A floating cold plate assembly and optical module heat dissipation device

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the field of heat dissipation technology, specifically relates to a floating cold plate assembly and optical module heat dissipation device. Floating cold plate assembly includes the body and the floating cooling unit of floating assembly on the body, is formed with first flow passage and second flow passage in the body, and is set up with floating groove, first flow passage is communicated with floating groove area through first through -hole, and second flow passage is communicated with floating groove area through second through -hole, the floating cooling unit can be slidably assembled in floating groove, is equipped with the cold storage cavity inside, is equipped with at least two with the pipe head of cold storage cavity intercommunication on the surface, and the pipe head is slidably sealedly connected with corresponding through -hole, is equipped with elastic element and spacing part between the body and the floating cooling unit. The utility model floating cold plate assembly can adaptively compensate installation deviation, ensure stable heat conduction contact with the heating component, avoid mechanical damage, and the structure is simplified, processing is convenient, sealing is reliable, heat dissipation is even and efficient, and it is especially suitable for the high density heat dissipation scene of optical module and other optical devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of heat dissipation technology, specifically relating to a floating cold plate assembly and an optical module heat dissipation device. Background Technology

[0002] Optical modules are a crucial component of fiber optic communication, serving as optoelectronic devices that perform photoelectric and electro-optical conversion. With the rapid development of digital infrastructure such as data centers and supercomputing centers towards higher density, higher bandwidth, and lower power consumption, optical communication systems, as the core data transmission carriers, place higher demands on the performance stability and lifespan of optical modules. Optical modules generate significant heat during operation, especially high-speed, highly integrated modules, where the heat density is significantly increased. If this heat cannot be dissipated in time, it will directly lead to an increase in the internal temperature of the module, not only reducing signal transmission quality and increasing the bit error rate, but also accelerating the aging of internal components and shortening the overall lifespan. Therefore, efficient heat dissipation is a critical factor in ensuring the reliable operation of optical modules.

[0003] Traditional optical module cooling relies heavily on air cooling technology, using fans to drive airflow over heat sink fins to remove heat. However, in high-density deployment scenarios, the heat dissipation capacity of air cooling systems is easily limited by space constraints, and obstructed airflow leads to a significant decrease in heat dissipation efficiency, making it difficult to meet the heat dissipation requirements of high-heat-density optical modules. At the same time, the noise generated during air cooling operation, the high energy consumption, and the sensitivity to ambient temperature further limit its application in scenarios with stringent requirements for stability and low energy consumption.

[0004] To overcome the limitations of air cooling technology, liquid cooling technology, with its higher heat exchange efficiency and lower energy consumption, is gradually becoming the mainstream development direction for optical module heat dissipation. Liquid cooling solutions use cooling media such as cooling water to directly or indirectly contact the heat-generating parts of the optical module, quickly absorbing and removing heat, effectively controlling the module temperature, ensuring stable operation under high load conditions, and reducing overall system energy consumption, aligning with the green and low-carbon development trend of data centers.

[0005] However, current liquid cooling solutions for optical modules still face numerous challenges in terms of structural adaptability, manufacturing processes, and heat dissipation uniformity. On the one hand, existing liquid cooling plates typically lack positional adaptability, and the contact quality between them and the optical module is highly dependent on assembly precision. Repeated insertion and removal or installation errors can easily lead to uneven stress on the contact surface, affecting the integrity of the thermal interface material or increasing contact thermal resistance, thus reducing heat dissipation performance. On the other hand, some cooling plates, due to their complex structural design, rely on high-precision machining or cumbersome assembly processes, resulting not only in higher manufacturing costs and longer lead times but also potential sealing hazards due to machining deviations or improper assembly, increasing the risk of cooling medium leakage. Furthermore, the internal flow channel layout of some cooling plates does not fully consider the flow characteristics and heat distribution patterns of the medium, easily leading to excessive flow pressure loss or insufficient local heat exchange, affecting heat dissipation uniformity and system energy efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model provides a floating cold plate assembly and a heat dissipation device for optical modules.

