Air-assisted immersion cooling system

Abstract

In one or more embodiments, a liquid cooling system may include one or more air assist modules (AAMs) for reducing the amount of liquid coolant required to cool an information handling system submerged in the coolant. A controller communicatively coupled to the coolant pump, the inflator pump, the vent valve, and the coolant level sensor may determine when to add the liquid coolant and when to increase or decrease the amount of air in the one or more air assist modules based on the liquid level of the liquid coolant and the temperature of the coolant.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to liquid cooling systems for immersion cooling information handling systems, and more particularly to improving cooling in storage tanks using liquid cooling systems. Background Art

[0002] As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek more ways to process and store information. One option available to users is an information processing system. An information processing system typically processes, compiles, stores and / or communicates information or data for commercial, personal or other purposes, allowing users to exploit the value of this information. Because technology and information processing needs and requirements may vary between different users or applications, information processing systems may also vary in terms of what information is processed, how the information is processed, how much information is processed, stored or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information can be processed, stored or communicated. The variation of information processing systems allows information processing systems to be general or configured for specific users or specific purposes (such as financial transaction processing, flight reservations, enterprise data storage or global communications). In addition, an information processing system may include a variety of hardware and software components that can be configured to process, store and communicate information, and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems and networking systems. Summary of the invention

[0003] Embodiments may generally relate to an air-assisted cooling system for a liquid cooling system, the air-assisted cooling system including a tank, a plurality of rails for mounting a plurality of information processing systems, a coolant pump for introducing liquid coolant to immerse the plurality of information processing systems in the coolant, and a coolant level sensor. The air-assisted cooling system may include: one or more air-assisted modules (AAMs) mounted on a set of a plurality of rails; an air charge pump for introducing air into an AAM in the one or more AAMs; and a controller executing instructions to: communicate with the coolant level sensor to monitor the level of the coolant in the tank; and communicate with one or more of the coolant pump and the air charge pump to adjust the amount of coolant in the tank.

[0004] In some embodiments, the gas comprises air. In some embodiments, the air-assisted cooling system further comprises a conduit coupling an air pump to one or more air inlet valves, wherein the controller executes instructions to selectively open an air inlet valve in one or more air inlet valves to inflate the AAM. In some embodiments, one or more of the air pump and the air release valve are integrated with the AAM. In some embodiments, the controller executes instructions to adjust the ratio between the coolant and the air in the storage tank. In some embodiments, the controller executes instructions to adjust the flow rate of the coolant in the storage tank. In some embodiments, the controller executes instructions to adjust the heat exchange efficiency of the coolant in the storage tank. In some embodiments, the controller executes instructions to adjust the heat dissipation effect of the coolant in the storage tank.

[0005] Embodiments may generally relate to a cooling system for cooling a plurality of information handling systems. The cooling system may include: a tank; a plurality of rails for mounting the plurality of information handling systems; a coolant pump for introducing liquid coolant to immerse the plurality of information handling systems in the coolant; a coolant level sensor for detecting the level of the coolant in the tank; one or more air assist modules (AAMs) mounted on a set of a plurality of rails; an air pump for introducing air into an AAM in the one or more AAMs; and a controller that executes instructions to: communicate with the coolant level sensor to monitor the level of the coolant in the tank; and communicate with one or more of the coolant pump and the air pump to adjust the amount of coolant in the tank.

[0006] In some embodiments, the gas comprises air. In some embodiments, the cooling system further comprises a conduit coupling an air pump to one or more air inlet valves, wherein the controller executes instructions to selectively open an air inlet valve in one or more air inlet valves to inflate the AAM. In some embodiments, one or more of the air pump and the air release valve are integrated with the AAM. In some embodiments, the controller executes instructions to adjust the ratio between the coolant and the air in the storage tank. In some embodiments, the controller executes instructions to adjust the flow rate of the coolant in the storage tank. In some embodiments, the controller executes instructions to adjust the heat exchange efficiency of the coolant in the storage tank. In some embodiments, the controller executes instructions to adjust the heat dissipation effect of the coolant in the storage tank.

