Immersed liquid cooling flame retardant method for data center

Abstract

The invention provides an immersed liquid cooling flame retardant method for a data center. The method comprises the following steps: arranging the data center in a closed box body, and adding a cooling liquid into the closed box body; the cooling liquid comprises a mixture formed by 70-95 parts by mass of basic synthetic oil and 0.5-1 part by mass of an additive composition, after the cooling liquid submerges the upper surface of the data center, fluoride with the boiling point not higher than 100 DEG C is added into the closed box till the concentration of the fluoride in the closed box reaches the preset flame retardant concentration. According to the immersed liquid cooling flame retardant method for the data center, the inertia and the stability of the cooling liquid can be effectively improved on the basis of low cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of server heat dissipation, and in particular to an immersion liquid cooling and flame retardant method for a data center. Background Art

[0002] Liquid cooling technology is a powerful heat dissipation technology for high-energy consumption systems such as servers and data centers. Relying on the powerful heat dissipation ability of liquid cooling technology, it can achieve the deployment of more high-density storage in a limited space, better support the heat dissipation of high-power chips, ensure the low-temperature operation of chips, be safe and quiet, effectively reduce the PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) value of the data center, be conducive to IT expansion, and greatly reduce the operation and maintenance costs without using high-cost components (such as centrifuges, refrigeration pumps, scroll compressors, precision air conditioners, etc.). However, the coolants currently used in the field of immersion liquid cooling mainly fall into three categories: fluorocarbon-based, hydrocarbon-based, and silicone-based, all of which have obvious defects. Fluorocarbon-based coolants are extremely costly, with a price more than 10 times that of non-fluorine coolants, severely restricting their large-scale promotion and application; hydrocarbon-based coolants have poor stability, are prone to oxidation, decomposition, and deterioration, and have the risk of flash / fire, seriously reducing the use safety of hydrocarbon-based coolants in data centers; silicone-based coolants have problems such as high viscosity, easy hydrolysis and precipitation, which have a serious impact on heat transfer, heat dissipation, conductivity, and signal transmission. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The immersion liquid cooling and flame retardant method for a data center provided by the present invention can effectively improve the inertness and stability of the coolant on the basis of low cost.

[0004] The present invention provides an immersion liquid cooling and flame retardant method for a data center, and the method includes:

[0005] Placing the data center in a sealed box and adding a coolant to the sealed box; wherein, the coolant is a mixture formed by 70 parts to 95 parts by mass of a base synthetic oil and 0.5 part to 1 part of an additive composition;

[0006] After the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, adding a fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 °C to the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches a preset flame retardant concentration.

[0007] Optionally, the step of adding a fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 °C to the sealed box after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches a preset flame retardant concentration includes:

[0008] After the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, starting the data center and circulating the coolant, and controlling the gas pressure in the sealed box to be in equilibrium with the ambient gas pressure;

[0009] Add gaseous fluoride to the closed box until the fluoride concentration in the closed box reaches a preset flame retardant concentration; wherein, the gaseous fluoride is a fluoride with a boiling point lower than 30 °C.

[0010] Optionally, the step of adding gaseous fluoride to the closed box until the fluoride concentration in the closed box reaches a preset flame retardant concentration includes:

[0011] Reduce the gas pressure in the closed box to below 0.8 standard atmospheric pressure;

[0012] Add gaseous fluoride to the closed box until the gas pressure in the closed box reaches above 1 standard atmospheric pressure.

[0013] Optionally, the step of adding gaseous fluoride to the closed box until the fluoride concentration in the closed box reaches a preset flame retardant concentration includes:

[0014] Add gaseous fluoride to the closed box until the gas pressure in the closed box reaches above 1.2 standard atmospheric pressure.

[0015] Optionally, the gaseous fluoride added to the closed box includes one or more of hexafluoropropylene oxide, perfluoropropane, perfluorobutane, perfluoropentane, and perfluoropentanone.

