Predictive maintenance control of filters in liquid cooling applications

Abstract

This invention relates to a liquid cooling unit, a self-contained liquid cooling unit, and a method for monitoring the health of one or more filters in a liquid cooling application. The liquid cooling system, such as a liquid cooling distribution unit, includes a liquid loop for recirculating the coolant, one or more liquid pumps, one or more liquid filters, a pressure sensor, and a controller for determining the pressure differential across one or more liquid filters. In embodiments, the controller implements a filter health monitoring scheme for predicting filter replacement time, and in some embodiments, implements a low pump speed operation mode for system protection.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Application No. 63 / 739,979, filed on December 30, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure generally relates to liquid cooling solutions for data center environments, and more particularly to systems and methods for monitoring the health status of filters in liquid cooling systems. Background Technology

[0004] As new server and graphics processing unit (GPU) technologies, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing drive ever-increasing heat density in data center environments, cooling challenges continue to escalate. Liquid cooling is rapidly emerging as a technology choice for efficiently managing power-intensive hotspots.

[0005] Some liquid cooling solutions utilize self-contained liquid cooling units for end-of-line or perimeter deployments. Such units can include liquid handling components (e.g., plate heat exchangers, expansion tanks, pumps, valves, and filters) and control components (e.g., various sensors and controllers). These units manage an internal liquid loop that works in conjunction with a separate facility loop to transfer heat. Given that the performance of plate heat exchangers depends on avoiding fouling and corrosion effects, ensuring the liquid in the liquid cooling unit is free of contaminants is crucial. Therefore, filters are used to filter the recirculated liquid to maintain optimal thermal management and system efficiency, thereby ensuring cooling performance to protect sensitive electronic equipment.

[0006] In traditional cooling systems such as liquid cooling units, filters are replaced as needed based on routine maintenance or in case of filter failure. In some cases, routine replacement may be too late or too early, resulting in inefficient operation or failure of the liquid cooling system, or premature replacement of a good filter.

[0007] Therefore, in order to replace filters at the appropriate time to ensure optimal system performance, a predictive maintenance program is needed to monitor filter health. Summary of the Invention

[0008] According to a first aspect, this disclosure relates to a liquid cooling unit comprising: a liquid circuit configured to recirculate liquid; one or more pumps disposed in the liquid circuit, the pumps being configured to pump liquid; one or more filters disposed in the liquid circuit, the filters being configured to filter liquid; a pressure sensor disposed in the liquid circuit, the pressure sensor being configured to measure liquid pressure in the liquid circuit; and a controller communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and including one or more processors. In an embodiment, the controller is configured to receive output from the pressure sensor and determine, based on the output received from the pressure sensor, the pressure differential across each of the one or more filters.

[0009] In some implementations, for each of one or more filters, the pressure sensor includes a first pressure sensor disposed at the inlet side of the filter and a second pressure sensor disposed at the outlet side of the filter, wherein the pressure difference is determined by the difference between the liquid pressure entering the filter and the liquid pressure leaving the filter.

[0010] In some implementations, the controller is also configured to implement a monitoring scheme for monitoring the differential pressure of one or more filters according to a pre-selected monitoring plan.

[0011] In some implementations, the controller is also configured to extrapolate an estimate of when one or more filters will behave below a preselected threshold performance level based on the differential pressure monitored according to a preselected monitoring schedule.

[0012] In some implementations, the controller is also configured to determine a reference differential pressure for each of the one or more filters when one or more filters are installed in a liquid circuit.

[0013] In some implementations, the controller is also communicatively coupled to one or more pumps and is also configured to control the one or more pumps to operate in a low-pump-speed mode when the liquid cooling unit is operating with one or more filters nearing or at the end of their lifespan.

[0014] In some implementations, the controller is also configured to generate one or more alarms indicating the need for at least one of filter maintenance or filter replacement.

