Immersion-type liquid cooling device and liquid cooling system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an immersion-type liquid cooling device and a liquid cooling system. The liquid cooling device includes a cabinet and a heat exchange module. The cabinet includes a first chamber and a second chamber integrated with the side wall of the first chamber. The side wall is provided with through holes for circulating a first coolant between the two chambers. The heat exchange module is adapted to be inserted into the second chamber through an opening on the second chamber, and includes a heat exchanger, a coolant driving device, and a guide assembly. The heat exchanger is used to cool the first coolant using a second coolant. The coolant driving device is used to drive the first coolant to circulate between the two chambers. The guide assembly includes a liquid flow path for guiding the first coolant from the coolant driving device to the heat exchanger. Here, when the heat exchange module is inserted into the second chamber, the coolant driving device is closer to the opening of the second chamber than the heat exchanger. When the heat exchanger and the guide assembly are held in the second chamber, they can be withdrawn from the second chamber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - reference to Related Applications] This application claims priority to a Chinese patent application for invention with application number 202210692514.2 and invention title "Immersion Liquid Cooling Device and Liquid Cooling System", filed on June 17, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the technical field of electronic device cooling, and more specifically, to an immersion liquid cooling device and a liquid cooling system including the immersion liquid cooling device.

Background Art

[0003] With the integration and development of new - generation information and communication technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence with the real - economy, data centers have gradually expanded from serving some enterprises to serving the whole society, and are becoming a new type of infrastructure.

[0004] Such infrastructure poses higher requirements for the heat - dissipation solutions and overall energy efficiency of data centers. On the one hand, with the advent of the big - data era, data is increasing at an unimaginable speed. The processing, storage, and transmission of a large amount of data require an exponential increase in the power consumption of IT devices, and chip heat - dissipation has become a major problem. Conventional air - cooling heat - dissipation solutions are difficult to meet the requirements of efficient heat - dissipation of electronic information devices.

[0005] To solve the heat - dissipation problem of high - power - consumption IT devices, data centers have started to adopt liquid - cooling technologies that use a working fluid as an intermediate heat - transfer medium to transfer heat from the heat - generating part to a cooling tower and then cool it. The cooling efficiency of liquid - cooling technologies is much higher than that of air - cooling heat - dissipation, which can effectively solve the heat - dissipation problem of high - power - consumption IT devices, reduce the energy consumption of the cooling system, and reduce noise.

[0006] In data centers that adopt current liquid cooling solutions, in conventional immersion liquid cooling systems, large cabinets (usually about 3 meters in length) equipped with one or more coolant distribution units (CDUs) are typically deployed. However, such conventional immersion liquid cooling systems are large, have a complex structure, and are not easy to assemble. In addition, such liquid cooling systems are difficult to operate and maintain, and have low reliability.

[0007] Therefore, an improvement in the liquid cooling solution for data centers is required.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an immersion liquid cooling device and a liquid cooling system including the immersion liquid cooling device in order to at least partially solve the above-described problems.

[0009] In a first aspect of the present invention, an immersion-type liquid cooling device is provided. The immersion-type liquid cooling device includes a cabinet. The cabinet includes a first chamber and a second chamber integrated with a side wall of the first chamber. The first chamber is used to accommodate an electronic device to be cooled. A through hole for circulating a first coolant between the first chamber and the second chamber is provided on the side wall. The cabinet, a heat exchange module adapted to be inserted into the second chamber through an opening on the second chamber. The heat exchange module includes a heat exchanger, a coolant driving device, and a guide assembly. The heat exchanger receives a second coolant through a liquid circulation pipeline and is used to cool the first coolant using the second coolant. The coolant driving device is used to drive the first coolant to circulate between the second chamber and the first chamber. The guide assembly includes a liquid flow path for guiding the first coolant from the coolant driving device to the heat exchanger. Here, when the heat exchange module is inserted into the second chamber, the coolant driving device is closer to the opening of the second chamber than the heat exchanger. The coolant driving device can be drawn out of the second chamber when the heat exchanger and the guide assembly are held in the second chamber.

[0010] In an embodiment according to the present invention, since the cabinet is integrated with the heat exchange module, there is no need to use the entire system in combination with an additional coolant distribution unit, which is very flexible and convenient. Further, since the heat exchange module has a modular design, assembly and maintenance are easy. Furthermore, since the need for maintenance of the coolant driving device in the heat exchange module is higher than that of the heat exchanger, by providing the coolant driving device above the heat exchanger, the coolant driving device can be drawn out of the cabinet, facilitating the maintenance of the coolant driving device and shortening the maintenance time of the coolant driving device.

[0011] In some embodiments, the heat exchange module further comprises a first bracket, the heat exchanger and the guide assembly are supported by the first bracket, the coolant driving device comprises a first driving assembly, the first driving assembly comprises a second bracket and a first circulation pump supported by the second bracket, the second bracket is detachably connected to the first bracket, and when the second bracket is connected to the first bracket, the circulation pump outlet of the first circulation pump communicates with the liquid flow path in the guide assembly. In such an embodiment, through the cooperation between the first bracket and the second bracket, the first driving assembly can be pulled out alone from within the cabinet, or the first driving assembly can be easily pulled out from within the cabinet together with other components in the heat exchange module.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first bracket comprises a first support portion and a second support portion, the second bracket is detachably connected to the first support portion, the heat exchanger and the guide assembly are supported by the second support portion, and when the heat exchange module is inserted into the second chamber, the first support portion is located outside the second chamber. In such an embodiment, the first support portion can achieve reliable support of the heat exchange module by the cabinet, and the first support portion can prevent leakage of the first coolant in the second chamber.

