Liquid cooling heat dissipation system and temperature control valve thereof

Abstract

This invention proposes a liquid cooling system and its temperature control valve. The liquid cooling system includes a temperature control valve, which comprises a valve body and a temperature-sensing regulating element. The valve body includes a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a first flow channel, and a second flow channel. The first and second flow channels are located inside the valve body. The first flow channel connects the first fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and the second flow channel connects the second fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The temperature-sensing regulating element is disposed inside the valve body and located between the first and second flow channels. In response to the temperature in the first flow channel being greater than the temperature in the second flow channel, the temperature-sensing regulating element shifts towards the second flow channel, making the volume in the first flow channel larger than the volume in the second flow channel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a heat dissipation system, and more particularly to a liquid cooling heat dissipation system and its temperature control valve. Background Technology

[0002] As the computing power of electronic devices increases, their internal electronic components generate a lot of heat during operation. In order to prevent the operating temperature of electronic components from exceeding their maximum tolerance, electronic devices are generally equipped with heat dissipation devices to cool the electronic components.

[0003] However, different electronic components generate different amounts of heat during operation. Therefore, if the same heat dissipation device is used to dissipate heat from different electronic components, the heat dissipation effect of the electronic components with higher temperatures will be poor. If multiple heat dissipation devices are used to dissipate heat from different electronic components, it will increase costs and hinder the miniaturization of electronic devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a liquid cooling heat dissipation system and its temperature control valve to solve at least one of the above-mentioned problems.

[0005] In view of the above, in one embodiment, a temperature control valve is provided, including a valve body and a temperature sensing adjustment element. The valve body includes a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a first flow channel, and a second flow channel. The first flow channel and the second flow channel are located inside the valve body. The first flow channel connects the first fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and the second flow channel connects the second fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The temperature sensing adjustment element is disposed inside the valve body and located between the first flow channel and the second flow channel. In response to the temperature in the first flow channel being greater than the temperature in the second flow channel, the temperature sensing adjustment element shifts towards the second flow channel, making the volume in the first flow channel greater than the volume in the second flow channel.

[0006] In another embodiment, a liquid cooling system is provided, including a first liquid cooling head, a second liquid cooling head, a piping assembly, and the aforementioned temperature control valve. The first liquid cooling head has a first liquid inlet and a first liquid outlet. The second liquid cooling head has a second liquid inlet and a second liquid outlet. The piping assembly includes a first liquid inlet pipe, a first liquid outlet pipe, a second liquid inlet pipe, and a second liquid outlet pipe. The first liquid inlet pipe is connected to the first liquid inlet, the second liquid inlet pipe is connected to the second liquid inlet, the first liquid outlet pipe of the piping assembly is connected to the first liquid outlet and the first fluid inlet of the valve body of the temperature control valve, and the second liquid outlet pipe of the piping assembly is connected to the second liquid outlet and the second fluid inlet of the valve body.

[0007] In summary, according to the liquid cooling heat dissipation system of the present invention, the valve body of the temperature control valve can be connected to different heat-generating components through the first fluid inlet and the second fluid inlet respectively. When different heat-generating components have different operating temperatures, causing the temperature in the first flow channel to be greater than the temperature in the second flow channel, the temperature sensing adjustment component can be shifted towards the second flow channel, making the volume in the first flow channel greater than the volume in the second flow channel, thereby improving the heat dissipation effect on the heat-generating components with higher temperatures. This allows the liquid cooling heat dissipation system to be dynamically adjusted according to the actual operating conditions of the heat-generating components, thereby improving the overall heat dissipation efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the liquid cooling heat dissipation system of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the liquid cooling heat dissipation system of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the liquid cooling heat dissipation system of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 4 This is another partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the liquid cooling heat dissipation system of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a temperature-sensing regulating element of the temperature control valve of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the temperature-sensing regulating component of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the temperature-sensing regulating component of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the temperature-sensing adjustment component of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the temperature-sensing adjustment component of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the temperature-sensing regulating component of the present invention.

