Inspection and test process for cold plate of liquid cooling server

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of a test process of a cold plate of a server, and discloses a liquid cooling server cold plate inspection test process, which comprises the following steps: step 1, preparation for production; 2, checking the raw materials; step 3, assembling; step 4, pressure maintaining; step 5, initial inspection; by means of the cold plate production and detection technology, the sealing performance and cleanliness of the liquid-cooling cold plate can be effectively guaranteed, the occurrence of bad conditions such as liquid leakage and water deterioration and corrosion in the process that a user uses a liquid-cooling server is greatly reduced, the service life of the liquid-cooling server is prolonged, the probability of high-temperature downtime of a server in a central machine room is reduced, and the service life of the server is prolonged. Each link from raw material inspection to finished product inspection is strictly controlled, and particularly fine operation on key procedures such as pressure maintaining, test triggering, washing, drying and nitrogen injection is performed, so that the sealing performance, the heat dissipation performance and the corrosion resistance of the cold plate are ensured, and the overall quality and the long-term running reliability of the cold plate of the liquid cooling server are greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of the testing process of the cold plate of a server, specifically to the inspection and testing process of the cold plate of a liquid-cooled server. Background Art

[0002] With the rise of industries such as short videos, 3D animations, and AI simulations, servers, which are the cornerstones of these industries, are shouldering increasingly important responsibilities. With the increasing demand for high-power servers, liquid-cooled servers are gradually favored by the market. As the main heat dissipation component of a liquid-cooled server, the quality and service life of its liquid-cooled cold plate will greatly affect the operation of the server and the central computer room.

[0003] As a core component, the sealing performance, heat dissipation efficiency, and corrosion resistance of the liquid-cooled cold plate of a server directly affect the stable operation of the entire system. Traditional testing methods often focus on single-performance detection and lack a systematic inspection process, making it difficult to comprehensively evaluate the comprehensive performance of the cold plate. Therefore, an inspection and testing process for the liquid-cooled cold plate of a server is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an inspection and testing process for the liquid-cooled cold plate of a server to solve the problem that as a core component, the sealing performance, heat dissipation efficiency, and corrosion resistance of the liquid-cooled cold plate of a server directly affect the stable operation of the entire system. Traditional testing methods often focus on single-performance detection and lack a systematic inspection process, making it difficult to comprehensively evaluate the comprehensive performance of the cold plate as mentioned in the above background art.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solution: An inspection and testing process for the liquid-cooled cold plate of a server, including the following steps:

[0006] Step 1. Prepare for production;

[0007] Step 2. Inspect raw materials;

[0008] Step 3. Assemble;

[0009] Step 4. Keep pressure;

[0010] Step 5. Conduct preliminary inspection;

[0011] Step 6. Trigger testing;

[0012] Step 7. Conduct comprehensive inspection;

[0013] Step 8. Rinse;

[0014] Step 9. Dry;

[0015] Step 10. Inject nitrogen;

[0016] Step 11. Withstand voltage;

[0017] Step Twelve: Final Product Inspection;

[0018] Step Thirteen: Packaging;

[0019] Step Fourteen: Production Completion.

[0020] Preferably, if defective products are found during the steps of pressure holding, initial inspection, trigger test, comprehensive inspection, nitrogen injection, pressure resistance test, and final product inspection, corresponding repair steps will be carried out;

[0021] After the repair is completed, the cold plate will be reinspected and tested for the corresponding processes.

[0022] Preferably, in Step Four, for pressure holding, a pressure gauge is connected to the cold plate outlet, and nitrogen is filled into the cold plate inlet with nitrogen at 0.39 - 0.41 MP. After reaching the specified pressure, it is left standing for 29 - 31 minutes.

[0023] Preferably, in Step Six, for the trigger test, the liquid cooler cold plate runs a simulation test program to test the heat dissipation performance and liquid leakage alarm function of the cold plate;

[0024] When the high - load operation program of the liquid cooler cold plate runs, the CPU temperature does not exceed 90°C.

[0025] Preferably, in Step Eight, for the flushing, pure water is used to flush the cold plate that has undergone the trigger test to remove impurities and chemical water in the inner cavity of the cold plate, ensuring the cleanliness of the cold plate.

