Actively Controlled Immersion Cooling System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional immersion cooling systems fail to actively adjust cooling power to match dynamic heat loads of IT equipment and respond to changing conditions within and outside data centers, leading to inefficiencies and potential performance throttling or downtime.
Innovation Solution
An actively controlled immersion cooling system that includes an electronic control unit to perform readiness and performance checks, determine cooling power and need, and adjust settings such as coolant pump speed, heat exchanger fan speed, and control valve settings based on real-time and predicted weather conditions to match cooling power with demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional immersion cooling systems operate without active control, then system simplicity is maintained, but cooling efficiency deteriorates due to inability to match cooling power with dynamic heat loads
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static to dynamic operation by continuously adjusting coolant flow rate, heat exchanger fan speed, and control valve settings based on real-time monitoring of IT equipment heat loads and environmental conditions, enabling the cooling system to adapt its performance dynamically
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements closed-loop control by monitoring cooling power delivery, heat load conditions, and system performance metrics, then using this feedback to automatically adjust operational parameters through electronic control units that modify pump speeds, valve positions, and fan operations
2Reliability
If cooling power is increased to meet peak heat loads, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases during low-demand periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically scales cooling power output to match actual heat load demands by adjusting coolant flow rates and heat exchanger operational parameters in real-time, ensuring sufficient cooling capacity during peak loads while minimizing energy consumption during low-demand periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters including coolant flow rate, heat exchanger fan speed, and control valve settings based on real-time conditions, allowing the system to optimize the balance between cooling reliability and energy efficiency by adjusting these parameters according to actual thermal demands
3Reliability
If the system responds reactively to weather changes, then response time is reduced, but performance throttling may occur due to lag in anticipating extreme conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by receiving and processing predicted weather information in advance of actual weather changes, allowing it to proactively adjust cooling parameters before extreme conditions occur, thereby preventing performance throttling while maintaining rapid effective response
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines real-time monitoring feedback with predicted weather data feedback to create a comprehensive control strategy that anticipates future thermal demands, allowing the system to prepare appropriate cooling responses in advance while maintaining the ability to react to actual conditions as they occur
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
Improves the efficiency and reliability of IT cooling by dynamically adjusting cooling power to match the heat load of IT equipment, reducing energy consumption and preventing performance throttling, while also anticipating and preparing for weather-induced changes.
Implementation Method 1
The condenser may be configured to transfer heat from a dielectric vapor in the immersion tank to coolant flowing through the condenser
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchanger may be configured to transfer heat from a coolant to ambient air
Implementation Method 3
Heat exchanger fan speed setting
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of immersion cooling systems and methods of operation are described herein. In one example, a method of operating an immersion cooling system can include providing an immersion cooling system, providing IT equipment to be cooled by the immersion cooling system, performing a readiness check of the immersion cooling system, performing a performance check of the immersion cooling system, determining a cooling power of the immersion cooling system, determining a cooling need of the IT equipment, determining a power delta, and adjusting a setting of the immersion cooling system or a setting of the IT equipment to reduce the power delta if the power delta is nonzero. Other examples may be described and claimed.