A liquid cooling cabinet

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of liquid cooling technology, and more specifically, to a liquid-cooled cabinet. The purpose of this utility model is to meet the heat dissipation requirements of different heat-generating devices using a single liquid-cooled cabinet. The liquid-cooled cabinet of this utility model includes a cabinet body, a liquid-cooled box disposed inside the cabinet body, heat-generating devices, and a heat exchange system for transporting coolant. The heat-generating devices are located inside the liquid-cooled box, while the heat exchange system is located outside the liquid-cooled box and is connected to the liquid-cooled box in a closed loop via a circulation pipeline. The heat-generating devices include at least a server and a power module, with the server and power module electrically connected. The server is liquid-cooled by spraying coolant, while the power module is completely immersed in the coolant.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of liquid cooling technology, and more specifically, to a liquid cooling cabinet. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, in order to improve operational efficiency and respond to the call for energy conservation and emission reduction, some small and medium-sized enterprises are beginning to consider using liquid cooling for their data centers. At present, liquid cooling equipment for servers is mainly used in large-scale data centers. Because different heat-generating components (such as servers, power supplies, and switches) have different temperature control targets and requirements, multiple cabinets are typically used to house different heat-generating components for individual temperature control management. Clearly, the current multi-cabinet liquid cooling systems used in data centers have a complex overall structure and large footprint, making them unsuitable for small-scale data centers. Utility Model Content

[0003] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the defects of the prior art and provide a liquid-cooled cabinet to meet the heat dissipation requirements of different heat-generating devices.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by this utility model is to propose a liquid-cooled cabinet, including a cabinet body and a liquid-cooled box, a heating device, and a heat exchange system for conveying coolant inside the cabinet body. The heating device is located inside the liquid-cooled box, and the heat exchange system is located outside the liquid-cooled box. The heat exchange system is connected to the liquid-cooled box in a closed loop through a circulation pipeline.

[0005] The heat-generating device includes at least a server and a power module. The server is electrically connected to the power module. The server is liquid-cooled by spraying coolant, and the power module is completely immersed in the coolant.

[0006] In this solution, immersion liquid cooling is used for power modules with high temperature uniformity requirements, while spray liquid cooling is used for servers with high local temperature control requirements. This enables efficient heat exchange in local core areas, thereby achieving two sets of liquid cooling temperature control to simultaneously meet the heat dissipation needs of both the energy module and the computing module. This allows multiple modules of the server system to be housed in a single cabinet, avoiding a complex server liquid cooling system structure and reducing the space occupied.

[0007] In some embodiments, the liquid cooling box is equipped with a spray liquid cooling assembly and an immersion liquid cooling assembly. The spray liquid cooling assembly and the immersion liquid cooling assembly are connected to the heat exchange system through the circulation pipeline. The spray liquid cooling assembly houses the server and sprays coolant onto the server. The immersion liquid cooling assembly houses the power module and completely immerses the power module in coolant.

[0008] In some embodiments, the server is partially submerged in coolant; and / or, a first flow control valve is provided between the spray cooling assembly and the circulation pipeline, and a second flow control valve is provided between the submerged cooling assembly and the circulation pipeline; and / or, the spray cooling assembly and the submerged cooling assembly are connected to the heat exchange system in parallel.

[0009] In some embodiments, the spray liquid cooling assembly includes a first spray component and a first receiving tank. The first spray component is connected to the heat exchange system and sprays coolant toward the server. The first receiving tank supports the server, and the height of the server is greater than the depth of the first receiving tank. The liquid cooling tank is provided with a return port connected to the heat exchange system.

[0010] In this solution, the first spray component sprays the low-temperature coolant after it has been cooled by the heat exchange system. During the spraying process, the coolant can fully contact the server surface and remove heat. In addition, the coolant gathers in the first storage tank to partially immerse the server. The first spray component continuously sprays the coolant until it overflows from the first storage tank and circulates back to the heat exchange system. Thus, the coolant can circulate and exchange heat between the heat exchange system, the first spray component, and the first storage tank.

[0011] In some embodiments, the heating device further includes a switch electrically connected to the power module, the switch being housed in the spray liquid cooling assembly for liquid cooling via spraying; and / or,

[0012] The heating device also includes a router, which is electrically connected to the power module and is housed in the spray liquid cooling assembly for liquid cooling via spraying.

[0013] In some embodiments, the spray liquid cooling assembly includes a second spray component and a second receiving tank. The second spray component is connected to the heat exchange system and sprays coolant toward the switch. The second receiving tank supports the switch. The height of the switch is greater than the depth of the second receiving tank. The liquid cooling tank is provided with a return port connected to the heat exchange system.

