Efficient immersion two-phase liquid cooling method for data center servers
By installing ropes or long poles on the outside of the server to move back and forth or by using airbag devices to automatically remove air bubbles, the problem of air bubble insulation is solved, improving the server's cooling efficiency and heat exchange effect, and providing automatic control and adaptive adjustment capabilities.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CHONGQING UNIV
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-12
AI Technical Summary
In existing immersion-type two-phase liquid cooling methods, the bubbles generated after the coolant vaporizes easily adhere to the server surface, forming a gas film, which reduces heat exchange efficiency and affects the server's cooling efficiency.
A rope or long pole is installed on the outside of the server. A temperature sensor drives the rope or long pole to move back and forth along a direction perpendicular to its own length to remove air bubbles from the server surface. Alternatively, the phase change material in the airbag device can be used to automatically control the up and down movement of the airbag device, which in turn drives the rope or long pole to remove air bubbles.
It effectively avoids air bubble adhesion, improves server cooling efficiency, achieves more efficient heat exchange, and has a simple structure with automatic control and adaptive adjustment capabilities.
Smart Images
Figure CN121008672B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of data center server cooling technology, and specifically to a high-efficiency immersion two-phase liquid cooling method for data center servers. Background Technology
[0002] Improving server cooling efficiency has been a long-term goal for data centers to enhance server computing power and maintain stability. There are various methods for cooling data center servers, one of the more efficient being immersion-type two-phase coolant liquid cooling. This method involves directly immersing the server in a closed cooling container filled with a two-phase coolant. When the server generates heat, the coolant vaporizes, efficiently carrying away the heat. The vaporized coolant rises to the surface and contacts a cooling device at the top of the container for heat exchange, then liquefies and drips back down. This cooling device connects to external heat dissipation systems in the data center, forming a heat exchange circulation system that removes heat from the data center. Multiple servers can be vertically arranged within the cooling container to further improve efficiency.
[0003] This existing immersion-type two-phase coolant cooling method has advantages such as low energy consumption, no noise, and high heat dissipation efficiency. However, it still has the following drawback: during the server heat exchange process, the bubbles generated after the coolant vaporizes often adhere to the outer surface and easily form a gas film. Because gas heat exchange efficiency is poor, the generated bubbles or gas film isolate the server from the coolant, greatly reducing the heat exchange efficiency between the server and the coolant, and thus reducing the server's cooling efficiency.
[0004] Therefore, how to better solve the problem of bubble insulation and obtain a better immersion two-phase liquid cooling method has become a problem that needs to be further considered and solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention
[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is: how to provide a high-efficiency immersion two-phase liquid cooling method for data center servers that can better solve the problem of bubble insulation and improve the cooling effect, so as to improve the overall heat dissipation performance of the server.
[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:
[0007] A high-efficiency immersion-type two-phase liquid cooling method for data center servers involves vertically immersing the server in a cooling container filled with two-phase coolant. When the server is working, the heat it generates causes the two-phase coolant on the surface to vaporize, achieving heat exchange. The vaporized two-phase coolant gas rises to the top of the cooling container, exchanges heat with the cooling device, re-liquefies, and drips back down to the liquid surface below. The key feature is that a straight rope or long rod is installed along the outer surface of the server. When the temperature around the server reaches a preset temperature, the rope or long rod is driven to move back and forth along the outer surface of the server in a direction perpendicular to its own length to dispel air bubbles on the server surface.
[0008] In this way, when the temperature around the server reaches the preset temperature and bubbles begin to form, the bubbles are removed by driving a horizontally positioned rope or long rod to move back and forth. This prevents bubbles from adhering to the server surface and reducing heat exchange efficiency, thus improving the server's cooling performance.
[0009] Furthermore, this method relies on a server two-phase liquid cooling system, which includes a cooling container filled with two-phase coolant, a vertically arranged server immersed in the two-phase coolant, a cooling device on the top of the cooling container above the two-phase coolant, and a bubble removal device arranged along the outer surface of the server.
[0010] Alternatively, the bubble removal device includes guide rails arranged parallel to each other on opposite sides of the outer surface of the server, remote-controlled trolleys mounted on the guide rails, a rope or long rod stretched straight along the outer surface of the server fixed between the two remote-controlled trolleys, and a temperature sensor installed on the outer surface of the server. The temperature sensor and the remote-controlled trolleys are connected to the same control center.
[0011] In this way, once the temperature sensor detects that the temperature on the outer surface of the server has reached the vaporization temperature of the two-phase coolant, the control center sends a command to control a remote-controlled trolley to move back and forth along a guide rail. Using ropes or long rods installed on the outer surface of the server, the trolley removes any air bubbles generated on the server surface, allowing them to enter the liquid and float to the top. This avoids air bubbles hindering heat exchange and improves the server's cooling efficiency.
