Control method and system of liquid cooling system

Abstract

The present invention provides a control method and system for a liquid cooling system, which relates to the technical field of liquid cooling systems. The method includes: obtaining temperature data and medium flow information of a heat exchanger in a liquid cooling system; calculating the temperature difference between the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature, and judging whether the temperature difference exceeds a preset temperature difference threshold interval; if exceeded, judging based on the medium flow information whether the temperature difference can be kept within the temperature difference threshold interval by adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate based on the current medium flow mode; if yes, adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate according to the temperature difference; if not, adjusting the medium flow mode according to the temperature difference and the external cooling medium flow rate. Based on the heat exchange efficiency of the coolant in the heat exchanger, the external cooling medium flow rate and the medium flow mode can be dynamically adjusted in an appropriate manner, which effectively reduces the impact of simply adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate on the stability of the system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of liquid cooling systems, and in particular to a control method and system for a liquid cooling heat dissipation system. Background Art

[0002] The heat dissipation system of the immersion liquid cooling system is the core part of the entire cooling solution. It is responsible for transferring the heat absorbed by the electronic equipment to the external environment. The design and performance of the heat dissipation system directly affects the efficiency and reliability of the entire cooling system.

[0003] In single-phase immersion liquid cooling, electronic components are fully or partially immersed in the coolant. When the electronic components are working, the heat generated will be transferred to the surrounding coolant, and the coolant is pumped to the external heat exchanger for cooling. The heat exchanger is a key component for transferring heat from the coolant to the external cooling medium. In the heat exchanger, the coolant flows on one side of the heat exchanger and the external cooling medium flows on the other side. Heat exchange is carried out between the two through heat-conducting materials (such as metal plates or pipe walls), thereby transferring heat from the coolant to the external medium.

[0004] In the heat dissipation system of the immersion liquid cooling system, the efficiency of heat transfer from the coolant to the external cooling medium is achieved through a variety of control strategies and optimization measures. Among them, the flow control of the coolant and the external cooling medium is an important aspect. Optimizing flow control involves not only the flow optimization of the coolant, but also the flow optimization of the external cooling medium.

[0005] Therefore, how to provide a more efficient and accurate external cooling medium flow control method is a problem that needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the invention

[0006] In order to improve the above problems, the present invention provides a control method and system for a liquid cooling system.

[0007] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a control method for a liquid cooling system is provided, the method comprising:

[0008] Acquire temperature data and medium flow information of a heat exchanger in a liquid cooling system, wherein the temperature data includes the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature, and the medium flow information includes the coolant flow rate, the external cooling medium flow rate, and the medium flow mode, wherein the medium flow mode is the proportion of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger;

[0009] Calculating the temperature difference between the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature, and determining whether the temperature difference exceeds a preset temperature difference threshold range;

[0010] If it exceeds, judging whether the temperature difference can be kept within the temperature difference threshold range by adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium based on the current medium flow mode according to the medium flow information;

[0011] If yes, adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium according to the temperature difference;

[0012] If not, the medium flow mode is adjusted according to the temperature difference and the external cooling medium flow rate.

[0013] Optionally, the step of judging, according to the medium flow information, whether the temperature difference can be kept within the temperature difference threshold range by adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium based on the current medium flow mode specifically includes:

[0014] Calculating, according to the difference between the temperature difference and the temperature difference threshold interval, a heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment amount that needs to be changed so that the temperature difference remains within the temperature difference threshold interval;

[0015] Calculating, according to the external cooling medium flow rate, a maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment amount that can be provided by adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate under the current medium flow mode;

[0016] If the maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment amount is greater than or equal to the heat exchange efficiency requirement adjustment amount, it is determined to be yes; if the maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment amount is less than the heat exchange efficiency requirement adjustment amount, it is determined to be no.

[0017] Optionally, the step of adjusting the medium flow mode according to the temperature difference and the external cooling medium flow rate specifically includes:

[0018] If the temperature difference is less than the temperature difference threshold interval, increasing the proportion of the counterflow area in the heat exchanger;

[0019] If the temperature difference is greater than the temperature difference threshold interval, the proportion of the downstream area in the heat exchanger is increased.