[0014] In this scheme, the second spray component sprays the low-temperature coolant after it has been cooled by the heat exchange system. During the spraying process, the coolant can fully contact the surface of the switch and remove heat. In addition, the coolant gathers in the second storage tank to partially immerse the switch. The second spray component continuously sprays the coolant until the coolant overflows from the second storage tank and circulates back to the heat exchange system. Thus, the coolant can circulate and exchange heat between the heat exchange system, the second spray component, and the second storage tank.

[0015] In some embodiments, the immersion liquid cooling assembly includes a third spray component and a third housing tank, the third housing tank housing the power module, the height of the power module being less than the depth of the first housing tank, the third spray component communicating with the heat exchange system and spraying coolant toward the third housing tank, and the liquid cooling tank having a return port communicating with the heat exchange system.

[0016] In this solution, the third spray component sprays the low-temperature coolant after it has been cooled by the heat exchange system. During the spraying process, the coolant can fully contact the surface of the power module and remove heat. In addition, the coolant gathers in the third loading tank until the power module is completely submerged, increasing the contact area between the coolant and the power module and promoting heat exchange. Furthermore, the third spray component continuously sprays the coolant until it overflows from the third loading tank and circulates back to the heat exchange system. Thus, the coolant can circulate and exchange heat between the heat exchange system and the submerged liquid-cooled components.

[0017] In other embodiments, the immersion liquid cooling assembly includes an immersion tank containing coolant, the power module being disposed within the immersion tank and completely immersed in the coolant, the immersion tank having an inlet and an overflow outlet, the overflow outlet being positioned higher than the power module, the inlet communicating with the heat exchange system, the overflow outlet communicating with the interior of the liquid cooling tank, and the liquid cooling tank having a return outlet communicating with the heat exchange system.

[0018] In some embodiments, the heat exchange system includes a condenser, a liquid storage tank, and a circulating pump. The condenser, the liquid storage tank, the circulating pump, and the liquid cooling tank are sequentially connected in a closed loop through the circulating pipeline. The circulating pump drives the coolant to circulate between the liquid storage tank, the liquid cooling tank, and the condenser.

[0019] In some embodiments, the heat exchange system is further provided with heat dissipation components for dissipating heat from the condenser.

[0020] In some embodiments, the circulation pump is located below the liquid cooling tank, and the circulation pump is connected to the spray liquid cooling assembly and the immersion liquid cooling assembly respectively through the circulation pipeline, wherein the immersion liquid cooling assembly is located below the spray liquid cooling assembly.

[0021] The immersion liquid cooling components in this design are closer to the circulation pump, which increases the flow rate and pressure of coolant delivered to the immersion liquid cooling components, thereby accelerating the heat dissipation rate of the power module.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: By using spray liquid cooling to dissipate heat from electrical components with core heat-generating parts such as servers and switches, efficient local heat dissipation can be achieved. By using full immersion liquid cooling to dissipate heat from power modules, local hot spots in the power supply can be avoided. Thus, different heat-generating components in the data center can be adapted for heat dissipation based on a single cabinet, and the amount of coolant used can be optimized to avoid excessive load on the liquid-cooled cabinet. In addition, the switches and servers using spray liquid cooling and the power modules using immersion liquid cooling are housed in the same liquid cooling box, which can reduce the number of installation modules in the liquid-cooled cabinet. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present utility model.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0025] Reference numerals: Cabinet 100, return port 110, partition 120, first area 130, second area 140, liquid cooling box 200, server 210, switch 220, power module 230, first spray component 241, first storage tank 242, second spray component 251, second storage tank 252, third spray component 261, third storage tank 262, immersion tank 263, overflow port 264, main inlet pipe 300, main return pipe 400, condenser 500, storage tank 600, circulation pump 700, heat dissipation component 800. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this invention. To better illustrate the following embodiments, some components in the drawings may be omitted, enlarged, or reduced, and do not represent the actual dimensions of the product. It is understandable to those skilled in the art that some well-known structures and their descriptions may be omitted in the drawings.

[0027] Furthermore, in this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixing" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0028] Furthermore, in this utility model, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0029] Example 1

[0030] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment proposes a liquid-cooled cabinet, including a cabinet 100 and a liquid-cooled box 200 disposed inside the cabinet 100, a heating element, and a heat exchange system for conveying coolant. The heating element is disposed inside the liquid-cooled box 200, and the heat exchange system is located outside the liquid-cooled box 200. The heat exchange system is connected to the liquid-cooled box 200 in a closed loop through a circulation pipeline.

