Hybrid Liquid-Refrigerant Cooling Module for High-Power Computing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid cooling systems for computing devices are limited by the size of the radiator and air flow, constraining the cooling capability and forcing components to operate at lower speeds or power levels to avoid overheating.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid cooling system that combines a liquid coolant cycle with a refrigerant cycle, using a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger to transfer heat from the liquid coolant to the refrigerant, eliminating the need for radiators and fans within the liquid coolant cycle, and utilizing a compressor, condenser, and expansion valve to efficiently dissipate heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid cooling systems use larger radiators and increase air flow to improve cooling capability, then heat dissipation performance is improved, but device size and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermodynamic parameters of the cooling system by using refrigerant phase change (evaporation and condensation) instead of relying solely on large radiators and high air flow. The refrigerant absorbs heat during evaporation and releases heat during condensation, enabling efficient heat transfer with compact heat exchangers rather than large radiators.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transitions of the refrigerant (liquid to gas during evaporation, gas to liquid during condensation) as the core cooling mechanism. This phase change process occurs at constant temperature and provides high heat transfer coefficients, allowing compact heat exchanger design while maintaining superior cooling capability compared to conventional liquid cooling with large radiators.
2Temperature
If liquid cooling systems use larger radiators and increase air flow to improve cooling capability, then heat dissipation performance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes from relying on high air flow rates (which require powerful fans and consume significant power) to utilizing refrigerant phase change processes. The phase change occurs naturally driven by pressure differences created by the expansion valve and compressor, eliminating the need for high-power air moving devices while maintaining effective heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant's phase transitions (evaporation in the evaporator and condensation in the condenser) provide highly efficient heat transfer with minimal power input. The expansion valve creates pressure differential that drives the refrigerant through phase change cycles, enabling passive heat transfer mechanisms that consume far less power than active air cooling systems requiring large radiators and high-speed fans.
3Temperature
If conventional liquid cooling systems are used, then cooling is provided, but available space constraints limit cooling capability and force component throttling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention fundamentally changes the cooling approach from air-based convection requiring large surface area radiators to refrigerant-based phase change occurring in compact heat exchangers. This parameter change enables the same or better cooling capability to be achieved in a fraction of the space, as phase change heat transfer is much more efficient per unit volume than air cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
By utilizing the high heat transfer coefficients associated with refrigerant phase changes in compact evaporator and condenser heat exchangers, the system achieves superior cooling density. The phase change process concentrates heat transfer in small volumes rather than requiring large radiator surfaces, thereby maximizing cooling capability within limited device space and eliminating the need to throttle high-performance components.
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 hybrid cooling system achieves lower temperatures than conventional systems, consumes less cooling power, and allows for a more efficient layout of cooling components, enabling effective cooling even in warm ambient conditions with reduced air flow and fan power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
heat in the coolant fluid is transferred to the refrigerant at a location after the expansion valve and before the compressor
Implementation Method 2
a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve. The refrigerant pathway loop contains a refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
permitting heat to be transferred to the air surrounding the radiator
Implementation Method 4
a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid cooling system is disclosed that combines a liquid coolant cycle and a refrigerant cycle to efficiently and effectively transfer heat away from a heat-generating component of a computing device. The liquid coolant cycle pumps a liquid coolant through a cold plate to extract heat from the heat-generating component. The heated liquid coolant passes through a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, where refrigerant from the refrigerant cycle absorbs the heat from the liquid coolant. The heated refrigerant passes through a compressor to a condenser, where the high-pressure, heated refrigerant is cooled by air passing over the condenser. The hybrid cooling system enables cooling of a heat-generating component better than by non-hybrid cooling systems.