Hybrid Server Cooling Plates for Hot Spot Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling techniques for high performance servers in data centers are inefficient and fail to effectively manage hot spots, leading to decreased server reliability and performance over time.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid cooling system that combines single phase immersion cooling with pumped two-phase cooling, utilizing cooling plates with inlet, outlet, and vapor ports to efficiently manage heat through a two-phase coolant that transforms from liquid to vapor and back to liquid for recirculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If existing single phase immersion cooling techniques are used, then cooling coverage is provided, but hot spots cannot be efficiently eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments cooling into two distinct phases: single-phase immersion cooling for general temperature control and two-phase pumped cooling for localized hot spot elimination. This segmentation allows each cooling method to optimize its function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying two-phase pumped cooling specifically to hot spot regions through strategically placed cooling plates, while the rest of the server environment maintains single-phase immersion cooling. This localized approach efficiently targets hot spots without requiring complete system redesign.
2Temperature
If existing two-phase immersion systems with rack level fluid recirculation are used, then some cooling is provided, but local hot spot cooling is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling plates are pre-positioned in contact with or near hot spot components before operation begins. The two-phase coolant is pre-positioned in the cooling plates, ready to immediately absorb heat when hot spots develop, eliminating the need for system-wide circulation delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs hydraulic principles by using pumped two-phase coolant circulation through cooling plates. The pump-driven liquid phase coolant delivers high heat transfer coefficients directly to hot spots, while vapor phase removal maintains continuous cooling efficiency.
3Reliability
If cooling effectiveness is increased to eliminate hot spots, then server reliability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges single-phase immersion cooling infrastructure with two-phase pumped cooling components into a unified hybrid system. The cooling plates serve dual purposes: they function as heat exchangers in the two-phase system while being immersed in the single-phase coolant, reducing the need for separate cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling plates perform multiple functions: they provide two-phase heat transfer for hot spot cooling, serve as immersion cooling components, and facilitate vapor-liquid separation. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the 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
The hybrid cooling system effectively eliminates hot spots, supports increased power densities, and provides efficient vapor and liquid separation, enhancing server performance and longevity while simplifying deployment and operation.
Implementation Method 1
The coolant is a two-phase coolant that transforms from a liquid state into vapor when being attached to an electronic device to extract heat from the electronic device
Implementation Method 2
The coolant is a two-phase coolant that transforms from a liquid state into vapor when being attached to an electronic device to extract heat from the electronic device
Implementation Method 3
a vapor port to output the vapor generated from the coolant to a condenser that is configured to condense the vapor back to the liquid state
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses and methods to provide a hybrid cooling for servers of a data center are described. A cooling plate comprises an inlet port to receive a coolant from a coolant source. The coolant is a two-phase coolant that transforms from a liquid state into vapor when being attached to an electronic device to extract heat from the electronic device. The cooling plate comprises an outlet port to output at least a portion of the coolant back to the coolant source. The cooling plate comprises a vapor port to output the vapor generated from the coolant to a condenser that is configured to condense the vapor back to the liquid state.