[0020] Optionally, the step of adjusting the medium flow mode according to the temperature difference and the external cooling medium flow rate specifically includes:

[0021] According to the heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment amount, the target proportions of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger are calculated based on the current medium flow mode;

[0022] The medium flow mode is adjusted based on the target proportion.

[0023] Optionally, the step of calculating the target proportions of the downstream area and the upstream area in the heat exchanger based on the current medium flow mode specifically includes:

[0024] Calculate the target ratio under the condition that the external cooling medium flow rate remains unchanged.

[0025] Optionally, the step of calculating the target proportions of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger based on the current medium flow mode specifically further includes:

[0026] If the target ratio cannot be calculated under the condition that the external cooling medium flow rate remains unchanged, the target ratio and the corresponding minimum change in the external cooling medium flow rate are calculated under the condition that the change in the external cooling medium flow rate is minimal.

[0027] Optionally, before the step of adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium according to the temperature difference, the method further includes:

[0028] Calculating the flow adjustment amount of the external cooling medium flow required for flow adjustment according to the temperature difference;

[0029] Calculating the change in pump power consumption and system pressure caused by the change in flow rate according to the flow rate adjustment amount;

[0030] Determining whether any one of the change in pump power consumption and the change in system pressure exceeds a preset change safety threshold;

[0031] If not, performing the step of adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium according to the temperature difference;

[0032] If so, calculate the heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment amount, calculate the target proportions of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger based on the current medium flow mode according to the heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment amount, and adjust the medium flow mode based on the target proportions.

[0033] Optionally, the step of adjusting the medium flow mode based on the target proportion specifically includes:

[0034] Obtaining the size of the region supporting the adjustment of the medium flow mode in the external cooling medium flow region of the heat exchanger;

[0035] From the area supporting the adjustment of the medium flow mode, a partial area whose actual proportion value is closest to the target proportion value is selected to switch the medium flow mode.

[0036] Optionally, the method further comprises:

[0037] After the medium flow mode is adjusted, the flow rate of the external cooling medium is adjusted accordingly according to the size of the area actually adjusted.

[0038] A second aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides a control system for a liquid cooling system, including:

[0039] An information acquisition unit, used to acquire temperature data and medium flow information of a heat exchanger in a liquid cooling and heat dissipation system, wherein the temperature data includes a coolant outlet temperature and an external cooling medium outlet temperature, and the medium flow information includes a coolant flow rate, an external cooling medium flow rate, and a medium flow mode, wherein the medium flow mode is a proportion of a downstream area and a countercurrent area in the heat exchanger;

[0040] A temperature difference judgment unit, used to calculate the temperature difference between the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature, and judge whether the temperature difference exceeds a preset temperature difference threshold range;

[0041] a flow determination unit, for determining, if exceeded, whether the temperature difference can be kept within the temperature difference threshold interval by adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate based on the current medium flow mode according to the medium flow information;

[0042] a flow regulating unit, for regulating the flow of the external cooling medium according to the temperature difference if yes;

[0043] A mode adjustment unit is used to adjust the medium flow mode according to the temperature difference and the external cooling medium flow rate if no.

[0044] In summary, the present invention provides a control method and system for a liquid cooling system, which can dynamically adjust the external cooling medium flow rate and the medium flow pattern in a suitable manner based on the heat exchange efficiency of the coolant in the heat exchanger, and make full use of the change in heat exchange efficiency brought about by the change in the medium flow pattern to achieve the overall stability of the system under the dynamic change of the coolant heat exchange demand, and effectively reduce the impact of simply adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate on the system stability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings required for use in the embodiments are briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present invention and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0046] Figure 1 A method flow chart of a control method of a liquid cooling system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 2 1 is a functional module block diagram of a control system of a liquid cooling system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Reference numerals:

[0049] Information acquisition unit 110; temperature difference judgment unit 120; flow judgment unit 130; flow adjustment unit 140; mode adjustment unit 150. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The heat exchanger is a key component that transfers heat from the coolant to the external cooling medium. In the heat exchanger, the coolant flows on one side of the heat exchanger, and the external cooling medium flows on the other side. Heat exchange is carried out between the two through heat-conducting materials (such as metal plates or tube walls), thereby transferring heat from the coolant to the external medium.