[0007] Embodiments may generally relate to a method of cooling an information handling system. The method may include: coupling an information handling system to a server rail of a plurality of server rails in a tank; coupling one or more air assist modules (AAMs) to one or more of the plurality of rails; operating a coolant pump to introduce liquid coolant into the tank; determining a level of coolant in the tank; positioning an air charge pump relative to the one or more AAMs; determining a level of coolant in the tank by a controller communicatively coupled to a coolant level sensor; and performing one or more of operating the coolant pump to pump coolant into the tank, operating the air charge pump to exhaust at least a portion of the coolant from the AAM, and operating a purge valve to remove at least a portion of air from the AAM.

[0008] In some embodiments, performing one or more of operating a coolant pump to pump coolant into a storage tank, operating an air charge pump to discharge at least a portion of the coolant from the AAM, and operating a purge valve to remove at least a portion of the air from the AAM includes adjusting the ratio between the coolant and the air in the storage tank. In some embodiments, performing one or more of operating a coolant pump to pump coolant into a storage tank, operating an air charge pump to discharge at least a portion of the coolant from the AAM, and operating a purge valve to remove at least a portion of the air from the AAM includes adjusting the heat exchange efficiency of the coolant in the storage tank. In some embodiments, performing one or more of operating a coolant pump to pump coolant into a storage tank, operating an air charge pump to discharge at least a portion of the coolant from the AAM, and operating a purge valve to remove at least a portion of the air from the AAM includes adjusting the heat dissipation effect of the coolant in the storage tank. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its features / advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are not drawn to scale, and in which:

[0010] Figure 1 An embodiment of an immersion cooling system having multiple air assist modules mounted on rails is depicted, showing how the air assist modules can replace servers to reduce the amount of coolant required to immerse an information processing system;

[0011] Figure 2 depicts an embodiment of an immersion cooling system having an air assist module, showing how air may be charged into the air assist module;

[0012] Figure 3 depicts an embodiment of an immersion cooling system having an air assist module, showing how air may be charged into the air assist module and discharged from the air assist module;

[0013] Figure 4Depicting an embodiment of an immersion cooling system having an air assist module, showing how air can be charged into and bled from the air assist module based on temperature and / or flow;

[0014] Figure 5 An embodiment of an immersion cooling system having an air assist module is depicted, showing how air may be charged into and discharged from the air assist module using a single conduit; and

[0015] Figure 6 An embodiment of an immersion cooling system with an air assist module is depicted, showing how the air assist module can be pre-charged with a controlled amount of air. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] In the following description, details will be set forth by way of example to facilitate discussion of the disclosed subject matter. However, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments are examples and are not exhaustive of all possible embodiments.

[0017] As used herein, a reference numeral refers to a class or type of entity, and any letter following such a reference numeral refers to a specific instance of a specific entity of that class or type. Thus, for example, a hypothetical entity referenced by '12A' may refer to a specific instance of a specific class / type, while the reference numeral '12A' may generally refer to a collection of instances belonging to that specific class / type or to any one instance of that class / type.

[0018] According to one or more embodiments, an information handling system (IHS) may include hardware resources or a collection of hardware resources that can be operated to calculate, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, initiate, switch, store, display, display, detect, record, reproduce, dispose of and / or utilize various forms of information, intelligence or data for business, science, control, entertainment or other purposes. For example, the IHS can be a personal computer, a desktop computer system, a laptop computer system, a server computer system, a mobile device, a tablet computing device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a consumer electronic device, an electronic music player, an electronic camera, an electronic video player, a wireless access point, a network storage device or another suitable device, and can be different in size, shape, performance, function and price. In one or more embodiments, the form factor of a portable IHS may include or have a form factor of one or more of a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a phone, a tablet computer and a PDA, etc. or a form factor similar to them. For example, a portable IHS can be easily carried and / or transported by a user (e.g., a person). In one or more embodiments, the components of the IHS may include one or more storage devices, one or more communication ports for communicating with external devices, and various input and output (I / O) devices (such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display, etc.). In one or more embodiments, the IHS may include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between two or more hardware components. In one example, the bus of the IHS may include one or more of a memory bus, a peripheral bus, and a local bus, etc. In another example, the bus of the IHS may include a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, a HyperTransport (HT) bus, an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I 2 C) bus, serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus, low pin count (LPC) bus, enhanced serial peripheral interface (eSPI) bus, universal serial bus (USB), system management bus (SMBus) and video electronics standard association (VESA) local bus, etc.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the IHS may include firmware that controls and / or communicates with one or more hard drives, network circuits, one or more memory devices, one or more I / O devices, and / or one or more other peripheral devices. For example, the firmware may include software embedded in an IHS component for performing a task. In one or more embodiments, the firmware may be stored in a non-volatile memory (such as a storage device that does not lose stored data when power is off). In one example, the firmware associated with the IHS component may be stored in a non-volatile memory accessible to one or more IHS components. In another example, the firmware associated with the IHS component may be stored in a non-volatile memory that may be dedicated to the component and include a portion of the component. For example, an embedded controller may include firmware that may be stored via a non-volatile memory that may be dedicated to the embedded controller and include a portion of the embedded controller.