[0031] The heat-generating components include server 210, switch 220 and power module 230. Server 210, switch 220 and power module 230 are electrically connected. Server 210 and switch 220 are liquid cooled by spraying coolant, and power module 230 is completely immersed in coolant for immersion liquid cooling.

[0032] Referring to the diagram, the liquid cooling box 200 contains a spray liquid cooling assembly and an immersion liquid cooling assembly. Both assemblies are connected to the heat exchange system via circulation pipes. The spray liquid cooling assembly houses the server 210 and switch 220 and sprays coolant onto them. The immersion liquid cooling assembly houses the power module 230 and completely immerses it in coolant. A first flow control valve connects the spray liquid cooling assembly to the circulation pipes, and a second flow control valve connects the immersion liquid cooling assembly to the circulation pipes. Specifically, the first flow control valve outputs a high-pressure, low-flow-rate spray of coolant to the server 210 and switch 220, achieving high heat flux density for the core heat-generating components such as the CPU and GPU, thus achieving rapid localized cooling. The second flow control valve outputs a low-pressure, high-flow-rate coolant to the power module 230, ensuring uniform flushing and heat dissipation.

[0033] It is understandable that for the power module 230, which has high requirements for temperature uniformity, a fully immersed liquid cooling component is used for complete immersion liquid cooling, while for the server 210, which has high requirements for local temperature control, a spray liquid cooling component is used for spray liquid cooling to efficiently exchange heat in the local core area. In this way, two sets of liquid cooling temperature control are achieved to simultaneously meet the heat dissipation requirements of the energy module and the computing module. This allows multiple modules of the server system to be housed in a single cabinet 100, avoiding a redundant liquid cooling system structure for the server 210 and reducing the space occupied.

[0034] To improve the heat exchange rate between server 210 and switch 220, switch 220 and server 210 are partially immersed in coolant. Compared to full immersion liquid cooling, spray liquid cooling combined with partial immersion reduces the amount of coolant used and ensures that the bottom of switch 220 and server 210 can achieve rapid heat dissipation through immersion in coolant, preventing localized high temperatures in areas not directly sprayed.

[0035] refer to Figure 1 The spray-cooled liquid cooling assembly includes a first spray component 241 and a first receiving tank 242. The first spray component 241 is connected to the heat exchange system and sprays coolant towards the server 210. The first receiving tank 242 supports the server 210, and the height of the server 210 is greater than the depth of the first receiving tank 242. The liquid cooling tank 200 is provided with a return port 110 connected to the heat exchange system. The coolant can be insulating greases such as synthetic oil, transformer oil, silicone oil, and mineral oil.

[0036] The heat exchange system has a pipe for outputting low-temperature coolant that extends into the liquid cooling tank 200 and is connected to the first spray component 241. During operation, the first spray component 241 sprays the low-temperature coolant that has been cooled by the heat exchange system. During the spraying process, the coolant fully contacts the surface of the server 210210 and carries away heat. In addition, the coolant gradually accumulates in the first storage tank 242 and partially immerses the server 210. Thus, the bottom of the server 210, which is difficult to directly contact the sprayed coolant, can be immersed in the coolant. Furthermore, the first spray component 241 can continuously spray coolant until the coolant continuously overflows from the first storage tank 242 and circulates back to the heat exchange system through the return port 110. Therefore, the coolant can circulate and exchange heat between the heat exchange system, the first spray component 241, and the first storage tank 242.

[0037] In some embodiments, the spray cooling assembly further includes a second spray component 251 and a second receiving tank 252. The second spray component 251 is connected to the heat exchange system and sprays coolant toward the exchanger 220. The second receiving tank 252 supports the exchanger 220, and the height of the exchanger 220 is greater than the depth of the second receiving tank 252. During operation, the second spray component 251 sprays the low-temperature coolant cooled by the heat exchange system. During the spraying process, the coolant fully contacts the surface of the exchanger 220 and carries away heat. In addition, the coolant gradually accumulates in the second receiving tank 252 and partially immerses the exchanger 220. Thus, the bottom of the exchanger 220, which is difficult to directly contact with the sprayed coolant, can be immersed in the coolant. Furthermore, the second spray component 251 can continuously spray coolant until the coolant continuously overflows from the second receiving tank 252 and circulates back to the heat exchange system through the return port 110. Therefore, the coolant can circulate and exchange heat between the heat exchange system, the second spray component 251, and the second receiving tank 252.

