Liquid-Cooled Load Bank Drainage Layout for Clean Cooling Tests
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid-cooled load banks face issues with stagnant liquid retention, which can lead to microbial growth and corrosion, especially when used in conjunction with sensitive electronics like GPUs, and there is a need for effective testing methods to ensure adequate cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
A liquid-cooled load bank design with a reservoir inlet and outlet at the bottom, allowing complete drainage, coupled with a control system for temperature and flow monitoring, and a venting mechanism to prevent stagnant liquid, along with adjustable heating capacity to simulate various cooling loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If liquid is retained in the heating reservoir, then the reservoir can be easily filled and operated, but stagnant liquid leads to microbial growth and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional reservoir design by positioning the inlet and outlet at the bottom rather than at the top. This inversion enables complete drainage of the reservoir through gravity, eliminating stagnant liquid while maintaining ease of operation. The bottom-mounted inlet/outlet configuration allows the reservoir to be emptied completely, preventing microbial growth and corrosion without complicating the filling or operation process.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the reservoir is designed to drain completely, then microbial growth and corrosion are prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reservoir into multiple heating tanks, each with its own inlet and outlet at the bottom. This segmentation allows each tank to drain independently and completely, preventing stagnant liquid without requiring complex drainage systems. The modular tank structure simplifies the overall design while achieving complete drainage capability, as each segment can be emptied through its bottom-mounted outlet.
3Adaptability or versatility
If heating capacity is increased to simulate higher cooling loads, then testing capability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic heating capacity adjustment through multiple heating elements that can be independently controlled. This allows the system to adapt its heating capacity to match different cooling load requirements, improving testing versatility. The dynamic control enables the system to use only the necessary energy for each test scenario, avoiding excessive energy consumption while maintaining the ability to simulate various cooling loads from low to high capacity.
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
Prevents microbial growth and corrosion, ensures thorough cleaning, and effectively tests cooling systems to ensure they can handle the heating demands of sensitive equipment by simulating target loads and adjusting heating capacity as needed.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heating element adapted for heating liquid within the heating reservoir
Implementation Method 2
liquid-cooled load banks (LCLBs) are used to test liquid cooling systems
Implementation Method 3
determining whether the liquid cooling system provides enough cooling to dissipate the target heating load
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid-cooled load bank is provided. The liquid-cooled load bank can include a base; a heating reservoir coupled to the base, where the heating reservoir includes a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet; and at least one heating element adapted for heating liquid within the heating reservoir, where the reservoir inlet comprises an inlet opening in a bottom of the heating reservoir. A method is also provided where the liquid-cooled load bank is used to calibrate and test a cooling system.