Conformable Cold Plate Tubing for Tight DIMM Cooling Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in liquid cooling technology is the difficulty in achieving precise dimensions and conforming to the shape of components within limited spaces, such as 1U height server chassis, due to manufacturing limitations that result in deformed or out-of-specification tubes, leading to inadequate cooling performance and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of advanced fabrication techniques involving hydrostatic pressure and vacuum control during the forming process allows for the creation of shaped tubes that can be customized to fit specific designs, enabling precise control over internal dimensions and conforming to non-uniform surfaces, thereby improving cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional tube forming methods are used, then manufacturing process is simple, but manufacturing precision deteriorates resulting in deformed or out-of-specification tubes
Solution Approach 1:
The tube is pre-heated to a specific temperature range (e.g., 100-200°C) before forming to soften the material and make it more pliable. This preliminary thermal preparation enables the tube to be shaped into complex conformal geometries without excessive force, thereby achieving precise dimensional control while avoiding deformation and reducing the need for complex corrective forming operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces conventional mechanical forming methods with a combination of thermal softening and controlled pressure application. By substituting purely mechanical deformation with a thermally-assisted process, the tube material becomes more compliant, allowing for precise shaping into complex conformal geometries without the high forces that cause deformation and out-of-specification results.
2Adaptability or versatility
If tubes are bent or deformed to fit limited spaces, then adaptability improves, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inadequate control of material flow
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the tube material during forming, heating it to a softening range (e.g., 100-200°C for copper). This parameter change makes the material more pliable and controllable, enabling the tube to be shaped into complex conformal geometries that fit limited spaces while maintaining precise dimensional control through controlled material flow during the forming process.
3Productivity
If conventional forming processes are used, then device complexity is low, but productivity deteriorates due to rework and scrap from nonconforming products
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates real-time monitoring and control of forming parameters such as pressure, temperature, and displacement. This feedback control ensures that the tube is formed precisely to specification, minimizing nonconforming products and the associated rework and scrap. The controlled process parameters enable consistent production of high-quality conformal tubes, thereby improving manufacturing yield despite the added process complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If tube deformation is applied to fit spaces, then adaptability improves, but manufacturing precision deteriorates resulting in out-of-specification dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The tube is pre-heated to a specific temperature range (e.g., 100-200°C) before forming to soften the material and make it more pliable. This preliminary thermal preparation enables the tube to be shaped into complex conformal geometries without excessive force, thereby achieving precise dimensional control while avoiding deformation and reducing the need for complex corrective forming operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the tube material during forming, heating it to a softening range (e.g., 100-200°C for copper). This parameter change makes the material more pliable and controllable, enabling the tube to be shaped into complex conformal geometries that fit limited spaces while maintaining precise dimensional control through controlled material flow during the forming process.
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 approach enables the creation of high-quality, conformable cooling solutions that enhance heat transfer efficiency and fit within tight spaces, improving the performance and yield of liquid cooling systems for high-density data center applications.
Implementation Method 1
controlling material flow with application of hydrostatic pressure
Implementation Method 2
vacuum control during the forming process
Data Source
AI summary
Examples described herein relate to a sub-assembly for a fluid cooling system and the sub-assembly can include a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and at least one tube that is shaped to conform to surfaces of opposing dual inline memory modules (DIMMs). In some examples, the at least one tube is to connect to the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. In some examples, the at least one tube includes a heat transferring material. In some examples, the DIMM includes memory devices and regions between memory devices. In some examples, the at least one tube is shaped with recesses to receive memory devices and shaped with protrusions to fit within the regions. In some examples, the at least one tube is formed as a re-shaped tube by shaping of a tube. In some examples, the re-shaped tube is formed by application of pressure within the tube and/or a vacuum external to the tube.