[0016] Optionally, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, adding fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 °C to the closed box until the fluoride concentration in the closed box reaches a preset flame retardant concentration includes:

[0017] After the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, start the data center and circulate the coolant, and control the gas pressure in the closed box to be in equilibrium with the ambient gas pressure;

[0018] Add liquid fluoride to the closed box until the gas pressure in the closed box reaches above 1.2 standard atmospheric pressure; wherein, the liquid fluoride is a fluoride with a boiling point of 40 °C to 100 °C.

[0019] Optionally, the liquid fluoride added to the closed box includes one or more of hexafluoropropylene dimer, hexafluoropropylene dimer epoxide, hexafluoropropylene trimer, hexafluoropropylene trimer epoxide, perfluorohexanone, perfluoroheptane, perfluorooctane, perfluorohexane, perfluoro-N-methylmorpholine, and perfluorocycloether.

[0020] Optionally, the base synthetic oil in the coolant added to the sealed box includes one or more of polyalphaolefin synthetic oil, natural gas synthetic oil, coal-based synthetic oil, and ester synthetic oil with a flash point > 150 °C and a viscosity < 10 mm 2 / s (at 40 °C).

[0021] Optionally, the additive in the coolant added to the sealed box includes a composition of an antioxidant and a metal deactivator.

[0022] Optionally, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, adding fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 °C to the sealed box includes:

[0023] After the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, add fluoride to the sealed box from below the liquid level of the coolant.

[0024] In the technical solution provided by the present invention, after placing the data center in the sealed box, add coolant to the sealed box and submerge the upper surface of the data center. After the coolant submerges the data center, during the circulation process, the coolant will mainly absorb and transfer the heat of the data center. Since the added coolant is mainly base synthetic oil, that is, hydrocarbon coolant, it has extremely low cost. At the same time, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, input fluoride into the sealed box. Since fluoride has considerable inertness and stability and a boiling point lower than 100 °C, during the circulation process of the coolant, the fluoride will be in a gaseous state covering the upper surface of the coolant, avoiding flash ignition of the coolant, thereby greatly improving the use safety of the data center. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 It is a flowchart of the immersion liquid cooling and flame retardant method for a data center according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 It is a flowchart of adding gaseous fluoride in the immersion liquid cooling and flame retardant method for a data center according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 It is a flowchart of adding gaseous fluoride in the immersion liquid cooling and flame retardant method for a data center according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 It is a flowchart of adding liquid fluoride in the immersion liquid cooling and flame retardant method for a data center according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0029] To make the objectives, 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 with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the described embodiments are only a part rather than all of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0030] An immersion liquid cooling and flame retardant method for a data center is provided in an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 1 shown, the method includes:

[0031] Step 100: Set the data center in a sealed box and add a coolant to the sealed box; wherein, the coolant is a mixture formed by 70 to 95 parts by mass of a base synthetic oil and 0.5 to 1 part of an additive composition.

[0032] In some embodiments, after setting the data center in the sealed box, add the coolant to the sealed container. The coolant mainly includes a base synthetic oil with extremely low cost, thereby effectively reducing the cost of the coolant.

[0033] Step 200: After the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, add a fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 °C to the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches a preset flame retardant concentration.

[0034] In some embodiments, stop adding the coolant until it submerges the upper surface of the data center. At this time, the entire data center is immersed in the coolant, that is, the components mainly used for cooling the data center are the mixture formed by the base synthetic oil and the additive combination, effectively reducing the liquid cooling cost of the data center. Since the base synthetic oil has poor stability, is prone to oxidation, decomposition, and flash combustion risks, in this embodiment, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, add a fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 °C to the sealed box. When an accidental risk is likely to cause the coolant to flash / burn, the low-boiling fluoride liquid will quickly absorb heat and volatilize or even decompose, and then cover the surface of the coolant to form an inert layer, which can effectively prevent the combustion of the coolant and completely avoid the flash / burn risk of the hydrocarbon-based coolant itself. In some embodiments, the preset flame retardant concentration can be the fluoride concentration obtained through prior data.

