Integrated Cooling Module Reducing Fluid Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid cooling systems in data centers have inefficiencies due to numerous fluid connections, which can lead to leaks and damage to IT equipment, making thermal management challenging as data centers grow in size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A single integrated cooling module is designed with fewer fluid connections by machining fluid channels into a base frame or permanently coupling them, eliminating internal connections and reducing the risk of leaks, featuring a base frame, fluid supply and return channels, and cold plates as a unified unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional liquid cooling systems use hoses, valves, clamps, and barbs to transport cooling fluid, then the system can be assembled and configured, but the number of fluid connections increases leading to higher leak risk and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the manifold and fluid distribution channels into a single integrated unit. The manifold includes internally formed fluid distribution channels that eliminate the need for separate hoses, clamps, and barbs. This integration reduces the number of fluid connections from multiple external connections to a single unified structure, thereby reducing leak risk and improving reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional manifold designs are used with separate fluid distribution channels, then the manifold can be manufactured and assembled, but the system complexity and potential for leaks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold is designed as an integrated unit where fluid distribution channels are formed as part of the manifold structure itself. This merging of the manifold body and fluid distribution channels eliminates multiple separate components that would require assembly, simplifying manufacturing while simultaneously eliminating the leak risks associated with multiple connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated manifold serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the fluid distribution hub, contains the fluid distribution channels, provides structural support, and eliminates the need for separate connection components. This multi-functionality reduces both the number of parts and the potential for leaks while maintaining ease of manufacture.
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 design reduces the number of fluid connections, minimizing the risk of leaks and enhancing the reliability and efficiency of heat removal in data centers, while maintaining low costs and high quality thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
cold plates (303) attached to a rear surface of the processors to remove heat from the processors
Implementation Method 2
a fluid supply channel (401) and a fluid return channel (404) formed in the base frame (400)... The fluid distribution channels (403) distribute the cooling fluid to heat generating processing modules, capture at least some of that heat, and return the exchanged heat
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a cooling module includes a base frame, a fluid supply channel disposed on the base frame to receive cooling fluid from an external cooling fluid source, a fluid return channel disposed on the base frame to return the cooling fluid, multiple cold plates disposed on the base frame, wherein the cold plates are to be attached to a plurality of data processing modules. The cooling module also includes multiple distribution channels to distribute the cooling fluid received from the fluid supply channel to the cold plates to exchange heat generated by the heat generating modules and to return the cooling fluid carrying the exchanged heat back to the external cooling fluid source via the fluid return channel. The base frame, the fluid supply and return channels, the fluid distribution channels, and the cold plates are integrated as a single integrated cooling unit.