Two-sided two-phase heat exchange system
The two-sided two-phase heat exchange system efficiently dissipates heat from high-end AI servers by utilizing latent heat exchange on both sides of a combined structure, overcoming the limitations of existing systems in transporting heat over long distances.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- TW114118285
- Authority / Receiving Office
- TW · TW
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-11
- Estimated Expiration
- 2045-05-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing heat dissipation systems, such as heat pipes or vapor chambers, are limited in transporting heat over long distances and cannot be directly installed in coolant path loops, failing to meet the high heat dissipation requirements of high-end AI servers.
A two-sided two-phase heat exchange system with separate channels for refrigerant and working fluid, utilizing latent heat dissipation on both sides through a combined exchange structure, including a first exchange channel with a compressor, condenser, and expansion valve, and a second exchange channel with a pump and phase converter, controlled by a microcontroller to manage fluid states and heat exchange.
Effectively dissipates heat energy externally over long distances by leveraging the latent heat exchange of both refrigerant and working fluid phases, addressing the limitations of prior art systems.
Smart Images
Figure IMG-2_DRAW_114118285-A0305-14-0001-1 
Figure IMG-2_DRAW_114118285-A0305-14-0002-2 
Figure IMG-2_DRAW_114118285-A0305-14-0003-3
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to heat exchange devices, and in particular to a two-sided two-phase heat exchange system. Prior Technology
[0002] Chinese Patent No. I828427 discloses a cooling system and cooling method. The technical focus of this case is that a coolant path loop is coupled to a cold plate and a refrigerant circulation on both sides of a heat exchanger. The coolant path loop is used to circulate coolant fluid to remove heat from the cold plate. The heat exchanger is then used to exchange heat to the refrigerant circulation. The refrigerant circulation uses the latent heat of the refrigerant it contains to dissipate heat from the condenser through the two-phase change between the gaseous and liquid states.
[0003] In the aforementioned prior art, the latent heat dissipation effect of the two-phase change only exists on the side of the refrigerant circulation. However, on the side of the coolant path loop, only the liquid state (i.e., single-phase state) absorbs heat from the cold plate. Therefore, overall, the heat absorption effect of the coolant path loop is worse than that of the refrigerant circulation because it is a single-phase state without phase change, thus becoming a bottleneck of the overall system.
[0004] Currently known two-phase heat dissipation units, besides the aforementioned refrigerant circulation technology similar to that used in air conditioners or refrigerators, include heat pipes or vapor chambers. The technical principle of these units is mainly based on water as the working fluid. Water absorbs heat at the heat absorption end by changing from a liquid to a gaseous state within the heat pipe or vapor chamber, and then releases heat at the heat dissipation end by changing from a gaseous state to a liquid state. This achieves the result of releasing the heat energy of the heating element through the heat dissipation fins, which is the heat exchange effect of the latent heat of the two-phase change of the working fluid.
[0005] However, heat dissipation devices such as heat pipes or vapor chambers are closed environments, which cannot transport heat over long distances. Therefore, they are difficult to use to meet the need for heat exchange between the internal working fluid and the outside. Moreover, due to their closed environment design, heat pipes or vapor chambers cannot be directly installed in the coolant path loop of the aforementioned case as a substitute. However, today's high-end AI servers have extremely high heat dissipation requirements and cannot dissipate heat internally, but must dissipate the heat externally. Therefore, how to use the latent heat dissipation effect of the two-phase change of the working fluid on both sides of the heat exchanger, and how to successfully carry the heat energy out for external dissipation, has become the problem that this case aims to solve. Summary of the Invention
[0006] The main objective of this invention is to propose a two-sided two-phase heat exchange system that can utilize the latent heat dissipation effect of the two-phase change of the working fluid on both sides of the combined exchange structure to carry heat energy out over a long distance and dissipate it to the outside of the system, thus solving the problems of the prior art.