[0007] The first objective of this invention is to provide a floating cold plate assembly that balances good heat dissipation, scenario adaptability, manufacturability, reliability, and economy. The second objective is to make the floating cold plate assembly suitable for liquid cooling scenarios of optical modules, thereby meeting the hot-swappable requirements of optical modules, ensuring the operational stability and lifespan of optical modules, and improving the relevant performance of optical communication systems.

[0008] The first aspect of this utility model is to provide a floating cold plate assembly, including a body and at least one floating cooling unit floatingly mounted on the body; the body has a first flow channel and a second flow channel formed inside, and at least one floating groove is provided on the body; the first flow channel communicates with the floating groove region through at least one first through hole, and the second flow channel communicates with the floating groove region through at least one second through hole; the floating cooling unit is slidably mounted in the floating groove, and has a cold storage chamber inside, and at least two pipe heads communicating with the cold storage chamber are provided on the surface, wherein at least one pipe head is slidably and sealingly connected to a first through hole, and at least another pipe head is slidably and sealingly connected to a second through hole; an elastic element and a limiting component are also provided between the body and the floating cooling unit, the elastic element is used to provide elastic force to make the floating cooling unit tend to move away from the body, and the limiting component is used to limit the extreme position of the floating cooling unit away from the body.

[0009] As a further optimization, the first flow channel is composed of a first flow groove formed on the surface of the body and a first cover plate covering it; the second flow channel is composed of a second flow groove formed on the surface of the body and a second cover plate covering it; the body is also provided with a first interface communicating with the first flow groove and a second interface communicating with the second flow groove.

[0010] As a further optimization, there are multiple floating slots, which are arranged linearly or in an array on the surface of the body; each floating slot is equipped with a floating cooling unit.

[0011] As a further optimization, the first flow channel and the second flow channel are formed on the first side surface of the body, and the floating channel is formed on the second side surface of the body opposite to the first side surface; the first interface and the second interface are set on the same side wall of the body.

[0012] As a further optimization, the floating cooling unit includes a float plate and an end cap that covers the float plate. The float plate is slidably embedded in the floating groove, with one side recessed to form a cold storage chamber. The end cap is used to contact the heat-generating components.

[0013] As a further optimization, the limiting component includes a connecting post set on the float plate, a through connecting hole opened in the floating groove, and a limiting screw connected to the connecting post, with the limiting screw passing through the through connecting hole; the elastic element is a compression spring sleeved on the outside of the limiting screw, with one end of the compression spring abutting against the float plate and the other end abutting against the bottom surface of the floating groove.

[0014] As a further optimization, an annular groove is provided on the outer periphery of the pipe head, and a sealing ring is installed in the groove to achieve a sliding sealing connection between the pipe head and the corresponding first through hole or second through hole.

[0015] As a further optimization, the cold storage chamber is provided with multiple fins, which are integrally formed with the end cap, and the extension direction of the fins is consistent with the overall flow direction of the cooling medium in the cold storage chamber.

[0016] As a further optimization, the body and floating cooling unit are made of metal, preferably copper or aluminum alloy.

[0017] The second aspect of this utility model is to provide a heat dissipation device for an optical module, including the above-mentioned floating cold plate assembly and a refrigeration system connected to a first flow channel and a second flow channel through pipelines to form a cooling medium circulation path; wherein, the surface of the floating cooling unit for contacting the heat-generating component is thermally connected to the heat-generating part of the optical module.

[0018] Beneficial effects Compared with existing technologies, the floating cold plate assembly and optical module heat dissipation device provided by this utility model can effectively improve the reliability and applicability of heat dissipation operation. During installation and hot-plugging, it can adaptively compensate for positional deviations, ensuring stable and tight thermal contact with heat-generating components while avoiding mechanical damage to interface materials and devices. The overall structure of this assembly is simplified, easy to process, and has good sealing performance and economy, contributing to improved production efficiency and operational safety. The optimized arrangement of internal flow channels and heat exchange structures reduces flow resistance while enhancing heat exchange uniformity, achieving efficient and balanced heat dissipation and adapting to scenarios with multiple heat-generating components or complex layouts, making it particularly suitable for space-constrained high-density integrated environments. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the floating cold plate assembly.

