Floating Cold Plate Cooling System for Server Heat Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional air cooling and liquid cooling systems are inadequate for modern servers due to inefficiencies in heat removal and coolant leakage, especially in densely packed component arrangements, where space constraints prevent effective use of large cold plates and increase the risk of coolant leaks.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system utilizing a series of floating cold plates connected to a single pipe, where each cold plate has a lateral groove to accept a section of the pipe, allowing for efficient coolant circulation and preventing leaks by integrating the cold plate and pipe as a single piece, thereby ensuring better contact with electronic components and minimizing warpage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional liquid cooling systems with multiple pipes and connectors are used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the risk of coolant leakage increases due to multiple joints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cold plate and pipe into a single monolithic component, eliminating multiple connection joints that were previously necessary. This merging of separate cooling elements into one unified structure maintains effective coolant flow paths while removing the leakage-prone interfaces between components.
2Area of stationary object
If large cold plates are used to cover multiple densely packed components, then cooling coverage is improved, but contact quality deteriorates due to gaps and tolerance accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling system into multiple smaller cold plate sections, each tailored to contact specific densely packed components individually. This segmentation allows each small cold plate to maintain precise contact with its target component surface without the tolerance accumulation that would occur with a single large cold plate spanning multiple components.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple separate cold plates are used for each component, then individual cooling contact is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple pipes and connectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cold plate sections and pipe segments into a single integrated component. This merging maintains the individualized cooling contact benefit of separate cold plates for each component while eliminating the complexity of multiple separate pipes and connectors that would be needed to connect them.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional cold plates with separate pipe connectors are used, then cooling functionality is achieved, but space requirements increase due to connector placement needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pipe and cold plate into a single integrated structure, eliminating the need for separate pipe connectors that would require additional space for placement and connection. This integration maintains full cooling functionality while reducing the overall volume and space requirements of the cooling system.
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
This design effectively transfers heat from densely packed components without coolant leakage, maintaining a compact footprint and achieving superior thermal performance by ensuring each component has individual cooling, meeting the cooling requirements of high-power components.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid coolant circulating through the pipes transfers generated heat away from the component
Implementation Method 2
Liquid cooling is the best solution for rapid heat removal due to the superior thermal performance from liquid cooling
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling unit having two single piece cold plate pipe components is disclosed. The cooling unit has a first pipe operable to transport coolant. A first cold plate has a top surface with a lateral groove to accept a section of the first pipe. The groove includes a first inlet coupled to a first hole in the section of the first pipe. The groove has a first outlet coupled to a second hole in the section of the first pipe. Coolant is circulated from the first inlet through the cold plate to the first outlet. The section of the first pipe is connected to the first cold plate. A second pipe is operable to transport coolant. A second cold plate is located next to the first cold plate. The second cold plate has a groove to accept a section of the second pipe. The groove includes an inlet coupled to a first hole in the section of the second pipe. The groove includes an outlet coupled to a second hole in the section of the second pipe. The coolant is circulated from the second inlet through the second cold plate to the second outlet. The section of the second pipe is connected to the second cold plate.