 of the gas-liquid separation
structure 200. A primary vapor tube 1210 connects the condensing unit
18
1020 with the refrigerant vapor outlet 130 of the gas-liquid separation
structure 200. In contrast, a plurality of secondary liquid tubes 1120
respectively connect the plurality of heat receiving units 1010 with the
plurality of refrigerant liquid outlets 250 of the gas-liquid separation
5 structure 200. A plurality of secondary vapor tubes 1220 respectively
connect the plurality of heat receiving units 1010 with the plurality of
gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlets 220 of the gas-liquid separation
structure 200.
[0048]
10 As described above, the phase-change cooling device 2000
according to the present example embodiment is configured such that the
plurality of heat receiving units 1010 are connected with a single
gas-liquid separation structure 200 by the plurality of secondary liquid
tubes 1120 and the plurality of secondary vapor tubes 1220. This
15 configuration makes it possible to remove the mixed refrigerant liquid I 04
from the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant 101 in the gas-liquid separation
structure 200, converge the streams of the refrigerant vapor flowing into
through the plurality of secondary vapor tubes 1220, and distribute the
refrigerant liquid evenly among the plurality of heat receiving units 1010.
20 [0049]
In addition, the phase-change cooling device 2000 according to the
present example embodiment is configured such that the single condensing
unit 1020 is connected with the plurality of heat receiving units 1010,
which enables the cost of the phase-change cooling device to decrease.
25 [0050]
If a single condensing unit ts connected with a plurality of heat
receiving units, the mixed refrigerant liquid included in gas-liquid mixing
refrigerant flowing through one of the secondary vapor tubes 1220 can
flow into another heat receiving unit I 0 I 0 through another secondary vapor
19
tube 1220. The mixed refrigerant liquid having flowed into another
secondary vapor tube 1220 obstructs the flow of the refrigerant vapor and
affects the heat absorption performance of the heat receiving unit 1010;
consequently, the amount of the heat absorption becomes unequal. This
5 makes it impossible to achieve desired heat absorption performance in the
heat receiving units 1010.
[0051]
However, according to the phase-change cooling device 2000
including the gas-liquid separation structure 200 of the present example
lO embodiment, it is possible to remove the mixed refrigerant liquid from the
gas-liquid mixing refrigerant in the gas-liquid separation structure 200.
This makes it possible to prevent the mixed refrigerant liquid from flowing
into another heat receiving unit I 0 I 0 through another secondary vapor
tube.
15 [0052]
The heat receJvmg unit 1010 includes a plurality of evaporation
units each of which is thermally connected with a heat source and stores
refrigerant, and the plurality of evaporation units can be located in a
vertical direction. More specifically, for example, a plurality of servers
20 that serve as heat sources are stacked in a server rack, and a heat receiving
module including an evaporating unit disposed on the rear door or the like
of the server rack can serve as the heat receiving unit I 010. The gas-liquid
separation structure 200 can be located above the server rack and outside
the rear door on which the heat receiving unit 1010 is disposed.
25 [0053]
Next, the configuration of the phase-change cooling device 2000
including the gas-liquid separation structure 200 according to the present
example embodiment will be describe further in detail.
[0054]
20
The refrigerant container II 0 can be composed of a rectangular
parallelepiped shaped container, as illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B.
In this case, a plurality of gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlets 220 can be
located on the upper part of the side surface of the container, and a single
5 refrigerant vapor outlet 13 0 can be located on the upper surface of the
container. A single condensate refrigerant liquid inlet 140 can be located
on the lower part of the side surface of the container, and a plurality of
refrigerant liquid outlets 2SO can be located on at least one of the lower
part of the side surface of the container and the undersurface of the
10 container.
[OOSS]
The amount of the refrigerant with which the entire phase-change
cooling device 2000 is filled is set so that the liquid level of the refrigerant
liquid I OS contained in the refrigerant container II 0 of the gas-liquid
15 separation structure 200 may be kept constant during the operating
condition, as illustrated in FIG. 3B. The refrigerant vapor outlet 130 is
located above the liquid level of the refrigerant liquid I OS, and the
condensate refrigerant liquid inlet 140 is located below the liquid level of
the refrigerant liquid I OS. The liquid level of the refrigerant liquid I OS
20 fluctuates depending on the pressure losses in each heat receiving unit
1010, the primary vapor tube 1210, or the secondary vapor tubes 1220. The
refrigerant liquid outlet 2SO is located on the undersurface of the container
again, which makes it possible to deliver a steady supply of the refrigerant
liquid I OS to each heat receiving unit I 0 I 0 through the refrigerant liquid
25 outlet 2SO even though the liquid level of the refrigerant liquid I OS
fluctuates.