[0051] In the heat dissipation system of the immersion liquid cooling system, the efficiency of heat transfer from the coolant to the external cooling medium is achieved through a variety of control strategies and optimization measures. Among them, the flow control of the coolant and the external cooling medium is an important aspect. Optimizing flow control involves not only the flow optimization of the coolant, but also the flow optimization of the external cooling medium.

[0052] Therefore, how to provide a more efficient and accurate external cooling medium flow control method is a problem that needs to be solved urgently.

[0053] In view of this, the designers of the present invention have designed a control method and system for a liquid cooling system.

[0054] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0055] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed for protection, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0056] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, further definition and explanation thereof is not required in subsequent drawings.

[0057] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc. indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the invented product is usually placed when in use, which is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used to distinguish the description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0058] In the description of the present invention, it is also necessary to explain that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "set", "install", "connect", and "connect" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0059] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0060] The control method of the liquid cooling system provided in this embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0061] In a heat exchanger, the design of the flow channel of the coolant and the external cooling medium as counter-flow or parallel-flow is usually fixed. This is because the design and layout of the flow channel are determined when the heat exchanger is manufactured. Once installed, the direction of the flow channel cannot usually be easily changed. Among them, counter-flow refers to the opposite flow direction of the coolant and the external cooling medium in the heat exchanger. Counter-flow can provide the largest average temperature difference, thereby improving the heat transfer efficiency. Parallel flow refers to the same flow direction of the coolant and the external cooling medium in the heat exchanger. The average temperature difference of parallel flow is small and the heat transfer efficiency is relatively low. At the same flow rate, the heat transfer efficiency of the coolant and the external cooling medium using counter-flow and parallel flow will be significantly different. The specific difference in heat transfer efficiency depends on many factors, including the physical properties of the fluid, the design of the heat exchanger, the flow rate, etc. In general, the heat transfer efficiency of counter-flow can be 30% to 50% higher than that of parallel flow or more. The specific value needs to be determined through detailed thermodynamic analysis and experimental data based on the specific structure of the heat exchanger and the physical properties of the coolant and external cooling medium.

[0062] With the development of related technologies, heat exchangers designed with structures that use partial co-current flow and partial counter-current flow have also appeared on the market. This mixed flow design is called cross-flow, mixed-flow heat exchanger or multi-pass heat exchanger. By combining the advantages of co-current and counter-current, more optimized heat transfer effects can be achieved in some applications. These designs combine the advantages of co-current and counter-current, providing higher heat transfer efficiency and more flexible temperature control. Among them, mixed flow heat exchangers combine the characteristics of co-current and counter-current, and usually co-current and counter-current areas exist in one heat exchanger. For example, SWEP's BPHE (Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger) series heat exchangers achieve efficient mixed flow through special plate arrangement and welding technology. However, the structure of the above-mentioned mixed flow heat exchangers is still fixed. Although there are areas with different flow directions, the direction of the flow channel cannot usually be changed.

[0063] Based on the above technology, some people have proposed a heat exchanger design that dynamically changes the flow direction during the use of a liquid cooling fan heat system. For example, the solution disclosed in patent CN118519849A dynamically switches the flow direction of the pipeline with cooling medium to solve the problem of immediately powering off or interrupting the current node business when the pipeline leaks. It can be seen that the idea of ​​dynamically changing the flow direction during use has been applied to some products, but it is mainly used to solve temporary faults, and it does not take into account that other control effects can be achieved by dynamically changing the flow direction.

[0064] The control method of the liquid cooling system provided in the embodiment of the present invention is mainly applied to a heat exchanger that adopts mixed flow and can support dynamic change of flow channel during use. The method will be described in detail below.

[0065] See also Figure 1 The control method of the liquid cooling system provided in this embodiment includes:

[0066] Step S101, obtaining temperature data and medium flow information of the heat exchanger in the liquid cooling system, wherein the temperature data includes the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature, and the medium flow information includes the coolant flow rate, the external cooling medium flow rate and the medium flow mode, wherein the medium flow mode is the proportion of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger.

