Inclined Filter Assembly for Immersion Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Immersion cooling systems face challenges in maintaining the purity of coolant fluids due to contamination, which requires active filtering that consumes energy and results in coolant loss, and existing designs often require large volumes of expensive coolant fluid.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a filter assembly with a filter housing and cartridge positioned at an inclined angle within the tank, utilizing natural convection to induce fluid flow through the filter, minimizing the horizontal footprint and coolant volume, and using a secure, removable filter cartridge design to efficiently filter contaminants while minimizing fluid usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active filtering is used to maintain coolant purity, then filtering effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is designed to be passively driven by natural convection currents generated by the heated electronic equipment itself. The heated fluid rises and draws unfiltered coolant through the filter assembly without requiring external pumps or active filtration systems, making the filtering process self-powered and energy-efficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces active mechanical filtration systems (pumps, motors) with passive natural convection-driven flow. The buoyancy forces generated by temperature differences naturally drive the coolant through the filter assembly, eliminating the need for energy-consuming mechanical components.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional horizontal filter design is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but coolant volume required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter cartridge is oriented at an inclined angle (5-25 degrees from vertical) rather than horizontally or vertically. This angular orientation allows the filter to be positioned in the natural convection flow path while minimizing the horizontal footprint and reducing the overall coolant volume required in the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter housing features asymmetric inlet and outlet cross-sectional areas, with the inlet having a larger area than the outlet. This asymmetric design optimizes fluid flow dynamics and enhances the efficiency of natural convection-driven filtration while maintaining a compact form factor.
3Ease of operation
If filter cartridge is positioned horizontally, then ease of operation is improved, but horizontal space occupied increases
Solution Approach 1:
By orienting the filter cartridge at an inclined angle rather than horizontally, the design reduces the horizontal footprint while still allowing accessible positioning. The inclined configuration enables the filter to be reached and serviced while occupying minimal horizontal space within the cooling system.
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 configuration effectively filters contaminants with minimal energy consumption and reduced coolant volume, allowing for efficient cooling while maintaining the purity of the coolant fluid, thus enhancing the energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the immersion cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
Heat generated by the electronic equipment when immersed in the tank produces a convective flow at first, and later with increasing fluid temperature, a turbulent flow of heat transfer fluid through the filter housing
Implementation Method 2
There are one or more filter assemblies, each filter assembly having a filter housing with an inlet and an outlet and containing a filter cartridge
Data Source
AI summary
An immersion cooling system for electronic equipment including a tank adapted to hold a liquid heat transfer fluid into which the electronic equipment can be immersed and a filter assembly(ies) having a filter housing with an inlet and an outlet and containing a filter cartridge. In some embodiments the filter assembly(ies) is adapted to be located in the heat transfer fluid in the tank, such that a cross-sectional area of the filter housing inlet is greater than a cross-sectional area of the filter housing outlet, the filter housing inlet is substantially vertically oriented on a side of the filter housing, the filter cartridge is positioned within the filter housing at an inclined angle relative to the filter housing inlet, and the filter housing outlet is disposed adjacent to a top of the housing. Advantageously, heat generated by the immersed electronic equipment produces a convective flow of heat transfer fluid through the filter housing.