Cooling device
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cooling efficiency of heating elements in data centers is reduced due to unexpected opening of the return passage in the gas-liquid separator, causing gas-phase refrigerant to flow into the boiling cooler, which leads to a decrease in cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with a refrigerant relay device that includes a casing for retaining liquid and gas-phase refrigerant, a refrigerant inflow opening, and a refrigerant outflow opening, where the refrigerant inflow piping allows liquid-phase refrigerant to flow into the casing from the bottom, preventing reverse flow and ensuring efficient circulation between the evaporator and condenser.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a float valve is used to control the return passage in the gas-liquid separator, then liquid-phase refrigerant can be retained and returned to the boiling cooler, but gas-phase refrigerant may unexpectedly flow into the return passage when the float valve is floated up by high pressure, reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A check valve is introduced as an intermediary component between the gas-liquid separator and the boiling cooler. This check valve acts as a one-way gate that allows liquid refrigerant to pass from the separator to the boiling cooler while blocking gas-phase refrigerant from entering the return passage, thus preventing the harmful effect of gas leakage without compromising the liquid return function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the float valve mechanism (which uses buoyancy and gravity) with a check valve mechanism (which uses pressure differential and mechanical sealing). This substitution eliminates the reliability issue where float valves may unexpectedly open under high pressure, as check valves are designed to maintain closure against pressure differential forces
2Ease of operation
If gas-phase refrigerant flows into the boiling cooler through the opened return passage, then the refrigerant circulation path is disrupted, but this causes a decrease in cooling efficiency of the heating element
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve serves as a mediator in the refrigerant circulation path, positioned at the inlet of the boiling cooler. It maintains ease of operation by allowing free flow of liquid refrigerant while simultaneously preventing gas-phase refrigerant from disrupting the circulation, thus protecting cooling efficiency without restricting legitimate refrigerant flow
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 cooling device efficiently cools heating elements by maintaining the phase change phenomenon of refrigerant, reducing power consumption and enhancing cooling efficiency by preventing reverse flow and optimizing refrigerant circulation.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator that, upon receiving heat from a heating element, evaporates liquid-phase refrigerant retained internally by means of the heat of the heating element
Implementation Method 2
receiving heat from a heating element
Implementation Method 3
a condenser that condenses the gas-phase refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator
Implementation Method 4
retains the gas-phase refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator and, in conjunction therewith, allows the gas-phase refrigerant to flow out to the condenser, and retains the liquid-phase refrigerant flowing out of the condenser
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerant relay device 1300 is provided with a casing 1310, a first refrigerant inflow opening 1360, a first refrigerant outflow opening 1350, and refrigerant inflow piping 1370. The casing retains liquid-phase refrigerant and gas-phase refrigerant. The liquid-phase refrigerant is made to flow into the casing through the first refrigerant inflow opening. The gas-phase refrigerant is made to flow out to the outside of the casing through the first refrigerant outflow opening. In the refrigerant inflow piping, one end is connected to the first refrigerant inflow opening and an opening 1371 is formed at the other end. The liquid-phase refrigerant flowing into the first refrigerant inflow opening is made to flow into the casing through the refrigerant inflow piping from the opening. The opening is positioned so as to face the bottom part 1311 of the casing.