[0018] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0019] 1: Liquid cooling system

[0020] 10: First liquid cooling head

[0021] 11: First liquid inlet

[0022] 12: First liquid outlet

[0023] 20: Second liquid cooling head

[0024] 21: Second liquid inlet

[0025] 22: Second liquid outlet

[0026] 30: Piping Assembly

[0027] 31: First inlet tube

[0028] 32: First outlet pipe

[0029] 33: Second liquid inlet tube

[0030] 34: Second outlet pipe

[0031] 35: First connecting pipe

[0032] 36: Second connecting pipe

[0033] 40: Temperature control valve

[0034] 41: Valve body

[0035] 411: First fluid inlet

[0036] 412: Second fluid inlet

[0037] 413: Fluid outlet

[0038] 414: First Stream

[0039] 415: Second Flow Channel

[0040] 416: Partition

[0041] 45, 45a, 45b, 45c: Temperature sensing adjustment components

[0042] 451: First temperature-sensitive deformable body

[0043] 452: Second temperature-sensitive deformable body

[0044] 453: First side view

[0045] 454: Second side view

[0046] 455: Fixed end

[0047] 456: Free End

[0048] 46: Arm Swing

[0049] 461: Pivot End

[0050] 462: Swingable end

[0051] 50: Diverter valve

[0052] 501: Liquid inlet valve port

[0053] 502: First outlet valve port

[0054] 503: Second outlet valve port

[0055] 61: First heating element

[0056] 62: Second heating element

[0057] 63: First Outer Shell

[0058] 64: Second outer shell

[0059] 70: Heat dissipation module

[0060] 71: Fan

[0061] 72: Heat sink Detailed Implementation

[0062] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the liquid cooling heat dissipation system of the present invention. Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the liquid cooling heat dissipation system of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the liquid cooling heat dissipation system of the present invention. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the liquid cooling system 1 of this embodiment includes a first liquid cooling head 10, a second liquid cooling head 20, a piping assembly 30, and a temperature control valve 40. The liquid cooling system 1 can be applied to various electronic devices, such as computers, servers, or home appliances. This embodiment will be described using a computer as an example.

[0063] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the first liquid cooling head 10 and the second liquid cooling head 20 can be made of highly thermally conductive materials (such as copper, aluminum, or metal alloys) and have good thermal conductivity. The first liquid cooling head 10 can be used to connect to the first heating element 61, so that the heat generated when the first heating element 61 is operating can be conducted to the first liquid cooling head 10. The second liquid cooling head 20 is used to connect to the second heating element 62, so that the heat generated when the second heating element 62 is operating can be conducted to the second liquid cooling head 20.

[0064] In some embodiments, the first heating element 61 and the second heating element 62 may be the same type or different types of heating elements. For example, the liquid cooling system 1 can be applied to a computer, and the first heating element 61 and the second heating element 62 may be the same type of expansion card module (e.g., a graphics card module, a network card module, or a sound card module). Alternatively, the first heating element 61 and the second heating element 62 may also be different types of heating elements, for example, the first heating element 61 and the second heating element 62 may be the central processing unit and the expansion card module, respectively.

[0065] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the first heating element 61 is assembled inside a first housing 63 to protect it. The first liquid cooling head 10 is installed in the first housing 63 and contacts the first heating element 61. The first liquid cooling head 10 has a first liquid inlet 11 and a first liquid outlet 12. Similarly, the second heating element 62 is assembled inside a second housing 64 to protect it. The second liquid cooling head 20 is installed in the second housing 64 and contacts the second heating element 62. The second liquid cooling head 20 has a second liquid inlet 21 and a second liquid outlet 22.

[0066] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, each pipe in the piping assembly 30 is used to transport coolant. In this embodiment, the piping assembly 30 includes a first inlet pipe 31, a first outlet pipe 32, a second inlet pipe 33, and a second outlet pipe 34. The first inlet pipe 31 is connected to the first inlet port 11 of the first liquid cooling head 10 to introduce coolant into the first liquid cooling head 10, so that the heat absorbed by the first liquid cooling head 10 can be transferred to the coolant. The first outlet pipe 32 of the piping assembly 30 is connected to the first outlet port 12 of the first liquid cooling head 10, so that coolant can be discharged from the first liquid cooling head 10 through the first outlet pipe 32 to remove heat from the first heating element 61.

[0067] Similarly, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the second liquid inlet pipe 33 of the pipe assembly 30 is connected to the second liquid inlet port 21 of the second liquid cooling head 20 to introduce coolant into the second liquid cooling head 20, so that the heat absorbed by the second liquid cooling head 20 can be transferred to the coolant. The second liquid outlet pipe 34 of the pipe assembly 30 is connected to the second liquid outlet port 22 of the second liquid cooling head 20, so that the coolant can be discharged from the second liquid cooling head 20 through the second liquid outlet pipe 34, so as to remove the heat from the second heating element 62.

