Configurable Cold Plate Channels for Targeted Datacenter Cooling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing datacenter cooling systems, including both air and liquid cooling systems, face inefficiencies in heat removal due to standardized cold plates that do not effectively address varying cooling requirements across different computing components in datacenters.

Innovation Solution

A configurable cold plate design for datacenter liquid cooling systems, featuring a first section, a second section, and an intermediate layer with changeable micro-channel configurations. The intermediate layer includes first channels for coolant flow and second channels or adapted second channels to concentrate the coolant flow, optimizing heat transfer based on the specific cooling requirements of associated computing devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If standardized cold plates are used in datacenter cooling systems, then manufacturing and installation are simplified, but heat removal efficiency deteriorates due to inability to address varying cooling requirements across different computing components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold plate manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidheat removal efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cold plate is divided into multiple sections with interchangeable intermediate layers, each containing channels configured for specific cooling requirements. This segmentation allows standardized manufacturing of modular components while enabling customized cooling patterns through different intermediate layer configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cold plate design incorporates changeable intermediate layers that can be swapped to adapt coolant flow patterns dynamically to different computing component configurations. This dynamic adaptability allows the same cold plate structure to serve multiple cooling scenarios, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving heat removal efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If coolant flow is distributed uniformly across the cold plate, then manufacturing is easier, but cooling performance deteriorates in areas with higher heat generation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecold plate fabrication simplicityVSAvoidlocal cooling effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate layers contain channels with varying cross-sectional areas, channel densities, and flow path configurations tailored to specific regions of the cold plate. Areas with higher heat generation receive concentrated coolant flow through adapted channels, while other areas use standard channel configurations, optimizing local cooling effectiveness without complicating overall manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If custom cold plate designs are created for each computing component configuration, then cooling performance improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling performance optimizationVSAvoidcold plate design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cold plate design uses a universal base structure with standardized first and second sections that can accommodate multiple computing component configurations. Interchangeable intermediate layers provide the customization needed for different cooling scenarios, allowing a single cold plate design to serve multiple functions without increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 configurable cold plate design enhances heat removal efficiency by concentrating coolant flow in areas with higher heat transfer surface areas, effectively addressing the varying cooling requirements of different computing components in datacenters, thereby improving overall datacenter cooling performance.

Implementation Method 1

The intermediate layer has first channels to enable flow of a coolant and has second channels or at least one adapted second channel to concentrate the coolant or the flow of the coolant to at least one area within the cold plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow concentration:

Implementation Method 2

The configurable cold plate design enhances heat removal efficiency by concentrating coolant flow in areas with higher heat transfer surface areas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS12213281B2Configurable cold-plates of datacenter cooling systems

Publication Date: 2025.01.28 NVIDIA CORP

AI summary

A cold plate that is configurable and for a datacenter liquid cooling system is disclosed. The cold plate includes a first section, a second section, and an intermediate layer, which is changeable and has first channels to enable flow of a coolant through the intermediate layer, and has second channels or at least one adapted second channel to concentrate the coolant or the flow of the coolant to at least one area within the configurable cold plate corresponding to at least a heat generating feature of an associated computing device.