[0035] In the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention, after placing the data center in a sealed box, coolant is added to the sealed box to submerge the upper surface of the data center. After the coolant submerges the data center, during the circulation process, the coolant will mainly absorb and transfer the heat of the data center. Since the added coolant is mainly a basic synthetic oil, that is, a hydrocarbon-based coolant, it has extremely low cost. At the same time, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, fluoride is input into the sealed box. Since fluoride has considerable inertness and stability, and its boiling point is lower than 100 degrees Celsius, during the circulation process of the coolant, the fluoride will be in a gaseous state covering the upper surface of the coolant, avoiding the flash combustion of the coolant, thus greatly improving the use safety of the data center.

[0036] As an alternative implementation, as Figure 2 shown, in step 200, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, adding fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 degrees Celsius to the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches a preset flame retardant concentration includes:

[0037] Step 210, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, start the data center and circulate the coolant, and control the gas pressure in the sealed box to be in balance with the ambient gas pressure;

[0038] In some embodiments, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, start the data center and circulate the coolant. As the data center starts, the temperature of the coolant gradually rises. At this time, keeping the gas pressure in the sealed box in balance with the ambient gas pressure can enable the gas that expands due to heating in the sealed box to be discharged outwards.

[0039] Step 220, add gaseous fluoride to the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches a preset flame retardant concentration; wherein, the gaseous fluoride is fluoride with a boiling point lower than 30 degrees Celsius.

[0040] In some embodiments, adding gaseous fluoride to the sealed box. Since the density of the gaseous fluoride is significantly smaller than that of the coolant and larger than that of the air in the box, and at the same time, the gaseous fluoride is also insoluble in the coolant, therefore, after adding the gaseous fluoride, the gaseous fluoride will stay on the surface of the coolant, isolating the coolant from the air in the box. Thus, it effectively avoids the oxidation decomposition and deterioration of the basic synthetic oil in the coolant, and at the same time, it can also avoid the flash combustion risk of the basic synthetic oil.

[0041] As an alternative implementation, as Figure 3As shown, in step 220, adding gaseous fluoride into the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches the preset flame retardant concentration includes:

[0042] Step 221, reducing the gas pressure in the sealed box to below 0.8 standard atmospheric pressure;

[0043] Step 222, adding gaseous fluoride into the sealed box until the gas pressure in the sealed box reaches above 1 standard atmospheric pressure.

[0044] In some embodiments, in order to fully utilize the inert characteristics of fluoride, avoid the oxidation, deterioration, decomposition of the base synthetic oil in the coolant, and the flash fire risk of the base synthetic oil, in this embodiment, before adding gaseous fluoride, the sealed box is depressurized. After depressurizing to 0.8 atmospheric pressure, gaseous fluoride is added until it reaches above 1 standard atmospheric pressure. While making the concentration of other fluorides meet the flame retardant conditions, it can also avoid the sealed box bearing excessive pressure due to the increase in temperature.

[0045] As an alternative embodiment, in step 220, adding gaseous fluoride into the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches the preset flame retardant concentration includes:

[0046] Adding gaseous fluoride into the sealed box until the gas pressure in the sealed box reaches above 1.2 standard atmospheric pressure.

[0047] In some embodiments, filling gaseous fluoride into the sealed box until the gas pressure in the sealed box reaches above 1.2 standard atmospheric pressure can make the concentration of gaseous fluoride reach the flame retardant concentration. And since no operations such as depressurization are required, it can simplify the operation steps for cooling the data center.

[0048] As an alternative embodiment, the gaseous fluoride added into the sealed box includes one or more of hexafluoropropylene oxide, perfluoropropane, perfluorobutane, perfluoropentane, and perfluoropentanone.

[0049] As an alternative embodiment, as Figure 4 shown, in step 200, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, adding fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 °C into the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches the preset flame retardant concentration includes:

[0050] Step 230, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, starting the data center and circulating the coolant, and controlling the gas pressure in the sealed box to be in equilibrium with the ambient gas pressure;

[0051] In some embodiments, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, the data center is started and the coolant is circulated. As the data center starts, the temperature of the coolant gradually rises. At this time, keeping the gas pressure in the sealed box in balance with the ambient gas pressure can enable the gas that expands due to heating in the sealed box to be discharged outward.