[0038] refer to Figure 1 The immersion liquid cooling assembly includes a third spray component 261 and a third housing tank 262. The third housing tank 262 houses the power module 230, and the height of the power module 230 is less than the depth of the first housing tank 242. The third spray component 261 is connected to the heat exchange system and sprays coolant towards the third housing tank 262. During operation, the third spray component 261 sprays the low-temperature coolant after it has been cooled by the heat exchange system. During the spraying process, the coolant makes full contact with the surface of the power module 230, carrying away heat. In addition, the coolant gradually accumulates in the third housing tank 262 until the power module 230 is completely immersed, significantly increasing the contact area between the coolant and the power module 230, promoting heat exchange and cooling of the power module 230. Furthermore, the third spray component 261 continuously sprays coolant until the coolant continuously overflows from the third housing tank 262 and circulates back to the heat exchange system through the return port 110. The coolant can circulate and exchange heat between the heat exchange system and the immersion liquid cooling assembly.

[0039] refer to Figure 1 The heat exchange system is connected in a closed loop to the liquid cooling tank 200 through a circulation pipeline. The circulation pipeline includes a main liquid inlet pipe 300 and a main liquid return pipe 400. The main liquid inlet pipe 300 extends into the liquid cooling tank 200 and is connected to the first spray component 241, the second spray component 251 and the third spray component 261 through branch liquid inlet pipes to transport the coolant cooled by the heat exchange system. The main liquid return pipe 400 is connected between the liquid return port 110 of the liquid cooling tank 200 and the condenser 500 to output the high-temperature coolant inside the liquid cooling tank 200.

[0040] In some embodiments, the heat exchange system includes a condenser 500, a liquid storage tank 600, and a circulating pump 700. The condenser 500, liquid storage tank 600, circulating pump 700, and liquid cooling tank 200 are sequentially connected in a closed loop via a circulation pipeline. The circulating pump 700 drives the coolant to circulate between the liquid storage tank 600, liquid cooling tank 200, and condenser 500. Specifically, the circulating pump 700 is connected to the interior of the liquid cooling tank 200 via a main inlet pipe 300, and the liquid cooling tank 200 is connected to the condenser 500 via a main return pipe 400. To improve the cooling rate, the heat exchange system also includes a heat dissipation component 800 for dissipating heat from the condenser 500. In specific implementations, the heat dissipation component 800 can be implemented using a cooling fan.

[0041] refer to Figure 1 The circulating pump 700 is located below the liquid cooling tank 200. The circulating pump 700 is connected to both the spray liquid cooling component and the immersion liquid cooling component via circulation pipes. The immersion liquid cooling component is located below the spray liquid cooling component. During operation, the circulating pump 700 delivers coolant cooled by the condenser 500 to the liquid cooling tank 200 from bottom to top. The immersion liquid cooling component is positioned close to the circulating pump 700, which increases the flow rate and pressure of the coolant delivered to the immersion liquid cooling component, thereby accelerating the heat dissipation rate of the power module 230. Specifically, the cabinet 100 is divided into a first area 130 and a second area 140 by a partition 120. The first area 130 houses the liquid cooling tank 200, and the second area 140 houses the condenser 500, the liquid storage tank 600, and the circulating pump 700. This allows for the installation and removal of two independent modules. The first area 130 and the second area 140 are connected by circulation pipes, significantly improving efficiency.

[0042] In some other embodiments, the heat-generating device may also include a router electrically connected to the power module 230. The router is housed in a spray liquid cooling assembly for liquid cooling by spraying. In a specific implementation, the spray liquid cooling assembly further includes a fourth spray component and a fourth housing tank. The fourth spray component is connected to the heat exchange system and sprays coolant toward the router. The fourth housing tank supports the router, and the height of the router is greater than the depth of the fourth housing tank.

[0043] Example 2

[0044] like Figure 2As shown, this embodiment proposes another liquid-cooled cabinet. The overall structure of the liquid-cooled cabinet in this embodiment is basically the same as that in Embodiment 1, the main difference being the immersion liquid cooling component. The immersion liquid cooling component in this embodiment includes an immersion tank 263, which contains coolant. The power module 230 is located in the immersion tank 263 and is completely immersed in the coolant. The immersion tank 263 has an inlet and an overflow port 264. The overflow port 264 is positioned higher than the power module 230. The inlet is connected to the heat exchange system, and the overflow port 264 is connected to the interior of the liquid-cooled box 200. In use, coolant can be filled into the immersion tank 263 first, and the coolant medium can be used to immerse the power module 230. Then, low-temperature coolant is continuously input through the inlet for heat exchange, and the coolant is automatically discharged through the overflow port 264. The coolant then circulates between the heat exchange system and the immersion tank 263 through the return port 110 circulation pipeline for heat exchange.