[0026] Preferably, in Step Nine, for the drying, compressed air, a heater, and a humidity detection instrument are used to dry the flushed cold plate to ensure that there is no residual moisture inside the cold plate.

[0027] Preferably, the pressure of the compressed air is 0.38 - 0.41 MP, the pressurization time of the compressed air is 0.5 - 2 minutes, the heater heats the air to 55 - 65 degrees, and the hot air drying time is 190 - 210 seconds.

[0028] Preferably, in Step Ten, for the nitrogen injection, nitrogen with a purity of 99.999% is used to inject nitrogen into the dried cold plate.

[0029] Preferably, the nitrogen pressure is 0.18 - 0.22 MP, and the nitrogen injection time is 18 - 21 seconds.

[0030] Compared with the prior art, the present invention adopts the above - mentioned technical solutions and has the following technical effects:

[0031] 1. Through the cold plate production and testing process of the present invention, the sealing performance and cleanliness of the liquid-cooled cold plate can be effectively guaranteed, greatly reducing the occurrence of adverse situations such as liquid leakage and water quality deterioration and corrosion during the use of liquid-cooled servers by users, improving the service life of liquid-cooled servers, and reducing the probability of high-temperature downtime of servers in the central computer room.

[0032] 2. By strictly controlling every link from raw material inspection to finished product inspection, especially the fine operations in key processes such as pressure holding, trigger testing, flushing, drying, and nitrogen injection, the sealing performance, heat dissipation performance, and corrosion resistance of the cold plate are ensured, thus greatly improving the overall quality and long-term operation reliability of the liquid-cooled server cold plate.

[0033] 3. Through the trigger test simulating high-load operation, it is ensured that the liquid-cooled server can maintain good heat dissipation performance under various operating conditions. Especially in a high-temperature environment, it can effectively avoid system downtime caused by overheating of the CPU, enhancing the adaptability and stability of the server in different regions and seasonal changes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0035] Figure 1 It is a process flow chart of the cold plate test of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0036] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, rather than all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] Embodiment

[0038] In the prior art, as a core component, the sealing performance, heat dissipation efficiency, and corrosion resistance of the cold plate of the liquid-cooled server directly affect the stable operation of the entire system. Traditional testing methods often focus on single-performance detection and lack a systematic inspection process, making it difficult to comprehensively evaluate the comprehensive performance of the cold plate.

[0039] Please refer to Figure 1 , the present invention provides a technical solution: a cold plate inspection and testing process for a liquid-cooled server, including the following steps:

[0040] Step 1: Prepare for production. Start the production process of the liquid-cooled server cold plate. It is necessary to determine the production plan according to the order or market demand, clarify the production quantity, specifications, and delivery time. Subsequently, the machinery and equipment on the production line need to be preheated or precooled to ensure stable operation during production. At the same time, the relevant workers and technicians should also be in place and receive necessary training and communication to ensure that everyone is clear about their responsibilities and tasks. In addition, it is necessary to check whether all kinds of tools, jigs, and auxiliary equipment on the production line are complete and in good working condition;

[0041] Step 2: Raw material inspection. Conduct quality inspection on the raw materials entering the production line to ensure that the raw materials meet the production requirements. During the raw material inspection stage, quality inspection personnel will conduct strict inspections on the raw materials entering the production line, including checking whether the specifications, dimensions, materials, appearance, etc. of the raw materials meet the production requirements. At the same time, necessary performance tests will also be carried out on the raw materials, such as strength, hardness, thermal conductivity, etc., to ensure that they can meet the production requirements of the liquid-cooled server cold plate. For unqualified raw materials, they will be returned or downgraded to ensure that they do not enter the subsequent production process;

[0042] Step 3: Assembly. Assemble the qualified raw materials to form a liquid-cooled server cold plate. Workers will assemble the qualified raw materials according to the predetermined process flow and assembly drawings, including precisely fitting and installing various components, such as the cold plate substrate, heat sink, water pipe, etc. During the assembly process, it is necessary to ensure that each component is installed in place, with firm connections and no looseness. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to avoiding appearance damages such as scratches and bumps to ensure the appearance quality of the final product. After assembly, necessary inspections and tests, such as sealing test, pressure test, etc., need to be carried out to ensure the performance and reliability of the liquid-cooled server cold plate;