[0012] Alternatively, the bubble removal device includes two horizontally opposed airbag devices. Each airbag device has a mounting part made of a rigid, heat-conducting material. The mounting part has vertical sliding holes and can be vertically slidably fitted onto sliding rods located on the left and right sides of the outer surface of the server. The airbag device also has an airbag cavity containing phase change material. The airbag cavity has a heat-conducting side connected to the mounting part and an expansion side located on the outer surface of the airbag device. An airbag skin made of elastic material is sealed on the expansion side. A rope or long rod located on the outer surface of the server is fixedly connected between the mounting parts of the two airbag devices. The phase change temperature of the phase change material is within 5 degrees Celsius above or below the phase change temperature of the phase change coolant.
[0013] In this airbag device, when the internal phase change material has not undergone a thermal phase change, the overall weight of the airbag device is greater than the buoyancy and it is located at the lower end of the slide bar. When the server generates heat exceeding the phase change temperature of the phase change material, the heat is transferred to the airbag cavity through the mounting part, causing the phase change material to undergo a phase change (vaporization or liquefaction). The volume of the airbag cavity increases, and the airbag skin expands outward, increasing the buoyancy of the airbag device. When the buoyancy exceeds its own weight, the airbag device floats upward along the slide bar, driving the rope or long rod to move along the outer surface of the server, clearing the air bubbles generated on the server surface, allowing them to enter the liquid and float upward to release heat and liquefy. After the airbag device floats to the upper end of the slide bar, it exchanges heat with the cooling device located at the top of the cooling container. The phase change material in the airbag cavity undergoes a retraction phase change (liquefaction or solidification), the airbag skin shrinks back, and the airbag device falls back to the bottom of the slide bar. In this way, relying on the thermal phase change properties of the phase change material in the airbag device, the airbag device is directly driven to move up and down along the slide bar, achieving the cleaning of air bubbles on the outer surface of the server. It achieves automatic control of movement without the need for an additional power unit, and the up-and-down movement frequency of the airbag device can automatically increase as the temperature rises, and it also has an adaptive adjustment effect.
[0014] Furthermore, the phase change material and the two-phase coolant in the cooling container are identical. This allows for a better achievement of the phase change-following effect.
[0015] Furthermore, the mounting section has a vertical heat-receiving surface that is attached to the outer surface of the server. This allows for better heat reception from the server, enabling automatic control.
[0016] Furthermore, the upper end of the mounting part has a horizontally arranged cooling surface, and the top of the upper end of the cooling container cavity has a downward heat transfer protrusion made of thermally conductive material corresponding to the cooling surface. After the airbag device floats to the upper end of the slide rod, it can make the cooling surface and the lower surface of the heat transfer protrusion come into contact.
[0017] In this way, when the airbag device floats to the top of the slide bar, it can exchange heat with the cooling device at the top of the cooling container more efficiently and release heat, thus achieving up-and-down movement cycles more efficiently and quickly.
[0018] Furthermore, each airbag device has a mounting protrusion extending horizontally outward on both the left and right sides at the lower end, and each mounting protrusion has a sliding hole that fits into the corresponding sliding rod.
[0019] This design, using two parallel sliding rods, better ensures the stability of the vertical sliding motion.
[0020] Furthermore, the airbag device has a horizontally outwardly protruding limiting arm in the middle of the side away from the server. The limiting arm is hollow and forms the airbag cavity. The airbag skin is disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the limiting arm.
[0021] This allows for control over the direction and size of the airbag expansion, preventing excessive expansion from causing friction that could affect the stability of the movement by contacting the inner wall of the cooling container or other servers.
[0022] Furthermore, the airbag device has a horizontally outwardly protruding upper arm on the side opposite to the server, and the upper surface of the upper arm forms the cooling surface. In implementation, the upper arm is hollow and also has an airbag skin on its lower surface. This further increases the expansion and deformation volume.
[0023] Furthermore, the cooling device includes a horizontally arranged cooling top plate and heat exchange coils embedded in the cooling top plate. The heat exchange coils are connected to a heat dissipation device located outside the computer room to form a heat exchange cycle. This allows for better heat transfer to the outside of the computer room for release.
[0024] In summary, this invention can better remove air bubbles from the server surface to improve the server's heat exchange and cooling effect. It also has advantages such as simple structure, automatic operation control, and adaptive adjustment based on heat generation, which greatly improves the cooling efficiency of servers in data center computer rooms and ensures equipment performance. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the two-phase liquid cooling system for servers used in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0026] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the individual bubble cleaning device, in which the air bladder is not inflated.
[0027] Figure 3 for Figure 2 The middle airbag is a cross-sectional view when it is inflated. Detailed Implementation
[0028] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.