[0015] In some embodiments, the liquid cooling unit is a self-contained unit comprising a housing and one or more plate heat exchangers disposed in the housing.

[0016] In some implementations, the liquid cooling unit is configured to be used in data centers for cooling electronic devices.

[0017] According to another aspect, this disclosure relates to a self-contained liquid cooling unit comprising: a liquid circuit configured to recirculate liquid; one or more heat exchangers disposed in the liquid circuit and configured to transfer heat in the liquid circuit; one or more pumps disposed in the liquid circuit and configured to pump cooling liquid; one or more filters disposed in the liquid circuit and configured to filter cooling liquid; a pressure sensor disposed in the liquid circuit and configured to measure liquid pressure in the liquid circuit; and a controller communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and including one or more processors configured to receive output from the pressure sensor and determine the pressure differential across the one or more filters based on the output received from the pressure sensor.

[0018] According to other aspects, this disclosure relates to a method for monitoring the health of one or more filters in a cooling system or cooling unit, the cooling system or cooling unit comprising: a liquid circuit configured to recirculate liquid; one or more pumps disposed in the liquid circuit, the pumps being configured to pump liquid; one or more filters disposed in the liquid circuit, the filters being configured to filter liquid; a pressure sensor disposed in the liquid circuit, the pressure sensor being configured to measure liquid pressure in the liquid circuit; and a controller communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and including one or more processors. In an embodiment, the pressure sensor is configured to measure liquid pressure at an inlet side and an outlet side of each of the one or more filters, and the controller is configured to determine a pressure differential across each of the one or more filters based on the liquid pressure measured at the inlet side and the outlet side of each of the one or more filters.

[0019] This summary is provided solely to introduce the subject matter fully described in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It should not be construed as describing essential features or used to define the scope of the claims. Furthermore, it should be understood that both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description are illustrative only and not necessarily limiting of the claimed subject matter. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The implementation of this disclosure herein can be better understood when considering the following detailed description. Such description refers to the included drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and for clarity, some features may be exaggerated, while others may be omitted or may be schematically represented. Similar reference numerals in the drawings may indicate and refer to the same or similar elements, features, or functions. In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1A and 1B These are, respectively, a front view and a rear view of a non-limiting example of a liquid cooling unit according to this disclosure;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a liquid cooling circuit according to the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a control scheme for monitoring the health status of a filter in a liquid cooling system or liquid cooling unit, according to the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a control scheme for achieving a low pump speed operation mode in a liquid cooling system or liquid cooling unit, according to the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 5 It is a graph showing predictive maintenance calculations for filter replacement in a liquid cooling system or liquid cooling unit based on this disclosure; and

[0026] Figure 6 This is a graph showing the predictive maintenance calculations for a liquid cooling system or liquid cooling unit operating in a low pump speed mode, based on the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Before detailing one or more embodiments of this disclosure, it should be understood that these embodiments, in their application, are not limited to the details of the construction and arrangement of the components, steps, or methods set forth in the following description or shown in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description of the embodiments, numerous specific details may be set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of this disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure that the embodiments disclosed herein can be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known features may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating this disclosure.

[0028] As used herein, the letters following the reference numerals are intended to designate embodiments of features or elements that may be similar to, but not necessarily identical to, previously described elements or features having the same reference numerals (e.g., 1, 1a, 1b). Such abbreviations are used for convenience only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure in any way unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0029] Furthermore, unless explicitly stated otherwise, "or" refers to an inclusive "or," not an exclusive "or." For example, conditions A or B are satisfied by any of the following: A is true (or exists) and B is false (or does not exist); A is false (or does not exist) and B is true (or exists); and both A and B are true (or exist).

[0030] Additionally, the use of “a” or “an” can be used to describe elements and components of the embodiments disclosed herein. This is done merely for convenience, and unless explicitly stated otherwise, “a” and “an” are intended to include “one” or “at least one”, and the singular form also includes the plural.