[OOS6]
Alternatively, the phase-change cooling device 2000 can be
configured to include a gas-liquid separation structure 202 with a
21
refrigerant container composed of a cylindrical tube, as illustrated in FIG.
8. The gas-liquid separation structure 202 can be configured in which a
plurality of gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlets 220 and a single refrigerant
vapor outlet 130 are located on the upper surface of the tube, and a single
5 condensate refrigerant liquid inlet 140 and a plurality of refrigerant liquid
outlets 250 are located on the undersurface of the tube. In this case, it
becomes possible to manufacture the gas-liquid separation structure 202
using conventional, low-cost pipes, which makes it possible to lower
significantly the manufacturing cost of the phase-change cooling device
10 2000.
[0057]
Next, the advantageous effects of the phase-change cooling device
2000 including the gas-liquid separation structure according to the present
example embodiment will be described further in detail.
15 [0058]
FIG. 9 illustrates a related phase-change cooling device 3000 that
serves as a comparative example, in which a plurality of heat receiving
units 3010 are connected with a single condensing unit 3020 by means of a
plurality of liquid tubes 3100 and a plurality of vapor tubes 3200 without
20 using a gas-liquid separation structure. In this case, a heat receiving unit
3010 disposed farther away from the condensing unit 3020 suffers a greater
pressure loss of the refrigerant vapor flowing in the vapor tube 3200. This
makes it difficult to achieve uniform heat absorption performance between
the pluralities of heat receiving units 3010.
25 [0059]
In contrast, the phase-change cooling device 2000 according to the
present example embodiment is configured to store the refrigerant liquid in
the gas-liquid separation structure 200, 202 and then distribute the
refrigerant liquid to each heat receiving unit 1010, as illustrated in FIG. 7
22
and FIG. 8. This makes it possible to equalize the pressure to supply the
refrigerant liquid to each heat receiving unit 1010 and distribute the
refrigerant liquid equally. In other words, the plurality of secondary vapor
tubes 1220 are connected with the single gas-liquid separation structure
5 200, which makes it possible to equalize each pressure in the plurality of
gas-liquid mixing refrigerant inlets 220. This enables the pressure required
for the refrigerant liquid to flow into each of the secondary liquid tubes
1120 to become equal to each other. This makes it possible to eliminate
imbalances in the amount of heat absorption in each heat receiving unit
10 I 010 and improve the heat absorption performance.
[0060]
15
Next, a phase-change cooling method according to the present
example embodiment will be described.
[0061]
In the phase-change cooling method according to the present
example embodiment, first, a gas-liquid mixing refrigerant in which a
vapor-state refrigerant and a liquid-state refrigerant are mixed is generated
by receiving heat from a plurality of heat sources. Streams of refrigerant
vapor of the vapor-state refrigerant generated by each of the plurality of
20 heat sources are then converged. At this time, mixed refrigerant liquid that
is a liquid-state refrigerant included in the gas-liquid mixing refrigerant is
separated. After that, condensate refrigerant liquid is generated by
condensing and liquefying the refrigerant vapor, and refrigerant liquid in
which the condensate refrigerant liquid is converged with the mixed
25 refrigerant liquid is generated. The refrigerant liquid is pooled and then
separated into a plurality of fluxes, and the separated fluxes of the
refrigerant liquid are respectively circulated so as to receive heat from the
plurality of heat sources.
[0062]
5
23
This makes it possible to perform a gas-liquid separation of
refrigerant without increasing manufacturing costs and prevent the cooling
performance of the phase-change cooling system from decreasing.
[0063]
Hereinabove, the present invention has been described usmg the
above-described example embodiments as exemplary examples. The
present invention, however, is not limited to the above-described example
embodiments. In other words, various aspects that can be recognized by
those skilled in the art can be applied to the present invention within the
10 scope of the invention.
