Cooling Module Serial Fluid Management for Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current server liquid cooling and rack-level liquid cooling systems are prone to leakage, which can cause damage to the equipment and other components, and existing solutions do not effectively address the issue of fluid leakage, requiring coordinated design changes that are challenging to implement.
Innovation Solution
The proposed cooling module incorporates advanced connectors and leak-detection sensors, enabling fast shutoff of cooling fluid and pumping out remaining fluid in case of a leak, with asynchronous operations of fluid controls and connectors designed to accommodate different server and rack configurations, reducing the impact of fluid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If rack-level liquid cooling systems are implemented to remove heat from IT equipment, then heat removal capability is improved, but the risk of fluid leakage and damage to equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into rack-level cooling modules that can be independently managed. Each module has its own fluid containment and leak detection capabilities, so that a leak in one module does not affect the entire rack system. This segmentation isolates harmful effects to localized areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Leak detection sensors are installed in advance throughout the cooling system to detect fluid leaks before they cause significant damage. The system is designed with pre-positioned sensors that can immediately identify leakage incidents, allowing for rapid response before the leaked fluid can harm equipment.
2Productivity
If fluid distribution components are added to the rack to improve cooling efficiency, then heat removal performance is enhanced, but system complexity and the need for coordinated design changes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling module design incorporates universal interfaces and standardized components that can work with different IT equipment types without requiring custom modifications. The fluid distribution components are designed to be adaptable to various rack configurations, reducing the need for coordinated design changes across different equipment vendors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a standardized cooling interface layer between the rack-level cooling system and the IT equipment. This intermediary layer simplifies integration by providing a common protocol and physical interface, reducing system complexity while maintaining high cooling efficiency.
3Reliability
If existing cooling systems are modified to respond to fluid leakage incidents, then reliability is improved, but the need for coordinated design changes across rack and equipment increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling module is designed with autonomous leak detection and response capabilities. When a leak is detected, the system can automatically shut off fluid flow to the affected module without requiring external coordination. This self-service capability improves reliability while avoiding the complexity of coordinated control across multiple systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes pre-configured leak response protocols and automatic shutdown mechanisms that are built into the cooling module design. These preliminary actions are established in advance, allowing the system to respond to leaks immediately without requiring complex real-time coordination between rack and equipment controllers.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are disclosed of a cooling apparatus with one or more cold plates, each adapted to be thermally coupled to a heat-generating electronic component on a piece of IT equipment. A fluid control module is mounted to the substrate and fluidly coupled to the cold plates. The fluid control module includes a fluid inlet with an inlet mechanism adapted to enable and disable the fluid inlet; the inlet mechanism enables the fluid inlet when energized and disables the fluid inlet when de-energized. The fluid control module also includes a fluid outlet with an outlet mechanism adapted to enable and disable the fluid outlet; the outlet mechanism enables the fluid outlet when energized and disables the fluid outlet when de-energized. A dedicated power supply is electrically coupled to the inlet mechanism and the outlet mechanism, and when the inlet mechanism is de-energized, the outlet mechanism is also de-energized after a delay.