[0067] The temperature of the coolant at the outlet after passing through the heat exchanger is called the coolant outlet temperature or coolant outlet water temperature. The temperature of the external cooling medium when it flows out of the heat exchanger after passing through the heat exchanger and exchanging heat with the coolant is called the external cooling medium outlet temperature, which reflects the state of the external cooling medium after absorbing the heat from the coolant. These two temperature parameters are critical to evaluating and controlling the performance of the immersion liquid cooling system. By monitoring and controlling these temperatures in real time, efficient and reliable operation of the system can be ensured.

[0068] Obtaining the coolant flow rate and external cooling medium flow rate is convenient for determining the adjustment space of the external cooling medium flow rate and calculating the corresponding heat exchange efficiency adjustment requirement. This method mainly considers the scenario of adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate and the medium flow mode when the coolant flow rate is fixed or remains stable for a period of time.

[0069] The medium flow mode reflects the proportion of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the current state of the heat exchanger. Obtaining this information is convenient for determining the adjustment space for the medium flow mode adjustment on the one hand, and for the subsequent specific calculation of the maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment on the other hand.

[0070] Step S102, calculate the temperature difference between the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature, and determine whether the temperature difference exceeds a preset temperature difference threshold range. If exceeded, execute step S103.

[0071] When designing a heat exchanger or cooling system, the temperature difference between the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature is not the larger the better, but it is necessary to find a balance between heat exchange efficiency, energy consumption, equipment life, control complexity and economy. Based on the needs of the actual application scenario and equipment specifications, it is usually necessary to determine the appropriate temperature difference range for the temperature difference between the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature. The appropriate temperature difference can improve the heat transfer efficiency and ensure that the heat in the coolant can be effectively transferred to the external cooling medium. At the same time, it can balance the energy consumption of the system and avoid unnecessary pump power consumption or external cooling medium processing costs.

[0072] Therefore, after calculating the temperature difference between the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature, it is compared with the preset temperature difference threshold interval. The specific results are divided into three situations: the first is lower than the temperature difference threshold interval, the second is within the temperature difference threshold interval, and the third is higher than the temperature difference threshold interval. For the first and third cases, it is considered to exceed the preset temperature difference threshold interval and corresponding response actions need to be taken.

[0073] In actual applications, the temperature difference between the coolant and the external cooling medium needs to be determined according to the specific application requirements, system design and equipment characteristics. Generally, a temperature difference between 5°C and 20°C is a common range, but a smaller temperature difference may be required in some special applications. The optimal temperature difference range can be found by comprehensively considering factors such as heat exchange efficiency, energy consumption, equipment life, control complexity and economy. The temperature difference can be optimized through experiments, simulations and real-time monitoring to ensure efficient and reliable operation of the system.

[0074] For example, in data centers and high-performance computing (HPC), the typical temperature difference range is between 10°C and 15°C. For example, the coolant inlet temperature is 30°C and the outlet temperature is 40°C; the inlet temperature of the external cooling medium (such as water) is 20°C and the outlet temperature is 25°C. In some special applications, such as precision instruments or medical equipment, the temperature difference may need to be controlled to be smaller to ensure a high degree of temperature stability.

[0075] It should be noted that, as other embodiments of the present invention, the acquired temperature data may also include the coolant inlet temperature, and calculate the temperature difference between the coolant inlet temperature and the coolant outlet temperature. The temperature difference may also partially reflect the current working condition of the heat exchanger. The corresponding temperature difference threshold interval may also be set based on the temperature difference as a judgment condition for triggering subsequent processing actions.

[0076] Step S103, judging whether the current medium flow mode can be used to adjust the external cooling medium flow rate so that the temperature difference is kept within the temperature difference threshold range according to the medium flow information. If yes, then executing step S104; if no, then executing step S105

[0077] The adjustable range of the external cooling medium flow is determined according to the structural design of the heat dissipation system. Therefore, the adjustable range of the external cooling medium flow can be determined based on the specific structure or model of the heat exchanger. On this basis, combined with the obtained coolant flow and medium flow mode, the current actual heat exchange efficiency and the maximum heat exchange efficiency can be calculated. On the basis of the actual heat exchange efficiency, the difference between the current temperature difference and the temperature difference threshold range is superimposed and calculated, and then the heat exchange efficiency adjustment required to keep the temperature difference within the temperature difference threshold range is obtained. The maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment is calculated based on the difference between the boundary value of the adjustable range of the external cooling medium flow and the current external cooling medium flow value.