[0031] Finally, as used herein, any reference to “one embodiment” or “implementation” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment disclosed herein. The phrase “in an embodiment” appearing in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, and an embodiment may include one or more features explicitly described or inherent in this document, or any combination or sub-combination of two or more such features, as well as any other features that may not necessarily be explicitly described or inherent in this disclosure.

[0032] The systems and methods according to this disclosure provide filter health and predictive maintenance solutions for liquid cooling systems (e.g., self-contained liquid cooling distribution units). In implementations, the systems and methods according to this disclosure utilize pressure data and filter performance data to predict the lifespan of one or more system filters, allowing filter maintenance and / or replacement to be proactively planned to ensure continuous and optimal system performance. The systems and methods disclosed herein can be applied to any system, liquid, or other system utilizing filters. In example applications, the systems and methods disclosed herein can be integrated into liquid cooling units to achieve reduced filter failures and increased reliability of the liquid cooling unit, among other benefits and advantages.

[0033] In implementations, the systems and methods disclosed herein relate to filter health protocols for monitoring filter performance by monitoring the differential pressure of one or more filters located in a cooling loop (e.g., a liquid cooling loop). In implementations, monitoring schedules can be pre-selected and adjusted to provide customizable monitoring protocols. In implementations, differential pressure exceeding a pre-selected threshold and / or planned maintenance triggers one or more warnings / alarms indicating necessary actions to be taken, such as filter maintenance and / or replacement. In some implementations, the monitoring protocol may also include a low-pump-rate operating mode (e.g., a "limp" mode) to ensure continued system performance while protecting system components and cooled electronic components until maintenance can be performed. For example, a low-pump-rate mode can be implemented when the differential pressure of one or more pumps approaches or exceeds a pre-selected threshold.

[0034] Figure 1A and 1B Front and rear views of a non-limiting example of a liquid cooling system, such as a self-contained liquid cooling unit 100, are shown. In one embodiment, the liquid cooling unit 100 may be self-contained and work in conjunction with a separate liquid supply loop in a facility (e.g., a data center). In another embodiment, the liquid cooling unit 100 may be located near heat-generating electronic equipment to absorb heat.

[0035] Figure 1A A front view of the liquid cooling unit 100 is shown, with the unit panel removed for clarity. In this embodiment, the liquid cooling unit 100 includes: a controller 101 including one or more processors, one or more expansion tanks 102, one or more primary filters 103, a power supply 104, one or more level sensors 105, a filler pipe 106, one or more pumps 107, a forklift port 108, one or more plate heat exchangers 109, one or more pump inverter drivers 110, a controller touchscreen 111, and one or more environmental sensors 112.

[0036] Figure 1BA rear view of the liquid cooling unit 100 is shown, with the unit panel removed for clarity. In this embodiment, the liquid cooling unit further includes: a manual vent 113 associated with the expansion tank 102, a pressure relief valve 114, a secondary flow meter 115, one or more unit pressure sensors 116, a flexible replenishment container 117, one or more primary cooling valves 118, one or more drain valves 119, a primary flow meter 120, a fill pump 121, one or more filter / pump isolation valves 122, one or more secondary filters 103, and one or more automatic vents 123 mounted to each filter housing and the pump inlet manifold. As used herein, the primary and secondary filters may be collectively referred to as “filters” or “one or more filters” designated 103. In this embodiment, the liquid cooling unit 100 can be controlled in-situ and / or remotely.

