Compact Bladder Accumulator for Chassis Cooling Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized cooling systems in datacenters face challenges with non-uniform heat dissipation and increased power consumption due to the need for large, powerful pumps and accumulators that are not suitable for compact chassis-level cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A compact accumulator with a bladder instead of a diaphragm, operating at lower pressures (20 psi to 100 psi), designed for chassis-level cooling systems to provide pressure relief and efficient cooling within the constraints of a smaller form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If centralized cooling systems use large pumps and accumulators, then heat dissipation capability is improved, but power consumption increases and device size becomes unsuitable for compact chassis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized cooling system into distributed chassis-level cooling systems. Each chassis has its own independent cooling system with smaller pumps and accumulators, eliminating the need for large centralized equipment while reducing power consumption and improving scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating pressure parameter from high pressure (300-500 psi) in centralized systems to low pressure (20-100 psi) in chassis-level systems. This parameter change enables the use of smaller, more efficient pumps and accumulators that consume less power while still achieving effective heat dissipation.
2Reliability
If centralized cooling systems use large accumulators, then pressure relief capability is improved, but device size and complexity increase making them unsuitable for compact chassis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single large accumulator into multiple smaller accumulators distributed across different chassis. Each chassis-level accumulator provides sufficient pressure relief for its local cooling system without requiring the large size of centralized accumulators, thereby reducing device complexity and improving reliability through distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from high (300-500 psi) to low (20-100 psi), which allows the use of smaller accumulator volumes to achieve the same pressure relief capability. This parameter change directly reduces device size and complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Temperature
If centralized cooling systems are used, then cooling capacity is improved, but maintenance and replacement require system shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling system into independent chassis-level units, allowing maintenance or replacement of accumulators and pumps in one chassis without affecting other chassis. This segmentation enables hot-swappable maintenance and improves ease of repair while maintaining overall cooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the accumulator as a separate, independently serviceable component from the cooling system. This allows the accumulator to be removed, replaced, or maintained without shutting down the entire cooling system, improving ease of repair while preserving cooling capacity.
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 compact accumulator enables efficient thermal management in datacenter chassis-level cooling systems by reducing power consumption, improving cooling control, and allowing for easier maintenance and replacement without shutting down electronic systems.
Implementation Method 1
A chassis-level cooling system may include an accumulator having a housing with an inner surface defining a volume and an opening, a bladder disposed within a portion of the volume and attached to the opening... the bladder may be inflated by unfolding the plurality of wall sections to increase the bladder volume in response to an increase in a pressure of a working fluid inside the bladder volume
Implementation Method 2
A compressible fluid may be contained within a compression volume defined between an outer surface of the bladder and the inner surface of the housing... The compressible fluid may be compressed from an ambient pressure to an offset pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Examples described herein relate to compact and replaceable accumulator to be utilized in a chassis-level cooling device. The accumulator is a low pressurized device having a housing, a bladder, and a compressible fluid. The housing has an inner surface defining a volume and an opening. The bladder is disposed within a volume portion and attached to the opening. The bladder includes a plurality of elongated wall sections foldably coupled to each other and defining a bladder volume therebetween. The bladder inflates by unfolding the plurality of elongated wall sections to increase the bladder volume in response to an increase in a pressure of a working fluid inside the bladder volume. The compressible fluid is contained in a remaining volume portion between the inner surface of the housing and the bladder. The compressible fluid is compressed to an offset pressure in response to inflation of the plurality of elongated wall sections.