[0078] Specifically, as a preferred method of the embodiment of the present invention, step S103 specifically includes:

[0079] Calculating, according to the difference between the temperature difference and the temperature difference threshold interval, a heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment amount that needs to be changed so that the temperature difference remains within the temperature difference threshold interval;

[0080] Calculating, according to the external cooling medium flow rate, a maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment amount that can be provided by adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate under the current medium flow mode;

[0081] If the maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment amount is greater than or equal to the heat exchange efficiency requirement adjustment amount, it is determined to be yes; if the maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment amount is less than the heat exchange efficiency requirement adjustment amount, it is determined to be no.

[0082] Through the above calculation process, if the maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment is greater than or equal to the heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment, it means that the temperature difference can be kept within the temperature difference threshold range by adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate, then the subsequent processing actions can be limited to adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate. If the maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment is less than the heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment, it means that the medium flow mode needs to be adjusted. The second situation occurs because during the operation of the heat dissipation system, the proportion of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the medium flow mode changes dynamically. The current proportion may not be able to support the heat exchange efficiency that keeps the temperature difference within the temperature difference threshold range, and then the heat exchange efficiency is adjusted by adjusting the medium flow mode.

[0083] Step S104: adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium according to the temperature difference.

[0084] In the case where only the flow rate of the external cooling medium needs to be adjusted, the flow rate adjustment amount of the external cooling medium flow rate is calculated according to the required adjustment amount of the heat exchange efficiency, and then the flow rate of the external cooling medium is adjusted according to the calculated result.

[0085] On this basis, it should be noted that other effects generated when adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium should also be considered, including that in order to maintain a higher flow rate, a greater pump power is required to overcome the increased pressure drop, resulting in increased energy consumption. At the same time, the increase in the flow rate of the external cooling medium will cause the pressure in the system to change, and it may be necessary to re-evaluate the pressure level of the system and the safety valve setting. Therefore, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, before step S104 is executed, the method also includes:

[0086] Calculating the flow adjustment amount of the external cooling medium flow required for flow adjustment according to the temperature difference;

[0087] Calculating the change in pump power consumption and system pressure caused by the change in flow rate according to the flow rate adjustment amount;

[0088] Determining whether any one of the change in pump power consumption and the change in system pressure exceeds a preset change safety threshold;

[0089] If not, performing the step of adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium according to the temperature difference;

[0090] If so, calculate the heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment amount, calculate the target proportions of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger based on the current medium flow mode according to the heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment amount, and adjust the medium flow mode based on the target proportions.

[0091] By calculating the change in pump power consumption and system pressure, it is further determined whether the impact of the flow adjustment amount of the external cooling medium flow that needs to be adjusted exceeds the acceptable range, that is, the set change amount safety threshold. If it exceeds, it means that even if only the external cooling medium flow adjustment is required, it is best not to consider adjusting the external cooling medium flow alone, but to adjust the medium flow mode together to achieve the adjustment of the amount of adjustment required for heat exchange efficiency.

[0092] In the above steps, how to adjust the medium flow mode is exactly the same as the method in step S105, and is specifically described below in conjunction with the introduction to step S105.

[0093] Step S105: adjusting the medium flow mode according to the temperature difference and the external cooling medium flow rate.

[0094] In the above steps, it is mentioned that whether the temperature difference between the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature is lower than the temperature difference threshold interval or higher than the temperature difference threshold interval, it is considered to exceed the preset temperature difference threshold interval. However, for these two situations, there are certain differences when adjusting the medium flow mode. Specifically, as a preferred method of an embodiment of the present invention, step S105 specifically includes:

[0095] If the temperature difference is less than the temperature difference threshold interval, increasing the proportion of the counterflow area in the heat exchanger;

[0096] If the temperature difference is greater than the temperature difference threshold interval, the proportion of the downstream area in the heat exchanger is increased.