[0037] Figure 2 This shows the effect in the cooling system (e.g., Figure 1A and 1B The diagram illustrates the components utilized and positioned in the cooling circuit 200 of the liquid cooling unit 100 shown. In an embodiment, the cooling circuit 200 includes one or more liquid circuits 201, 202 for circulating or recirculating a liquid (e.g., water, ethylene glycol / water mixture, etc.). In an embodiment, the liquid cooling system may include two cooling circuits: a first cooling circuit is a refrigerant circuit 201 (e.g., a primary circuit) for cooling a "dedicated" liquid, and a second cooling circuit is a "dedicated" liquid circuit 202 (e.g., a secondary circuit) for cooling electronic equipment. In an embodiment, the dedicated liquid circuit 202 may be a closed circuit that supplies cooling liquid to the electronic equipment via indirect cooling (e.g., a rack-mounted rear-door heat exchanger) or direct cooling (e.g., a chip-level cold plate). In an embodiment, the dedicated liquid circuit may be a low-pressure sealed system in which heat removed from high-heat-density areas of the electronic equipment is discharged to an external cooling water source (e.g., refrigerant circuit 201) via a low-pressure-drop plate heat exchanger. In this implementation, the dedicated liquid loop 202 ensures that the cooling liquid in the data center environment can be kept at a minimum volume, with tight control over flow, pressure, and temperature (e.g., through condensation control), and can accurately maintain liquid quality (e.g., through filtration and additives). In this implementation, the primary cooling source can be a chilled water system (e.g., dedicated or from a building system), a liquid cooler, a cooling tower, or a dry air cooler, depending on the desired secondary temperature and heat transfer load.

[0038] One or more filters 103 are included in a dedicated liquid circuit 202 to filter contaminants that may enter the liquid flow and potentially clog the cold plates of cooling electronics (e.g., servers). Over time, the filters 103 may become clogged, resulting in a large pressure drop across the filters 103, thus causing the pump 107 to increase its power to maintain a constant liquid flow rate. When the liquid flow rate is at its maximum due to filter clogging, there is a risk of filter rupture, which could release filter components and contaminants into the cold plates, degrading performance and / or causing damage.

[0039] Each filter 103 is associated with a first pressure sensor 202 disposed at the inlet / upstream side of the filter 103 and a second pressure sensor 203 disposed at the outlet / downstream side of the filter 103. Each sensor 202, 203 may be a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure in the liquid circuit at the corresponding side of the filter 103. Therefore, for Figure 2 The example of the three parallel liquid paths and pump / filter configurations shown, as can be seen in the schematic diagram, includes a pump 107, a first pressure sensor 202, a filter 103 and a second pressure sensor 203 in series (and optionally one or more intermediate valves and other components), and similarly, the middle and lower liquid paths include the same series pump / pressure sensor / filter / pressure sensor arrangement.

[0040] In use, a first pressure sensor 202 positioned on the inlet / upstream side of filter 103 is configured to obtain a measurement of the liquid pressure in the liquid loop entering the filter (P1), while a second pressure sensor 203 positioned on the outlet / downstream side of filter 103 is configured to obtain a measurement of the liquid pressure in the liquid loop leaving the filter (P2). Based on the liquid pressure measurements (P1 and P2), the differential pressure (DP) of each filter 103 can be obtained to determine the performance status of that filter 103. For example, considering the minimum flow limit provided by a new filter 103, the new filter 103 can return substantially equal inlet and outlet liquid pressure measurements upon installation. In an embodiment, the differential pressure at the time of installation of a new filter 103 can correspond to a reference differential pressure measurement as a benchmark for comparison with future differential pressure measurements.

[0041] In one implementation, the monitoring scheme may further include monitoring the speed of the pump motor 107 associated with each filter 103. In another implementation, a variable frequency drive (VFD) provides precise control over the speed of the pump motor, allowing the pump to operate at the optimal speed for a given application to improve performance and energy consumption. In use, the VFD operates by adjusting the frequency of the power supplied to the motor, which in turn changes the motor speed.

[0042] Filter performance monitoring and pump speed monitoring can be used to implement two control routines that, when running in tandem, can be used to predict maintenance schedules and prevent catastrophic failures. Unlike traditional maintenance methods that rely on fixed schedules or reactive responses to filter clogging, these solutions utilize real-time data and advanced analytics to predict when filters will require maintenance and / or replacement. This accuracy enables timely maintenance, optimizing resource utilization and minimizing system downtime. Furthermore, the integration of predictive algorithms improves the reliability and efficiency of the cooling system, resulting in longer equipment lifespan and reduced operating costs.

