Heatsink Extension Portion for Server Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for servers, such as serial air cooling, are inefficient due to pre-heated air from front electrical components failing to adequately cool downstream components, and liquid cooling systems are costly and space-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A dual heatsink cooling system with a first heatsink and a second heatsink, where the second heatsink has an extension portion that receives cool air separately from the first heatsink, preventing pre-heated air from mixing with fresh cool air and ensuring efficient cooling of downstream processing components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If serial air cooling is used to cool downstream processing components, then the cooling system structure is simple, but the cooling efficiency deteriorates due to pre-heated air from front components
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent cooling channels: an upper cooling channel that delivers cool air to upstream components, and a lower cooling channel that delivers fresh cool air to downstream components. This segmentation prevents mixing of pre-heated and fresh cool air, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A partition wall is introduced as an intermediary structure between upstream and downstream processing components. This partition wall physically separates the airflows, preventing pre-heated air from reaching downstream components, thereby maintaining cooling efficiency while preserving structural simplicity.
2Temperature
If liquid cooling is used to cool processing components, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses air cooling instead of liquid cooling, replacing expensive and complex liquid cooling infrastructure with a simpler, more cost-effective air-based cooling system. The dual-channel air cooling design achieves efficient cooling without requiring costly liquid cooling infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical liquid cooling system with an air-based cooling system. By using air flow channels and partition walls instead of liquid coolant circulation systems, the design achieves comparable cooling efficiency while eliminating pumps, pipes, and other complex mechanical components.
3Device complexity
If cool air is routed from front to rear through processing components, then the cooling system is simple, but the downstream components receive pre-heated air that is too hot for adequate cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The air routing is segmented into separate front-to-back and rear-to-front channels. Fresh cool air is routed through the lower channel to downstream components, while the upper channel handles air flow from upstream components. This segmentation ensures downstream components receive adequate cool air while maintaining simple routing structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system transitions from a single-dimensional front-to-back air flow to a three-dimensional dual-channel structure. By utilizing both upper and lower spatial dimensions for different air flow paths, the system delivers fresh cool air to downstream components without complicating the overall routing structure.
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 configuration effectively prevents the mixing of heated and cool airflows, ensuring that downstream components receive fresh cool air, thereby enhancing the cooling efficiency and avoiding the limitations of both air and liquid cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
The first heatsink receives cool air for cooling an upstream processing component. The second heatsink receives cool air via an extension portion extending across the first heatsink.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples herein disclose a heatsink including an extension portion and a base portion. The extension portion extends above a processing component to a fan, such that the extension prevents a heated air produced by the processing component to combine with cool air from the fan. The base portion, coupled to the extension portion, receives cool air from the fan via the extension portion and transfers heat from a different processing component in a posterior location to the processing component.