[0043] Step 4: Pressure holding; For pressure holding, connect a pressure gauge to the cold plate outlet, fill nitrogen from the cold plate inlet with 0.4MP of nitrogen, and let it stand for 30 minutes after reaching the specified pressure. The accuracy of the pressure gauge is 0.001MP. The pressure gauge uploads the pressure value data to the upper computer. The upper computer is installed with data acquisition and judgment software, and the data acquisition and judgment software is: Visual Studio; When the air pressure value does not decrease by more than 3% within 30 minutes, the upper computer will feedback that the pressure holding test is qualified, and if it exceeds 3%, it is a failure;

[0044] Step 5: Initial inspection. Conduct a preliminary inspection on the cold plates that have passed the pressure holding test to check for any obvious defects or damages. Quality inspectors will carefully observe and inspect the cold plates. They will check whether there are scratches, dents, or other obvious physical damages on the surface of the cold plates. At the same time, they will also check whether the interfaces, connectors, etc. of the cold plates are firmly installed without looseness. In addition, a simple function test will be carried out on the cold plates, such as checking whether the cold plates can start and shut down normally. If any obvious defects or damages are found during the initial inspection of the cold plates, they will be judged as unqualified and need to be further repaired or replaced;

[0045] Step 6: Trigger test. The trigger test is to run a simulation test program for the operation of the cold plate of the liquid cooler to test the heat dissipation performance and the liquid leakage alarm function of the cold plate;

[0046] When the high-load operation program of the cold plate of the liquid cooler is running, the CPU temperature does not exceed 90°C. When the temperature exceeds 90°C, the test fails; when the liquid leakage simulation signal is triggered, the server of the upper computer starts to alarm, then the test is qualified, otherwise the test fails. During the test, the alarm function of the liquid leakage signal will also be simulated. When the liquid leakage simulation signal is triggered, the upper computer server should be able to start the alarm program and issue an alarm. If the upper computer server can normally start the alarm program and issue an alarm, it is judged as the test being qualified; otherwise, it is judged as the test failing, indicating that there is a problem with the liquid leakage alarm function;

[0047] Step 7: Comprehensive inspection. Conduct multiple comprehensive performance tests on the cold plates, such as corrosion resistance, pressure resistance, etc. The corrosion resistance test is to check the resistance ability of the cold plates in a specific environment (such as high temperature, high humidity, acid-base, etc.) to ensure that they will not fail due to corrosion during long-term use. The pressure resistance test is to verify the stability and safety of the cold plates in a high-pressure environment and prevent rupture or leakage caused by excessive pressure;

[0048] Step 8: Flushing. After the trigger test, there may be some impurities, chemical agent water, or other liquids remaining in the inner cavity of the cold plate. If these residues are not removed in time, they may corrode the material of the cold plate and affect its performance and lifespan;

[0049] Flushing is to use pure water to flush the cold plates that have undergone the trigger test to remove the impurities and chemical agent water in the inner cavity of the cold plates and ensure the cleanliness of the cold plates. Use pure water to flush the cold plates of the server that have undergone the trigger test to flush the inner cavity of the cold plates clean, preventing the "chemical agent water" in the cold plates from causing rapid corrosion to the cold plates made of copper. Even when batch servers in the central computer room are cooled by water, the "chemical agent water" may flow through the water pipes and contaminate the pure water in the computer room, resulting in unqualified pure water in the central computer room and then corroding a large number of server cold plates. Before the cold plates enter the next stage, they need to be thoroughly flushed. Pure water is used because pure water has a low ion concentration and impurity content and can effectively remove the residual substances in the inner cavity of the cold plates;

[0050] The standard for rinsing with pure water is as follows:

[0051]

