Liquid-Cooled Cabinet Manifold Layout for Reduced Pipe Flexure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional air-cooling methods are inadequate for high-power computing systems, leading to increased energy consumption and heat generation in data centers, necessitating a more efficient cooling solution for standard cabinets.
Innovation Solution
A liquid-cooled cabinet manifold with a main inlet and outlet pipe configuration, featuring branch ports with quick-connect connectors and adjustable angles, along with exhaust and drain valves, and made from PVDF polymer for easier assembly and maintenance, to facilitate effective heat dissipation in liquid-cooled cabinets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If air-cooling mode is used, then cabinet structure is simple, but cooling efficiency is insufficient for high-power computing chips
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements liquid cooling by circulating cooling liquid through cold plates attached to server components. The hydraulic system includes pumps, manifolds, and distribution networks that deliver cooled liquid directly to high-power chips, achieving superior heat removal compared to air cooling while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Cold plates serve as intermediary heat exchange components between the server hardware and the cooling liquid. These cold plates conduct heat from chips to the circulating liquid, enabling efficient thermal management without requiring direct contact between cooling systems and electronic components.
2Temperature
If water cooling-based heat dissipation system is implemented, then cooling efficiency increases, but structural complexity and maintenance complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into modular components: individual cold plates for each server, cabinet-level manifolds with multiple distribution ports, and rack-mounted units. This segmentation allows independent installation, maintenance, and replacement of components without shutting down entire systems, reducing both structural and maintenance complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold design provides multi-functionality by incorporating both cooling distribution and air exhaust functions in integrated units. The same structural framework supports multiple servers and provides both liquid cooling delivery and hot air venting, reducing the number of separate components needed.
3Use of energy by moving object
If water cooling system is deployed, then energy consumption decreases by 40%, but maintenance complexity becomes very high
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates self-draining manifolds with automatic air venting capabilities and drain ports positioned at lowest points. When maintenance is needed, the system can be drained automatically through gravity, and air pockets are self-vented through designed pathways, reducing the need for manual intervention and simplifying maintenance procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold design includes pre-positioned drain ports, air vents, and service access points during the manufacturing stage. Quick-connect interfaces are pre-configured for rapid disconnection, and the structural design anticipates maintenance needs by providing easy access to all critical components before maintenance is actually required.
4Ease of operation
If branch inlet and outlet ports are positioned close to each other, then connection to objects to be cooled is simplified, but pipe flexure radius increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold design positions inlet and outlet ports at different vertical levels (height dimensions) rather than only horizontal positions. This vertical separation allows cooling pipes to connect to server cold plates with smaller horizontal offsets, reducing the required pipe flexure radius while maintaining ease of connection through the vertical port arrangement.
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 minimizes pipe flexure, simplifies maintenance, reduces energy consumption, and enhances cooling efficiency, making it suitable for large data centers with reduced noise and structural complexity compared to traditional air-cooled systems.
Implementation Method 1
The cold plate-based liquid cooling mode with more prominent thermal conduction capabilities is becoming increasingly important for data centers
Implementation Method 2
Uncooled (hot) water is circulated through an outdoor cooling tower for heat exchange
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid-cooled cabinet manifold and a liquid-cooled cabinet are disclosed. The liquid-cooled cabinet manifold includes a main inlet pipe and a main outlet pipe, which are arranged in parallel to and spaced apart from each other. The main inlet pipe has a main inlet port and a branch inlet port, and the main outlet pipe has a main outlet port and a branch outlet port. The branch inlet port is staggered from the branch outlet port along the direction of extension of the main inlet pipe, and an angle is formed between the branch inlet port and the branch outlet port. The branch inlet port and the branch outlet port form a pair connected to an object to be cooled in the liquid-cooled cabinet. When a server with a large depth is accommodated in the cabinet, the angle can be adjusted to ensure a minimized radius of flexure of supply and return pipes.