[0043] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of control scheme 300 according to the present disclosure, which illustrates a control routine for monitoring differential pressure and generating warnings / alarms based on predictive maintenance calculations discussed below. Resolution can be improved by changing the sampling rate and increasing the number of sample points. The differential pressure (DP) in the flowchart is the pressure difference marked at a given point in time, where the differential pressure (DP) is the pressure difference between the "high" and "low" sides. The pump speed (PS) in the flowchart is the pump speed of a technical liquid pump. The time (T) in the flowchart represents a timer, which counts, for example, in seconds. In the flowchart, the user has the option to operate a "limp" mode (e.g., a protection mode), in which the pump speed is reduced to the minimum operable flow rate based on, for example, manufacturer specifications. In an implementation, this "limp" mode can be implemented when parts or services for replacing one or more filters 103 are not readily available. By entering "limp" mode, the cooling system can continue to operate at a low speed corresponding to the reduced flow rate to keep the server cool, while extending the life of filter 103 to prevent catastrophic failures while waiting for maintenance technicians or parts to become available.

[0044] In this implementation, filter 103 and pump 107 can be monitored according to any pre-selected plan, which can be dynamically modified or customized. In this implementation, the system collects, determines, and records multiple data points corresponding to differential pressure and pump speed, for example, obtained by pressure sensors and pump sensors, and outputs them to the controller. As shown, for each filter 103 in the system, the system determines and records a first differential pressure (DP1) and a corresponding first pump speed (PS1). According to the pre-selected plan, the system determines and records a second differential pressure (DP2) and a corresponding second pump speed (PS2), and the same applies to the differential pressure (DPN) and corresponding pump speed (PSN) for each future plan. Depending on the filter 103 and the application, the plan can be based on seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and any combination thereof. In this implementation, the recorded first differential pressure (DP1) can correspond to a reference differential pressure measurement that serves as a baseline, and future differential pressure measurements will be continuously compared to this baseline.

[0045] exist Figure 3 In the example monitoring scheme shown, a first differential pressure (DP1) and a first pump speed (PS1) are recorded at a first time point (T=1), followed by a second differential pressure (DP2) and a second pump speed (PS2) at a second time point (T=2), and so on for future differential pressures (DPN) and pump speeds (PSN) and for future times (T=N). The system is configured to monitor each data point and compare these data points to determine the real-time performance of system filter 103 and pump 107. In an implementation, a threshold corresponding to the measurement difference can be pre-selected to change system performance (e.g., pump speed) when the pre-selected threshold is exceeded.

[0046] Differential pressure calculations are performed for each pump / filter loop to determine real-time system performance and trends, enabling predictions of future performance and maintenance needs. The system can operate in "normal" mode when the differential pressure is "stable" or increasing at an acceptable rate, where the pump rate is stable or increases at a correspondingly acceptable rate to maintain sufficient flow. In other words, the system can operate under normal operating conditions when it exhibits acceptable levels in terms of filter performance and / or pump rate. When the differential pressure and / or pump rate increase to unacceptable levels indicating a clogged or faulty filter (e.g., nearing the end of its service life), the system creates a warning / alarm that includes a prediction of when filter performance and / or pump rate will reach unacceptable levels requiring the system to manually or automatically enter "limp" mode. Warnings / alarms can be visual and / or audible, and their frequency can increase as system performance declines, etc.

[0047] Figure 4This is a flowchart of pump speed control scheme 400, which reduces flow rate when the filter has not yet been replaced and the differential pressure is close to a pre-selected fault point. Similar to control scheme 300, the pump speed (PS) is recorded according to a pre-selected plan, such that continuous pump speeds (PS1, PS2, ... PSN) are recorded at corresponding times (T=1, T=2…T=N). Resolution can be improved by changing the sampling rate and increasing the number of sample points. When the pump speed increases at a high rate, approaches an unacceptable level, etc., the system generates a warning / alarm, and the system can operate to reduce the pump speed or enter a "limp" mode as discussed above.