[0020] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the first side of the floating cold plate assembly.

[0021] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the second side of the floating cold plate assembly.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the floating cooling unit.

[0023] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the floating cooling unit.

[0024] Figure 7 and Figure 8 This is an exploded view of a floating cooling unit.

[0025] In the figure, 1 is the main body; 2 is the floating cooling unit; 11 is the first flow channel; 12 is the second flow channel; 13 is the first cover plate; 14 is the second cover plate; 15 is the first interface; 16 is the second interface; 17 is the floating channel; 21 is the float plate; 22 is the end cap; 111 is the first through hole; 121 is the second through hole; 211 is the pipe head; 212 is the sealing ring; 213 is the connecting post; 214 is the limiting screw; 215 is the compression spring; 219 is the cold storage chamber; and 221 is the fin. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The present invention is further illustrated by the following embodiments, which are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, and should not be construed as a limitation. Example

[0027] This embodiment provides a floating cold plate assembly, which can be used to efficiently dissipate heat from heat-generating components such as optical devices and electronic devices, while also having floating adaptability to better fit different installation scenarios.

[0028] This embodiment provides a floating cold plate assembly core structure including a body 1 and a floating cooling unit 2. The surface of the body 1 has a first flow channel 11 and a second flow channel 12. A first cover plate 13 is fitted over the first flow channel 11 to isolate it from the outside environment, and a second cover plate 14 is fitted over the second flow channel 12 to isolate it from the outside environment, preventing leakage of the cooling medium. The surface of the body 1 also has a first interface 15 and a second interface 16, wherein the first interface 15 is connected to the first flow channel 11, and the second interface 16 is connected to the second flow channel 12. One of these interfaces is used to supply the cooling medium, and the other is used to recover the cooling medium, correspondingly enabling the first flow channel 11 and the second flow channel 12 to respectively undertake the functions of supplying or recovering the cooling medium.

[0029] At least one first through hole 111 is provided along the extension direction of the first flow channel 11, and at least one second through hole 121 is provided along the extension direction of the second flow channel 12. These through holes are used to subsequently connect the flow channels and the floating cooling unit 2 with the cooling medium. In addition, at least one floating channel 17 is provided on the body 1, which is recessed relative to its outer surface. Each floating channel 17 has at least one first through hole 111 and at least one second through hole 121 within its range. The floating channel 17 provides space for the floating cooling unit 2 to be slidably assembled.

[0030] The floating cooling unit 2 is slidably assembled in the floating tank 17. It has a cold storage chamber 219 inside and at least two tube heads 211 connected to the cold storage chamber 219 on its surface. At least one tube head 211 is slidably sealed to the first through hole 111 and at least one tube head 211 is slidably sealed to the second through hole 121.

[0031] Between the main body 1 and the floating cooling unit 2, there is also an elastic element for providing elasticity and a limiting component for limiting the position. The elastic element allows the floating cooling unit 2 to tend to move away from the main body 1 to fit the heat-generating component, and the limiting component can limit the farthest movement position of the floating cooling unit 2 to prevent it from detaching from the main body 1. The two work together to ensure both the floating adaptability of the component and the stability of the assembly structure.

[0032] In some preferred embodiments, an annular groove is formed on the outer periphery of the tube head 211, and a sealing ring 212 is fitted inside the groove. The sealing ring 212 allows the tube head 211 to slide axially along the through hole to achieve floating, and effectively prevents the cooling medium from leaking between the tube head 211 and the inner wall of the through hole, thus achieving a sliding sealing connection between the tube head 211 and the corresponding first through hole 111 or second through hole 121. The cooling medium can enter the cold storage chamber 219 through one of the tube heads 211, absorb the heat conducted by the heat-generating components, and then be discharged through the other tube head 211, thereby completing the heat dissipation process.