[0097] If the temperature difference is too small, it means that the heat transfer efficiency needs to be increased, so the proportion of the countercurrent area with higher heat transfer efficiency needs to be increased. Conversely, if the temperature difference is too large, it means that the heat transfer efficiency needs to be reduced, so the proportion of the downstream area with lower heat transfer efficiency needs to be increased.

[0098] After determining the direction of adjustment, the specific proportion value needs to be further calculated. Specifically, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method for adjusting the medium flow mode is:

[0099] According to the heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment amount, the target proportions of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger are calculated based on the current medium flow mode;

[0100] The medium flow mode is adjusted based on the target proportion.

[0101] It should be noted that, as a preferred embodiment, priority is given to the case where the flow rate of the external cooling medium is not adjusted but only the flow pattern of the medium is adjusted, that is, the target ratio is calculated under the condition that the flow rate of the external cooling medium remains unchanged.

[0102] In this case, if the available target ratio can be calculated, adjustments can be made according to the calculated target ratio.

[0103] If the target ratio cannot be calculated under the condition that the external cooling medium flow rate remains unchanged, the target ratio and the corresponding minimum change in the external cooling medium flow rate are calculated under the condition that the change in the external cooling medium flow rate is minimal.

[0104] In practical applications, after calculating the target ratio, a specific execution problem must be considered. That is, the structural design of the heat exchanger usually does not support the switching of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in any proportion. In the actual structural design, considering the complexity of the structure, there are usually only a plurality of fixed-size parts in the external cooling medium flow area that support the adjustment of the medium flow mode. The calculated target ratio is usually an accurate value, which does not necessarily match the area that supports the adjustment of the medium flow mode. Therefore, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method for adjusting the medium flow mode based on the target ratio specifically includes:

[0105] Obtaining the size of the region supporting the adjustment of the medium flow mode in the external cooling medium flow region of the heat exchanger;

[0106] From the area supporting the adjustment of the medium flow mode, a partial area whose actual proportion value is closest to the target proportion value is selected to switch the medium flow mode.

[0107] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes:

[0108] After the medium flow mode is adjusted, the flow rate of the external cooling medium is adjusted accordingly according to the size of the area actually adjusted.

[0109] Since there is a certain numerical difference between the actual area size supporting the medium flow mode adjustment and the target proportion, the difference in heat exchange efficiency caused by this difference can be compensated by adjusting the external cooling medium flow accordingly. Since the external cooling medium flow adjustment is based on the medium flow mode adjustment and then the external cooling medium flow adjustment, the flow adjustment amount at this time is much smaller than the flow adjustment amount directly through the external cooling medium flow adjustment method. Therefore, the impact on the stability (pressure change) or energy consumption (pump power) of the system is also small.

[0110] The specific adjustment of the medium flow mode is achieved by installing relevant functional structures in the flow channel of the external cooling medium. To achieve the positive and negative exchange of fluid flow in the same flow channel, it is usually necessary to use specific functional structures such as valves and piping arrangements. These functional structures specifically include four-way valves, three-way reversing valves, two-position reversing valves, sliding valves or solenoid reversing valves. Taking the four-way valve as an example, the four-way valve has four ports, and the fluid flow direction can be controlled by changing the position of the valve core. The valve core inside the four-way valve usually has two main positions: the first position, in which the fluid flows in from one input port and flows out through one output port to achieve forward flow. The second position, in which the fluid flows in from another input port and flows out through another output port to achieve reverse flow.

[0111] In the heat exchanger, which of the above functional structures is used to achieve the forward and reverse exchange of the external cooling medium flow direction depends on the specific application scenario requirements and system structure design, and is not specifically limited here.

[0112] Through the above process, dynamic temperature difference control based on external cooling medium adjustment is achieved during the use of the liquid cooling system.

[0113] In summary, the control method of the liquid cooling system provided by the present invention can dynamically adjust the external cooling medium flow rate and the medium flow mode in an appropriate manner based on the heat exchange efficiency of the coolant in the heat exchanger, and make full use of the change in heat exchange efficiency brought about by the change in the medium flow mode to achieve the overall stability of the system under the dynamic change of the coolant heat exchange demand, and effectively reduce the impact of simply adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate on the system stability.