[0029] Example 1: A high-efficiency immersion two-phase liquid cooling method for data center servers, wherein the server is vertically arranged and immersed in a cooling container filled with two-phase coolant. When the server is working, the heat it generates causes the two-phase coolant on the surface to vaporize, achieving heat exchange. The vaporized two-phase coolant gas rises to the top of the cooling container, exchanges heat with the cooling device, re-liquefies, and drips back to the liquid surface below. The key feature is that a straight rope or long rod is installed along the outer surface of the server. When the temperature around the server reaches a preset temperature, the rope or long rod is driven to move back and forth along the outer surface of the server in a direction perpendicular to its own length to dispel air bubbles on the server surface.
[0030] In this way, when the temperature around the server reaches the preset temperature and bubbles begin to form, the bubbles are removed by driving a horizontally positioned rope or long rod to move back and forth. This prevents bubbles from adhering to the server surface and reducing heat exchange efficiency, thus improving the server's cooling performance.
[0031] In this embodiment, the method relies on a server two-phase liquid cooling system. The server two-phase liquid cooling system includes a cooling container 1, which contains a two-phase coolant. A vertically arranged server 2 is immersed in the two-phase coolant. A cooling device 3 is provided on the top of the cooling container above the two-phase coolant. It also includes a bubble removal device provided along the outer surface of the server.
[0032] The bubble removal device includes two horizontally opposite airbag devices 4. Each airbag device 4 has a mounting part 5 made of a rigid heat-conducting material. The mounting part 5 has a vertical sliding hole 6 and can be vertically slidably fitted onto a sliding rod 7 vertically set on the left and right sides of the outer surface of the server. The airbag device also has an airbag cavity 8 containing phase change material. The airbag cavity 8 has a heat-conducting side connected to the mounting part and an expansion side located on the outer surface of the airbag device. An airbag skin 9 made of elastic material is sealed on the expansion side. A rope 10 (or a long rod) located on the outer surface of the server is fixedly connected between the mounting parts 5 of the two airbag devices. The phase change temperature of the phase change material is within 5 degrees Celsius above and below the phase change temperature of the phase change coolant.
[0033] In this airbag device, when the internal phase change material has not undergone a thermal phase change, the overall weight of the airbag device is greater than the buoyancy and it is located at the lower end of the slide bar. When the server generates heat exceeding the phase change temperature of the phase change material, the heat is transferred to the airbag cavity through the mounting part, causing the phase change material to undergo a phase change (vaporization or liquefaction). The volume of the airbag cavity increases, and the airbag skin expands outward, increasing the buoyancy of the airbag device. When the buoyancy exceeds its own weight, the airbag device floats upward along the slide bar, driving the rope or long rod to move along the outer surface of the server, clearing the air bubbles generated on the server surface, allowing them to enter the liquid and float upward to release heat and liquefy. After the airbag device floats to the upper end of the slide bar, it exchanges heat with the cooling device located at the top of the cooling container. The phase change material in the airbag cavity undergoes a retraction phase change (liquefaction or solidification), the airbag skin shrinks back, and the airbag device falls back to the bottom of the slide bar. In this way, relying on the thermal phase change properties of the phase change material in the airbag device, the airbag device is directly driven to move up and down along the slide bar, achieving the cleaning of air bubbles on the outer surface of the server. It achieves automatic control of movement without the need for an additional power unit, and the up-and-down movement frequency of the airbag device can automatically increase as the temperature rises, and it also has an adaptive adjustment effect.
[0034] The phase change material and the two-phase coolant in the cooling container 1 are identical. This allows for a better achievement of the phase change-following effect.
[0035] The mounting section has a vertical heat-receiving surface 11 on its outer side that is attached to the outer surface of the server. This allows for better heat reception from the server and enables automatic control.
[0036] The upper end of the mounting part has a horizontally arranged cooling surface 12, and the top of the upper end of the cooling container cavity has a downward heat transfer protrusion 13 made of heat-conducting material corresponding to the cooling surface. After the airbag device floats to the upper end of the slide rod 7, the lower surface of the cooling surface 12 and the heat transfer protrusion 13 can be in contact.
[0037] In this way, when the airbag device floats to the top of the slide bar, it can exchange heat with the cooling device at the top of the cooling container more efficiently and release heat, thus achieving up-and-down movement cycles more efficiently and quickly.
[0038] Each airbag device has a mounting protrusion 14 extending horizontally outward from the lower left and right sides. Each of the two mounting protrusions 14 has a sliding hole 6 that fits into the corresponding sliding rod 7.
[0039] This design, using two parallel sliding rods, better ensures the stability of the vertical sliding motion.
[0040] The airbag device has a horizontally outward protruding limiting arm 15 in the middle of the side away from the server. The limiting arm 15 is hollow and forms the airbag cavity 8. The airbag skin 9 is disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the limiting arm 15.
[0041] This allows for control over the direction and size of the airbag expansion, preventing excessive expansion from causing friction that could affect the stability of the movement by contacting the inner wall of the cooling container or other servers.