[0013] In some embodiments, a sealing ring is provided on the side of the first support portion facing the second chamber, and when the heat exchange module is inserted into the second chamber, the space between the first support portion and the second chamber is sealed by the sealing ring. In such an embodiment, by using the sealing ring, the sealing performance between the first support portion and the second chamber can be improved, and leakage of the first coolant in the second chamber can be further reduced.

[0014] In some embodiments, a display unit for displaying the operating state of the coolant driving device is provided on the side of the first support portion facing away from the second chamber. In such an embodiment, since the operating state of the coolant driving device can be observed in real time by the display unit, maintenance of the coolant driving device can be performed when the coolant driving device malfunctions.

[0015] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger and the guide assembly are fixed to the second support portion by fasteners. In such an embodiment, the heat exchanger and the guide assembly can be reliably fixed to the second support portion by using fasteners.

[0016] In some embodiments, the second bracket includes a third support portion and a fourth support portion. The third support portion is detachably connected to the first support portion, and the first circulation pump is supported by the fourth support portion. In such an embodiment, through the cooperation between the third support portion and the first support portion, the assembly and disassembly between the first drive assembly and the first bracket can be easily achieved.

[0017] In some embodiments, a handle is provided on the side of the third support portion facing away from the first circulation pump. In such an embodiment, by using the handle, the first drive assembly can be easily pulled out alone from the second chamber or the entire heat exchange module.

[0018] In some embodiments, the fourth support portion includes a first inclined portion inclined with respect to the drawing-out direction of the first drive assembly, the circulation pump outlet of the first circulation pump is provided on the first inclined portion, the guide assembly includes a second inclined portion inclined with respect to the drawing-out direction, and here, when the third support portion is connected to the first support portion, the second inclined portion is abutted against the first inclined portion. In such an embodiment, the cooperation between the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion can, on the one hand, ensure the accurate positioning of the first drive assembly during insertion, and on the other hand, ensure the reliable communication between the circulation pump outlet of the first circulation pump and the liquid flow path in the guide assembly.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first drive assembly further includes a filter provided at the circulation pump inlet of the first circulation pump. In such an embodiment, by filtering the first cooling liquid flowing into the first circulation pump, it is possible to prevent impurities from entering the inside of the pump body and damaging the first circulation pump.

[0020] In some embodiments, the coolant driving device further includes a second drive assembly, the second drive assembly includes a third bracket and a second circulation pump supported by the third bracket, and the third bracket is detachably connected to the first bracket. In such an embodiment, by providing a redundant second drive assembly, when a problem occurs in one of the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly, the other drive assembly can still operate normally, so the reliability of the liquid cooling device can be improved.

[0021] In some embodiments, the guide assembly includes a first guide member, a second guide member and a third guide member provided above the first guide member. The liquid flow path in the second guide member communicates with the circulation pump outlet of the first circulation pump. The liquid flow path in the third guide member communicates with the circulation pump outlet of the second circulation pump. The liquid flow path in the first guide member is connected to the heat exchanger. In such an embodiment, the first guide member, the second guide member, and the third guide member can, on the one hand, reliably guide the first coolant from the coolant driving device to the heat exchanger, and on the other hand, can discharge the volume of the first coolant in the second chamber so that the liquid level of the first coolant in the second chamber rises, reduce the amount of the first coolant required in the cabinet, and reduce the overall cost.

[0022] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger. The plate heat exchanger includes an outer chamber and an inner chamber surrounded by the outer chamber. The outer chamber has a first liquid inlet and a first liquid outlet. The first liquid inlet is connected to the liquid flow path in the guide assembly to receive the first coolant. The first liquid outlet is used to discharge the first coolant from the outer chamber into the second chamber. The inner chamber has a second liquid inlet and a second liquid outlet. The second liquid inlet is connected to the liquid inlet pipe of the liquid circulation pipeline to receive the second coolant. The second liquid outlet is connected to the liquid return pipe of the liquid circulation pipeline. In such an embodiment, the first coolant in the outer chamber and the second coolant in the inner chamber can form a heat exchange in the form of a fork flow, improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0023] In some embodiments, the through holes include a first set of through holes and a second set of through holes. The second set of through holes is closer to the opening of the second chamber than the first set of through holes. Here, when the heat exchange module is inserted into the second chamber, the coolant driving device is close to the second set of through holes, and the heat exchanger is close to the first set of through holes. In such an embodiment, by arranging the coolant driving device adjacent to the second set of through holes, the first coolant can achieve rapid circulation between the second chamber and the first chamber. In addition, by arranging the heat exchanger adjacent to the first set of through holes, the first coolant cooled by the heat exchanger can be timely introduced into the first chamber through the first set of through holes.

[0024] In some embodiments, the heat exchange module further includes a liquid occupancy block. Here, when the heat exchange module is inserted into the second chamber, the liquid occupancy block can be at least partially immersed in the first coolant in the second chamber. In such an embodiment, when the heat exchange module is inserted into the second chamber, the liquid occupancy block can discharge the volume of the first coolant, thereby reducing the amount of the first coolant required in the cabinet and reducing the overall cost.

[0025] In some embodiments, the cabinet further includes an external frame and a top cover. The external frame is provided around the first chamber and the second chamber. The top cover is rotatably connected to the external frame and can be switched between a closed state for closing the first chamber and an open state for opening the first chamber. In such an embodiment, by using the top cover to close the first chamber, the leakage of the first coolant in the first chamber can be reduced, and external contaminants can be prevented from entering the first chamber.

[0026] In some embodiments, a seal ring is provided on the side of the top cover facing the first chamber. Here, when the top cover is in the closed state, the space between the top cover and the first chamber is sealed by the seal ring. In such embodiments, by using the seal ring, the sealing performance between the top cover and the first chamber can be improved, and the leakage of the first coolant in the first chamber can be further reduced.