[0052] Step 240: Add liquid fluoride into the sealed box until the gas pressure in the sealed box reaches above 1.2 standard atmospheric pressures; wherein, the liquid fluoride is a fluoride with a boiling point of 40 °C to 100 °C.

[0053] In some embodiments, after starting the data center and circulating the coolant, then add liquid fluoride into the sealed box. Since the temperatures of the data center and the coolant have already risen, at this time, at least part of the added liquid fluoride will turn into gas state. Just judge the concentration of fluoride according to the gas pressure in the box to determine whether it meets the flame retardant concentration. In some other embodiments, for example, it is possible to wait until the temperature of the coolant reaches the boiling point of the liquid fluoride, and then add the liquid fluoride into the sealed box so that all the fluoride is converted into gas state after being added into the box.

[0054] As an optional implementation manner, the liquid fluoride added into the sealed box includes one or more of hexafluoropropylene dimer, hexafluoropropylene dimer epoxide, hexafluoropropylene trimer, hexafluoropropylene trimer epoxide, perfluorohexanone, perfluoroheptane, perfluorooctane, perfluorohexane, perfluoro-N-methylmorpholine, and perfluorocyclic ether.

[0055] As an optional implementation manner, the base synthetic oil in the coolant added into the sealed box includes one or more of polyalphaolefin synthetic oil, natural gas synthetic oil, coal-based synthetic oil, and ester synthetic oil with a flash point > 150 °C and a viscosity < 10 mm 2 / s (40 °C).

[0056] In some embodiments, the higher the flash point of the coolant, the more difficult it is for flash / combustion to occur. Selecting a base synthetic oil with a flash point > 150 °C can effectively reduce the risk of flash / combustion of the coolant; the lower the viscosity of the coolant, the better the heat dissipation effect. Selecting a base synthetic oil with a viscosity < 10 mm 2 / s (40 °C) can effectively improve the heat dissipation effect of the coolant.

[0057] As an optional implementation manner, the additive in the coolant added into the sealed box includes a composition of an antioxidant and a metal deactivator.

[0058] As an alternative embodiment, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, adding a fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 °C to the sealed box includes:

[0059] After the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, add fluoride to the sealed box from below the liquid level of the coolant.

[0060] In some embodiments, adding fluoride to the sealed box from below the liquid level of the coolant can enable the fluoride to exchange heat with the coolant during the addition process, causing the gaseous fluoride to expand due to heat and remain more stable in the gaseous state, and causing the liquid fluoride to be converted into a gaseous state after heat exchange, so as to measure the fluoride concentration through the pressure in the sealed box and determine whether the fluoride concentration meets the preset flame retardant concentration.

[0061] As follows, exemplary embodiments will be used to illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, specifically as follows:

[0062] Select PAO, GTL, CTL, and ester synthetic oils and compound them in different proportions to form a base synthetic oil with a flash point > 150 °C and a viscosity < 10 mm 2 / s. The total mass fraction of the base synthetic oil is about 80 parts, and then an additive composition is added. Among them, the mass fraction of the antioxidant is about 0.8 parts, and the mass fraction of the metal deactivator is about 0.08 parts. Heat and stir until completely dissolved. The total performance parameters of the formed coolant are shown in the following table:

[0063]

[0064]

[0065] From the above performance parameters, it can be seen that the coolant formed by the base synthetic oil and the additive composition has good viscosity parameters and can effectively dissipate heat and cool the data service center.

[0066] In addition, based on the foregoing Example 8, embodiments with different dosages of various additive compositions were designed, and their performance parameters are shown in the following table:

[0067] Example 8 Example 9 Example 10 Example 11 Antioxidant 0.8％ 0.5％ 1％ 1.2％ Metal deactivator 0.08％ 0.05％ 0.1％ 0.1％ Oxygen bomb method / min ＞800 ＞600 ＞900 ＞900 Dielectric constant 2.028 2.011 2.043 2.052

[0068] It can be seen from the above embodiments that the data center immersion cooling flame retardant method formed by the foregoing embodiments has high stability, good heat dissipation effect, strong insulation characteristics, no influence on electronic signal transmission, and good flame retardant performance, and can be applied to the thermal management system of the data center for a long time, safely and efficiently.

