Cold Plate Channel Layout for High-Heat Processor Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cold plates struggle to effectively dissipate the increasing heat generated by powerful processors due to limited heat exchange efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cold plate design featuring heat exchange structures arranged in rows with spaced slots formed by curved edges and impingement channels to enhance contact area and induce coolant turbulence, improving heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional fin structures are used to increase contact area, then heat exchange efficiency is improved to a certain extent, but the heat exchange efficiency cannot be further improved to handle greater heat amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange structure is divided into multiple discrete blocks arranged in rows, with each block containing internal channels. This segmentation allows coolant to flow through multiple pathways, significantly increasing the effective heat exchange contact area between coolant and heat exchange surfaces, thereby resolving the limitation of traditional fin structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Channels are embedded within the heat exchange blocks, with multiple channels nested inside each block. This nested configuration enables the coolant to access internal surfaces of the heat exchange blocks, dramatically increasing the contact area without proportionally increasing the external footprint or structural complexity.
2Productivity
If heat exchange structures are arranged closely to maximize contact area, then heat exchange efficiency improves, but pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange structures are segmented into discrete blocks with spaced arrangements, creating multiple parallel flow channels. This segmentation maintains adequate spacing between blocks while providing multiple pathways for coolant flow, reducing velocity and pressure drop compared to densely packed continuous fin structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional fin surfaces to three-dimensional block structures with internal channels. This dimensional change allows coolant to flow through the volume of the blocks, increasing heat exchange contact area without requiring closer spacing of external surfaces, thereby maintaining lower pressure drop.
3Productivity
If traditional cold plate designs are used, then manufacturing is simple, but heat exchange efficiency is insufficient for powerful processors
Solution Approach 1:
The channels are pre-formed within the heat exchange blocks before assembly, allowing complex internal flow paths to be created without complex manufacturing processes. This preliminary formation of channels within modular blocks enables efficient heat exchange while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized component fabrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold plate is divided into modular heat exchange blocks that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. This segmentation allows each block to be manufactured using standard processes, while the overall system achieves high heat exchange efficiency through the coordinated arrangement of multiple blocks with internal channels.
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 design significantly enhances heat exchange efficiency, reduces thermal resistance, and decreases pressure drop, effectively managing the heat generated by powerful processors.
Implementation Method 1
allowing the heat generated by the processor to be conducted to the cold plate
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange efficiency... carried away by the coolant flowing through the cold plate
Data Source
AI summary
A cold plate is configured to be thermally coupled to a heat source. The cold plate includes a casing and a plurality of heat exchange structures. The casing has an inlet, a heat exchange chamber and an outlet, and the inlet and the outlet communicate with the heat exchange chamber. The heat exchange structures are located in the heat exchange chamber and arranged in rows. A plurality of channels are formed between the rows of the heat exchange structures. The heat exchange structures in each row are spaced apart from one another so as to form a plurality of slots. The slots communicate with adjacent two of the channels, and each of the slots are formed by curved edges of adjacent two of the heat exchange structures in each row.