Technology Review - Published By MIT
Log in to My.TechnologyReview.com | Register
Advertisement

December 2005

Cooler on a Chip

A novel way to cool microprocessors.

By Erika Jonietz
smaller text tool iconmedium text tool iconlarger text tool icon

As computer chips become faster and smaller, they also get hotter, and the fans used to cool PCs and keep their chips from slowing or failing can't keep up.

To solve this problem, Thar Technologies in Pittsburgh, PA, has developed a microrefrigeration system that uses carbon dioxide to rapidly and effectively cool chips.

Thar's key innovation is a microcompressor only 1.25 centimeters by 5 centimeters by 5 centimeters that compresses gaseous carbon dioxide into a "supercritical" state, where its properties hover between those of a liquid and a gas.

The system cools the carbon dioxide through expansion and pipes it through an ultrathin heat exchanger. Just 125 micrometers thick, the exchanger sits directly on the microchip, drawing heat through the chip's packaging and cooling the electronics inside. This converts the carbon dioxide back into a gas; the gas is recirculated to the microcompressor, and the heat bleeds off by convection in a second heat exchanger.

Lalit Chordia, Thar's founder and CEO, says the system can cool chips to lower temperatures than other technologies that use water or liquid metal; these lower temperatures translate into longer chip life.

And the system is small enough to be used not only in desktop computers but also in laptops.

Thar is now working to scale up manufacturing to produce the microrefrigerators reliably and cheaply enough for the computing industry.
December/January 2005

Would you like to read more articles from the December/January 2005 issue?

This article is from the December/January 2005 Issue of Technology Review. To read other articles from this issue simply register for My.TechnologyReview.com. It's free.

Subscribe today and save up to 41% »

Comments

  • Microrefrigeration system
    Guest (Charlie Richmond) on 12/23/2005 at 10:59 AM
    Posts:
    1
    Our obsession with size reduction is leading us closer and closer to making independent habitats an actuality.  Cooling is miniaturized, heating can be accomplished, and power generation cannot be far off.

    Imagine a family home that is completely independent of outside services ... electricity, water, heating and cooling.  Such a happening could totally decentralize civilization and lead to better utilization of our planet.

    Charlie Richmond  ccr@crichm.mv.com
    Rate this comment: 12345
  • Microrefrigeration system
    Guest (Charlie Richmond) on 12/23/2005 at 10:59 AM
    Posts:
    1
    Our obsession with size reduction is leading us closer and closer to making independent habitats an actuality.  Cooling is miniaturized, heating can be accomplished, and power generation cannot be far off.

    Imagine a family home that is completely independent of outside services ... electricity, water, heating and cooling.  Such a happening could totally decentralize civilization and lead to better utilization of our planet.

    Charlie Richmond  ccr@crichm.mv.com
    Rate this comment: 12345
  • Cooler on a Chip
    Guest (Quentin Allen) on 12/23/2005 at 1:40 PM
    Posts:
    1
    Aha!  One more breakthrough to computer instruments capable of revolutionizing the way people live and work!  While the differences between economic classes and racial prejudices are not directly affected, it is possible that more powerful computers will give equal access to power knowledge which, in and of itself, will mandate egalitarism.
    Rate this comment: 12345
    • Another heat pipe technology
      Guest (aidle) on 01/05/2006 at 5:58 AM
      Posts:
      1
      I wonder when the silicon technology will reach its limits point. Maybe its time to explore new raw materials and design. I just cant wait the potential of optronics era.
      Rate this comment: 12345
    • Another heat pipe technology
      Guest (aidle) on 01/05/2006 at 5:58 AM
      Posts:
      1
      I wonder when the silicon technology will reach its limits point. Maybe its time to explore new raw materials and design. I just cant wait the potential of optronics era.
      Rate this comment: 12345
  • Cooler on a Chip
    Guest (Quentin Allen) on 12/23/2005 at 1:40 PM
    Posts:
    1
    Aha!  One more breakthrough to computer instruments capable of revolutionizing the way people live and work!  While the differences between economic classes and racial prejudices are not directly affected, it is possible that more powerful computers will give equal access to power knowledge which, in and of itself, will mandate egalitarism.
    Rate this comment: 12345
  • Micro-refrigeration
    Guest (Chuck Buchanan) on 12/25/2005 at 6:44 PM
    Posts:
    1
    Does this process require any power?  If not, can it be scaled up to replace the units in kitchen refrigerators?
    Rate this comment: 12345
    • CO2 Cooler
      Guest (Dave Huff) on 12/27/2005 at 3:08 AM
      Posts:
      1
      In response to Mr. Buchanans question, Yes.  A compressor, no matter how small, requires power.  It is a similar principle to circulating water in an H2O cooled system. 