[0052] Step Nine: Drying; Drying is to use compressed air, a heater, and a humidity detection instrument to dry the rinsed cold plate to ensure that there is no residual moisture inside the cold plate. The purpose is to ensure that there is no residual moisture inside the cold plate when the server is shipped, and to reduce the physical damage to the cold plate cavity caused by temperature differences (thermal expansion and contraction) in different regions / seasons. The pressure of the compressed air is 0.40MP. The pure water in the inner cavity of the cold plate is blown out of the cavity into the drainage pipe by using high-pressure air flow. The pressurization time of the compressed air is 1 minute. The heater heats the air to 60 degrees, and the compressed air heated to 60°C is used to perform heat drying treatment on the inner cavity of the server cold plate. When the humidity detector detects that the humidity at the air outlet drops to ≤10%, the drying equipment enters a continuous drying state. The hot air drying time is 200 seconds, and the value is recorded. The recorded value is automatically compared with the standard value of 9% of the host computer. If it is lower than the standard value, it is judged as qualified, otherwise it is judged as failed.

[0053] Step Ten: Nitrogen injection; Nitrogen injection is to use nitrogen with a purity of 99.999% to inject nitrogen into the dried cold plate. The nitrogen pressure is 0.2MP. Nitrogen injection operation is carried out on the dried server cold plate. The nitrogen injection time is 20 seconds. The purpose of nitrogen injection is to isolate the cold plate from contact with air and reduce the risk of oxidation and corrosion;

[0054] Step Eleven: Pressure resistance; Perform a pressure resistance test on the cold plate after nitrogen injection to ensure that it can still maintain its sealing performance under high pressure. When performing the pressure resistance test, the nitrogen-injected cold plate will be first connected to the pressure resistance test equipment. The test equipment will apply a gradually increasing pressure to the inside of the cold plate to simulate the high-pressure situation that the cold plate may encounter in the actual working environment. During the test process, the staff will closely monitor the reaction of the cold plate, especially whether there is any leakage. Once leakage is found, the test will be immediately stopped, and the cold plate will be inspected and repaired accordingly. The pressure resistance test is not only a test of the sealing performance of the cold plate, but also a verification of the compressive capacity of the cold plate structure and materials. Only by passing the pressure resistance test can the cold plate be considered qualified and enter the next process;

[0055] Step Twelve: Final Product Inspection. Conduct a final quality inspection on the cold plates that have undergone all the above processes to ensure that the quality of the cold plates meets the factory requirements. Quality inspectors will conduct a comprehensive inspection of the cold plates. First, check the appearance of the cold plates to ensure there are no scratches, dents, or other obvious physical damages. Second, check various performance indicators of the cold plates, such as heat dissipation performance, sealing performance, pressure resistance performance, etc., to ensure that these indicators meet the product specifications and requirements. In addition, quality inspectors will also conduct functional tests on the cold plates to verify their performance in actual use. If any problems or defects are found in the cold plates during the final product inspection, they will be sent back to the production line for repair or re-production. Only the cold plates that pass the final product inspection can be considered qualified and are ready for shipment;

[0056] Step Thirteen: Packaging. Package the qualified cold plates and prepare for shipment. The staff will select appropriate packaging materials and methods according to the size, shape, and quantity of the cold plates. Common packaging materials include cartons, wooden boxes, foam plastics, etc. During the packaging process, the staff will ensure that the cold plates are properly placed in the packaging boxes and use fillers or fixing devices to prevent the cold plates from moving or being damaged during transportation. In addition, the staff will also mark information such as product name, model, quantity, production date, etc. on the packaging boxes for identification and traceability. After packaging is completed, the cold plates are ready for shipment;

[0057] Step Fourteen: Production Completion. Complete the production process of the entire liquid-cooled server cold plates. After production is completed, the qualified cold plates will be transferred to the warehouse or shipping area, waiting for shipment or further processing.

[0058] If defective products are found during the steps of pressure holding, initial inspection, trigger test, comprehensive inspection, nitrogen injection, pressure resistance, and final product inspection, corresponding repair steps will be carried out; after the repair is completed, the cold plates will be re-inspected and tested for the corresponding processes. The steps of the repair test are as follows:

[0059] Diagnosis: First, diagnose the specific problems of the defective products.

[0060] Repair or replacement: According to the nature of the problem, decide whether to repair or replace the relevant components.