[0048] In this implementation, control scheme 400 therefore monitors the pump speed according to a pre-set schedule to track how the pump speed changes as the filter approaches its failure point. By recording continuous pump speeds over time and increasing the sampling frequency for better resolution, the system is able to detect rapid or excessive increases in pump speed. When such an event occurs, the system can trigger a warning or alarm and automatically reduce the pump speed or put the system into a protection mode.

[0049] Figure 5 This is a graph illustrating predictive maintenance calculations regarding when a filter may require servicing and / or replacement. According to this calculation, the differential pressure (DP) across one or more filters 103 is calculated by subtracting the high-side pressure from the low-side pressure. Time (T1) is the time when a first differential pressure measurement is recorded, and time (T2) is the time when a second measurement is recorded. The first differential pressure (DP1) is the differential pressure across a new, clean filter, while the second differential pressure (DP2) is the differential pressure recorded after a certain period of time. By repeating the differential pressure recording process according to a monitoring plan, data points can be plotted to find the slope of the curve, extrapolating when the filter will need servicing and / or replacement. In an implementation, filter failure (Tf) can represent the time when filter 103 needs replacement and can be associated with warnings / alarms indicated on the controller and / or output to a remote controller.

[0050] In this implementation, the system is therefore configured to measure the pressure differential (DP) across one or more filters by subtracting the low-pressure side pressure from the high-pressure side pressure. A baseline DP (DP1) can be recorded when a new filter is installed (T1), and subsequent DPs (DP2) can be recorded at a later time (T2). Repeated measurements over time allow for the plotting of the DP versus time curve, and the slope of this curve can be used to predict when the filter will reach its failure point (Tf). This predicted time can indicate when the filter needs maintenance or replacement and can trigger warnings or alarms on a controller or remote system.

[0051] Figure 6The graph shows the predictive maintenance calculations that calculate when the differential pressure across filter 103 approaches a preselected threshold level requiring a ramp-down of the pump rate, and extrapolate when the pump rate may be too low to provide sufficient liquid flow. Figure 5 and Figure 6 The calculations shown can be used in control routines to predict when the filter will become completely clogged (e.g., filled) beyond the useful level, and to perform calculations to limit the technical liquid pump rate based on the pressure accumulation in filter 103. Figure 6 The second calculation shown uses a control mode that can override the system controller to predict a decrease in pump speed. In use, the second calculation may cause the controller to reduce the pump speed when a large pressure differential is detected. In implementations, pump manufacturers can provide a minimum pump speed required to maintain sufficient cooling for the liquid cooling unit. If this minimum threshold is not met, sensitive electronic equipment may overheat due to insufficient heat dissipation. Figure 5 The equation shown is similar, with time (T) representing the time it takes to record the pump speed (PS) measurement. By finding the slope of the straight line and extrapolating, the minimum functional pump speed can be determined, and the controller issues a corresponding warning / alarm indicating the need for filter replacement. For example, if a minimum flow rate of 100 GPM is required (requiring 60% of the pump speed), the control routine determines when (Tf) the pump speed will drop to 60% to prevent filter 103 from bursting and issues a warning to the user at that time.

[0052] In implementations, the system controller is configured to receive, determine, instruct, execute, etc. The controller may include one or more processors, memory, and communication interfaces, wherein the processor provides processing functionality for at least the respective controller and may include any number of processors, microcontrollers, circuit systems, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or other processing systems, as well as resident or external memory for storing data, executable code, and other information accessed or generated by the respective controller. The processor may execute one or more software programs implemented in a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., memory) that implements the techniques described herein. The processor is not limited by the materials forming the processor or the processing mechanisms employed in the processor, and therefore can be implemented via semiconductors and / or transistors (e.g., using electronic integrated circuit (IC) components), etc.