[0042] The airbag device has a horizontally outwardly protruding upper support arm 16 on the upper end of the side facing away from the server, and the upper surface of the upper support arm forms the cooling surface 12. In implementation, the upper support arm is hollow and also has an airbag skin on its lower surface. This further increases the expansion and deformation volume.
[0043] The cooling system includes a horizontally arranged cooling top plate and heat exchange coils embedded in the cooling top plate. The heat exchange coils are connected to a heat dissipation device located outside the computer room to form a heat exchange cycle. This allows for better heat transfer to the outside of the computer room for release.
[0044] Example 2: The difference between Example 2 and Example 1 is that the bubble cleaning device used is different, while the rest is the same. The bubble cleaning device in Example 2 is electrically controlled. Specifically, the bubble cleaning device in this example includes guide rails arranged parallel to each other on opposite sides of the outer surface of the server. Remote control trolleys are installed on the guide rails. A rope or long rod that is stretched straight along the outer surface of the server is fixed between the two remote control trolleys. It also includes a temperature sensor installed on the outer surface of the server. The temperature sensor and the remote control trolleys are connected to the same control center.
[0045] In this way, once the temperature sensor detects that the temperature on the outer surface of the server has reached the vaporization temperature of the two-phase coolant, the control center sends a command to control a remote-controlled trolley to move back and forth along a guide rail. Using ropes or long rods installed on the outer surface of the server, the trolley removes any air bubbles generated on the server surface, allowing them to enter the liquid and float to the top. This avoids air bubbles hindering heat exchange and improves the server's cooling efficiency.
Claims
1. A high-efficiency immersion-type two-phase liquid cooling method for data center servers, wherein the server is vertically arranged and immersed in a cooling container filled with two-phase coolant. When the server is working, the heat it generates causes the two-phase coolant on the surface to vaporize, achieving heat exchange. The vaporized two-phase coolant gas rises to the top of the cooling container, exchanges heat with the cooling device, re-liquefies, and drips back down to the liquid surface below. The method is characterized by... A straight rope or long pole is installed along the outer surface of the server. When the temperature around the server reaches the preset temperature, the rope or long pole is driven to move back and forth along the outer surface of the server in a direction perpendicular to its own length to remove air bubbles from the server surface. The method relies on a server two-phase liquid cooling system, which includes a cooling container filled with two-phase coolant, a vertically arranged server immersed in the two-phase coolant, a cooling device on the top of the cooling container above the two-phase coolant, and a bubble removal device arranged along the outer surface of the server. The bubble removal device includes two horizontally opposite airbag devices. Each airbag device has a mounting part made of a rigid, heat-conducting material. The mounting part has vertical sliding holes and can slide vertically onto sliding rods located on the left and right sides of the outer surface of the server. The airbag device also has an airbag cavity containing phase change material. The airbag cavity has a heat-conducting side connected to the mounting part and an expansion side located on the outer surface of the airbag device. An airbag skin made of elastic material is sealed on the expansion side. A rope or long rod located on the outer surface of the server is fixedly connected between the mounting parts of the two airbag devices. The phase change temperature of the phase change material is within 5 degrees Celsius above and below the phase change temperature of the phase change coolant.
2. The high-efficiency immersion two-phase liquid cooling method for data center servers according to claim 1, characterized in that, The phase change material is the same as the two-phase coolant in the cooling container.
3. The high-efficiency immersion two-phase liquid cooling method for data center servers according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting section has a vertical heat-receiving surface that is attached to the outer surface of the server.
4. The high-efficiency immersion two-phase liquid cooling method for data center servers according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper end of the mounting part has a horizontally arranged cooling surface, and the top of the upper end of the inner cavity of the cooling container has a downward heat transfer protrusion made of thermally conductive material corresponding to the cooling surface.
5. The high-efficiency immersion two-phase liquid cooling method for data center servers according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each airbag device has a mounting protrusion extending horizontally outward on both the left and right sides at the lower end. Each of the two mounting protrusions has a sliding hole that fits into the corresponding sliding rod.
6. The high-efficiency immersion two-phase liquid cooling method for data center servers according to claim 1, characterized in that, The airbag device has a horizontally outward protruding limiting arm in the middle of the side away from the server. The limiting arm is hollow and forms the airbag cavity. The airbag skin is disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the limiting arm.
7. The high-efficiency immersion two-phase liquid cooling method for data center servers according to claim 1, characterized in that, The airbag device has a horizontally outward protruding upper arm on the side away from the server, and the upper surface of the upper arm forms a cooling surface. The cooling device includes a horizontally arranged cooling top plate and heat exchange coils embedded in the cooling top plate. The heat exchange coils are connected to the heat dissipation device located outside the computer room to form a heat exchange cycle.