Distributed Cold Plate Filtration for Low Pressure Drop Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized filtration systems for liquid-cooled cold plates in data centers suffer from pressure drops and particulate clogging, reducing cooling efficiency and failing to capture smaller particles effectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing distributed filtration systems with co-located filters at each cold plate, utilizing pleated filters that are replaceable and serviceable, providing increased surface area and improved particle capture efficiency without significant pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If centralized filtration is used with a common filter for multiple cold plates, then device complexity is reduced, but pressure drop increases and particle capture efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized filtration system into multiple distributed filtration units, with each cold plate having its own filter element. This segmentation reduces the pressure drop by eliminating the need for a single large filter that would create high resistance, while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Each cold plate is equipped with a dedicated filter element positioned locally at the coolant inlet, ensuring that filtration occurs closest to the point of use. This local quality approach minimizes pressure drop by reducing filter resistance and allows each filter to be optimized for its specific cold plate's requirements.
2Productivity
If narrower micro-channels are used in cold plates, then cooling efficiency improves, but susceptibility to clogging from particulates increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is positioned upstream of the micro-channels to perform preliminary filtration of the coolant before it enters the cold plate. This preliminary action removes particulates that would otherwise clog the narrow micro-channels, allowing the high-efficiency narrow channel design to operate reliably.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element acts as an intermediary component between the coolant source and the micro-channels. It mediates the interaction by capturing and removing particulates, thereby protecting the micro-channels from direct contact with contaminants while maintaining the high cooling efficiency of the narrow channel design.
3Ease of manufacture
If a common centralized filter is used for multiple cold plates, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but particle capture efficiency for smaller particles decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the filtration function into multiple independent filter elements, one for each cold plate. This segmentation increases the total filter surface area and allows each filter to be optimized for capturing smaller particles, thereby improving overall particle capture efficiency while maintaining cost-effectiveness through standardized modular units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single centralized filter to multiple distributed filters, effectively adding a spatial dimension to the filtration system. This dimensional change increases the total filtration surface area and improves particle capture efficiency by distributing the filtration load across multiple locations, each capable of capturing smaller particles.
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
Enhances particle capture of smaller sizes, reduces pressure drops, and maintains cooling efficiency by distributing filtration closer to the cold plates, allowing for scalable and efficient coolant filtration.
Implementation Method 1
The filter element may be configured to capture a high percentages of particles present in the liquid coolant circulated through the liquid-cooled cold plate
Implementation Method 2
Liquid-cooled cold plates may comprise internal surface elements called micro-channels
Data Source
AI summary
Filtration units for cooling elements include a fluid-permeable filter element with corrugations, a fluid chamber with an opening to receive a channel arrangement of the cooling element, and one or more flow distribution elements configured to direct fluid from an inlet to the fluid chamber, across the corrugations, and through the channel arrangement to an outlet of the fluid chamber.