[0027] In some embodiments, the cabinet further includes a hydraulic drive device, which is connected between the external frame and the top cover and is used to operate the top cover to switch between the closed state and the open state. In such embodiments, the hydraulic drive device can be used to easily open or close the top cover.

[0028] In some embodiments, the first coolant includes a fluorinated fluid or mineral oil, and / or the second coolant includes deionized water.

[0029] In a second aspect of the present invention, a liquid cooling system is provided, which includes a plurality of immersion-type liquid cooling devices arranged side by side. Here, each of the plurality of immersion-type liquid cooling devices is an immersion-type liquid cooling device according to any one of the first aspects of the present invention.

[0030] It should be understood that the content described in the summary part of the present invention is not intended to limit the main features or important features of the embodiments of the present invention, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Other features of the present invention will be easily understood from the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031] In conjunction with the drawings, the above-described features, other features, advantages, and aspects of each embodiment of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description. In the drawings, the same or similar symbols indicate the same or similar elements, where

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to more fully understand the present invention and to enable those skilled in the art to fully convey the scope of the present invention.

[0033] As used herein, the term "comprising" and similar terms are open-ended inclusion, i.e., "including but not limited to". Unless otherwise specified, the term "or" indicates "and / or". The term "based on" indicates "at least partially based on". The terms "one exemplary embodiment" and "one embodiment" indicate "at least one exemplary embodiment". The term "another embodiment" indicates "at least one other embodiment". Terms such as "first", "second", etc. can refer to different or the same objects.

[0034] As described above, the conventional immersion-type liquid cooling system has various problems such as being large-sized, having a complex structure, being difficult to assemble, being difficult to maintain, and having low reliability. Embodiments of the present invention provide an immersion-type liquid cooling device with an integrated internal heat exchanger and a liquid cooling system including the immersion-type liquid cooling device to reduce the maintenance difficulty, reduce the architecture complexity, enhance the adaptability, and improve the reliability. The principle of the present invention will be described below in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 9.

[0035] Figures 1 and 2 show schematic configurations of an immersion-type liquid cooling device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, in Figure 1, the heat exchange module 3 is in a state of being inserted into the second chamber 22, and in Figure 2, the heat exchange module 3 is in a state of being pulled out from the second chamber 22. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, generally, the immersion-type liquid cooling device 100 described herein includes a cabinet 2 and a heat exchange module 3. The cabinet 2 includes an external frame 23, a first chamber 21, a second chamber 22 integrated with the side wall 211 of the first chamber 21, and a top cover 24. The first chamber 21 is used to accommodate an electronic device to be cooled and a first coolant (not shown). The second chamber 22 is used to accommodate the heat exchange module 3 and the first coolant. The first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22 are in fluid communication via a through hole 6 provided in the side wall 211 (see Figure 3), and the first coolant can circulate between the first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22 through the through hole 6. The heat exchange module 3 is adapted to be inserted into the second chamber 22 through an opening 221 on the second chamber 22.

[0036] In some embodiments, the electronic device accommodated in the first chamber 21 includes a server or a switch. In other embodiments, the electronic device may be of other types, and the embodiments of the present invention are not strictly limited in this regard.

[0037] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the external frame 23 generally surrounds the first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22 to mechanically support the first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22 to some extent. The first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22 may be attached to the external frame 23 by welding or other means. In some embodiments, the external frame 23 may be welded and formed from square steel. In other embodiments, the external frame 23 may be manufactured and formed by other processes or using other materials, and the embodiments of the present invention are not strictly limited in this regard.

[0038] In some embodiments, the first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22 may be formed by welding from a stainless steel plate. In other embodiments, the first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22 may be manufactured and formed by other processes or using other materials, and the embodiments of the present invention are not strictly limited in this regard.

[0039] In some embodiments, the top cover 24 is rotatably connected to the outer frame 23 and can be switched between a closed state that closes the first chamber 21 and an open state that opens the first chamber 21. Figures 1 and 2 show the closed state of the top cover 24. The top cover 24 can reduce the leakage of the first coolant in the first chamber 21 in the closed state and prevent external contaminants from entering the first chamber 21. When the top cover 24 is in the open state, an operator can install and maintain the electronic device in the first chamber 21 and fill the first chamber 21 with the first coolant.

[0040] In some embodiments, the first coolant includes a fluorine-based fluid or mineral oil. In other embodiments, the first coolant may be of other types, and the embodiments of the present invention are not strictly limited in this regard.

[0041] In some embodiments, the top cover 24 can be opened by 90 degrees or more with respect to the outer frame 23. At the maximum opening angle, a stopper (not shown) may be provided to limit the position of the top cover 24.

[0042] In some embodiments, the top cover 24 may be connected to the side of the outer frame 23 by a hinge. In other embodiments, the top cover 24 may be connected to the outer frame 23 by other means such as shaft-hole fitting, and the embodiments of the present invention are not strictly limited in this regard.

[0043] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the top cover 24 includes a frame 241 and an observation window 242 surrounded by the frame 241. The frame 241 is connected to the external frame 23 and is rotatable relative to the external frame 23. The frame 241 may be made of an aluminum alloy or other types of metal or non-metal materials. The observation window 242 may be made of a transparent polycarbonate (PC) material or other types of transparent materials. By providing the observation window 242, even when the top cover 24 is in the closed state, the operator can observe the electronic device in the first chamber 21 through the observation window 242 and timely understand the operating state of the electronic device.

