Immersion Cooling Conversion Using High-Boiling Single-Phase Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing two-phase and hybrid immersion cooling systems face high costs due to the use of expensive, non-flammable, thermally conductive, dielectric, low boiling point fluorochemicals, necessitating a conversion to one-phase systems using less expensive fluids, but no convenient method exists for such conversions.
Innovation Solution
Modify the two-phase or hybrid immersion cooling system by altering the fluid flow direction, removing condensers, and integrating high boiling point fluids with heat exchangers or hot fluid holding tanks to convert to a one-phase system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If two-phase or hybrid immersion cooling systems use low boiling point fluorochemicals, then thermal management effectiveness is improved, but operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the boiling point parameter of the operating fluid from low (two-phase) to high (single-phase), enabling the use of cheaper fluids like hydrocarbons while maintaining effective thermal management through modified system architecture including heat exchangers and hot fluid holding tanks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, specialized fluorochemicals with inexpensive, readily available hydrocarbon-based fluids, accepting that the cheaper fluid may have shorter operational lifespan or require more frequent replacement, thereby reducing operational costs
2Device complexity
If condensers are removed during conversion to one-phase system, then device complexity is reduced, but heat rejection capability must be maintained through alternative means
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes condensers from the system during conversion from two-phase to single-phase cooling, extracting this component to simplify the system architecture while compensating for its heat rejection function through heat exchangers that transfer heat from the operating fluid to a separate coolant stream
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coolant as an intermediary substance that carries heat away from the system. The coolant flows through heat exchangers, absorbing heat from the single-phase operating fluid and transporting it to external heat rejection facilities, thereby maintaining heat rejection capability without condensers
3Ease of manufacture
If high boiling point fluids are used in one-phase systems, then operational costs are reduced, but thermal management efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the thermal parameters of the system by using high boiling point fluids, which require higher temperatures to achieve phase change. This is compensated by designing heat exchangers with appropriate temperature differentials and flow rates to maintain effective heat transfer and thermal management efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replicates the thermal management function of expensive fluorochemicals using inexpensive hydrocarbon-based fluids, copying the cooling effect through proper system design including heat exchanger configuration and flow management, thereby achieving cost reduction without significant loss of thermal performance
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
Enables the conversion of two-phase systems to one-phase systems using cost-effective, high boiling point fluids, enhancing thermal management efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The heat transfer to the operating fluid can occur via natural convection and/or forced convection. In natural convection the operating fluid utilizes gravity currents for circulation
Implementation Method 2
In forced convection, a pump is used to circulate the operating fluid within from the reservoir, through the heat exchanger, and back to the reservoir
Implementation Method 3
transfers it to a coolant via a heat exchanger, which the rejects the transferred heat at a facility level
Implementation Method 4
In forced convection, a pump is used to circulate the operating fluid within from the reservoir, through the heat exchanger, and back to the reservoir
Implementation Method 5
When sufficiently heated by the heat generating components, the low boiling point composition evaporate, and releases its heat to a condenser
Implementation Method 6
the low boiling point composition evaporate, and releases its heat to a condenser, which returns the evaporated vapor to its liquid phase
Data Source
AI summary
A two-phase or hybrid immersive cooling system is converted to a one-phase immersive cooling system, by (1) modifying a structure of the two-phase immersive cooling system such that a cooled portion of a substitute operating fluid flows into the operating fluid reservoir from a direction other than from above the reservoir, and (2) using a high boiling point composition as the substitute operating fluid. In some embodiments the tube condensers of the two-phase or hybrid immersive cooling system are retained, and in other embodiments at least portions of the regions previously occupied by tube condensers are used for heat exchangers, and optionally fluid pumps. In still other embodiments at least portions of the regions previously occupied by tube condensers are used for hot fluid holding tanks.