[0053] Memory can be an example of a tangible computer-readable storage medium that provides storage functionality to store various data and / or program code associated with the operation of a processor, such as software programs and / or code segments, or other data used to instruct the processor and possibly other components of a controller to perform the functions described herein. Thus, memory can store data, such as instruction programs for operating a corresponding controller, including components of the corresponding controller (e.g., processor, communication interface, etc.). It should be noted that while a single memory is described, various types and combinations of memory (e.g., tangible non-transitory memory) can be employed. Memory can be integrated with a processor, can include independent memory, or can be a combination of both. Some examples of memory can include removable and non-removable memory components, such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory (e.g., Secure Digital (SD) memory cards, mini SD memory cards, and / or micro SD memory cards), solid-state drive (SSD) memory, magnetic storage, optical storage, universal serial bus (USB) memory devices, hard disk storage, external storage, etc.

[0054] The communication interface can be operatively configured to communicate with components of the corresponding controller. For example, the communication interface can be configured to retrieve data from a processor or other device, send data for storage in memory, retrieve data from storage devices in memory, etc. The communication interface can also be communicatively coupled to a processor to facilitate data transfer between components of the corresponding controller and the processor. It should be noted that although the communication interface is described as a component of the corresponding controller, one or more components of the communication interface can be implemented as communicatively coupled to external components of the corresponding controller via wired and / or wireless connections. The corresponding controller may also include and / or be connected via the communication interface to one or more input / output (I / O) devices (e.g., human-machine interface (HMI) devices). In embodiments, the communication interface may include a transmitter and a receiver.

[0055] Based on the above description, it is clear that the present disclosure disclosed herein is well suited to achieve the purposes mentioned herein and to obtain the advantages mentioned herein as well as the advantages inherent in the present disclosure disclosed herein. While exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure disclosed herein have been described for the purposes of this disclosure, it should be understood that many changes can be made that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and that these changes are implemented within the broad scope and coverage of the present disclosure disclosed and claimed herein.

Claims

1. A liquid cooling unit, the liquid cooling unit comprising: The liquid circuit is configured to recirculate the liquid; One or more pumps are provided in the liquid circuit, the one or more pumps being configured to pump the liquid; One or more filters are provided in the liquid circuit, the one or more filters being configured to filter the liquid; A pressure sensor is disposed in the liquid circuit, the pressure sensor being configured to measure the liquid pressure in the liquid circuit; as well as A controller, communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and including one or more processors, is configured to: Receive the output from the pressure sensor; as well as The pressure difference across one or more filters is determined based on the output received from the pressure sensor.

2. The liquid cooling unit according to claim 1, wherein, For each of the one or more filters, the pressure sensor includes a first pressure sensor disposed at the inlet side of the filter and a second pressure sensor disposed at the outlet side of the filter, wherein the pressure difference is determined by the difference between the liquid pressure entering the filter and the liquid pressure leaving the filter.

3. The liquid cooling unit according to claim 2, wherein, The controller is also configured to: Implement a monitoring scheme for monitoring the differential pressure for one or more filters according to a pre-selected monitoring plan.

4. The liquid cooling unit according to claim 3, wherein, The controller is also configured to extrapolate an estimate of when one or more filters will exhibit performance levels below a preselected threshold level based on the pressure difference monitored according to the preselected monitoring plan.

5. The liquid cooling unit according to claim 3, wherein, The controller is also configured to: When installing one or more filters in the liquid circuit, a reference differential pressure is determined for each of the one or more filters.

6. The liquid cooling unit according to claim 3, wherein, The controller is also communicatively coupled to the one or more pumps and is also configured to control the one or more pumps to operate in a low-pump-speed mode when the liquid cooling unit is operating while the one or more filters are nearing or at the end of their lifespan.