[0068] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the temperature control valve 40 includes a valve body 41 and a temperature sensing adjustment element 45. The valve body 41 includes a first fluid inlet 411, a second fluid inlet 412, a fluid outlet 413, a first flow channel 414, and a second flow channel 415. The first flow channel 414 and the second flow channel 415 are located inside the valve body 41. The first flow channel 414 connects the first fluid inlet 411 and the fluid outlet 413, and the second flow channel 415 connects the second fluid inlet 412 and the fluid outlet 413. The first outlet pipe 32 of the piping assembly 30 is connected to the first fluid inlet 411 of the valve body 41 of the temperature control valve 40, so that the coolant discharged from the first outlet pipe 32 can flow into the first flow channel 414 from the first fluid inlet 411 and flow out of the valve body 41 from the fluid outlet 413. The second outlet pipe 34 of the piping assembly 30 is connected to the second fluid inlet 412 of the valve body 41, so that the coolant discharged from the second outlet pipe 34 can flow into the second flow channel 415 from the second fluid inlet 412 and flow out of the valve body 41 from the fluid outlet 413.

[0069] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the liquid cooling system 1 includes a heat dissipation module 70, and the pipeline group 30 includes a first connecting pipe 35. The first connecting pipe 35 is connected to the fluid outlet 413 of the valve body 41 and the heat dissipation module 70. The first liquid inlet pipe 31 and the second liquid inlet pipe 33 of the pipeline group 30 are connected to the heat dissipation module 70, so that when the coolant flows out from the fluid outlet 413 of the valve body 41, it can flow to the heat dissipation module 70 through the first connecting pipe 35 for cooling. After cooling, the coolant can flow to the first liquid cooling head 10 and the second liquid cooling head 20 through the first liquid inlet pipe 31 and the second liquid inlet pipe 33 respectively, so that the coolant can circulate and continuously dissipate heat from the first heat-generating component 61 and the second heat-generating component 62.

[0070] Figure 4 This is another partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the liquid cooling heat dissipation system of the present invention. (See attached image.) Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the liquid cooling system 1 may include a diversion valve 50. The first liquid inlet pipe 31 and the second liquid inlet pipe 33 of the pipeline assembly 30 are connected to the heat dissipation module 70 via the diversion valve 50. In this embodiment, the diversion valve 50 has a liquid inlet valve port 501, a first liquid outlet valve port 502, and a second liquid outlet valve port 503. The pipeline assembly 30 includes a second connecting pipe 36, which is connected to the liquid inlet valve port 501 of the diversion valve 50 and the heat dissipation module 70. The first liquid inlet pipe 31 and the second liquid inlet pipe 33 of the pipeline assembly 30 are respectively connected to the first liquid outlet valve port 502 and the second liquid outlet valve port 503 of the diversion valve 50, so that the coolant after the heat dissipation module 70 is cooled can flow to the first liquid inlet pipe 31 and the second liquid inlet pipe 33 via the diversion valve 50.

[0071] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, in this embodiment, the heat dissipation module 70 is an air cooling module, including a fan 71 and a heat sink 72. The first connecting pipe 35 of the pipe assembly 30 can be connected to the heat sink 72 of the heat dissipation module 70. After the coolant flows into the heat sink 72 from the fluid outlet 413 of the valve body 41, the fan 71 can drive air to carry away heat from the heat sink 72, thereby reducing the temperature of the coolant. However, the above embodiment is only an example. In other embodiments, the heat dissipation module 70 can also be a heat pipe cooling module or a liquid cooling module, or other types of heat dissipation modules.

[0072] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a temperature-sensing regulating element in an embodiment of the temperature control valve of the present invention. Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the temperature-sensing regulating component of the present invention. Figure 3 As shown, the temperature sensing adjustment element 45 is disposed inside the valve body 41 and located between the first flow channel 414 and the second flow channel 415 of the valve body 41. The temperature sensing adjustment element 45 may be made of a material with a high coefficient of thermal expansion, such as iron, chromium, metal alloy, polyethylene, polypropylene or carbon fiber composite material.

[0073] like Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, in this embodiment, the temperature-sensing regulating member 45 is a plate and is positioned between the first flow channel 414 and the second flow channel 415. The temperature-sensing regulating member 45 has a first side surface 453 and a second side surface 454 facing each other. The first side surface 453 faces the first flow channel 414 to contact the coolant in the first flow channel 414, and the second side surface 454 faces the second flow channel 415 to contact the coolant in the second flow channel 415. In addition, the temperature-sensing regulating member 45 also includes a fixed end 455 and a free end 456. The fixed end 455 of the temperature-sensing regulating member 45 is fixed to the valve body 41. For example, the fixed end 455 can be fixed to the valve body 41 by welding, snap-fitting, or adhesive. The free end 456 of the temperature-sensing regulating member 45 is adjacent to the fluid outlet 413 relative to the fixed end 455, and the free end 456 is not fixed and can move freely.

