Cold Plate Plenum Flow Redirection for Uniform Coolant Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cold plates often have plenums that are not sufficiently large to establish uniform pressure conditions, leading to non-uniform coolant flow through the active volume, which affects heat transfer efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a blocker and deflector configuration within the cold plate to redirect and distribute coolant flow more uniformly across the active volume, using computational fluid dynamics to optimize the placement and shape of these features to achieve flow homogeneity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If plenum size is increased to establish uniform pressure conditions, then flow uniformity through the active area is improved, but the cold plate cannot accommodate components due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces blockers and deflectors that create locally modified flow conditions within the constrained plenum space. These features redirect coolant flow at specific locations to achieve uniform distribution across the active area without requiring an overall increase in plenum dimensions, thus resolving the contradiction between flow uniformity and space constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies flow parameters (velocity, direction, pressure distribution) through strategically placed blockers and deflectors. By changing the flow parameters locally rather than increasing plenum volume, the system achieves uniform flow distribution while maintaining compact dimensions suitable for component accommodation
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional cold plate design is used without blockers or deflectors, then device complexity is low, but flow distribution through the active volume is non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the plenum flow path into multiple controlled segments using blockers and deflectors. These features segment the single flow path into multiple redirected streams that collectively achieve uniform distribution, transforming a simple structure into a segmented control system that improves flow uniformity with moderate complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The blockers and deflectors act as intermediary elements between the inlet plenum and the active volume. These intermediaries modify and redirect the coolant flow to achieve uniform distribution, serving as mediating structures that improve flow uniformity while adding only minimal structural complexity
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
This configuration enhances flow profile and heat transfer within the active volume by ensuring more uniform coolant distribution, improving flow homogeneity and heat transfer efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The blocker is structurally configured to preferentially redirect flow from the inlet plenum into the active volume
Implementation Method 2
a deflector that protrudes from an outer wall of the inlet plenum toward the active volume
Implementation Method 3
A cold plate can be a solid block of metal, often with fins for enhanced air cooling
Implementation Method 4
a hollow structure through which a coolant (e.g., water) flows from an inlet to an outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A cold plate apparatus includes walls that surround an active volume adjacent to an inlet plenum; the walls include an inlet opening at one end of a top side of the inlet plenum and a plenum opening between the inlet plenum and the active volume. Also included is a blocker that partially separates the inlet plenum from the active volume. The blocker is structurally configured to preferentially redirect flow from the inlet plenum into the active volume.