High performance convective liquid cooling of electronics with nature-inspired microchannel networks filled with nanoparticle suspensions

• Research unit: INNOSUISSE
• Project number: 9322.1;6 PFNM-NM

Short description (English)

High performance convective liquid cooling of electronics with nature-inspired microchannel networks filled with nanoparticle suspensions

Abstract (English)

Microelectronic devices with ever smaller features and faster operating speeds are driving increased thermal loads. In addition, efficiency improvement needs of cooling systems including capabilities for data center energy re-use require strongly enhanced liquid cooling performance. In the first phase of the project a needed platform of thermal metrology capabilities, thermal simulation methods, and nanoparticle synthesis have been developed. This capabilities are now applied in a second phase in nature inspired tree-like microchannel systems with increased heat transfer and minimized pressure drops for a coolant with added nanoparticles. The main areas of focus are: (1) Implementation of compact cooling system with reduced pressure drop, (2) optimization of nanoparticle coolant, (3) Verification of system performance with computer modeling, and (4) creation of a prototype using low cost fabrication processes for qualification and lifetime testing on high-performance computer systems and for comparison to competing approaches.