Hybrid Rack Liquid Cooling with Shared Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implementing different cooling arrangements for autonomous and immersion cooled racks within datacenters can be cost prohibitive, as existing technologies do not efficiently integrate both configurations on a large scale.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid cooling arrangement that integrates a rack assembly configuration with a first internal fluid conduit for autonomous racks and a second internal fluid conduit for immersion cooled racks, utilizing temperature sensors and flow control valves to manage cooling liquid distribution based on temperature ranges, allowing repurposing of cooling liquid between the two configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate cooling arrangements are implemented for autonomous racks and immersion cooled racks, then each rack type receives dedicated cooling, but the overall system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously separate cooling systems into a unified hybrid cooling arrangement where autonomous racks and immersion cooled racks share common cooling infrastructure including heat exchangers, pumps, and cooling liquid circulation systems. This integration reduces redundancy and lowers overall system cost while maintaining effective cooling for both rack types.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is designed with universal components that can serve multiple rack types simultaneously. The heat exchangers and cooling liquid circulation systems are configured to provide cooling services to both autonomous racks with liquid cooling blocks and immersion cooled racks with electronic assemblies immersed in cooling fluid, enabling one system to perform multiple cooling functions.
2Reliability
If cooling liquid is dedicated to each rack type, then cooling performance is optimized for each configuration, but cooling liquid distribution efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling liquid distribution system incorporates dynamic flow control mechanisms including variable speed pumps and controllable valve assemblies that can adjust cooling liquid flow rates and distribution paths in real-time based on the thermal demands of different rack types, optimizing both cooling performance and distribution efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides localized cooling optimization by directing appropriate cooling liquid flows to specific rack types based on their thermal characteristics. Autonomous racks receive cooling liquid at temperatures and flow rates optimized for their liquid cooling blocks, while immersion cooled racks receive cooling liquid optimized for their immersed electronic assemblies, ensuring each receives locally appropriate cooling conditions.
3Reliability
If independent cooling systems are used for each rack type, then system reliability is maintained, but operational flexibility and adaptability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid cooling arrangement creates a versatile platform that can accommodate multiple rack configurations simultaneously. The system can dynamically allocate cooling capacity between autonomous racks and immersion cooled racks, allowing flexible adaptation to different data center layouts and cooling demands while maintaining system stability through unified control.
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 arrangement efficiently supports both autonomous and immersion cooled racks by optimizing cooling liquid distribution, reducing costs and enhancing cooling efficiency by repurposing warmer liquid for less temperature-sensitive immersion cooled racks.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid cooling blocks 152 being arranged to be in direct thermal contact with the one or more heat-generating electronic processing assemblies 140
Implementation Method 2
A liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger 175, for example a plate heat exchanger (PHEX) is implemented to thermally connect the first and second cooling loops 102, 104
Implementation Method 3
Hot second cooling fluid is further circulated back to an external heat exchanger 120 (e.g. a dry cooler) to cool the hot second cooling fluid
Implementation Method 4
The heat exchanger 165 transfers, in use, thermal energy of the ambient heated air to the cool second heat transfer liquid circulating in the internal fluid conduits of the heat exchanger 165
Data Source
AI summary
A datacenter rack assembly providing a liquid cooling arrangement to service an autonomous rack and an immersion cooling rack coexisting within the datacenter rack assembly is presented. The datacenter rack assembly comprises an autonomous rack containing at least one electronic processing assembly, an integrated heat exchanger, and at least one liquid cooling block while the immersion cooling rack comprises a dielectric immersion cooling fluid at least one electronic processing assembly immersed in the dielectric immersion cooling fluid, and at least one liquid cooling block. The datacenter rack assembly incorporates a liquid cooling distribution arrangement to control distribution of liquid for cooling of the autonomous and IC racks through various liquid flow distribution channel segments, temperature sensors, and communication-enabled flow control valves based on detected temperature conditions.