Appliance Immersion Cooling System With Plenum Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing appliance immersion cooling systems face issues such as the need for draining cooling fluid for maintenance, non-uniform flow patterns leading to uneven cooling, high fluid flow velocities, poor scalability, and inadequate fail-soft operation, particularly in vertical-stack-type systems using fluorocarbon liquids which are costly and leave residue.
Innovation Solution
A tank module with a dielectric fluid recovery weir, redundant circulation facilities, and a plenum system with orifice plates to ensure uniform fluid distribution, along with a secondary circulation system for heat dissipation, and a control facility for monitoring and controlling fluid parameters to maintain optimal temperature and flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fluorocarbon liquids are used for cooling, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but cost and residue problems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of cooling fluid type from fluorocarbon liquids to mineral oil, maintaining adequate heat transfer properties while eliminating the harmful residue and cost issues associated with fluorocarbon liquids
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts mineral oil which is cheaper and easier to handle than fluorocarbon liquids, accepting that it may need more frequent replacement but gaining significant cost savings and reduced residue problems
2Volume of moving object
If vertical-stack-type systems are used, then space efficiency is improved, but maintenance complexity increases due to draining requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling system into modular components with independent fluid reservoirs and circulation systems, allowing maintenance of individual modules without draining the entire system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary fluid distribution system with multiple independent circulation loops, enabling selective maintenance of specific zones without affecting the entire system
3Device complexity
If constricted fluid supply and return ports are used, then connection simplicity is improved, but fluid flow velocity increases causing inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from constricted single-point ports to distributed multi-point fluid distribution across extended surfaces, maintaining connection simplicity while enabling uniform low-velocity flow throughout the appliance
4Device complexity
If non-uniform flow patterns are present, then system simplicity is maintained, but cooling uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing customized fluid distribution characteristics at different locations within the tank, ensuring each appliance slot receives appropriate flow rates for uniform cooling while maintaining overall system simplicity
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 system provides efficient and uniform cooling across all appliance slots, enhances scalability, and ensures fail-soft operation by minimizing fluid volume and optimizing fluid flow, while reducing maintenance downtime and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
extract heat from electronic circuit assemblies during normal operation
Implementation Method 2
circulation facilities adapted to circulate the dielectric fluid through the tank
Implementation Method 3
heat exchangers adapted to extract heat from the dielectric fluid
Implementation Method 4
dissipating to the environment the heat so extracted
Data Source
AI summary
A appliance immersion tank system comprising: a generally rectangular tank adapted to immerse in a dielectric fluid a plurality of appliances, each in a respective appliance slot distributed vertically along, and extending transverse to, the long axis of the tank; a primary circulation facility adapted to circulate the dielectric fluid through the tank; a secondary fluid circulation facility adapted to extract heat from the dielectric fluid circulating in the primary circulation facility, and to dissipate to the environment the heat so extracted; and a control facility adapted to coordinate the operation of the primary and secondary fluid circulation facilities as a function of the temperature of the dielectric fluid in the tank. A plenum, positioned adjacent the bottom of the tank, is adapted to dispense the dielectric fluid substantially uniformly upwardly through each appliance slot. A weir, integrated horizontally into a long wall of the tank, is adapted to facilitate substantially uniform recovery of the dielectric fluid flowing through each appliance slot. All active and most passive components of both the primary and secondary fluid circulation facilities, and the control facility are fully redundant, and are adapted automatically to operate in a fail-soft mode.