[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a two-sided two-phase heat exchange system, comprising: a first-sided two-phase heat dissipation unit having a first exchange channel in which a set of first pipes are sequentially connected and circulated, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve; and a refrigerant being filled into the set of first pipes, the first exchange channel, the compressor, the condenser, and the expansion valve; the refrigerant is in a vapor state when flowing out of the first exchange channel to the compressor, and is in a vapor state when compressed by the compressor and flowing out of the condenser; the refrigerant condenses in the condenser. The liquid state is present when flowing from the condenser to the expansion valve and when flowing back from the expansion valve to the first exchange channel. A second-side two-phase heat dissipation unit has a second exchange channel circulated by a set of second tubes connected in series, a pump, and a phase converter. A working fluid is filled within the set of second tubes, the second exchange channel, the pump, and the phase converter. The phase converter is used to attach to a heating element that generates heat. The pump drives the working fluid to flow within the set of second tubes, and the working fluid flows out from the second exchange channel to the pump. The working fluid is initially in a liquid state, flowing from the pump to the phase converter. The heat emitted by the heating element causes the working fluid within the phase converter to change from a liquid state to a vapor state. The working fluid system flowing from the phase converter to the second exchange channel is at least in a vapor state, between liquid and vapor states. A control unit is also included, comprising an inlet temperature sensor, an outlet temperature sensor, and a microcontroller unit (MCU). The inlet temperature sensor senses the temperature of the working fluid flowing into the phase converter, and the outlet temperature sensor senses the temperature of the working fluid flowing out of the phase converter. The microcontroller unit is electrically connected to the inlet temperature sensor, the outlet temperature sensor, and the pump. The microcontroller unit controls the pump's drive speed based on the temperatures sensed by the inlet and outlet temperature sensors. The first exchange channel and the second exchange channel are not interconnected, preventing the refrigerant and the working fluid from mixing. Furthermore, the first and second exchange channels have a combined exchange structure, allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant in the first exchange channel and the working fluid in the second exchange channel.
[0008] Therefore, the present invention can utilize the latent heat dissipation effect of the two-phase change of the working fluid on both sides of the combined exchange structure to carry heat energy out over long distances and dissipate it outside the system, thus solving the problem of the prior art. Simple Explanation of the Diagram
[0009] Figure 1 is a block diagram of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a usage diagram of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is another block diagram of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a circuit block diagram of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a block diagram of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a block diagram of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Implementation
[0010] To illustrate the technical features of this invention in detail, the following preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the present invention describes a two-sided two-phase heat exchange system 10 through a first preferred embodiment, which mainly consists of a first-sided two-phase heat dissipation unit 11, a second-sided two-phase heat dissipation unit 21, a combined heat exchange structure 31, and a control unit 41, wherein:
[0012] The first-side two-phase heat dissipation unit 11 has a first exchange channel 13, a compressor 14, a condenser 15, and an expansion valve 16, which are connected in series by a set of first pipes 12. A refrigerant 19 is filled in the set of first pipes 12, the first exchange channel 13, the compressor 14, the condenser 15, and the expansion valve 16. The refrigerant 19 is in a gaseous state when it flows out of the first exchange channel 13 to the compressor 14. After being compressed by the compressor 14, it is in a gaseous state when it flows out of the condenser 15. The refrigerant 19 is condensed into a liquid state in the condenser 15. It is in a liquid state when it flows out of the condenser 15 to the expansion valve 16, and it is in a liquid state when it flows back to the first exchange channel 13 from the expansion valve 16.
[0013] The second-side two-phase heat dissipation unit 21 has a second exchange channel 23, a pump 24, and a phase converter 25, which are connected in series by a set of second tubes 22. A working fluid 29 is filled in the set of second tubes 22, the second exchange channel 23, the pump 24, and the phase converter 25. The phase converter 25 is used to attach to a heating element 91 that generates heat. The pump 24 drives the working fluid 29 to flow in the set of second tubes 22. When the working fluid 29 flows out of the second exchange channel 23 to the pump 24, it is in a liquid state. When it flows out of the pump 24 to the phase converter 25, it is in a liquid state. The heat emitted by the heating element 91 causes the working fluid 29 in the phase converter 25 to evaporate from a liquid state to a vapor state. The working fluid 29 flowing out of the phase converter 25 to the second exchange channel 23 is at least in a vapor state among the liquid and vapor states. The working fluid 29 can be selected from either water or refrigerant. In this first embodiment, the working fluid 29 is selected from refrigerant and is a different refrigerant from the refrigerant 19 in the first exchange channel 13. Alternatively, the same refrigerant can also be used. Furthermore, in this first embodiment, the phase converter 25 has a capillary structure 251 and a vapor space 252 inside. The working fluid 29, which enters the phase converter 25 from the second tube 22 and is in a liquid state, is adsorbed by the capillary structure 251. When the working fluid 29 is heated and evaporates into a vapor state, it enters the vapor space 252. Alternatively, the working fluid 29 may seep out from the capillary structure 251 and enter the vapor space 252 due to the drive of the pump 24, and then flow out of the phase converter 25 from the vapor space 252.
