Immersion Liquid Cooling Rack Slide Rail Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current immersion liquid cooling systems are inadequate for handling the increasing heat generated by high-performance computer components, as traditional air cooling methods are insufficient due to the limited capacity and weight handling of existing systems.
Innovation Solution
The design of an immersion liquid cooling rack with vertically aligned tanks that can slide in and out, supported by horizontal extendable slide rails and wheel assemblies, allowing for increased capacity and accessibility for heat-generating components while managing eccentric loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional air cooling methods are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but heat removal capacity is insufficient for high-performance components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical air cooling system with a liquid immersion cooling system. The coolant liquid directly contacts the heat-generating components, substituting air as the heat transfer medium. This provides superior thermal performance with a heat transfer coefficient 24 times greater than air, effectively resolving the insufficient heat removal capacity while maintaining system simplicity through direct liquid-to-component contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the cooling medium from gas (air) to liquid (coolant). This parameter change enables dramatically improved heat transfer coefficients and thermal conductivity, allowing the system to handle the increased heat loads from high-performance components while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If computing components are placed side-by-side in a tank, then accessibility for servicing is improved, but the quantity of devices that can be stored is limited by tank footprint
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a horizontal side-by-side arrangement to a vertical stacked configuration. By utilizing the vertical dimension, multiple tanks can be arranged one above another, significantly increasing the quantity of computing components that can be housed in the same footprint while maintaining accessibility through the slide rail mechanism that allows tanks to be extended outward for servicing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested arrangement where multiple tanks are vertically stacked within the rack structure. Each tank contains computing components immersed in coolant, and the nested vertical configuration maximizes space utilization. The slide rail system enables each nested tank to be independently accessed by extending outward, maintaining serviceability while increasing component density.
3Quantity of substance
If vertically aligned tanks are used to increase density, then quantity of components is improved, but load management and accessibility become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic elements to the vertically stacked tank system through slide rails and wheel assemblies. The slide rails enable tanks to move horizontally between a retracted position (for space efficiency) and an extended position (for accessibility). The wheel assemblies facilitate smooth movement and positioning, making it easy to access and service individual tanks in the vertical stack without difficult manual handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs slide rails and wheel assemblies as intermediary mechanisms between the vertically stacked tanks and the operator. These intermediaries translate vertical stacking into accessible horizontal movement, allowing tanks to be easily extended outward for servicing and then smoothly retracted. This intermediary system resolves the conflict between vertical density and operational ease by providing a mechanical interface that simplifies load management and tank accessibility.
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 solution enables a higher density of heat-generating components to be cooled efficiently, with improved accessibility and load management, enhancing the thermal performance and operational capacity of immersion liquid cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
the heat transfer coefficient of air is only 0.024 W/mK while a coolant, such as water, has a heat transfer coefficient of 0.58 W/mK, which is 24 times than that of air. Thus, liquid cooling is more effective in transporting heat away from a heat source
Implementation Method 2
Each support structure includes a wheel assembly disposed at the base of the support structure. The support structures extend from the base of the immersion liquid cooling tank to a floor surface supporting the rack, such that the horizontal extendable slide rails and the support structures with wheel assemblies substantially support an operational immersion liquid cooling tank during a horizontal translation
Data Source
AI summary
An immersion liquid cooling tank rack for heat-generating components includes immersion liquid cooling tanks for containing a coolant liquid. Horizontal extendable slide rails are mounted on opposing side faces of each tank and on opposing side walls of the rack. The horizontal extendable slide rails are movable between a closed position and an extended open position to allow the tanks to slide horizontally in and out of the rack. Support structures are mounted to the base of each of the immersion liquid cooling tanks. Each support structure includes a wheel assembly disposed at the base of the support structure. The support structures extend from the base of the tank to a floor surface supporting the rack. The horizontal extendable slide rails and the support structures substantially support an operational immersion liquid cooling tank during a horizontal translation of the tank between the closed position and the extended open position.