[0074] like Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, the temperature-sensing regulating element 45 can shift towards the second flow channel 415 in response to the temperature in the first flow channel 414 being greater than the temperature in the second flow channel 415. This causes the volume in the first flow channel 414 to be greater than the volume in the second flow channel 415, further increasing the flow rate of the coolant in the first flow channel 414. This improves the heat dissipation effect on the heat-generating components with higher temperatures, allowing the liquid cooling system 1 to dynamically adjust according to the actual operating conditions of the heat-generating components and improve the overall heat dissipation efficiency. Specifically, when the operating temperature of the first heat-generating component 61 is greater than the operating temperature of the second heat-generating component 62, the coolant temperature in the first flow channel 414 of the valve body 41 will be greater than the coolant temperature in the second flow channel 415. Therefore, the heated temperature of the first side 453 of the temperature-sensing regulating element 45 will be greater than the heated temperature of the second side 454, causing the first side 453 and the second side 454 to expand to different degrees. This causes the temperature-sensing regulating element 45 to bend and deform towards the second flow channel 415 (e.g., Figure 5 As shown in the figure, this increases the flow rate of coolant in the first flow channel 414, thereby improving the heat dissipation effect on the first heat-generating component 61, which operates at a high temperature. However, the above embodiment is only an example, and the temperature-sensing regulating component 45 may have other different implementations, which are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0075] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the temperature-sensing regulating component of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 7 As shown, this embodiment is similar to the one described above. Figure 6 The difference in the embodiment is that the temperature control valve 40 in this embodiment has a partition 416, which is fixed inside the valve body 41 and located between the first flow channel 414 and the second flow channel 415. The side of the temperature sensing adjustment member 45 is in contact with and stacked with the side of the partition 416, and the temperature sensing adjustment member 45 and the partition 416 are not fixed to each other. Thus, when the heating temperatures of the two opposite sides of the temperature sensing adjustment member 45 (such as the first side 453 and the second side 454 mentioned above) are different, the temperature sensing adjustment member 45 can also deform and move relative to the partition 416, so that the volume in the first flow channel 414 and the volume in the second flow channel 415 change.

[0076] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the temperature-sensing regulating component of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 8 As shown, this embodiment is similar to the one described above. Figure 7The difference in the embodiments is that the temperature sensing adjustment member 45a in this embodiment includes a first temperature sensing deformable body 451 and a second temperature sensing deformable body 452 connected to each other. The first temperature sensing deformable body 451 and the second temperature sensing deformable body 452 can be made of materials with high coefficients of thermal expansion, such as iron, chromium, metal alloys, polyethylene, polypropylene or carbon fiber composite materials, etc. The materials of the first temperature sensing deformable body 451 and the second temperature sensing deformable body 452 can be the same so that their coefficients of thermal expansion are the same, or the materials of the first temperature sensing deformable body 451 and the second temperature sensing deformable body 452 can be different so that the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first temperature sensing deformable body 451 is different from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the second temperature sensing deformable body 452. In this embodiment, both the first temperature-sensitive deformable body 451 and the second temperature-sensitive deformable body 452 are plate parts, and the sides of the first temperature-sensitive deformable body 451 and the second temperature-sensitive deformable body 452 are stacked and fixed to each other, so that the first temperature-sensitive deformable body 451 and the second temperature-sensitive deformable body 452 together form a plate. When the opposite two sides of the first temperature-sensitive deformable body 451 and the opposite two sides of the second temperature-sensitive deformable body 452 are heated unevenly, they can simultaneously produce bending deformation, so that the volume in the first flow channel 414 and the volume in the second flow channel 415 change.

