Coolant Flow Restrictors for Uniform Rack Liquid Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing power dissipation in integrated circuit chips poses a cooling challenge, as traditional air-cooling methods become inadequate in large server applications, leading to inefficient heat management and recirculation of hot air, which stresses room air-conditioning systems and affects the performance and reliability of computer systems.
Innovation Solution
A cooling apparatus for electronics racks that includes a coolant distribution unit, supply and return lines, and flow restrictors to tailor coolant flow resistance, ensuring efficient heat transfer through heat exchange assemblies, thereby enhancing overall heat transfer and minimizing coolant pumping requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If air-cooling methods are used to manage heat in large server applications, then the system can operate with simpler cooling infrastructure, but the air-conditioning systems become overloaded and hot air recirculation occurs, reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from air-cooling to liquid-cooling systems, using coolant fluid circulation through heat exchange assemblies to remove heat from electronics racks. The liquid coolant absorbs heat more efficiently than air, preventing overloading of air-conditioning systems and eliminating hot air recirculation problems in data centers.
2Ease of operation
If coolant flow resistance is not adjusted, then the cooling system operates with uniform flow distribution, but heat transfer efficiency is suboptimal across different racks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements flow restrictors with varying resistance values in different coolant lines to create non-uniform flow distribution tailored to specific cooling needs. Each rack or heat exchange assembly can receive customized coolant flow rates based on its heat generation characteristics, optimizing heat transfer efficiency while maintaining overall system operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the flow resistance parameter of coolant lines using flow restrictors to optimize heat transfer. By changing the resistance parameter in different parts of the cooling system, the patent achieves optimal coolant flow rates that maximize heat removal efficiency from high-power electronics racks.
3Loss of energy
If flow restrictors are added to adjust coolant flow resistance, then heat transfer efficiency is enhanced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent strategically places flow restrictors only in specific coolant lines where flow optimization is needed, rather than uniformly across the entire system. This localized approach enhances heat transfer efficiency in critical areas while minimizing the overall increase in system 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
The solution effectively addresses coolant flow mal-distribution and enhances heat transfer across multiple electronics racks, reducing the heat load on air-conditioning units and improving temperature uniformity across rack units, leading to more efficient cooling and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid absorbs the heat dissipated by the components/modules in an efficient manner
Implementation Method 2
Typically, the heat is ultimately transferred from the liquid to an outside environment, whether air or liquid cooled
Implementation Method 3
Each flow restrictor is associated with a respective coolant line for tailoring coolant flow resistance through the respective heat exchange assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Flow restrictors are employed in association with multiple heat exchange tube sections of a heat exchange assembly, or in association with multiple coolant supply lines or coolant return lines feeding multiple heat exchange assemblies. Flow restrictors associated with respective heat exchange tube sections (or respective heat exchange assemblies) are disposed at the coolant channel inlet or coolant channel outlet of the tube sections (or of the heat exchange assemblies). These flow restrictors tailor coolant flow resistance through the heat exchange tube sections or through the heat exchange assemblies to control overall heat transfer within the tube sections or across heat exchange assemblies. In one embodiment, the flow restrictors tailor a coolant flow distribution differential across multiple heat exchange tube sections or across multiple heat exchange assemblies.