[0045] Obviously, the above embodiments of this utility model are merely examples for clearly illustrating the technical solution of this utility model, and are not intended to limit the specific implementation of this utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the claims of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A liquid-cooled cabinet, characterized in that, The device includes a cabinet and a liquid cooling box, a heating element, and a heat exchange system for transporting coolant, all located inside the cabinet. The heating element is located inside the liquid cooling box, and the heat exchange system is located outside the liquid cooling box. The heat exchange system is in a closed-loop connection with the liquid cooling box through a circulation pipeline. The heat-generating device includes at least a server and a power module. The server is electrically connected to the power module. The server is liquid-cooled by spraying coolant, and the power module is completely immersed in the coolant.

2. The liquid-cooled cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid cooling box is equipped with a spray liquid cooling component and an immersion liquid cooling component. The spray liquid cooling component and the immersion liquid cooling component are connected to the heat exchange system through the circulation pipeline. The spray liquid cooling component houses the server and sprays coolant onto the server. The immersion liquid cooling component houses the power module and completely immerses the power module in coolant.

3. The liquid-cooled cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that, The server is partially submerged in coolant; and / or, a first flow control valve is provided between the spray liquid cooling assembly and the circulation pipeline, and a second flow control valve is provided between the submerged liquid cooling assembly and the circulation pipeline; and / or, the spray liquid cooling assembly and the submerged liquid cooling assembly are connected to the heat exchange system in parallel.

4. The liquid-cooled cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that, The spray liquid cooling assembly includes a first spray component and a first receiving tank. The first spray component is connected to the heat exchange system and sprays coolant toward the server. The first receiving tank supports the server. The height of the server is greater than the depth of the first receiving tank. The liquid cooling box is provided with a return port connected to the heat exchange system.

5. The liquid-cooled cabinet according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, The heating device further includes a switch, which is electrically connected to the power module. The switch is housed in the spray liquid cooling assembly for liquid cooling via spraying; and / or... The heating device also includes a router, which is electrically connected to the power module and is housed in the spray liquid cooling assembly for liquid cooling via spraying.

6. The liquid-cooled cabinet according to claim 5, characterized in that, The spray liquid cooling assembly includes a second spray component and a second receiving tank. The second spray component is connected to the heat exchange system and sprays coolant toward the switch. The second receiving tank supports the switch. The height of the switch is greater than the depth of the second receiving tank. The liquid cooling box is provided with a return port connected to the heat exchange system.

7. The liquid-cooled cabinet according to claim 4, characterized in that, The immersion liquid cooling assembly includes a third spray component and a third housing tank. The third housing tank houses the power module, and the height of the power module is less than the depth of the first housing tank. The third spray component is connected to the heat exchange system and sprays coolant towards the third housing tank. The liquid cooling tank is provided with a return port connected to the heat exchange system; or... The immersion liquid cooling assembly includes an immersion tank containing coolant. The power module is located inside the immersion tank and is completely immersed in the coolant. The immersion tank has an inlet and an overflow outlet. The overflow outlet is positioned higher than the power module. The inlet is connected to the heat exchange system, and the overflow outlet is connected to the interior of the liquid cooling tank. The liquid cooling tank has a return outlet connected to the heat exchange system.

8. The liquid-cooled cabinet according to any one of claims 2-4 and 6, characterized in that, The heat exchange system includes a condenser, a liquid storage tank, and a circulating pump. The condenser, the liquid storage tank, the circulating pump, and the liquid cooling tank are sequentially connected in a closed loop through the circulating pipeline. The circulating pump drives the coolant to circulate between the liquid storage tank, the liquid cooling tank, and the condenser.

9. The liquid-cooled cabinet according to claim 8, characterized in that, The heat exchange system also includes heat dissipation components for dissipating heat from the condenser.

10. The liquid-cooled cabinet according to claim 8, characterized in that, The circulation pump is located below the liquid cooling tank. The circulation pump is connected to the spray liquid cooling assembly and the immersion liquid cooling assembly through the circulation pipeline. The immersion liquid cooling assembly is located below the spray liquid cooling assembly.

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