[0077] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the temperature-sensing regulating element of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 9 As shown, the temperature sensing adjustment element 45b in this embodiment also includes a first temperature sensing deformable body 451 and a second temperature sensing deformable body 452 connected to each other. This embodiment is similar to the one described above. Figure 8 The difference in the embodiment is that, in this embodiment, the first temperature-sensitive deformable body 451 and the second temperature-sensitive deformable body 452 of the temperature-sensitive regulating member 45b are stacked and fixed to each other with adjacent side surfaces, and the first temperature-sensitive deformable body 451 is located in the first flow channel 414, and the second temperature-sensitive deformable body 452 is located in the second flow channel 415. Therefore, when the temperature in the first flow channel 414 is greater than the temperature in the second flow channel 415, the heating temperature of the first temperature-sensitive deformable body 451 will be greater than that of the second temperature-sensitive deformable body 452, causing the first temperature-sensitive deformable body 451 and the second temperature-sensitive deformable body 452 to have different degrees of expansion, thereby causing the temperature-sensitive regulating member 45b to bend and deform toward the second flow channel 415.

[0078] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the temperature-sensing regulating member of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 10 As shown, this embodiment is similar to the one described above. Figure 6The difference in the embodiment is that the temperature-sensing regulating member 45c in this embodiment includes a swing arm 46, which can also be made of the aforementioned material with a high coefficient of thermal expansion. The swing arm 46 is located between the first flow channel 414 and the second flow channel 415 of the valve body 41. The swing arm 46 has a pivot end 461 and a swingable end 462. The pivot end 461 is pivotally mounted on the valve body 41, and the swingable end 462 is adjacent to the fluid outlet 413 relative to the pivot end 461, and the swingable end 462 is not fixed. Thus, when the temperature of the coolant in the first flow channel 414 is greater than the temperature of the coolant in the second flow channel 415, in addition to being able to bend and deform toward the second flow channel 415, the coolant in the first flow channel 414 will have a larger flow rate due to the higher temperature, which can further push the temperature-sensing regulating member 45c to swing toward the second flow channel 415 with the pivot end 461 as the fulcrum, so as to further increase the flow rate of the coolant in the first flow channel 414.

[0079] Although the technical content of the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications and refinements made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention should be included within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A temperature control valve, characterized in that, include: A valve body includes a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a first flow channel, and a second flow channel. The first flow channel and the second flow channel are located inside the valve body. The first flow channel communicates with the first fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and the second flow channel communicates with the second fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A temperature-sensitive regulating element is disposed inside the valve body and located between the first flow channel and the second flow channel. The temperature-sensitive regulating element shifts towards the second flow channel in response to the temperature in the first flow channel being greater than the temperature in the second flow channel, so that the volume in the first flow channel is greater than the volume in the second flow channel.

2. The temperature control valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature-sensing adjustment element includes a first temperature-sensing deformable body and a second temperature-sensing deformable body that are connected to each other.

3. The temperature control valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The coefficient of thermal expansion of the first temperature-sensitive deformable body is different from that of the second temperature-sensitive deformable body.

4. The temperature control valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first and second temperature-sensitive deformable elements are metal sheets and are stacked on top of each other.

5. The temperature control valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature-sensing regulating element includes a rocker arm, one end of which is pivotally mounted to the valve body.

6. A liquid cooling heat dissipation system, characterized in that, include: A first liquid cooling head has a first liquid inlet and a first liquid outlet; A second liquid cooling head, having a second liquid inlet and a second liquid outlet; A piping assembly includes a first inlet pipe, a first outlet pipe, a second inlet pipe, and a second outlet pipe, wherein the first inlet pipe is connected to the first inlet port, and the second inlet pipe is connected to the second inlet port; and The temperature control valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first outlet pipe of the pipeline assembly is connected to the first outlet and the first fluid inlet of the valve body of the temperature control valve, and the second outlet pipe of the pipeline assembly is connected to the second outlet and the second fluid inlet of the valve body.

7. The liquid cooling heat dissipation system as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The first liquid cooling head is connected to a first heating element, and the second liquid cooling head is connected to a second heating element.

8. The liquid cooling heat dissipation system as described in claim 7, characterized in that, Both the first heating element and the second heating element are expansion card modules.

9. The liquid cooling heat dissipation system as described in claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes a heat dissipation module. The pipeline assembly includes a first connecting pipe, which is connected to the fluid outlet of the valve body and the heat dissipation module. The first liquid inlet pipe and the second liquid inlet pipe of the pipeline assembly are connected to the heat dissipation module.

10. The liquid cooling heat dissipation system as described in claim 9, characterized in that, It also includes a diverter valve having an inlet valve, a first outlet valve, and a second outlet valve. The pipeline assembly includes a second connecting pipe, which is connected to the inlet valve of the diverter valve and the heat dissipation module. The first inlet pipe and the second inlet pipe of the pipeline assembly are respectively connected to the first outlet valve and the second outlet valve.

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