[0020] The IHS may include a processor, a volatile memory medium, a nonvolatile memory medium, an I / O subsystem, and a network interface. The volatile memory medium, the nonvolatile memory medium, the I / O subsystem, and the network interface may be communicatively coupled to the processor. In one or more embodiments, one or more of the volatile memory medium, the nonvolatile memory medium, the I / O subsystem, and the network interface may be communicatively coupled to the processor via one or more buses, one or more switches, and / or one or more root complexes. In one example, one or more of the volatile memory medium, the nonvolatile memory medium, the I / O subsystem, and the network interface may be communicatively coupled to the processor via one or more PCI-Express (PCIe) root complexes. In another example, one or more of the I / O subsystem and the network interface may be communicatively coupled to the processor via one or more PCIe switches.

[0021] In one or more embodiments, the term "storage medium" may mean "storage device", "memory", "memory device", "tangible computer-readable storage medium", and / or "computer-readable medium". For example, a computer-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, a storage medium such as a direct access storage device (e.g., a hard drive, a floppy disk, etc.), a sequential access storage device (e.g., a tape disk drive), a compact disk (CD), a CD-ROM, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a one-time programmable (OTP) memory, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and / or a flash memory, a solid-state drive (SSD), or any combination of the foregoing, etc.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, one or more protocols may be used when transferring data to and / or from the storage medium. For example, the one or more protocols may include a small computer system interface (SCSI), a serial attached SCSI (SAS) or another transport that operates with the SCSI protocol, an advanced technology attachment (ATA), a serial ATA (SATA), a USB interface, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 interface, a Thunderbolt interface, an advanced technology attachment package interface (ATAPI), a serial storage architecture (SSA), an integrated drive electronics (IDE), or any combination thereof, etc.

[0023] The volatile memory medium may include a volatile storage device, such as, for example, RAM, DRAM (dynamic RAM), EDORAM (extended data output RAM), SRAM (static RAM), etc. The one or more non-volatile memory media may include a non-volatile storage device, such as, for example, a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable PROM, NVRAM (non-volatile RAM), ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), magnetic media (e.g., hard disk drives, floppy disks, tapes, etc.), optical storage devices (e.g., CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), flash memory, SSDs, etc. In one or more embodiments, the memory medium may include one or more volatile storage devices and / or one or more non-volatile storage devices.

[0024] In one or more embodiments, a network interface can be utilized to communicate with one or more networks and / or one or more other information processing systems. In one example, the network interface can enable the IHS to communicate via a network using a suitable transmission protocol and / or standard. In a second example, the network interface can be coupled to a wired network. In a third example, the network interface can be coupled to an optical network. In another example, the network interface can be coupled to a wireless network. In one example, the wireless network can include a cellular telephone network. In a second example, the wireless network can include a satellite telephone network. In another example, the wireless network can include a wireless Ethernet (e.g., a Wi-Fi network, an IEEE 802.11 network, etc.).

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the network interface can be coupled to the network storage resource via network communication. For example, the network can be implemented as a storage area network (SAN), a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a virtual private network (VPN), an intranet, the Internet, or another suitable architecture or system that facilitates the transmission of signals, data and / or messages (generally referred to as data), or can be a part of them. For example, the network can transmit data using a desired storage and / or communication protocol, including one or more of Fiber Channel, Frame Relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Internet Protocol (IP), other packet-based protocols, Internet SCSI (iSCSI), or any combination thereof.