[0044] In some embodiments, a sealing ring (not shown) is provided on the side of the top cover 24 facing the first chamber 21. When the top cover 24 is in the closed state, the space between the top cover 24 and the first chamber 21 is sealed by the sealing ring. The sealing ring may include, for example, ethylene propylene diene (EPDM) rubber or other types of sealing materials. By using the sealing ring, the sealing performance between the top cover 24 and the first chamber 21 can be improved, and the leakage of the first coolant in the first chamber 24 can be further reduced.

[0045] In some embodiments, in order to open and close the top cover 24, the cabinet 2 further includes a hydraulic drive device (not shown). The hydraulic drive device is connected between the external frame 23 and the top cover 24 and is operated to switch the top cover 24 between the closed state and the open state. By using the hydraulic drive device, the opening and closing of the top cover 24 can be easily achieved.

[0046] In some embodiments, the hydraulic drive device includes a pair of hydraulic rods (not shown). One of the pair of hydraulic rods is connected between a side portion of the top cover 24 and a corresponding side portion of the outer frame 23. The other hydraulic rod of the pair of hydraulic rods is connected between the other side portion of the top cover 24 and the corresponding side portion of the outer frame 23. The state of the top cover 24 can be switched quickly and reliably by the pair of hydraulic rods provided opposite to each other.

[0047] In other embodiments, the top cover 24 may be switched between a closed state and an open state by other means, and it should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention are not strictly limited in this regard.

[0048] In some embodiments, a handle (not shown) may be further provided on the side of the top cover 24 facing away from the first chamber 21. Using such an arrangement, an operator can open and close the top cover 24 by grasping the handle.

[0049] As described above, the first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22 are in fluid communication via the through hole 6 provided in the side wall 211. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary arrangement of the through hole 6 on the side wall 211 of the first chamber 21. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the through hole 6 includes a first set of through holes 61 and a second set of through holes 62. The first coolant in the second chamber 22 can flow into the first chamber 21 through the first set of through holes 61, and the first coolant in the first chamber 21 can flow into the second chamber 22 through the second set of through holes 62.

[0050] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, each through hole of the first set of through holes 61 may be elliptical. In other embodiments, each through hole of the first set of through holes 61 may be of other shapes such as circular, oblong, square, rod-shaped, etc., and it should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention are not strictly limited in this regard.

[0051] Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3, each through-hole of the second set of through-holes 62 may be elliptical. In other embodiments, each through-hole of the second set of through-holes 62 may be of other shapes such as circular, oblong, square, rod-shaped, etc., and the embodiments of the present invention are not strictly limited in this regard.

[0052] In some embodiments, in conjunction with FIGS. 1-3, the first set of through-holes 61 is provided adjacent to the bottom side of the second chamber 22, and the second set of through-holes 62 is provided adjacent to the top side of the second chamber 22. By utilizing such an arrangement, most of the first coolant within the second chamber 22 can be made to participate in the coolant circulation between the first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22.

[0053] It should be understood that in embodiments according to the present invention, the through-holes 6 on the side wall 211 may be in other forms as long as they can provide a coolant circulation path between the first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22. For example, the first set of through-holes 61 may be replaced by one or more elongated rod-shaped holes, and the second set of through-holes 62 may be replaced by one or more elongated rod-shaped holes.

[0054] As described above, both the first chamber 21 and the second chamber 22 are used to accommodate the first coolant. Within the first chamber 21, in order to cool the electronic device, the first coolant can immerse the electronic device. In the second chamber 22, the heat exchange module 3 may be at least partially immersed by the first coolant. The heat exchange module 3 is connected to an external cooling device (such as a cooling tower) in order to receive the second coolant provided by the external cooling device. Since the temperature of the second coolant within the heat exchange module 3 is lower than the temperature of the first coolant within the second chamber 22, the first coolant within the second chamber 22 can be cooled.

[0055] In some embodiments, the second coolant in the heat exchange module 3 may include deionized water. In other embodiments, the second coolant may be of other types, and the embodiments of the present invention are not strictly limited in this regard.

[0056] Hereinafter, an exemplary configuration of the heat exchange module 3 will be described in conjunction with FIGS. 4 to 8. First, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the heat exchange module 3 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows a front view of the heat exchange module 3 shown in FIG. 4. To more clearly show the configuration of the heat exchange module 3, in FIG. 5, a part of the liquid circulation pipeline 31 is not shown. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heat exchange module 3 includes a heat exchanger 32, a coolant driving device 33, and a guide assembly 34. The heat exchanger 32 is in fluid communication with the liquid circulation pipeline 31, and the liquid circulation pipeline 31 circulates the second coolant between the heat exchanger 32 and an external cooling device (for example, a cooling tower). By using such an arrangement, a second coolant with a lower temperature can be provided to the heat exchanger 32. The heat exchanger 32 can use the second coolant to cool the first coolant in the second chamber 22. The coolant driving device 33 circulates the first coolant between the second chamber 22 and the first chamber 21. The guide assembly 34 includes a liquid flow path (not shown) for guiding the first coolant from the coolant driving device 33 to the heat exchanger 32. By using such an arrangement, the low-temperature first coolant can flow into the first chamber 21 from the second chamber 22 through, for example, the first set of through holes 61 shown in FIG. 3 to absorb the heat from the electronic device. After absorbing the heat and the temperature rises, the first coolant flows into the second chamber 22 from the first chamber 21 through the second set of through holes 62, is driven into the liquid flow path of the guide assembly 34 by the coolant driving device 33, then reaches the heat exchanger 32 along the liquid flow path, and is cooled again for the next cycle.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 5, the coolant driving device 33 is provided above the heat exchanger 32, where the coolant driving device 33 is close to the top side of the heat exchange module 3, and the heat exchanger 32 is close to the bottom side of the heat exchange module 3. In combination with FIGS. 1 and 2, when the heat exchange module 3 is inserted into the second chamber 22, the coolant driving device 33 is closer to the opening 221 of the second chamber 22 than the heat exchanger 32. In some embodiments, the coolant driving device 33 may be close to the second set of through holes 62 shown in FIG. 3, and the heat exchanger 32 may be close to the first set of through holes 61 shown in FIG. 3.