[0033] In some preferred embodiments, the floating cooling unit 2 is composed of a float plate 21 and an end cap 22. The float plate 21 is slidably embedded in the floating groove 17, with one side recessed to form the aforementioned cold storage cavity 219. The end cap 22 is fitted onto the float plate 21 to seal the cold storage cavity 219, and the end cap 22 is in direct contact with the external heat-generating component that needs heat dissipation, enabling the heat generated by the heat-generating component to be conducted to the cooling medium within the cold storage cavity 219. The body 1, the float plate 21, and the end cap 22 are made of metal, such as copper or aluminum alloy, preferably copper with a high thermal conductivity to achieve better heat dissipation.

[0034] In some preferred embodiments, the limiting components include a connecting post 213 disposed on the float plate 21, a through connecting hole formed in the floating groove 17, and a limiting screw 214. The limiting screw 214 passes through the connecting hole in the floating groove 17 and connects to the connecting post 213 on the float plate 21. This structure limits the farthest position of the floating cooling unit 2 away from the body 1, preventing it from detaching from the floating groove 17. The elastic element is a compression spring 215, which is sleeved on the outside of the limiting screw 214. One end of the compression spring abuts against the float plate 21, and the other end abuts against the bottom surface of the floating groove 17. After assembly, the compression spring 215 is in a compressed state, and the resulting elastic force can make the floating cooling unit 2 tend to move away from the body 1, making it easier for it to better fit the heat-generating component.

[0035] In some preferred embodiments, the body 1 is generally rectangular in shape, with mounting areas of different functional structures planned on its two side surfaces: the first flow groove 11 and the second flow groove 12 are formed on one side surface of the body 1, while the floating groove 17 is formed on the other side surface of the body 1. This two-sided distribution layout allows the first through hole 111 and the second through hole 121 to quickly achieve communication between the first flow groove 11, the second flow groove 12 and the floating groove 17 without excessive machining depth. This not only greatly simplifies the machining process and reduces the machining difficulty, but also reduces the resistance of the cooling medium flowing in the through holes. At the same time, the compact channel design effectively compresses the overall volume of the component, making it easier to embed the floating cold plate component in a small space to complete the heat dissipation of the heat-generating components. Furthermore, both the first interface 15 and the second interface 16 are located on the same sidewall of the main body 1, and this sidewall is a narrow sidewall, i.e., it is not the sidewall corresponding to the surface where the first flow channel 11, the second flow channel 12, and the floating channel 17 are located. This interface layout avoids occupying space on the surface where the functional channels are located, allowing the entire floating cold plate assembly to form a flat and thin overall shape, further adapting to scenarios where the installation height is limited. At the same time, the first flow channel 11 and the second flow channel 12 are arranged in parallel on the surface of the main body 1 and maintain a certain distance from each other. This arrangement makes the first through hole 111 and the second through hole 121 connected to them spatially far apart, thereby extending the flow path of the cooling medium in the floating cooling unit 2, allowing the cooling medium more time to absorb the heat transferred by the heat-generating components, and improving the overall heat dissipation efficiency.

[0036] In some preferred embodiments, multiple fins 221 are added inside the cold storage chamber 219. These fins 221 are integrally formed with the end cap 22, and the extending direction of the fins 221 is consistent with the overall flow direction of the cooling medium in the cold storage chamber 219. This structure can reduce the flow resistance of the cooling medium in the cold storage chamber 219 and increase the contact area between the cooling medium and the wall of the cold storage chamber 219, thereby enhancing the heat exchange efficiency. At the same time, the arrangement direction of the multiple fins 221 is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the extending direction of the fins 221 themselves, which facilitates the uniform flow of the cooling medium through each fin 221 and avoids local heat accumulation. This optimized structure of the floating cold plate assembly can further improve its heat dissipation efficiency and application adaptability.

[0037] In some other preferred embodiments, multiple floating slots 17 are provided and distributed on the surface of the body 1 in a linear or array arrangement. Each floating slot 17 is equipped with a floating cooling unit 2. Through the cooperation of multiple floating slots 17 and multiple floating cooling units 2, the floating cold plate assembly can provide heat dissipation services for multiple heat-generating components at the same time. Furthermore, the multiple floating cooling units 2 can each have different floating positions to adapt to the layout requirements of complex heat-generating components or multiple heat-generating components in three-dimensional space.