[0026] In one or more embodiments, the processor may execute processor instructions to implement at least a portion of one or more systems, at least a portion of one or more flow charts, at least a portion of one or more methods, and / or at least a portion of one or a process. In one example, the processor may execute processor instructions from one or more storage media to implement at least a portion of one or more systems, at least a portion of one or more flow charts, at least a portion of one or more methods, and / or at least a portion of one or more processes. In another example, the processor may execute processor instructions via a network interface to implement at least a portion of one or more systems, at least a portion of one or more flow charts, at least a portion of one or more methods, and / or at least a portion of one or more processes.

[0027] In one or more embodiments, the processor may include one or more of a system, device, or apparatus operable to interpret and / or execute program instructions and / or process data, etc., and may include one or more of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and another digital or analog circuit configured to interpret and / or execute program instructions and / or process data, etc. In one example, the processor may interpret and / or execute program instructions and / or process locally stored data (e.g., via a memory medium and / or another component of the IHS). In another example, the processor may interpret and / or execute program instructions and / or process remotely stored data (e.g., via a network storage resource).

[0028] In one or more embodiments, the I / O subsystem may represent various communication interfaces, graphic interfaces, video interfaces, user input interfaces, and / or peripheral interfaces, etc. For example, the I / O subsystem may include one or more of a touch panel and a display adapter, etc. For example, a touch panel may include circuits that implement touch functionality in conjunction with a display driven by a display adapter.

[0029] The non-volatile memory medium may include an operating system (OS) and an application program (APP). In one or more embodiments, one or more of the OS and the APP may include processor instructions that can be executed by the processor. In one example, the processor may execute the processor instructions of one or more of the OS and the APP via the non-volatile memory medium. In another example, one or more parts of the processor instructions of one or more of the OS and the APP may be transferred to the volatile memory medium, and the processor may execute one or more parts of the processor instructions.

[0030] The non-volatile memory medium may include information handling system firmware (IHSFW). In one or more embodiments, the IHSFW may include processor instructions that can be executed by a processor. For example, the IHSFW may include one or more of a basic input / output system (BIOS), an extensible firmware interface (EFI), a unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI), and an advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI), and / or one or more structures and / or one or more functions consistent therewith. In one example, the processor may execute the processor instructions of the IHSFW via a non-volatile memory medium. In another example, one or more parts of the processor instructions of the IHSFW may be transferred to a volatile memory medium, and the processor may execute one or more parts of the processor instructions of the IHSFW via the volatile memory medium.

[0031] With the development of cloud computing, high-density data centers require higher computing density and power density. Traditional air cooling solutions may no longer meet the heat dissipation requirements. Immersion cooling systems (which may also be referred to as liquid cooling systems) generally involve positioning the information processing system in a tank filled with liquid coolant and using a coolant liquid (such as fluorocarbon or hydrocarbon oil) for direct heat exchange and heat dissipation. Immersion cooling systems have become an effective solution for high-density heat dissipation. However, the high cost of coolant has always been a factor limiting the large-scale promotion of immersion cooling solutions.

[0032] Immersion cooling tanks typically include vertically placed server housings, but the space in the tank is not fully utilized, resulting in low coolant utilization and increased costs. Embodiments disclosed herein include an air-assisted module (AAM), which includes a pneumatic, adjustable module to control the coolant level and distribution in the tank. The AAM can have a vent valve and an air pump to adjust the size of the space it occupies to control the amount of coolant in the tank. In addition, the ratio between the gas and the coolant in the AAM can be precisely controlled according to the temperature changes in the tank to achieve targeted temperature control.

[0033] refer to Figure 1 , an embodiment of an air-assisted liquid cooling system 100 generally includes a tank 10 containing a plurality of information processing systems 18 (which may also be referred to as servers 18) mounted on rails 16. Servers 18 may be of different sizes. For example, Figure 1 As depicted in , servers 18 - 1 and 18 - 2 have a first size (eg, 1U), and server 18 - 3 has a second size (eg, 2U).

[0034] The coolant pump 14 may pump the coolant 12 into the tank 10, submerging the servers 18 in the coolant 12 and ensuring that the coolant 12 is circulated throughout the tank 10. The coolant level sensor 20 may be positioned to allow the controller 28 to determine the level of the coolant 12 in the tank 10.