[0058] In an embodiment according to the present invention, the coolant driving device 33 is detachably attached within the heat exchange module 3. Accordingly, the coolant driving device 33 can be withdrawn from the second chamber 22 when the heat exchanger 32 and the guide assembly 34 are held within the second chamber 22. Since the coolant driving device 33 within the heat exchange module 3 requires more maintenance compared to the heat exchanger 32, by providing the coolant driving device 33 above the heat exchanger 32, the coolant driving device 33 can be pulled out of the cabinet 2 alone, thereby facilitating the maintenance of the coolant driving device 33 and shortening the maintenance time of the coolant driving device 33.

[0059] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heat exchange module 3 further includes a first bracket 30, and the first bracket 30 includes a first support portion 301 and a second support portion 302. The first support portion 301 and the second support portion 302 may be assembled or joined by welding, bolts, or other means to support other components of the heat exchange module 3. When the heat exchange module 3 is inserted into the second chamber 22, the first support portion 301 is located outside the second chamber 22 and is supported by the outer frame 23. Thereby, the entire weight of the heat exchange module 3 can be reliably supported on the outer frame 23 by the first support portion 301. The second support portion 302 is used to support some other components of the heat exchange module 3. For example, the heat exchanger 32 and the guide assembly 34 may be provided on the second support portion 302.

[0060] In one exemplary implementation, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heat exchanger 32 and the guide assembly 34 are fixed to the second support portion 302 by a fastener 37. The fastener 37 may be, for example, a U-shaped strip, and bolts can be used to fix the heat exchanger 32 and the guide assembly 34 to the second support portion 302. It should be understood that the fastener 37 is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. In other exemplary implementations, the heat exchanger 32 and the guide assembly 34 may be fixed to the second support portion 302 by other means.

[0061] In some embodiments, a sealing ring (not shown) is provided on the side of the first support portion 301 facing the second chamber 22 (i.e., the bottom side). When the heat exchange module 3 is inserted into the second chamber 22, the space between the first support portion 301 and the second chamber 22 is sealed by the sealing ring. The sealing ring may include, for example, EPDM rubber or other types of sealing materials. By using the sealing ring, the sealing performance between the first support portion 301 and the second chamber 22 can be improved, and the leakage of the first coolant in the second chamber 22 can be reduced.

[0062] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, on the side of the first support portion 301 facing away from the second chamber 22 (i.e., the top side), a display portion 35 for displaying the operating state of the coolant driving device 33 is provided. By means of the display portion 35, the operating state of the coolant driving device 33 can be observed in real time, and thus the coolant driving device 33 can be maintained when it operates abnormally.

[0063]

[0063] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heat exchange module 3 further includes a logic control assembly 36 for monitoring and / or controlling the operating state of the coolant driving device 33. The logic control assembly 36 can be supported by the first support portion 301 and is provided on the side of the first support portion 301 facing the second chamber 22. The logic control assembly 36 may be provided at other positions, and the embodiments of the present invention do not limit this.

[0064] In some embodiments, the heat exchange module 3 further includes one or more sensors (not shown) for detecting the state of the first coolant in the second chamber 22. For example, a conductivity sensor can be used to detect the conductivity of the first coolant, and a temperature sensor can be used to detect the temperature of the first electrolyte. The signal detected by the sensor can be transmitted to the logic control assembly 36 to control the operating state of the coolant driving device 33.

[0065] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heat exchange module 3 further includes one or more liquid occupancy blocks 38. When the heat exchange module 3 is inserted into the second chamber 22, the liquid occupancy block 38 can be at least partially immersed in the first coolant within the second chamber 22. Thereby, the liquid occupancy block 38 can reduce the volume of the first coolant within the second chamber 22 so that the liquid level of the first coolant within the second chamber 22 rises, and can reduce the amount of the first coolant required within the cabinet 2, and can reduce the overall cost.

[0066] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the coolant driving device 33 includes a first driving assembly 331. FIG. 6 shows an exemplary configuration of the first driving assembly 331. As shown in FIG. 6, the first driving assembly 331 includes a second bracket 330 and a first circulation pump 333 supported by the second bracket 330. In combination with FIGS. 4 to 6, the second bracket 330 is detachably connected to the first bracket 30. In one exemplary implementation, the second bracket 330 can be fixed to the first bracket 30 by bolts. In another exemplary implementation, the second bracket 330 may be snap-fastened to the first bracket 30 by snaps. In other implementations, the second bracket 330 can be detachably connected to the first bracket 30 by other means, and the embodiments of the present invention are not strictly limited in this regard. By using such an arrangement, when the heat exchange module 3 is inserted into the second chamber 22, as shown in FIG. 7, for maintenance, the first driving assembly 331 can be pulled out from the second chamber 22 alone.

[0067] In conjunction with FIGS. 4 to 6, the first circulation pump 333 includes a circulation pump inlet 3331 and a circulation pump outlet 3332. When the second bracket 330 is connected to the first bracket 30, the circulation pump outlet 3332 of the first circulation pump 333 communicates with the liquid flow path in the guide assembly 34. Therefore, the first circulation pump 333 can drive the first coolant into the liquid flow path of the guide assembly 34.

[0068] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the first drive assembly 331 further includes a filter 334 provided at the circulation pump inlet 3331 of the first circulation pump 333. The filter 334 can filter the first coolant flowing into the first circulation pump 333 to prevent impurities from entering the inside of the pump body and damaging the first circulation pump 333.