[0114] like Figure 2 As shown, the control system of the liquid cooling system provided by the present invention is implemented, and the system includes:

[0115] The information acquisition unit 110 is used to acquire temperature data and medium flow information of the heat exchanger in the liquid cooling system, wherein the temperature data includes the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature, and the medium flow information includes the coolant flow rate, the external cooling medium flow rate and the medium flow mode, wherein the medium flow mode is the proportion of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger;

[0116] The temperature difference judgment unit 120 is used to calculate the temperature difference between the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature, and judge whether the temperature difference exceeds a preset temperature difference threshold range;

[0117] A flow determination unit 130 is used to determine, if exceeded, whether the temperature difference can be kept within the temperature difference threshold range by adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate based on the current medium flow mode according to the medium flow information;

[0118] a flow adjustment unit 140, for adjusting the flow of the external cooling medium according to the temperature difference if yes;

[0119] The mode adjustment unit 150 is used to adjust the medium flow mode according to the temperature difference and the external cooling medium flow rate if no.

[0120] The control system of the liquid cooling system provided in the embodiment of the present invention is used to implement the control method of the liquid cooling system, so the specific implementation method is the same as the above method and will not be repeated here.

[0121] In summary, the present invention provides a control method and system for a liquid cooling system, which can dynamically adjust the external cooling medium flow rate and the medium flow pattern in a suitable manner based on the heat exchange efficiency of the coolant in the heat exchanger, and make full use of the change in heat exchange efficiency brought about by the change in the medium flow pattern to achieve the overall stability of the system under the dynamic change of the coolant heat exchange demand, and effectively reduce the impact of simply adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate on the system stability.

[0122] In several embodiments disclosed in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can also be implemented in other ways. The device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings show the possible architecture, functions and operations of the devices, methods and computer program products according to multiple embodiments of the present application. In this regard, each box in the flowchart or block diagram can represent a module, a program segment or a part of the code, and a module, a program segment or a part of the code contains one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical functions. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the box can also occur in a different order from the order marked in the accompanying drawings. For example, two consecutive boxes can actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they can sometimes be executed in the opposite order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each box in the block diagram and / or flowchart, and the combination of boxes in the block diagram and / or flowchart can be implemented with a dedicated hardware-based system that performs a specified function or action, or can be implemented with a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0123] In addition, the functional modules in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated together to form an independent part, or each module may exist separately, or two or more modules may be integrated to form an independent part.

[0124] If the functions are implemented in the form of software function modules and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application can be essentially or partly embodied in the form of a software product that contributes to the prior art. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including several instructions to enable a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

Claims

1. A control method for a liquid cooling system, characterized in that: The method comprises: Obtaining temperature data and medium flow information of a heat exchanger in a liquid cooling system, wherein the temperature data includes the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature, and the medium flow information includes the coolant flow rate, the external cooling medium flow rate, and the medium flow mode, wherein the medium flow mode is the proportion of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger; the coolant outlet temperature is the temperature of the coolant at the outlet after passing through the heat exchanger, and the external cooling medium outlet temperature is the temperature of the external cooling medium when it flows out of the heat exchanger after passing through the heat exchanger and exchanging heat with the coolant; Calculating the temperature difference between the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature, and determining whether the temperature difference exceeds a preset temperature difference threshold range; If it exceeds, judging whether the temperature difference can be kept within the temperature difference threshold range by adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium based on the current medium flow mode according to the medium flow information; If yes, adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium according to the temperature difference; If not, the medium flow mode is adjusted according to the temperature difference and the external cooling medium flow rate.

2. The control method of the liquid cooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The step of judging whether the temperature difference can be kept within the temperature difference threshold range by adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium based on the current medium flow mode according to the medium flow information specifically includes: Calculating, according to the difference between the temperature difference and the temperature difference threshold interval, a heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment amount that needs to be changed so that the temperature difference remains within the temperature difference threshold interval; Calculating, according to the external cooling medium flow rate, a maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment amount that can be provided by adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate under the current medium flow mode; If the maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment amount is greater than or equal to the heat exchange efficiency requirement adjustment amount, it is determined to be yes; if the maximum heat exchange efficiency adjustment amount is less than the heat exchange efficiency requirement adjustment amount, it is determined to be no.