[0035] The coolant pump 14 can be coupled to a coolant conduit 34 having a plurality of coolant inlet valves 36. In some embodiments, the coolant inlet valves 36 can be positioned relative to the servers 18 in the storage tank 10. In some embodiments, the coolant inlet valves 36 can be selectively controlled so that the coolant 12 enters the storage tank 10 through a selected coolant inlet valve.

[0036] Air Assist Module (AAM) - Overview

[0037] Still reference Figure 1 , when there are unoccupied rails 16 in the tank 10, one or more AAMs 26 can be installed on the rails 16, and air can be used to inflate the one or more AAMs 26. Each AAM 26 can include an impermeable material formed into a hollow structure with one end closed and the opposite end open. The AAMs 26 can be connected to the rails 16 when needed and removed to allow the tank 10 to accommodate more servers 18. The AAMs 26 can replace and occupy excess volume associated with the servers 18, thereby reducing the overall coolant requirements while ensuring adequate cooling of the installed servers 18.

[0038] The charge pump 24 can be coupled to an air conduit 30 having one or more inlet valves 32. In some embodiments, the inlet valves 32 can be positioned relative to the AAM 26 in the tank 10. In some embodiments, the air pumped into the air conduit 30 exits only through selected inlet valves 32 positioned near the open end of the AAM 26. When air is pumped into the AAM 26, the air cannot escape, wherein the coolant 12 in the tank 10 can be displaced so that the total amount of coolant 12 in the tank 10 can remain constant, but the coolant level increases. By monitoring the volume charged, changes in the coolant level in the tank can be detected or calculated, and the final volume of liquid coolant 12 can be controlled.

[0039] If desired, air may be released from one or more AAMs 26 via the purge valves 22. In some embodiments, air may be released from selected AAMs 26 by selectively opening one or more purge valves 22.

[0040] The embodiment may also include a controller 28 that stores a set of instructions and is configured to execute the set of instructions to communicate with the coolant level sensor 20 to ensure that the coolant 12 is maintained at a selected coolant level. In some embodiments, the controller 28 may execute instructions to communicate with the coolant level sensor 20 or other sensors (not shown) to ensure that the temperature of the coolant 12 is maintained at a selected temperature or temperature range, or circulated throughout the tank 10. In some embodiments, the controller 28 may execute instructions to communicate with the coolant level sensor 20 or other sensors (not shown) to ensure that the ratio between the coolant 12 and the air is maintained within a selected ratio or ratio range. In some embodiments, the ratio between the coolant 12 and the air may be based on the temperature of the coolant 12 or the temperature of one or more servers 18 in the tank 10.

[0041] The AAM can be inflated by pumping air under the AAM

[0042] refer to Figure 2 In some embodiments, the liquid cooling system 200 can be configured with rails 16 oriented to vertically position the servers 18, wherein the air pumped into the tank 10 forms bubbles 38 and rises to the surface of the coolant 12. The bubbles 38 rising through the coolant 12 can assist in circulating the coolant 12 in the tank 10. When the AAM 26 is filled with air, the coolant 12 is exhausted. Figure 2, the AAM 26 does not include a charge valve 22, which may need to be removed to allow air to escape the AAM 26. Embodiments may charge the AAM 26 with a selected amount of air to minimize the amount of coolant 12 required to fill the tank 10 or to ensure that the ratio between coolant 12 and air is maintained below a selected ratio.

[0043] AAM can be selectively inflated or deflated

[0044] refer to Figure 3 In some embodiments, the liquid cooling system 300 can be configured with rails 16 oriented to vertically position the servers 18, wherein when one or more inlet valves 32 are opened, air pumped into the tank 10 forms bubbles 38 and rises to the surface of the coolant 12. The bubbles 38 rising through the coolant 12 can assist the coolant 12 in circulating in the tank 10. The inlet valves 32 and the purge valves 22 can be selectively controlled so that any AAM 26 can be individually inflated, and two or more AAMs 26 can be filled together. When the AAM 26 is filled with air, the coolant 12 is discharged. Figure 3 , the AAM 26 includes a purge valve 22, wherein the purge valve 22 can be opened to reduce the amount of air in the tank 10. In some embodiments, the controller 28 can communicate with the coolant level sensor 20 to determine the level of the coolant 12 in the tank 10, and further determine the ratio between the coolant 12 and the air in the tank 10. If the coolant level is low, the controller 28 can execute instructions to increase the amount of coolant 12 in the tank 10, increase the amount of air pumped into the AAM 26, or some combination.