7. The liquid cooling unit according to claim 3, wherein, The controller is also configured to generate one or more alarms that indicate the need for at least one of filter maintenance or filter replacement.

8. A self-contained liquid cooling unit, comprising: The liquid circuit is configured to recirculate the cooling liquid; One or more heat exchangers are arranged in the liquid circuit and configured to transfer heat from the cooling liquid; One or more pumps, wherein the one or more pumps are disposed in the liquid circuit and configured to pump the cooling liquid; One or more filters, wherein the one or more filters are disposed in the liquid circuit and configured to filter the cooling liquid; A pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is disposed in the liquid circuit and configured to measure the pressure of the cooling liquid; as well as A controller, communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and the one or more pumps and including one or more processors, is configured to: Receive the output from the pressure sensor; Receive output from one or more of the pumps; Based on the output received from the pressure sensor, determine the pressure difference across the one or more filters; as well as The pumping speed of the one or more pumps is adjusted based on the pressure difference across the one or more filters.

9. The self-contained liquid cooling unit according to claim 8, wherein, For each of the one or more filters, the pressure sensor includes a first pressure sensor disposed at the inlet side of the filter and a second pressure sensor disposed at the outlet side of the filter, wherein the pressure difference is determined by the difference between the liquid pressure entering the filter and the liquid pressure leaving the filter.

10. The self-contained liquid cooling unit according to claim 9, wherein, The controller is also configured to: Implement a monitoring scheme for monitoring the differential pressure for one or more filters according to a pre-selected monitoring plan.

11. The self-contained liquid cooling unit according to claim 10, wherein, The controller is also configured to extrapolate an estimate of when one or more filters will exhibit performance levels below a preselected threshold level based on the differential pressure monitored according to the preselected monitoring plan.

12. The self-contained liquid cooling unit according to claim 10, wherein, The controller is also configured to: When installing one or more filters in the liquid circuit, determine a reference differential pressure for each of the one or more filters; as well as When installing one or more filters in the liquid circuit, a reference pump speed is determined for each of the one or more pumps.

13. The self-contained liquid cooling unit according to claim 10, wherein, The controller is also configured to control the one or more pumps to operate in a low-pump-speed mode when the liquid cooling system is in operation with the one or more filters nearing or at the end of their lifespan.

14. The self-contained liquid cooling unit according to claim 10, wherein, The controller is also configured to generate one or more alarms that indicate the need for at least one of filter maintenance or filter replacement.

15. A method for monitoring the health status of one or more filters in a liquid cooling application, wherein, The liquid cooling applications include: The liquid circuit is configured to recirculate the liquid; One or more pumps are provided in the liquid circuit, the one or more pumps being configured to pump the liquid; One or more filters are provided in the liquid circuit, the one or more filters being configured to filter the liquid; A pressure sensor is disposed in the liquid circuit, the pressure sensor being configured to measure the liquid pressure in the liquid circuit; and A controller, communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor and including one or more processors; The method includes: The pressure sensor measures the liquid pressure at the inlet and outlet sides of each of the one or more filters; and The controller determines the pressure difference across each of the one or more filters based on the liquid pressure measured by the pressure sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: The controller implements a monitoring scheme for monitoring the differential pressure of each of the one or more filters according to a pre-selected monitoring plan.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: The controller extrapolates an estimate of when one or more filters will exhibit performance levels below a preselected threshold level based on the pressure difference monitored according to the preselected monitoring plan.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: The controller determines a reference differential pressure for each of the one or more filters when the filters are installed in the liquid circuit.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein, The controller is also communicatively coupled to the one or more pumps, and the method further includes: When the liquid cooling application is running and one or more filters are nearing or at the end of their lifespan, the controller controls one or more pumps to operate in a low-pump-speed mode.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein, The method further includes: The controller generates one or more alarms that indicate the need for at least one of filter maintenance or filter replacement.

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