[0038] The above embodiments are exemplary and are intended to illustrate the technical concept and features of this utility model, so that those skilled in the art can understand the content of this utility model and implement it accordingly. They should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model. All equivalent changes or modifications made in accordance with the spirit and essence of this utility model should be included within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A floating cold plate assembly, characterized in that: The system includes a main body (1) and at least one floating cooling unit (2) floatingly mounted on the main body (1); the main body (1) has a first flow channel and a second flow channel inside, and at least one floating groove (17) is provided on the main body (1); the first flow channel communicates with the floating groove (17) region through at least one first through hole (111), and the second flow channel communicates with the floating groove (17) region through at least one second through hole (121); the floating cooling unit (2) is slidably mounted in the floating groove (17), and has a cold storage chamber (219) inside, and at least two... A pipe head (211) communicating with the cold storage chamber (219), wherein at least one of the pipe heads (211) is slidably and sealingly connected to a first through hole (111), and at least another pipe head (211) is slidably and sealingly connected to a second through hole (121); an elastic element and a limiting component are also provided between the body (1) and the floating cooling unit (2), the elastic element being used to provide an elastic force that causes the floating cooling unit (2) to have a tendency to move away from the body (1), and the limiting component being used to limit the extreme position of the floating cooling unit (2) away from the body (1).

2. The floating cold plate assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first flow channel is composed of a first flow groove (11) opened on the surface of the body (1) and a first cover plate (13) covering it; the second flow channel is composed of a second flow groove (12) opened on the surface of the body (1) and a second cover plate (14) covering it; the body (1) is also provided with a first interface (15) communicating with the first flow groove (11) and a second interface (16) communicating with the second flow groove (12).

3. The floating cold plate assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, There are multiple floating slots (17), and the multiple floating slots (17) are arranged linearly or in an array on the surface of the body (1); each floating slot (17) is equipped with a floating cooling unit (2).

4. The floating cold plate assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first flow channel (11) and the second flow channel (12) are formed on the first side surface of the body (1), and the floating channel (17) is formed on the second side surface of the body (1) opposite to the first side surface; the first interface (15) and the second interface (16) are provided on the same side wall of the body (1).

5. The floating cold plate assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The floating cooling unit (2) includes a float plate (21) and an end cap (22) covering the float plate (21). The float plate (21) is slidably embedded in the floating groove (17), and one side of it is recessed to form the cold storage cavity (219). The end cap (22) is used to contact the heat-generating component.

6. The floating cold plate assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The limiting component includes a connecting post (213) disposed on the float plate (21), a through connecting hole opened in the floating groove (17), and a limiting screw (214) connected to the connecting post (213), the limiting screw (214) passing through the through connecting hole; the elastic element is a compression spring (215) sleeved on the outside of the limiting screw (214), one end of the compression spring (215) abutting against the float plate (21), and the other end abutting against the bottom surface of the floating groove (17).

7. The floating cold plate assembly according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, The outer periphery of the tube head (211) is provided with an annular groove, and a sealing ring (212) is fitted in the groove to achieve a sliding sealing connection between the tube head (211) and the corresponding first through hole (111) or second through hole (121).

8. The floating cold plate assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cold storage chamber (219) is provided with a plurality of fins (221), the fins (221) are integrally formed with the end cap (22), and the extension direction of the fins (221) is consistent with the overall flow direction of the cooling medium in the cold storage chamber (219).

9. The floating cold plate assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body (1) and the floating cooling unit (2) are made of copper or aluminum alloy.

10. A heat dissipation device for an optical module, characterized in that, The system includes a floating cold plate assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, and a refrigeration system connected to the first flow channel and the second flow channel via pipelines to form a cooling medium circulation path; wherein the surface of the floating cooling unit (2) for contacting the heat-generating component is thermally connected to the heat-generating part of the optical module.

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