Liquid Cooling Flow Rate Estimation via Thermal Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid cooling systems lack a direct means to measure coolant flow rates, hindering system health monitoring and flow balancing.
Innovation Solution
An information handling system with temperature sensors and a controller that estimates fluid flow rate based on power consumption and temperature differences across the liquid cooling system, using energy balance and thermal resistance characterized approaches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If no direct flow rate measurement is implemented in the liquid cooling system, then the system complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost is lowered, but the ability to monitor system health and balance flow is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses temperature as an intermediary parameter to indirectly measure flow rate. Instead of directly measuring flow rate with complex sensors, the system measures temperature differences across the cold plate and uses these temperature readings as intermediate data to calculate flow rate through energy balance equations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical flow rate measurement systems (flow meters, sensors) with a thermal-based measurement approach. By substituting mechanical measurement infrastructure with temperature sensing and computational analysis, the system achieves flow rate monitoring without the complexity of direct mechanical measurement devices.
2Measurement precision
If temperature sensors and control logic are added to estimate flow rate, then flow rate information becomes available for monitoring and control, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensors serve multiple functions: they monitor component temperature for thermal management, measure temperature differential for flow rate calculation, and provide data for system health diagnostics. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated flow rate sensors and minimizes overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its existing temperature sensing infrastructure and operational data (power consumption, temperature readings) to self-determine flow rate information. The control logic leverages data already being collected for thermal management purposes, allowing the system to derive flow rate information without requiring external measurement devices.
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
Enables accurate estimation of coolant flow rates without direct flow rate measurement, enhancing system health monitoring and balancing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid cooling system thermally coupled to the information handling resource and configured to cool the information handling resource via transfer of heat from the information handling resource to liquid coolant
Implementation Method 2
transfer of heat from the information handling resource to liquid coolant flowing in the liquid cooling system
Implementation Method 3
based on the power information, the first temperature information, and the second temperature information, estimate a fluid flow rate of the liquid coolant through the liquid cooling system
Implementation Method 4
using energy balance and thermal resistance characterized approaches
Data Source
AI summary
A method may include receiving power information from an information handling resource regarding an amount of electrical power consumed by the information handling resource, receiving first temperature information from a first temperature sensor regarding a first temperature, receiving second temperature information from the second temperature sensor regarding a second temperature, and based on the power information, the first temperature information, and the second temperature information, estimating a fluid flow rate of the liquid coolant through the liquid cooling system.