[0069] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the second bracket 330 includes a third support portion 3301 and a fourth support portion 3302. In conjunction with FIGS. 4 to 6, the third support portion 3301 is detachably connected to the first support portion 301, and the first circulation pump 333 is supported by the fourth support portion 3302. The third support portion 3301 can be connected to the first support portion 301 by bolts, snaps, or other configurations.

[0070] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, a handle 335 is provided on the side (top side) of the third support portion 3301 facing away from the first circulation pump 333. When the third support portion 3301 is not connected to the first connection portion 301, as shown in FIG. 7, the handle 335 can be used to easily pull out the first drive assembly 331 alone from the second chamber 22. When the third support portion 3301 is connected to the first connection portion 301, as shown in FIG. 2, the handle 335 can be used to easily pull out the entire heat exchange module 3 from the second chamber 22.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 6, one or more electrical connectors 336 may be further provided on the side of the third support portion 3301 facing away from the first circulation pump 333, and the electrical connector 336 can realize the power supply and control of the first circulation pump 333.

[0072] In some embodiments, in combination with FIGS. 4 to 6, the fourth support portion 3302 includes a first inclined portion 3303 inclined with respect to the drawing-out direction X (for example, the vertical direction in FIG. 5) of the first drive assembly 331, and the circulation pump outlet 3332 of the first circulation pump 333 is provided on the first inclined portion 3303. Accordingly, the guide assembly 34 includes a second inclined portion 3411 inclined with respect to the drawing-out direction X. When the third support portion 3301 is connected to the first support portion 301, the second inclined portion 3411 abuts against the first inclined portion 3303 to realize the communication between the circulation pump outlet 3332 of the first circulation pump 333 and the liquid flow path in the guide assembly 34. By providing the first inclined portion 3303 and the second inclined portion 3411, on the one hand, the accurate positioning of the first drive assembly 331 during insertion can be ensured, and on the other hand, the reliable communication between the circulation pump outlet 3332 of the first circulation pump 333 and the liquid flow path in the guide assembly 34 can be ensured.

[0073] In some embodiments, a seal ring may be provided at the circulation pump outlet 3332 of the first circulation pump 333 and the inlet of the liquid flow path in the guide assembly 34 to improve the sealing performance between the two, so as to ensure that the first circulation pump 333 can reliably drive the first coolant to the heat exchanger 32.

[0074] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the coolant driving device 33 further includes a second driving assembly 332. The second driving assembly 332 is provided beside the first driving assembly 331 and has a configuration similar to that of the first driving assembly 331. For example, the second driving assembly 332 may include a third bracket and a second circulation pump supported by the third bracket. The configuration of the third bracket is similar to that of the second bracket 330, and the configuration of the second circulation pump is similar to that of the first circulation pump 333, and thus will not be described repeatedly here. The third bracket is detachably connected to the first bracket 30. Therefore, similar to the first driving assembly 331, the second driving assembly 332 can also be pulled out of the second chamber 22 alone, or can be pulled out together with the heat exchanger 32. By providing the redundant second driving assembly 332, when a problem occurs in one of the driving assemblies of the first driving assembly 331 and the second driving assembly 332, the other driving assembly can still operate normally, so that the reliability of the liquid cooling device 100 can be improved. It should be understood that in other embodiments, the coolant driving device 33 may further include more driving assemblies in order to further remind of the redundant performance of the liquid cooling device 100.

[0075] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the guide assembly 34 includes a first guide member 341, a second guide member 342 provided above the first guide member 341, and a third guide member 343. The liquid flow path in the second guide member 342 communicates with the circulation pump outlet 3332 of the first circulation pump 333. The liquid flow path in the third guide member 343 communicates with the circulation pump outlet of the second circulation pump. The liquid flow path in the first guide member 341 is connected to the heat exchanger 32. The liquid flow paths in the second guide member 342 and the third guide member 343 communicate with the liquid flow path in the first guide member 341 respectively. By providing the first guide member 341, the second guide member 342, and the third guide member 343, on the one hand, the first coolant can be reliably guided from the coolant driving device 33 to the heat exchanger 32, and on the other hand, in order to raise the liquid level of the first coolant in the second chamber 22, by discharging the volume of the first coolant in the second chamber 22, the amount of the first coolant required in the cabinet 2 can be reduced, and the overall cost can be reduced.

[0076] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the above-described second inclined portion 3411 can be provided on the second guide member 342 and the third guide member 343 so as to be positioned corresponding to the first inclined portion 3303 on the first driving assembly 331 and the second driving assembly 332 respectively.

[0077] In other embodiments, the guide assembly 34 may have other configurations for guiding the first coolant from the coolant driving device 33 to the heat exchanger 32, and the scope of the present invention is not limited in this regard.

[0078] As described above, the heat exchanger 32 can cool the first coolant using the second coolant. Hereinafter, an exemplary configuration of the heat exchanger 32 will be described in conjunction with FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the heat exchanger 32 is a plate-type heat exchanger, and the plate-type heat exchanger includes an outer chamber 320 and an inner chamber (not shown) surrounded by the outer chamber 320. The outer chamber 320 includes a first liquid inlet 321 and a first liquid outlet 322. The first liquid inlet 321 is connected to a liquid flow path in the guide assembly 34 and is used to receive the first coolant. The first liquid outlet 322 is used to discharge the first coolant from the outer chamber 320 into the second chamber 22. The inner chamber includes a second liquid inlet 323 and a second liquid outlet 324. The second liquid inlet 323 is connected to a liquid inlet pipe 311 in the liquid circulation pipeline 31 to receive the second coolant from the cooling tower. The second liquid outlet 324 is connected to a liquid return pipe 312 in the liquid circulation pipeline 31 to return the second coolant to the cooling tower. The first coolant in the outer chamber 320 and the second coolant in the inner chamber can form a heat exchange in the form of a fork flow, which can improve the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 32.