      This technology is old (phase change cooling has been around for decades) but is now becoming &quotmicro&quot.
      Rate this comment: 12345
    • CO2 Cooler
      Guest (Dave Huff) on 12/27/2005 at 3:08 AM
      Posts:
      1
      In response to Mr. Buchanans question, Yes.  A compressor, no matter how small, requires power.  It is a similar principle to circulating water in an H2O cooled system. 

      This technology is old (phase change cooling has been around for decades) but is now becoming &quotmicro&quot.
      Rate this comment: 12345
    • Re: Micro-refrigeration
      Elroch on 08/28/2007 at 2:43 AM
      Posts:
      28
      Avg Rating:
      4/5
      This technology definitely requires power: its design is really only different to that of a domestic refridgerator in the use of CO2.

      My question would be how much extra power consumption does this add to the computer? An averagely efficient heat pump use power which is a sizeable fraction of the power dealt with, and I would suspect a very small unit like this would be rather inefficient.
      Rate this comment: 12345
  • Micro-refrigeration
    Guest (Chuck Buchanan) on 12/25/2005 at 6:44 PM
    Posts:
    1
    Does this process require any power?  If not, can it be scaled up to replace the units in kitchen refrigerators?
    Rate this comment: 12345
  • Ill have 5 please
    Guest (Sean McPoland) on 12/28/2005 at 7:33 AM
    Posts:
    1
    1 for the CPU
    1 for the Chipset
    1 for the graphics card
    1 for the other graphics card
    1 for Memory bank 1
    1 for Memory bank 2
    1 to replace OTES

    oh thats 7, but whatare all the fan manufacturers going to do?  Go Bust?  I think they will simply buy this one out and hide it like the car manufacturers have done with the water powered car...

    regards
    Sean McPoland
    Rate this comment: 12345
  • Ill have 5 please
    Guest (Sean McPoland) on 12/28/2005 at 7:33 AM
    Posts:
    1
    1 for the CPU
    1 for the Chipset
    1 for the graphics card
    1 for the other graphics card
    1 for Memory bank 1
    1 for Memory bank 2
    1 to replace OTES

    oh thats 7, but whatare all the fan manufacturers going to do?  Go Bust?  I think they will simply buy this one out and hide it like the car manufacturers have done with the water powered car...

    regards
    Sean McPoland
    Rate this comment: 12345
  • Cooler on a Chip
    Guest (William A Robinson) on 12/28/2005 at 4:50 PM
    Posts:
    1
    Please forward me any up-to-date useful data regarding this technology. I would appreciate contact thru my E-mail.  Thankyou for your cooperation.

                   Yours William A. Robinson
    E-mail :  robby19462005@sbcglobal.net
    Rate this comment: 12345
  • Cooler on a Chip
    Guest (William A Robinson) on 12/28/2005 at 4:50 PM
    Posts:
    1
    Please forward me any up-to-date useful data regarding this technology. I would appreciate contact thru my E-mail.  Thankyou for your cooperation.

                   Yours William A. Robinson
    E-mail :  robby19462005@sbcglobal.net
    Rate this comment: 12345
Add New Thread

Related Articles
Advertisement

Current Issue

Technology Review September/October 2008
How Obama Really Did It
Social technology helped bring him to the brink of the presidency.
•  Subscribe
Save 41%
•  Table of Contents
•  MIT News

Magazine Services

•  Gift Subscription
•  Digital Subscription
•  Reprints, Back Issues, Customer Service

Career Resources

Visit the Job Board and Resource Center to move your career to the next level.

MIT Technology Insider

Stories and breaking news from inside MIT about the latest research, innovations, and startups--in a convenient monthly e-newsletter. Subscribe today

Follow us on Twitter

Twitter

Get Technology Review updates via the web, cellphone, or Instant Messager – Follow techreview on Twitter!
Advertisement

More Technology News from Forbes

Wire Stories

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
Advertisement
MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology