Immersion Cooling Tank Layout for Uniform Dielectric Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing appliance immersion cooling systems face challenges such as the need to drain cooling fluid for maintenance, non-uniform fluid flow patterns, high fluid velocities at connection points, poor scalability, and inadequate fail-soft operation, particularly in systems using fluorocarbon liquids.
Innovation Solution
A tank-based immersion cooling system with a primary circulation facility for uniform fluid distribution, a secondary circulation facility for heat extraction and dissipation, and a control facility to manage fluid circulation based on temperature, incorporating redundant components for fail-soft operation and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If fluorocarbon liquid is used for cooling, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but fluid volume and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cooling fluid into two distinct circuits: a primary circulation facility that contacts the appliances for heat absorption, and a secondary circulation facility that contacts the heat exchanger for heat dissipation. This segmentation allows minimized fluid volume in the primary circuit while maintaining efficient heat transfer, resolving the contradiction between heat transfer efficiency and fluid volume.
2Ease of operation
If conventional circulation systems are used, then fluid flow is maintained, but flow uniformity and velocity control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation facilities incorporate flow distribution manifolds with multiple outlet ports strategically positioned to deliver uniform fluid flow to each appliance. Flow control valves at each outlet enable localized velocity adjustment, ensuring optimal flow uniformity across all appliances while controlling fluid velocity at connection points, resolving the contradiction between flow uniformity and velocity control.
3Loss of energy
If single circulation system is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but heat extraction efficiency and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into a primary circulation facility for heat absorption from appliances and a secondary circulation facility for heat dissipation via heat exchanger. This segmentation improves heat extraction efficiency by dedicating each circuit to a specific function, while the modular structure manages system complexity through functional separation and independent optimization of each circulation loop.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat exchanger acts as an intermediary between the primary and secondary circulation facilities, enabling heat transfer from the cooling fluid to the environment without direct contact between the two fluid circuits. This intermediary component achieves efficient heat extraction while maintaining system manageability through indirect heat transfer and independent circuit operation.
4Ease of repair
If maintenance access is required, then serviceability is improved, but system downtime and fluid loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system design extracts the maintenance requirement from the operational fluid circuit by providing separate access ports and service connections for the primary circulation facility. This allows maintenance personnel to service the cooling fluid and components without draining the entire system or shutting down appliance operations, resolving the contradiction between maintenance access and system downtime.
5Reliability
If minimal redundancy is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but fail-soft operation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates preliminary redundancy design in the circulation facilities, where backup pumps and flow control mechanisms are pre-installed in the primary and secondary circulation loops. This preliminary action ensures that if one component fails, the redundant component can immediately take over, maintaining fail-soft operation without requiring complex real-time decision systems, thus balancing reliability with manageable complexity.
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 with enhanced scalability, fail-soft operation, and energy conservation by minimizing fluid volume and optimizing fluid flow, outperforming prior art techniques.
Implementation Method 1
a primary circulation facility adapted to circulate the dielectric fluid through the tank
Implementation Method 2
extract heat from the dielectric fluid circulating in the primary circulation facility
Implementation Method 3
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
Data Source
AI summary
An 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.