[0045] AAM can be inflated or deflated to regulate temperature or flow

[0046] refer to Figure 4 In some embodiments, the liquid cooling system 400 can be configured with rails 16 oriented to vertically position the server 18, wherein when one or more inlet valves 32 are opened, the air pumped into the tank 10 forms bubbles 38 and rises to the surface of the coolant 12, and the number of inlet valves 32 and the degree to which each inlet valve is opened can affect the flow of the coolant 12 through the tank 10. The bubbles 38 rising through the coolant 12 can assist the coolant 12 in circulating in the tank 10. When the AAM 26 is filled with air, the coolant 12 is discharged. Figure 4, the AAM 26 includes a purge valve 22 and a sensor 40. The purge valve 22 can be opened to reduce the amount of air in the tank 10. The sensor 40 can be a temperature sensor or a flow sensor positioned near the open end of the AAM 26. In some embodiments, the controller 28 can communicate with the coolant level sensor 20 to determine the level of the coolant 12 in the tank 10 and the ratio between the coolant 12 and the air in the tank 10. In some embodiments, the controller 28 can communicate with the sensor 40 to determine the temperature associated with the AAM 26. If the coolant temperature is low, the controller 28 can execute instructions to increase the amount of air in the tank 10. If the coolant temperature is high, the controller 28 can execute instructions to increase the amount of coolant 12 in the tank 10. In some embodiments, the controller 28 can communicate with the sensor 40 to determine the flow associated with the coolant 12 in the AAM 26, and can execute instructions to operate (or not operate) the coolant pump 14 and the charge pump 24 to adjust the distribution of the coolant 12 in the tank 10.

[0047] refer to Figure 5 In some embodiments, the liquid cooling system 500 can be configured with an air pump 24 integrated with the conduit 30. In some embodiments, one of the air pump 24 or the conduit 30 includes a purge valve 22 (not shown). When the AAM 26 is filled with air, the coolant 12 is exhausted. Figure 5 As depicted in , the inflation pump 24 may be separate from the AAM 26 but coupled thereto.

[0048] refer to Figure 6 In some embodiments, the liquid cooling system 600 can be configured with one or more air assist modules 26 that are pre-charged to a known volume. An AAM 26 pre-charged to a known volume can be advantageous when servicing a tank 10, other AAMs 26 in a tank 10, or a server 18 in a tank 10. For example, if a single server 18 requires maintenance, the AAM 26 can be pre-charged with a volume of air to occupy the same volume as the server 18 being maintained. The server 18 can be removed and the AAM 226 can be installed in the tank 10 so that coolant does not need to be pumped into the tank 10. Once the server 18 is maintained, the AAM 26 can be removed and the server 18 can be installed, thereby minimizing any disruption to the cooling of the other servers 18 in the tank 10.

[0049] Using AAM based on server temperature

[0050] In some embodiments, the AAM 26 can assist in controlling the server temperature. For example, the heat dissipation in the tank 10 can be adjusted by changing the ratio between the coolant 12 and the air in the AAM 26. The higher the ratio, the less coolant that flows into the AAM 26 for heat exchange, the lower the heat exchange efficiency of the AAM system and the lower the heat dissipation capacity. Conversely, a higher coolant to air ratio can be associated with a higher heat exchange efficiency and a higher heat dissipation capacity. In some embodiments, if the server temperature is too high or the controller 28 determines that the server temperature is rising, the controller 28 can increase the proportion of the coolant 12 in the tank 10, increase the flow of the coolant 12 through the tank 10, increase the heat exchange efficiency and / or accelerate the heat dissipation to reduce the server temperature. If the server temperature is relatively low, the embodiment can increase the proportion of air in the tank 10. The controller 28 can reduce the flow of the coolant 12 in the tank 10, reduce the heat exchange efficiency, or slow down the heat dissipation effect to prevent the server temperature from becoming too low.

[0051] The embodiments described above may include variations. For example, in some embodiments, gas may be used instead of air. As another example, refer to Figure 5 In some embodiments, one or more of the inflation pump 24 and the deflation valve 22 may be integrated with the AAM 26 , wherein installing the AAM 26 may only require coupling the AAM 26 to the rail 16 and communicatively coupling the AAM 26 to the controller 28 .

