Direct Liquid Cooling Leak Detection via Differential Chip Temperatures
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for detecting coolant leakage in direct liquid cooling systems face challenges such as sensor bias and noise, leading to increased design costs and reduced reliability, particularly when cooling individual IC chips.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the formation of a differential temperature signal by subtracting temperature readings from adjacent processors on a circuit board, followed by low-pass filtering and applying activation functions to detect coolant leakage, thereby reducing noise and improving detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sensors or fluorescent dyes are used to detect coolant leakage, then leakage detection capability is provided, but sensor bias and noise increase design costs and reduce reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the leakage detection capability from complex sensor systems and fluorescent dye methods, replacing them with a simplified approach that uses existing temperature sensors and processing to detect leaks through temperature differential analysis, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the temperature sensors already present for processor monitoring to simultaneously detect coolant leaks, eliminating the need for separate specialized sensors. The existing thermal management infrastructure serves dual purposes: cooling monitoring and leak detection
2Reliability
If specialized sensors or fluorescent dyes are used for coolant leakage detection, then leakage detection is enabled, but design costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the temperature sensing system universal by enabling it to perform both its original function (monitoring processor temperatures for thermal management) and a new function (detecting coolant leaks through differential temperature analysis), thereby eliminating the need for additional specialized sensors and reducing design costs
Solution Approach 2:
The existing temperature monitoring infrastructure serves itself by also performing leak detection, eliminating the need for separate specialized sensors and fluorescent dye systems, thereby reducing design costs while maintaining detection capability
3Measurement precision
If temperature readings from individual processors are used directly for leak detection, then simple measurement is achieved, but sensor bias and noise reduce detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the temperature measurement approach by comparing differential temperatures between adjacent processors rather than relying on absolute temperature readings from individual processors. This segmentation approach isolates the leak signal from general thermal conditions and reduces the impact of sensor bias and noise
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a differential temperature calculation as an intermediary step between raw sensor readings and leak detection. By computing the temperature difference between adjacent processors and analyzing its distribution, the system mediates the transition from noisy individual measurements to reliable leak detection
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
Enhances coolant leakage detection sensitivity and reduces false positives by differentiating between normal and abnormal temperature distributions, allowing for timely corrective actions.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid coolant is circulated directly over the surface of an integrated circuit (IC) chip to dissipate heat efficiently
Implementation Method 2
A differential temperature signal is formed by subtracting the temperature readings of the first processor from the temperature readings of the second processor
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for detecting coolant leakage in direct liquid cooling systems are disclosed. Liquid coolant is flowed through cold plates that are attached to adjacent processors. Sensor readings of the processors are formed into a differential signal. Distribution of the differential signal is determined. Leakage of the liquid coolant is detected from the distribution of the differential signal.