Advanced liquid metal cooling

Low-melting-point liquid-metal cooling is rapidly emerging as a high-performance heat-transfer technology for the thermal management of electronics with high heat flux density. The advantages of Ga-based liquid metals, such as their high fluidity, low melting point, high thermal/electrical conductivity, non-flammability, and non-toxicity, render them promising for the development of advanced cooling technologies. The most significant advantages of liquid-metal cooling are its superior convective heat transfer capability and efficient electromagnetic driving characteristics without moving components and noise. Liquid-metal cooling technologies have progressed significantly, and applications adopting such technologies have been realized. In this chapter, we present a comprehensive review of advanced liquid-metal cooling technologies. First, liquid-metal fluids and their convection mechanisms are introduced. Subsequently, an important theoretical model and driving techniques are presented. Finally, typical cooling applications based on liquid metals in the industrial heat transfer and energy fields are discussed. Both the fundamental mechanisms and recent applications are elaborated, and critical advantages are discussed. Scientific and technical challenges, in addition to future developments in the abovementioned areas, are highlighted in this chapter.