[0014] The first exchange channel 13 and the second exchange channel 23 are not interconnected, preventing the refrigerant 19 and the working fluid 29 from mixing. A combined exchange structure 31 connects the first exchange channel 13 and the second exchange channel 23, allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant 19 in the first exchange channel 13 and the working fluid 29 in the second exchange channel 23. In this first embodiment, the combined exchange structure 31 is a plate heat exchanger, and the two channels inside this plate heat exchanger serve as the first exchange channel 13 and the second exchange channel 23, effectively combining the first exchange channel 13 and the second exchange channel 23 internally. Since plate heat exchangers are well-known products in the industry, their internal structure with two channels requires no further explanation.
[0015] The control unit 41 includes an inlet temperature sensor 42, an outlet temperature sensor 44, and a microcontroller unit (MCU) 46. The inlet temperature sensor 42 is used to sense the temperature of the working fluid 29 flowing into the phase converter 25, and the outlet temperature sensor 44 is used to sense the temperature of the working fluid 29 flowing out of the phase converter 25. The MCU 46 is electrically connected to the inlet temperature sensor 42, the outlet temperature sensor 44, and the pump 24. The MCU 46 controls the drive speed of the pump 24 based on the temperatures sensed by the inlet temperature sensor 42 and the outlet temperature sensor 44.
[0016] In actual implementation, the temperature sensed by the outlet temperature sensor 44 is higher than the temperature sensed by the inlet temperature sensor 42, and the temperature sensed by the outlet temperature sensor 44 is higher than or equal to the boiling point temperature of the working fluid 29. The boiling point temperature of the working fluid 29 depends on the material of the working fluid 29 itself; in this first embodiment, the working fluid 29 is exemplified by 20°C. Furthermore, if the temperature sensed by the outlet temperature sensor 44 is 2°C higher than or equal to the boiling point temperature of the working fluid 29, the microcontroller unit 46 controls the pump 24 to increase its driving speed of the working fluid 29 to prevent the evaporation rate of the working fluid 29 in the phase converter 25 from exceeding the inlet rate and causing a dry-out phenomenon. The boiling point temperature of the working fluid 29 can be determined by referring to a table to find out its boiling point at different pressures. It changes with the pressure inside the phase converter 25. The higher the pressure, the higher the boiling point temperature. Therefore, a pressure sensor (not shown in the figure) can be installed inside the phase converter 25 as needed to determine the boiling point temperature of the working fluid 29 at any given time by detecting the pressure inside the phase converter 25.
[0017] The structure of this first embodiment has been described above. Next, the operational state of this first embodiment will be described.
[0018] As shown in Figure 2, before use, the inverter 25 is first attached to a heating element 91 (e.g., a computer chip).
[0019] As shown in Figure 2, during operation, for the first side two-phase heat dissipation unit 11, when the compressor 14 is running, the refrigerant 19 in the first exchange channel 13 continuously enters the compressor 14 in a gaseous state. After being compressed by the compressor 14, the refrigerant 19 becomes highly heated and enters the condenser 15 in a gaseous state. It then condenses into a liquid state in the condenser 15 due to heat dissipation, flows into the expansion valve 16 and cools down to a low temperature, and returns to the first exchange channel 13 in a low-temperature liquid state.
[0020] In the second two-phase heat dissipation unit 21, the pump 24 continuously drives the working fluid 29 to move within the second tube 22 and enter the phase converter 25 through the second exchange channel 23. The working fluid 29 located in the phase converter 25 is heated and evaporated into a vapor state by the heat energy emitted by the heating element 91 and enters the vapor space 252. The vaporized working fluid 29 then flows out of the phase converter 25 and returns to the second exchange channel 23 through the second tube 22.
