Two Phase Immersion Cooling Vapor Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current two-phase immersion cooling systems for data centers face significant vapor loss and high maintenance costs due to the proprietary and expensive dielectric liquid, leading to unacceptable temperature rises if not timely replenished.

Innovation Solution

The system design includes a vapor containment enclosure that directs escaping vapor to a remote condenser for recirculation, storing the condensed liquid in a resupply tank for redistribution, eliminating direct vapor return to the immersion tank and reducing vapor escape during maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If two-phase immersion cooling is used to cool high power density chips, then thermal performance is improved, but vapor loss increases and maintenance cost rises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal performanceVSAvoidvapor loss

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful vapor loss into a beneficial recirculation system. The vapor that would normally escape is captured, condensed back to liquid, and returned to the cooling bath, transforming a loss mechanism into a resource recovery system that maintains cooling effectiveness while eliminating substance loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers the dielectric liquid vapor that would otherwise be discarded. Through condensation and resupply mechanisms, the vapor is converted back to liquid form and returned to the immersion cooling bath, preventing substance loss and reducing maintenance costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Use of energy by moving object

If proprietary dielectric liquid is used for two-phase immersion cooling, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but maintenance cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements recovery of the expensive proprietary dielectric liquid through condensation and resupply mechanisms. By capturing vapor and converting it back to liquid for reuse, the system minimizes the need for frequent replenishment, thereby reducing maintenance costs while preserving the heat transfer efficiency benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Device complexity

If vapor is allowed to escape naturally, then system simplicity is maintained, but temperature control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidtemperature control

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the natural vapor escape process into a beneficial recirculation mechanism. By adding condensation and resupply components, the system maintains temperature control while the vapor that would naturally escape is instead captured and returned, preventing temperature rise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where vapor is continuously monitored, condensed, and returned to the cooling bath. This closed-loop approach maintains temperature control by ensuring that the dielectric liquid level and temperature remain within optimal ranges

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 approach minimizes vapor loss and maintenance costs by efficiently recirculating and cooling the dielectric liquid, maintaining stable temperatures and reducing the need for frequent replenishment of the expensive cooling liquid.

Implementation Method 1

the dielectric liquid is a much better heat conductor than air or water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the dielectric liquid boils when contacting the surface of heat generating devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

The cyclical two-phase change between liquid and vapor efficiently removes heat generated by operating devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 4

the vapors rise naturally towards a condenser

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 5

Upon reaching the cold condenser the vapor condenses and releases the heat it removed from the device upon vaporizing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentUS11778791B2Two phase containment system for servers

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 BAIDU USA LLC

AI summary

A two-phase immersion cooling system for cooling electronics. The electronics are immersed in immersion tank filled with dielectric liquid. As liquid evaporates due to heat generated by the electronics, it enters a vapor passageway that leads the vapor to a condenser situated remotely from the immersion tank. Upon condensing at the condenser, the condensed liquid is directed to a resupply tank, wherein the condensed liquid cools. When the level of the dielectric liquid in the immersion tank drops below a set threshold, a pump is activated to deliver the condensed liquid from the resupply tank to the immersion tank. The immersion tank, vapor passageway and condenser are position inside a containment passageway. The containment passageway captures any vapor not entering the vapor passageway and direct such vapor to the condenser. The resupply tank may also be positioned within the containment passageway.