Cold Plate Coolant Distribution Using Regulators and Orifices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling systems for electronic devices face challenges in achieving evenly distributed cooling fluid flow due to the limitations of air as a cooling medium and the lack of commercially available spring-based flow regulators that can handle the required flow rates and tolerances for cold plates, leading to unsuitable performance and economic impracticality.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a flow regulator coupled with individual orifices to distribute cooling fluid through a plurality of cold plates, ensuring consistent flow distribution despite upstream and downstream variations, using a combination of flow regulators and orifices to manage pressure and flow rates effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If air is used as a cooling medium, then the cooling system is simple to implement, but the heat removal capability reaches a limitation and cannot handle increasing thermal loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces air cooling (convection-based) with liquid cooling (conduction-based) by introducing cold plates with circulating coolant. This substitution enables direct thermal conduction from electronic components to the cooling fluid, dramatically increasing heat removal capability while maintaining system simplicity through standardized cold plate designs
2Ease of operation
If spring-based flow regulators are used, then flow control is achievable, but commercially available regulators cannot provide the required flow rate and flow range tolerances for low thermal loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow regulation mechanism from spring-based (mechanical) to orifice-based (geometric). By precisely controlling orifice dimensions during manufacturing, the system achieves tight flow rate tolerances (±5% or better) that are unattainable with commercial spring regulators, specifically targeting low thermal load applications where precision is critical
3Loss of energy
If cooling fluid is distributed to multiple cold plates, then heat management across multiple devices is improved, but uneven flow distribution occurs among the cooling components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling system into individual cold plates, each with its own orifice. This segmentation allows independent flow regulation at each component level, ensuring uniform distribution across multiple devices. The segmentation approach enables precise control of flow to each cold plate while maintaining overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing each cold plate with a specifically sized orifice tailored to its thermal load requirements. This localized flow regulation ensures that each component receives the precise flow rate it needs, creating uniform distribution across the system while accounting for variations in individual device heat generation
4Manufacturing precision
If custom spring-based flow regulators are developed, then flow control precision can be improved, but the development cost is not economically practical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive custom spring-based flow regulators with simple, inexpensive orifice plates. These orifices are manufactured as low-cost geometric features that can be integrated directly into the cold plates or distribution manifolds, eliminating the need for complex mechanical regulators while achieving the required precision through geometric control
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 ensures high tolerance for input variations and evenly distributes cooling fluid among electrical devices, providing improved heat absorption and reducing flow inefficiencies, making it more cost-effective and practical for electronic cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
reducing a flow pressure through the plurality of orifices, such as reducing a flow pressure from a first fluid flow pressure to a second fluid flow pressure through the plurality of orifices
Implementation Method 2
A system and method utilizing a flow regulator coupled with individual orifices to distribute cooling fluid through a plurality of cold plates, ensuring consistent flow distribution despite upstream and downstream variations
Implementation Method 3
an improved cooling method employs direct conduction cooling from a cooling fluid stream flowing within one or more heat sinks used in this field, generally known as 'cold plates,' that contact either the components themselves or the heat rejection plate
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides systems and methods for regulating and distributing cooling fluid through a plurality of heat sinks, such as cold plates, using a flow regulator, which sets the total flow rate, in combination with one or more individual orifices that allow further flow distribution as required by individual cold plates, despite flow variations upstream of the orifices. An orifice can be coupled to an orifice holder, which includes a body to support the orifice, and which may be coupled (directly or indirectly) to an inlet of the cold plate. Alternative manners of coupling orifices in the fluid flow besides an orifice holder can be employed. Generally, the flow regulator(s) is coupled with a plurality of orifices and conduits through which the cooling fluid flows. Related system components can be assembled as a module for installation into a cooling system that includes other system components such as a pump, compressor or other pressure sources for the cooling fluid.