[0021] Furthermore, since the working fluid 29 is driven by the pump 24 controlled by the microcontroller unit 46, if the heating element 91 has not yet heated up or the heat emitted is insufficient to evaporate the working fluid 29 in the phase converter 25, the working fluid 29 may seep out from the capillary structure 251 in liquid form and flow into the vapor space 252. Therefore, it is also possible that it may return to the second exchange channel 23 in liquid form through the second tube 22. However, this will not affect the movement of the vapor after the working fluid 29 has evaporated. When the heating element 91 continues to heat up, the working fluid 29 in the vapor space 252 will eventually become vaporized. In addition, the drive rate of the pump 24 must be adjusted appropriately. When the temperature sensed by the outlet temperature sensor 44 is 2°C higher than or equal to the boiling point temperature of the working fluid 29, the microcontroller unit 46 controls the pump 24 to increase its speed of driving the working fluid 29. Conversely, when the temperature is below 2°C, the pump 24 is controlled to maintain a normal drive rate so that the working fluid 29 in the phase converter 25 can be continuously replenished and can evaporate in time but not dry out.
[0022] It is worth noting that, as shown in Figure 4, the phase converter 25 can also be configured to have only a plurality of fins 52 without internal capillary structures, such as the well-known cold plate. Alternatively, it can be configured to be hollow, as long as the working fluid 29 can be heated and evaporated into a vapor state in the phase converter 25.
[0023] The refrigerant 19 and the working fluid 29 that enter the combined exchange structure 31 will exchange heat. In this way, the heat emitted by the heating element 91 can be absorbed by the working fluid 29, and then exchanged again in the combined exchange structure 31 and absorbed by the refrigerant 19. The refrigerant 19 then flows to the condenser 15 to dissipate the heat, achieving the effect of dissipating heat over a long distance and exchanging heat.
[0024] As can be seen from the above, this first embodiment can utilize the latent heat of the two-phase change of the working fluid 29 and the refrigerant 19 on both sides of the combined exchange structure 31 to utilize the latent heat exchange effect of the two-phase heat dissipation unit 11 on the first side and the two-phase heat dissipation unit 21 on the second side, so that the heat energy emitted by the heating element 91 can be exchanged in the combined exchange structure 31 and carried out smoothly for external heat dissipation. Compared with the prior art, which only uses the two-phase latent heat change of the refrigerant on one side, the present invention effectively solves the problem of the prior art.
[0025] As shown in Figure 5, the present invention describes a two-sided two-phase heat exchange system 10' through a second preferred embodiment, which is mainly the same as the first embodiment described above, except that:
[0026] The second exchange channel 23' is container-shaped. The combined exchange structure 31' is different from that disclosed in the first embodiment. Instead, the first exchange channel 13' extends into and is combined with the second exchange channel 23'. The first exchange channel 13' is a pipe and is immersed in the liquid working fluid 29'. The refrigerant 19' exchanges heat with the working fluid 29' outside the first exchange channel 13' in the part of the first exchange channel 13' located inside the second exchange channel 23'.
[0027] In this way, the working fluid 29' exchanges heat with the refrigerant 19' through the first exchange channel 13' within the second exchange channel 23'.
[0028] The remaining structures and effects of this second embodiment are the same as those of the aforementioned first embodiment, and will not be described again.
[0029] As shown in Figure 6, the present invention describes a two-sided two-phase heat exchange system 10'' through a third preferred embodiment, which is mainly the same as the first embodiment described above, except that:
[0030] The first exchange channel 13'' is container-shaped. The combined exchange structure 31'' is different from that disclosed in the first embodiment. Instead, the second exchange channel 23'' extends into and is combined with the first exchange channel 13''. The second exchange channel 23'' is a pipe and is immersed in the liquid refrigerant 19''. The working fluid 29'' exchanges heat with the refrigerant 19'' outside the second exchange channel 23'' within the portion of the second exchange channel 23'' located inside the first exchange channel 13''.
[0031] In this way, the working fluid 29'' exchanges heat with the refrigerant 19'' in the first exchange channel 13'' through the second exchange channel 23''.
[0032] The remaining structures and effects of this third embodiment are the same as those of the aforementioned first embodiment, and will not be described again.
[0033] The above description is merely an illustration of the present invention through embodiments and cannot be used to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Any simple variations or equivalent implementations made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification of the present invention should be covered by the scope of the patent application of the present invention.