[0052] The subject matter disclosed above should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the appended claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.

Claims

1. An air-assisted cooling system for a liquid cooling system, comprising a tank, a plurality of rails for mounting a plurality of information processing systems, a coolant pump for introducing liquid coolant to immerse the plurality of information processing systems in the coolant, and a coolant level sensor, the air-assisted cooling system comprising: one or more air assist modules (AAMs) mounted on a set of said plurality of rails; an air pump for introducing air into an AAM of the one or more AAMs; as well as A controller that executes instructions to: communicating with the coolant level sensor to monitor the level of the coolant in the tank; and Communicates with one or more of the coolant pump and the charge pump to regulate an amount of the coolant in the tank.

2. The air-assisted cooling system of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises air.

3. The air assisted cooling system of claim 1 , further comprising a conduit coupling the charge pump to one or more intake valves, wherein the controller executes instructions to selectively open an intake valve of the one or more intake valves to charge the AAM.

4. The air assisted cooling system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the charge pump and the purge valve are integral to the AAM.

5. The air-assisted cooling system of claim 1, wherein the controller executes instructions to adjust a ratio between the coolant and the air in the tank.

6. The air-assisted cooling system of claim 1, wherein the controller executes instructions to adjust the flow of the coolant in the storage tank.

7. The air-assisted cooling system of claim 1, wherein the controller executes instructions to adjust a heat exchange efficiency of the coolant in the storage tank.

8. The air-assisted cooling system of claim 1, wherein the controller executes instructions to adjust the heat dissipation effect of the coolant in the tank.

9. A cooling system for cooling a plurality of information processing systems, the cooling system comprising: Storage tanks; A plurality of rails for mounting a plurality of information processing systems; a coolant pump for introducing liquid coolant to immerse the plurality of information handling systems in the coolant; A coolant level sensor, used to detect the coolant level in the storage tank; one or more air assist modules (AAMs) mounted on a set of said plurality of rails; an air pump for introducing air into an AAM of the one or more AAMs; as well as A controller that executes instructions to: communicating with the coolant level sensor to monitor the level of the coolant in the tank; and Communicates with one or more of the coolant pump and the charge pump to regulate an amount of the coolant in the tank.

10. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the gas comprises air.

11. The cooling system of claim 9, further comprising a conduit coupling the charge pump to one or more intake valves, wherein the controller executes instructions to selectively open an intake valve of the one or more intake valves to charge the AAM.

12. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein one or more of the charge pump and the purge valve are integral to the AAM.

13. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the controller executes instructions to adjust a ratio between the coolant and the air in the tank.

14. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the controller executes instructions to adjust a flow rate of the coolant in the storage tank.

15. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the controller executes instructions to adjust a heat exchange efficiency of the coolant in the storage tank.

16. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the controller executes instructions to adjust the heat dissipation effect of the coolant in the tank.

17. A method for cooling an information processing system, the method comprising: coupling an information handling system to a server rail of a plurality of server rails in the tank; coupling one or more air assist modules (AAMs) to one or more of the plurality of rails; operating a coolant pump to introduce liquid coolant into the tank; determining a level of the coolant in the tank; positioning an inflator relative to the one or more AAMs; determining a level of the coolant in the tank via a controller communicatively coupled to a coolant level sensor; as well as One or more of operating the coolant pump to pump the coolant into the tank, operating the charge pump to exhaust at least a portion of the coolant from the AAM, and operating a purge valve to remove at least a portion of the air from the AAM is performed.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein performing one or more of operating the coolant pump to pump the coolant into the tank, operating the air pump to exhaust at least a portion of the coolant from the AAM, and operating a purge valve to remove at least a portion of the air from the AAM includes adjusting a ratio between the coolant and the air in the tank.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein performing one or more of operating the coolant pump to pump the coolant into the storage tank, operating the air pump to exhaust at least a portion of the coolant from the AAM, and operating a purge valve to remove at least a portion of the air from the AAM includes adjusting a heat exchange efficiency of the coolant in the storage tank.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein performing one or more of operating the coolant pump to pump the coolant into the tank, operating the charge pump to exhaust at least a portion of the coolant from the AAM, and operating a purge valve to remove at least a portion of the air from the AAM includes adjusting a heat dissipation effect of the coolant in the tank.

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