Immersion Cooling Block for Refrigerant Distribution Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling apparatuses face inefficiencies in cooling high-heat generation portions due to refrigerant distribution, leading to increased power consumption and refrigerant usage costs, as they often supply refrigerant to both high- and low-heat generation portions simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A cooling apparatus design featuring an immersion tank with a refrigerant suction port and a block positioned below the high-heat generation portion, which includes a through-hole for guiding refrigerant to the high-heat generation portion and closing portions to restrict refrigerant flow to the low-heat generation portion, optimizing refrigerant flow and reducing overall refrigerant usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pump is used to increase refrigerant flow rate to the high-heat generation portion, then cooling efficiency for the high-heat generation portion is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant inlet is divided into multiple independent openings (first refrigerant inlet and second refrigerant inlet) that can be controlled separately. The block structure segments the refrigerant flow paths, allowing selective supply to different heat generation portions without requiring a pump to increase overall flow rate.
Solution Approach 2:
Different refrigerant inlets are provided with different opening areas according to the heat generation amount of each portion. The first refrigerant inlet has a larger opening area for the high-heat generation portion, while the second refrigerant inlet has a smaller opening area for the low-heat generation portion, achieving localized optimization without additional power consumption.
2Productivity
If a panel with holes is used to adjust refrigerant distribution, then refrigerant flow to heat generation portions is controlled, but the volume of the panel is small relative to the immersion tank capacity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a thin panel with holes (2D approach), the invention uses a block structure with through-holes (3D approach). The block has a larger volume that can be positioned within the immersion tank, providing greater control capability over refrigerant distribution while occupying more space to effectively reduce the overall refrigerant amount needed in the system.
3Reliability
If refrigerant is supplied to both high-heat generation portion and low-heat generation portion, then all heat generation portions are cooled, but cooling efficiency for the high-heat generation portion is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of refrigerant distribution by controlling the opening areas of different refrigerant inlets. The block can be designed with adjustable mechanisms to dynamically allocate refrigerant flow based on the actual cooling needs of different portions, optimizing both coverage and efficiency.
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 enhances cooling efficiency for high-heat generation portions while reducing refrigerant usage and costs by preferentially directing refrigerant flow to the high-heat generation areas, thereby improving thermal management and reducing operational expenses.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigerant suction port configured to suck the refrigerant from an outside of the immersion tank into an inside of the immersion tank
Implementation Method 2
a block positioned below the first heat generation portion and the second heat generation portion, the block including a through-hole through which a region positioned below the first heat generation portion in the refrigerant inlet is open, and a closing portion that closes a region positioned below the second heat generation portion in the refrigerant inlet
Implementation Method 3
an electronic device immersed in the refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
the refrigerant is also supplied to the low-heat generation portion in addition to the high-heat generation portion
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling apparatus includes an immersion-tank configured to store a refrigerant, a refrigerant suction port formed at a lower portion of the immersion-tank, the refrigerant suction port being configured to suck the refrigerant from an outside of the immersion-tank into an inside of the immersion-tank, an electronic device immersed in the refrigerant, the electronic device including, a first heat-generation portion, a second heat-generation portion having a heat-generation amount smaller than a heat-generation amount of the first heat-generation portion, and a refrigerant inlet positioned below the first heat-generation portion and the second heat-generation portion and being open downward, and a block positioned below the first heat-generation portion and the second heat-generation portion, the block including a through-hole through which a region positioned below the first heat-generation portion in the refrigerant inlet is open, and a closing portion that closes a region positioned below the second heat-generation portion in the refrigerant inlet.