Immersion Cooling Bellows Venting for Pressure and Vapor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current immersion cooling systems face challenges in effectively managing pressure fluctuations and minimizing coolant-liquid vapor release during overpressure events, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A bellows assembly with a deformable polymer container and integrated hardware elements that allows for gas expansion and contraction, featuring a port system to manage pressure changes and reduce vapor release by venting air and water vapor while blocking coolant-liquid vapor, and a heating mechanism to prevent condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid container is used to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but the ability to accommodate pressure fluctuations and gas expansion is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The container incorporates at least one flexible wall made of elastomeric material that can deform under pressure changes. This flexible wall allows the container to expand and contract with gas volume changes while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between strength and pressure adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The container transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic structure where the flexible wall can change shape in response to internal pressure variations. This dynamic behavior enables the container to automatically accommodate gas expansion and contraction without requiring external control mechanisms.
2Stress or pressure
If pressure-relief vents are added to release overpressure, then pressure regulation is improved, but coolant-liquid vapor release is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
A hydrophobic membrane is introduced as an intermediary component in the pressure-relief vent system. This membrane allows non-condensable gases to pass through while blocking coolant-liquid vapor, enabling pressure relief without significant vapor loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophobic membrane utilizes porous material properties to selectively permit gas passage while preventing liquid vapor transmission. The porous structure with hydrophobic coating creates capillary pressure barriers that block coolant vapor while allowing air and other non-condensable gases to escape.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the container volume is increased to accommodate gas expansion, then adaptability is improved, but the device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing a large fixed volume to accommodate maximum gas expansion, the flexible wall allows the container to dynamically adjust its volume. This eliminates the need for excessive headspace or complex expansion mechanisms, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively regulates pressure, minimizes coolant-liquid vapor loss, and maintains system efficiency by allowing gas expansion and contraction while preventing condensation, thus reducing operational expenses and maintaining system performance.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the container is reversibly deformable to increase and decrease an amount of the volume enclosed by the container
Implementation Method 2
A pressure relief vent arrangement for a bellows assembly may include a hydrophobic membrane that blocks passage of coolant-liquid vapor while allowing passage of non-condensable gases
Implementation Method 3
a heating mechanism to prevent condensation
Data Source
AI summary
A bellows assembly and related methods are described. The bellows assembly can be used in a two-phase immersion cooling system to regulate pressure in a tank's airspace above a coolant liquid. The bellows assembly can include a flexible container and pressure-release valves located to reduce emissions of coolant liquid vapor into an ambient environment.