3. The control method of the liquid cooling system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The step of adjusting the medium flow mode according to the temperature difference and the external cooling medium flow rate specifically includes: If the temperature difference is less than the temperature difference threshold interval, increasing the proportion of the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger; If the temperature difference is greater than the temperature difference threshold interval, the proportion of the downstream area in the heat exchanger is increased.

4. The control method of the liquid cooling system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The step of adjusting the medium flow mode according to the temperature difference and the external cooling medium flow rate specifically includes: According to the heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment amount, the target proportions of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger are calculated based on the current medium flow mode; The medium flow mode is adjusted based on the target proportion.

5. The control method of the liquid cooling system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The step of calculating the target proportions of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger based on the current medium flow mode specifically includes: Calculate the target ratio under the condition that the external cooling medium flow rate remains unchanged.

6. The control method of the liquid cooling system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The step of calculating the target proportions of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger based on the current medium flow mode specifically includes: If the target ratio cannot be calculated under the condition that the external cooling medium flow rate remains unchanged, the target ratio and the corresponding minimum change in the external cooling medium flow rate are calculated under the condition that the change in the external cooling medium flow rate is minimal.

7. The control method of the liquid cooling system according to claim 4, characterized in that: Before the step of adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium according to the temperature difference, the method further includes: Calculating the flow adjustment amount of the external cooling medium flow required for flow adjustment according to the temperature difference; Calculating the change in pump power consumption and system pressure caused by the change in flow rate according to the flow rate adjustment amount; Determining whether any one of the change in pump power consumption and the change in system pressure exceeds a preset change safety threshold; If not, performing the step of adjusting the flow rate of the external cooling medium according to the temperature difference; If so, calculate the heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment amount, calculate the target proportions of the downstream area and the countercurrent area in the heat exchanger based on the current medium flow mode according to the heat exchange efficiency demand adjustment amount, and adjust the medium flow mode based on the target proportions.

8. The control method of the liquid cooling system according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that: The step of adjusting the medium flow mode based on the target proportion specifically includes: Obtaining the size of the region supporting the adjustment of the medium flow mode in the external cooling medium flow region of the heat exchanger; From the area supporting the adjustment of the medium flow mode, a partial area whose actual proportion value is closest to the target proportion value is selected to switch the medium flow mode.

9. The control method of the liquid cooling system according to claim 8, characterized in that: The method further comprises: After adjusting the medium flow mode, the flow rate of the external cooling medium is adjusted accordingly according to the size of the area actually adjusted.

10. A control system for a liquid cooling system, characterized in that: include: An information acquisition unit, used to acquire temperature data and medium flow information of a heat exchanger in a liquid cooling and heat dissipation system, wherein the temperature data includes a coolant outlet temperature and an external cooling medium outlet temperature, and the medium flow information includes a coolant flow rate, an external cooling medium flow rate, and a medium flow mode, wherein the medium flow mode is a proportion of a downstream area and a countercurrent area in a heat exchanger; the coolant outlet temperature is a temperature of the coolant at the outlet after passing through the heat exchanger, and the external cooling medium outlet temperature is a temperature of the external cooling medium when it flows out of the heat exchanger after passing through the heat exchanger and exchanging heat with the coolant; A temperature difference judgment unit, used to calculate the temperature difference between the coolant outlet temperature and the external cooling medium outlet temperature, and judge whether the temperature difference exceeds a preset temperature difference threshold range; a flow determination unit, for determining, if exceeded, whether the temperature difference can be kept within the temperature difference threshold interval by adjusting the external cooling medium flow rate based on the current medium flow mode according to the medium flow information; a flow regulating unit, for regulating the flow of the external cooling medium according to the temperature difference if yes; A mode adjustment unit is used to adjust the medium flow mode according to the temperature difference and the external cooling medium flow rate if no.

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