[0069] Based on the foregoing exemplary embodiments, an exemplary embodiment is provided below to illustrate the flame retardant effect of the immersion liquid cooling flame retardant method for the data center provided by each of the foregoing embodiments:

[0070] During the test, a small vacuum glove box was filled with coolant, a combustible wick, and an igniter. The tail of the wick was immersed in the coolant, and the head of the combustible wick was ignited using the igniter. Then, gaseous fluoride was immediately injected into the vacuum glove box to bring the pressure inside the vacuum glove box to different pressure ranges. Through the foregoing test method, the following test data was obtained:

[0071] Example 12 Example 13 Example 14 Example 15 Air pressure / atm 1 1 1 1 Fluoride pressure / atm 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 Combustion condition Continuous combustion Continuous combustion Instantaneous combustion Non - combustible

[0072] As can be seen from the above embodiments, when fluoride gas is added to a closed container to a pressure above 1.2 atmospheres, flash ignition of the coolant can be completely prevented.

[0073] The above is only the specific embodiment of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention should be covered within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An immersion liquid cooling and flame retardant method for a data center, characterized in that, The method includes: Placing the data center in a sealed box and adding a coolant into the sealed box; wherein, the coolant is a mixture formed by 70 to 95 parts by mass of a base synthetic oil and 0.5 to 1 part of an additive composition; After the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, adding a fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 °C into the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches a preset flame retardant concentration.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The step of, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, adding a fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 °C into the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches a preset flame retardant concentration includes: After the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, starting the data center and circulating the coolant, and controlling the gas pressure in the sealed box to be in equilibrium with the ambient gas pressure; Adding a gaseous fluoride into the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches the preset flame retardant concentration; wherein, the gaseous fluoride is a fluoride with a boiling point lower than 30 °C.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein The step of adding a gaseous fluoride into the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches the preset flame retardant concentration includes: Reducing the gas pressure in the sealed box to below 0.8 standard atmospheric pressure; Adding the gaseous fluoride into the sealed box until the gas pressure in the sealed box reaches above 1 standard atmospheric pressure.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of adding a gaseous fluoride into the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches the preset flame retardant concentration includes: Adding the gaseous fluoride into the sealed box until the gas pressure in the sealed box reaches above 1.2 standard atmospheric pressure.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that The gaseous fluoride added into the sealed box includes one or more of hexafluoropropylene oxide, perfluoropropane, perfluorobutane, perfluoropentane, and perfluoropentanone.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of, after the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, adding a fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 °C into the sealed box until the fluoride concentration in the sealed box reaches a preset flame retardant concentration includes: After the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, starting the data center and circulating the coolant, and controlling the gas pressure in the sealed box to be in equilibrium with the ambient gas pressure; Adding a liquid fluoride into the sealed box until the gas pressure in the sealed box reaches above 1.2 standard atmospheric pressure; wherein, the liquid fluoride is a fluoride with a boiling point of 40 °C to 100 °C.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The liquid fluoride added into the sealed box includes one or more of hexafluoropropylene dimer, hexafluoropropylene dimer epoxide, hexafluoropropylene trimer, hexafluoropropylene trimer epoxide, perfluorohexanone, perfluoroheptane, perfluorooctane, perfluorohexane, perfluoro-N-methylmorpholine, and perfluorocyclic ether.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein The base synthetic oil in the coolant added to the sealed box includes one or more of polyalphaolefin synthetic oil, natural gas synthetic oil, coal-based synthetic oil, and ester synthetic oil with a flash point > 150°C and a viscosity < 10 mm 2 / s (at 40°C).

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The additive in the coolant added into the sealed box includes a composition of an antioxidant and a metal deactivator.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, adding a fluoride with a boiling point not higher than 100 degrees Celsius into the sealed box includes: After the coolant submerges the upper surface of the data center, adding the fluoride into the sealed box from below the liquid level of the coolant.

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