[0079] In other embodiments, the heat exchanger 32 may be another type of heat exchanger, and the scope of the present invention is not limited in this regard.

[0080] In some embodiments, the immersion-type liquid cooling device 100 further includes a height adjustment bracket (not shown). The height adjustment bracket is provided below the first chamber 21 to support the first chamber 21. By using such an arrangement, the user can combine liquid cooling devices with different height adjustment brackets according to the actual depth of the electronic device, save the usage amount of the first coolant, and reduce the overall cost of the liquid cooling device. In some cases, the height adjustment bracket can also support the second chamber 22.

[0081] FIG. 9 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a liquid cooling system 900 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the liquid cooling system 900 includes a plurality of immersion type liquid cooling devices 100 arranged side by side. Each of the plurality of immersion type liquid cooling devices 100 may be any of the immersion type liquid cooling devices 100 described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0082] In small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale data centers, users can set the number of immersion type liquid cooling devices 100 according to business needs to form business systems of different scales, and the data center can provide a more flexible and efficient deployment mode of the immersion type liquid cooling system. This also solves the problem that the loss caused by a single failure is too large due to the large number of IT devices in one cabinet. In some edge computing usage scenarios, such small-scale immersion type liquid cooling devices 100 can be deployed independently in small quantities, resulting in more small-scale flexible deployment application scenarios.

[0083] In the case of large-scale cluster deployment, by pre-arranging cabinet 2 and heat exchange module 3 in the data center, the immersion type liquid cooling device 100 is pre-arranged in the server room of the data center, and the liquid circulation pipeline 31 is connected to the primary side coolant supply system (for example, a cooling tower) to complete the trial operation. Then, when the user has business needs, the user can procure IT devices, deploy them in the first chamber 21 of cabinet 2, and finally add the first coolant into the first chamber 21 to complete the deployment of the entire system. Thereby, the deployment time of the data center can be significantly shortened.

[0084] Embodiments of the present invention further provide a data center deployed in a large-scale cluster. The data center includes a plurality of immersion liquid cooling devices 100 and a primary coolant supply system (such as a cooling tower). The plurality of immersion liquid cooling devices 100 are pre-arranged in the server room of the data center. Each immersion liquid cooling device 100 does not yet have electronic devices and has not yet been filled with the first coolant. The primary coolant supply system is connected to the liquid circulation pipeline 31 in the heat exchange module 3 of each immersion liquid cooling device 100 through a liquid transmission pipeline. By using such an arrangement, the immersion liquid cooling device 100 and the primary coolant supply system can be connected and pre-operated in advance, facilitating rapid large-scale cluster deployment.

[0085] In embodiments according to the present invention, the first chamber 21 of the cabinet 2 in the immersion liquid cooling device 100 may be designed to have different dimensions, such as different depths, in order to accommodate IT devices of different sizes, such as 4U, 8U, 12U, etc. Here, U is the unit of the height of the IT device, 1U = 1.75 inches = 4.445 cm, 4U = 7 inches = 17.78 cm, 8U = 14 inches = 35.56 cm, 12U = 21 inches = 53.34 cm. Accordingly, the height adjustment brackets may have different dimensions, thereby enabling the same set of external frames 23 to adapt to different first chambers 21. In some embodiments, the height adjustment brackets may be height-adjustable height adjustment brackets.

[0086] For example, the depth of a general computing server is 600 mm, and the depth of a storage server is 800 mm. The cabinet 2 can adjust the depth of the first chamber 21 by the height adjustment brackets at the bottom. By designing the first chamber 21 with different depths, the usage amount of the first coolant can be significantly reduced.

[0087] Embodiments of the present invention provide a design of a liquid cooling system with an integrated heat exchanger inside, which can efficiently achieve self-circulation cooling of IT devices such as servers and switches arranged inside, reduce the investment and overall operation cost of the data center, make it possible to control the overall power usage effectiveness (PUE) of the data center to 1.1 or less, and save energy. In addition, by arranging the coolant driving device above the heat exchanger, the coolant driving device can be pulled out of the cabinet alone, which facilitates the maintenance of the coolant driving device and can shorten the maintenance time of the coolant driving device.

[0088] As described above, each implementation of the present invention has been described. However, the above description is exemplary, not exhaustive, and not limited to the disclosed implementations. Many modifications and changes will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described implementations. The selection of the terms used in this specification is intended to best interpret the principles of each implementation, the actual application, or the improvement of the technology in the market, or to enable those skilled in the art to understand each implementation form disclosed in this specification.

Claims

1. An immersion liquid cooling device (100), comprising: A cabinet (2) including a first chamber (21) and a second chamber (22) integrated with a side wall (211) of the first chamber (21), wherein the first chamber (21) is used to accommodate an electronic device to be cooled, and a through hole (6) for circulating a first coolant between the first chamber (21) and the second chamber (22) is provided in the side wall (211); the cabinet (2); A heat exchange module (3) adapted to be inserted into the second chamber (22) through an opening (221) on the second chamber (22), the heat exchange module (3) comprising a heat exchanger (32), a coolant driving device (33), and a guide assembly (34), the heat exchanger (32) receiving a second coolant through a liquid circulation pipeline (31) and being used to cool the first coolant using the second coolant, the coolant driving device (33) being used to drive the first coolant to circulate between the second chamber (22) and the first chamber (21), the guide assembly (34) comprising a liquid flow path for guiding the first coolant from the coolant driving device (33) to the heat exchanger (32), the coolant driving device (33) being closer to the opening (221) of the second chamber (22) than the heat exchanger (32) when the heat exchange module (3) is inserted into the second chamber (22), and the coolant driving device (33) being drawn out of the second chamber (22) when the heat exchanger (32) and the guide assembly (34) are held in the second chamber (22); the heat exchange module (3); An immersion liquid cooling device (100) comprising the above.