[0034] 10: Two-sided two-phase heat exchange system 11: First side two-phase heat dissipation unit 12:First tube body 13: First Switching Channel 14: Compressor 15: Condenser 16: Expansion valve 19:Refrigerant 21: Second side two-phase heat dissipation unit 22:Second tube body 23: Second Switching Channel 24: Pump 25: Phase converter 251: Capillary structure 252: Steam Space 29: Working fluid 31: Combined with exchange structure 41: Control Unit 42: Inlet temperature sensor 44: Outlet temperature sensor 46: Microcontroller Unit 52: Fins 91: Heating element 10': Two-sided two-phase heat exchange system 13': First switching channel 19':Refrigerant 23': Second switching channel 29': Working fluid 31': Combined exchange structure 10'': Two-sided two-phase heat exchange system 13'': First switching channel 19'':Refrigerant 23'': Second switching channel 29'': Working fluid 31'': Combined with exchange structure
Claims
1. A two-sided two-phase heat exchange system, comprising: a first-sided two-phase heat dissipation unit having a first exchange channel, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve connected in series by a set of first pipes, and a refrigerant filled in the set of first pipes, the first exchange channel, the compressor, the condenser, and the expansion valve, wherein the refrigerant is in a vapor state when flowing out of the first exchange channel to the compressor, is in a vapor state when compressed by the compressor and flowing out of the condenser, is in a liquid state when condensed in the condenser, is in a liquid state when flowing out of the condenser to the expansion valve, and is in a liquid state when flowing back from the expansion valve to the first exchange channel; A second-side two-phase heat dissipation unit includes a second exchange channel, a pump, and a phase converter, all connected in series by a set of second pipes. A working fluid is filled within the set of second pipes, the second exchange channel, the pump, and the phase converter. The phase converter is attached to a heating element that generates heat. The pump drives the working fluid to flow within the set of second pipes. The working fluid is liquid when flowing from the second exchange channel to the pump, and also liquid when flowing from the pump to the phase converter. The heat emitted by the heating element causes the working fluid within the phase converter to change from liquid to vapor, and then flows out of the phase converter... The working fluid system exiting the second exchange channel is at least in a vapor state, existing in both liquid and vapor states; and a control unit having an inlet temperature sensor, an outlet temperature sensor, and a microcontroller unit (MCU). The inlet temperature sensor senses the temperature of the working fluid flowing into the phase converter, the outlet temperature sensor senses the temperature of the working fluid flowing out of the phase converter, and the MCU is electrically connected to the inlet temperature sensor, the outlet temperature sensor, and the pump. The MCU controls the pump's drive speed based on the temperatures sensed by the inlet and outlet temperature sensors. The first exchange channel and the second exchange channel are not connected to each other, so that the refrigerant and the working fluid will not mix with each other, and the first exchange channel and the second exchange channel have a combined exchange structure, so that the refrigerant in the first exchange channel and the working fluid in the second exchange channel can exchange heat.
2. The two-sided two-phase heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein: The combined heat exchange structure is a plate heat exchanger, and the two channels inside the plate heat exchanger serve as the first heat exchange channel and the second heat exchange channel.
3. The two-sided two-phase heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein: The second exchange channel is container-shaped. The combined exchange structure is a connection between the first exchange channel and the second exchange channel. The first exchange channel is a pipe and is immersed in the liquid working fluid. The refrigerant exchanges heat with the working fluid outside the first exchange channel in the portion of the first exchange channel located inside the second exchange channel.
4. The two-sided two-phase heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein: The first exchange channel is container-shaped, and the combined exchange structure is a connection between the second exchange channel extending into and connecting to the first exchange channel. The second exchange channel is a pipe and is immersed in the liquid refrigerant. The working fluid exchanges heat with the refrigerant outside the second exchange channel in the portion of the second exchange channel located inside the first exchange channel.
5. The two-sided two-phase heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein: The workflow system is selected from either water or refrigerant.
6. The two-sided two-phase heat exchange system according to claim 5, wherein: When the working fluid is selected from refrigerant, it is the same refrigerant as that in the first exchange channel.
7. The two-sided two-phase heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein: The phase converter has a capillary structure and a vapor space inside. The working fluid system, which enters the phase converter from the second tube and is in a liquid state, is adsorbed by the capillary structure. When the working fluid is heated and evaporates into a vapor state, it enters the vapor space and then flows out of the phase converter from the vapor space.
8. The two-sided two-phase heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein: The temperature sensed by the outlet temperature sensor is higher than the temperature sensed by the inlet temperature sensor, and the temperature sensed by the outlet temperature sensor is higher than or equal to the boiling point temperature of the working fluid.
9. The two-sided two-phase heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein: When the temperature sensed by the outlet temperature sensor is 2°C higher than or equal to the boiling point of the working fluid, the microcontroller unit controls the pump to increase its speed of driving the working fluid.