Variable conductance heat pipes for improved reliability

Abstract

A variable conductance heat pipe (VCHP) is utilized as a 'passive heat switch' to regulate a characteristic temperature of an integrated circuit component. The VCHP is located between an integrated circuit component and a cold plate and comprises a working fluid and a non-condensable gas in a chamber. When the component is not operational, the VCHP blocks the flow of heat from the component to the cold plate. As component power consumption increases, the working fluid pressure increases and compresses the non-condensable gas toward the cooler region of the cold plate to eventually create a low thermal resistance path between the component and the cold plate. By introducing negative feedback into the thermal management solution, the VCHP keeps the characteristic temperature within a narrow range. This can alleviate stress on package components (e.g., solder joints) due to excessive thermal cycling, which can extend the lifetime of the component.