2. The heat exchange module (3) further comprises a first bracket (30), and the heat exchanger (32) and the guide assembly (34) are supported by the first bracket (30). The coolant driving device (33) includes a first driving assembly (331), and the first driving assembly (331) includes a second bracket (330) and a first circulation pump (333) supported by the second bracket (330). The second bracket (330) is detachably connected to the first bracket (30). When the second bracket (330) is connected to the first bracket (30), a circulation pump outlet (3332) of the first circulation pump (333) communicates with a liquid flow path in the guide assembly (34). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 1.

3. The first bracket (30) includes a first support portion (301) and a second support portion (302). The second bracket (330) is detachably connected to the first support portion (301). The heat exchanger (32) and the guide assembly (34) are supported by the second support portion (302). When the heat exchange module (3) is inserted into the second chamber (22), the first support portion (301) is located outside the second chamber (22). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 2.

4. A seal ring is provided on a side of the first support portion (301) facing the second chamber (22). When the heat exchange module (3) is inserted into the second chamber (22), a space between the first support portion (301) and the second chamber (22) is sealed by the seal ring. The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 3.

5. A display portion (35) for displaying an operating state of the coolant driving device (33) is provided on a side of the first support portion (301) facing away from the second chamber (22). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 3.

6. The heat exchanger (32) and the guide assembly (34) are fixed to the second support portion (302) by a fastener (37). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 3.

7. The second bracket (330) includes a third support portion (3301) and a fourth support portion (3302). The third support portion (3301) is detachably connected to the first support portion (301). The first circulation pump (333) is supported by the fourth support portion (3302). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 3.

8. A handle (335) is provided on the side of the third support part (3301) facing away from the first circulation pump (333). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 7.

9. The fourth support part (3302) includes a first inclined part (3303) inclined with respect to the drawing-out direction of the first drive assembly (331), and the circulation pump outlet (3332) of the first circulation pump (333) is provided on the first inclined part (3303). The guide assembly (34) includes a second inclined part (3411) inclined with respect to the drawing-out direction, and when the third support part (3301) is connected to the first support part (301), the second inclined part (3411) abuts against the first inclined part (3303). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 7.

10. The first drive assembly (331) further includes a filter (334) provided at the circulation pump inlet (3331) of the first circulation pump (333). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 2.

11. The coolant drive device (33) further includes a second drive assembly (332), the second drive assembly (332) includes a third bracket and a second circulation pump supported by the third bracket, and the third bracket is detachably connected to the first bracket (30). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 2.

12. The guide assembly (34) includes a first guide member (341), a second guide member (342) and a third guide member (343) provided above the first guide member (341). The liquid flow path in the second guide member (342) communicates with the circulation pump outlet (3332) of the first circulation pump (333), the liquid flow path in the third guide member (343) communicates with the circulation pump outlet of the second circulation pump, and the liquid flow path in the first guide member (341) is connected to the heat exchanger (32). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 11.

13. The heat exchanger (32) is a plate type heat exchanger, and the plate type heat exchanger includes an outer chamber (320) and an inner chamber surrounded by the outer chamber (320). The outer chamber (320) is provided with a first liquid inlet (321) and a first liquid outlet (322). The first liquid inlet (321) is connected to a liquid flow path in the guide assembly (34) to receive the first cooling liquid. The first liquid outlet (322) is used to discharge the first cooling liquid from the outer chamber (320) into the second chamber (22). The inner chamber is provided with a second liquid inlet (323) and a second liquid outlet (324). The second liquid inlet (323) is connected to a liquid inlet pipe (311) of the liquid circulation pipeline (31) to receive the second cooling liquid. The second liquid outlet (324) is connected to a liquid return pipe (312) of the liquid circulation pipeline (31). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 1.

14. The through hole (6) includes a first set of through holes (61) and a second set of through holes (62). The second set of through holes (62) is closer to the opening (221) of the second chamber (22) than the first set of through holes (61). When the heat exchange module (3) is inserted into the second chamber (22), the coolant driving device (33) is close to the second set of through holes (62), and the heat exchanger (32) is close to the first set of through holes (61). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 1.

15. The heat exchange module (3) further includes a liquid occupancy block (38). When the heat exchange module (3) is inserted into the second chamber (22), the liquid occupancy block (38) can be at least partially immersed in the first cooling liquid in the second chamber (22). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 1.

16. The cabinet (2) further includes an external frame (23) and a top cover (24). The external frame (23) is provided around the first chamber (21) and the second chamber (22). The top cover (24) is rotatably connected to the external frame (23) and can be switched between a closed state of closing the first chamber (21) and an open state of opening the first chamber (21). The immersion liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 1.

17. A seal ring is provided on the side of the top cover (24) facing the first chamber (21). When the top cover (24) is in the closed state, the space between the top cover (24) and the first chamber (21) is sealed by the seal ring. The immersion type liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 16.

18. The cabinet (2) further includes a hydraulic drive device. The hydraulic drive device is connected between the external frame (23) and the top cover (24) and is used to operate so as to switch the top cover (24) between the closed state and the open state. The immersion type liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 16.

19. The first coolant contains a fluorine-based fluid or mineral oil, and / or the second coolant contains deionized water. The immersion type liquid cooling device (100) according to claim 1.

20. It includes a plurality of immersion type liquid cooling devices (100) arranged side by side. Each immersion type liquid cooling device (100) among the plurality of immersion type liquid cooling devices (100) is the immersion type liquid cooling device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 19. A liquid cooling system (900).

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