phase works exactly the same as an AC unit. you just use a different evaporator. instead of cooling your house/room... you're cooling a 2" x 2" CPU.
Vapor Phase Cooling.
Vapor = refridgerant - usually a gas mixed with some "oil" to keep the pump/compressor lubed.
lets start at the compressor...
the compressor compresses the refridgerant(a gas)... the gas is now under HIGH pressure and is HOT so it needs to be cooled so it passes through the condenser.
the condenser cools the HOT gas. as the gas cools though it may cool and return to a liquid state. on to the........
filter/drier... this is to remove the liquid from the gas to allow only the gas to flow through the capillary tube(AKA.. cap tube)
capillary tube... this needs to be a specific length depending on your heat load. there are different sizes of cap tubes and it is a trial and error process to find what you need to work best. a typical cap tube length is 9-10ft but the diameter of the tube itself can vary from build to build. the cap tube is wound arround the suction line for many reasons. for one, it keeps the COLD suction line from freezing and causing a blockage/failure.. HOW? the cap tube is still very HOT.
once the cap tube caries the HOT gas, that is compressed under HIGH pressure still, to the evaporator(CPU cooler)... the gas is released into the evaporator which allows the gas to expand SO fast it freezes instantly causing it to pull the heat from the CPU and immediately gets sucked down the Suction line to return to the LOW side of the compressor. the low side starts at the evaporator and continues to the compressor.
so really... just like an AC... your not cooling anything. you are simply pulling the heat from one place and releasing it in another place. however... the vapor changes from a HIGH pressure gas and expands rapidly to cause it to instantly freeze and remove the heat from the CPU. this is only possible with refrigerants.
NOTE ON Evaporators... there are 2 types of evaporators.
1-maze- maze is just like it sounds... a maze. this allows the expansion of the gas to take place in a larger area therefore cooling more area needed to cool an entire CPU.
2-stepper- stepper is like a multi story building.... the gas expands more and more in each level of the stepper therefore causing it to get colder and colder on each level. this design works very well but is only a few degrees C colder than a maze design.
NOTE: the stepper is enclosed by a copper ring/cap that encloses the entire design except for the base.
this info is just VERY BASIC and explains how it work BRIEFLY. this does not explain things like the flex line, electrical system, fan(s) monitoring gauges/LCD's, fill valves, and any advanced hardware that may make the unit to perform substantially better. THIS IS A SINGLE STAGE PHASE... NOT A CASCADE!!!
Cascade = 2, 3, 4, etc "stages"(of cooling).... each being the concept of a single stage phase, but cooling another "stage" of the unit. more on this if i get any interest.