[0064]
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority
from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-196362, filed on September 26,
2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
15 reference.
20

[CLAIMS]
[Claim 1] A refrigerant intermediary device, comprising:
a refrigerant container configured to contain refrigerant;
a first inlet, provided for an outer periphery of the refrigerant
5 container, through which a vapor-phase refrigerant and a first liquid-phase
refrigerant flowing in;
a first outlet, provided for the outer periphery of the refrigerant
container, through which the vapor-phase refrigerant flowing out;
a second inlet, provided for the outer periphery of the refrigerant
10 container, through which a second liquid-phase refrigerant flowing in; and
a second outlet, provided for the outer periphery of the refrigerant
container, through which the first liquid-phase refrigerant and the second
liquid-phase refrigerant flowing.
15 [Claim 2] The refrigerant intermediary device according to claim 1,
wherein the first inlet and the first outlet are located on the outer
periphery of the refrigerant container away from the second inlet and the
second outlet.
20 [Claim 3] The refrigerant intermediary device according to claim 1 or 2,
25
wherein the first inlet includes a plurality of inlets,
the first outlet inlet includes a single outlet,
the second inlet inc! udes a single inlet, and
the second outlet includes a plurality of outlets.
[Claim 4] The refrigerant intermediary device according to claim 3,
wherein the plurality of inlets of the first inlet are located In
positions such that lines along inflowing directions of the vapor-phase
refrigerant and the first liquid-phase refrigerant do not intersect one
26
another.
[Claim 5] The refrigerant intermediary device according to any one of
claims 1, 2, 3, and 4,
5 wherein the refrigerant container IS composed of a rectangular
parallelepiped shaped container,
the first inlet is located on an upper part of a side surface of the
container,
the first outlet is located on an upper surface of the container,
10 the second inlet is located on a: lower part of a side surface of the
container, and
the second outlet IS located on at least on one of a lower part of a
side surface of the container and an undersurface of the container.
15 [Claim 6] The refrigerant intermediary device according to any one of
claims I, 2, 3, and 4,
wherein the refrigerant container is composed of a cylindrical tube.
[Claim 7] The refrigerant intermediary device according to any one of
20 claims I, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, further comprising a partition with a plurality of
open holes inside the refrigerant container;
25
[Claim 8] A cooling device including a refrigerant intermediary device,
compnsmg:
a refrigerant intermediary device according to any one of claims 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7;
a heat receiving unit configured to contain refrigerant for receiving
heat from a heat source; and
a condensing unit configured to condense and liquefy the
27
vapor-phase refrigerant that is a vapor-state refrigerant evaporated in the
heat receiving unit, and generate the second liquid-phase refrigerant,
wherein the refrigerant intermediary device is respectively
connected with the heat receiving unit and the condensing unit, and located
5 above the heat receiving unit.
[Claim 9] The cooling device including the refrigerant intermediary device
according to claim 8, further comprising
a primary vapor tube connecting the condensing unit with the first
10 outlet,
a primary liquid tube connecting the condensing unit with the
second inlet,
a secondary vapor tube connecting the heat receiving unit with the
first inlet, and
15 a secondary liquid tube connecting the heat receiving unit with the
second outlet.
[Claim I OJ The cooling device including the refrigerant intermediary
device according to claim 8 or 9,
20 wherein the heat receiving unit includes a plurality of evaporation
units each of which is thermally connected with the heat source and stores
the refrigerant, and
the plurality of evaporation units are located in a vertical direction.
25 [Claim II] A cooling method, comprising:
generating a vapor-phase refrigerant of a vapor-state refrigerant
and a first liquid-phase refrigerant of a liquid-state refrigerant by
receiving heat from a plurality of heat sources;
converging streams of the vapor-phase refrigerant generated by
5
28
each of the plurality of heat sources;
separating the first liquid-phase refrigerant;
generating a second liquid-phase refrigerant by condensing and
liquefying the vapor-phase refrigerant; and
generating refrigerant liquid by converging the second liquid-phase
refrigerant and the first liquid-phase refrigerant, pooling the refrigerant
liquid and then separating the refrigerant liquid into a plurality of fluxes,
and circulating the fluxes separated of the refrigerant liquid so as to
receive heat from the plurality of heat sources respectively.