Coolant Flow Estimation in Cascaded Module Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electronic devices with multiple heat generation members, installing flowmeters to monitor heat medium flow rates becomes impractical due to increased device size, especially in densely packed components, and existing methods require multiple sensors, complicating the setup.
Innovation Solution
A flow-rate monitoring device that estimates the heat medium flow rate using acquired calorific values and temperature data from heat generation members, allowing for monitoring without the need for additional sensors and minimizing device size expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flowmeter is installed to monitor the flow rate of the heat medium, then the flow rate can be monitored, but the electronic device and the device including the electronic device become large in size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flow rate monitoring function from a physical flowmeter and implements it through calculation using temperature sensors and calorific value data. This removes the need for a separate flowmeter device, thereby reducing device size while maintaining flow rate monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing temperature sensors and calorific value measurement capabilities serve a dual purpose: their original functions plus flow rate monitoring. By utilizing these existing components for multiple functions, the system avoids adding dedicated flow measurement hardware, thus preventing device size increase.
2Reliability
If all the sensors that measure the temperature of the heat medium, the temperature of the heat generation member, and the calorific value of the heat generation member are installed to calculate the flow rate, then the flow rate can be monitored, but the electronic device and the device including the electronic device become large in size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to monitor flow rate using its own existing measurement capabilities (temperature sensors and calorific value measurement) without requiring external dedicated flow measurement equipment. The system serves itself by utilizing its inherent sensing abilities for flow rate calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing temperature and calorific value measurement components are made multi-functional, serving both their original purposes and flow rate monitoring. This eliminates the need for additional dedicated sensors and reduces overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If the flow path is provided so as to independently supply the heat medium to each of the electronic devices from the outside, then each device can be cooled independently, but the electronic device and the device including the electronic device become large in size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple cooling functions into a shared cooling system where a single heat medium flow path serves multiple electronic devices. By combining cooling resources and using calculation-based flow rate monitoring, the system maintains effective cooling while reducing the overall device size compared to independent cooling paths for each device.
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
Enables effective monitoring of heat medium flow rates while preventing device size increases, simplifying the installation process by calculating flow rates using existing temperature and power measurement data.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling member that receives heat from the heat generation member and cools the heat generation member by utilizing a heat medium
Implementation Method 2
an estimation means that estimates a flow rate of the heat medium supplied to the first module based on a calorific value of the first module, a first temperature that is a temperature of the heat generation member of the first module, and a second temperature that is a temperature of the heat generation member of the second module
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing device includes: one or more memories storing instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to: acquire a calorific value of a first module, a first temperature that is a temperature of a heat generation member of the first module, and a second temperature that is a temperature of the heat generation member of a second module, wherein the first module and the second module are included in a plurality of modules mounted on an information processing device, and wherein the each module includes an electronic circuit board and a cooling member, and wherein a heat medium discharged from the cooling member of the first module is supplied to the second module; and estimate a flow rate of the heat medium supplied to the first module based on the calorific value of the first module, the first temperature, and the second temperature.