[0061] Re-test: After repair or replacement, re-conduct the corresponding test process on the cold plate to ensure that it meets the quality standards.

[0062] Quality record: Record the repair situation and re-test results for reference in future quality improvement.

[0063] In summary, through the cold plate production and detection process of the present invention, the sealing performance and cleanliness of the liquid-cooled cold plate can be effectively guaranteed, greatly reducing the occurrence of adverse situations such as liquid leakage and water quality deterioration and corrosion during the use of the liquid-cooled server by users, improving the service life of the liquid-cooled server, and reducing the probability of high-temperature downtime of the servers in the central computer room. The process strictly controls every link from raw material inspection to finished product inspection, especially the fine operations in key processes such as pressure holding, trigger testing, flushing, drying, and nitrogen injection, ensuring the sealing performance, heat dissipation performance, and corrosion resistance of the cold plate, thereby greatly improving the overall quality and long-term operation reliability of the liquid-cooled server cold plate. Through the trigger test simulating high-load operation, it is ensured that the liquid-cooled server can maintain good heat dissipation performance under various operating conditions, especially effectively avoiding system downtime caused by overheating of the CPU in a high-temperature environment, and enhancing the adaptability and stability of the server in different regions and seasonal changes.

[0064] Those skilled in the art can understand that the features recited in the various embodiments and / or claims of the present invention can be combined or / and combined in various ways, even if such combinations or combinations are not explicitly recited in the present invention. In particular, without departing from the spirit and teachings of the present invention, the features recited in the various embodiments and / or claims of the present invention can be combined and / or combined in various ways. All such combinations and / or combinations fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Liquid cooling server cold plate inspection and testing process, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Step 1: Prepare for production; Step 2: Raw material inspection; Step 3: Assemble; Step 4: Maintain pressure; Step 5: Initial inspection; Step 6: Trigger test; Step 7: Comprehensive inspection; Step 8: Rinse; Step nine, drying; Step 10: nitrogen injection; Step 11: Pressure resistance; Step 12: Finished product inspection; Step 13: Packaging; Step 14: Production is completed.

2. The liquid cooling server cold plate inspection and testing process according to claim 1, characterized in that: If defective products are found during the pressure maintenance, initial inspection, trigger test, comprehensive inspection, nitrogen injection, pressure resistance and finished product inspection steps, corresponding maintenance steps will be carried out; After the maintenance is completed, the cold plate is re-tested for the corresponding process.

3. The liquid cooling server cold plate inspection and testing process according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 4, the pressure maintenance is to use a pressure gauge to connect the outlet of the cold plate, fill the cold plate inlet with nitrogen through 0.39-0.41MP nitrogen, and stand for 29-31 minutes after reaching the specified pressure.

4. The liquid cooling server cold plate inspection and testing process according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step six, the trigger test is to run a simulation test program on the cold plate of the liquid cooler to test the heat dissipation performance and leakage alarm function of the cold plate; When the liquid cooler cold plate runs a high-load program, the CPU temperature does not exceed 90°C.

5. The liquid cooling server cold plate inspection and testing process according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step eight, the flushing is to use pure water to flush the cold plate that has been triggered and tested, so as to remove impurities and chemical water in the inner cavity of the cold plate and ensure the cleanliness of the cold plate.

6. The liquid cooling server cold plate inspection and testing process according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step nine, the drying is to use compressed air, a heater and a humidity detection instrument to dry the rinsed cold plate to ensure that there is no residual moisture inside the cold plate.

7. The liquid cooling server cold plate inspection and testing process according to claim 6, characterized in that: The pressure of the compressed air is 0.38-0.41 MP, the compressed air pressurization time is 0.5-2 minutes, the heater heats the air to 55-65 degrees, and the hot air drying time is 190-210 seconds.

8. The liquid cooling server cold plate inspection and testing process according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step ten, the nitrogen injection is performed by using nitrogen gas with a purity of 99% to 99.999% to inject nitrogen into the dried cold plate.

9. The liquid cooling server cold plate inspection and testing process according to claim 8, characterized in that: The nitrogen pressure is 0.18-0.22 MP, and the nitrogen injection time is 18-21 seconds.

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