Micro-Grooved Boiler Prevents Dry-Out in Immersion Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional immersion-cooling boilers experience heat transfer inefficiency due to dry-out, where boiling-triggered bubbles block the flow of working liquid, preventing effective heat dissipation from heat generating objects.
Innovation Solution
A two-phase immersion-cooling micro-grooved boiler with a capillary layer featuring micro-grooves on the heat transfer plate, allowing working liquid to flow into capillary pores without being blocked by bubbles, enhancing heat exchange efficiency and fluid flow-back.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional immersion-cooling boiler is used, then heat dissipation is achieved through two-phase fluid boiling, but boiling-triggered bubbles block the flow of working liquid causing dry-out and heat transfer failure
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer plate surface is segmented into multiple micro-grooves that divide the boiling surface into separate channels. This segmentation allows working liquid to flow through defined paths while bubbles are confined to specific regions, preventing complete surface blockage and maintaining continuous heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the heat transfer plate are given different functions: micro-grooves provide fluid flow channels while the spaces between them serve as boiling chambers. This local differentiation ensures that bubble formation occurs in designated areas while maintaining open pathways for working liquid replenishment.
2Device complexity
If the outflow pressure of bubbles equals or exceeds the inflow pressure of working liquid, then bubbles cover the entire outer surface of the boiler, but this prevents working liquid from contacting the heat transfer plate
Solution Approach 1:
The boiler surface is divided into multiple micro-groove channels that create separate flow paths. This segmentation maintains structural simplicity while preventing complete surface coverage by bubbles, ensuring continuous working liquid contact with the heat transfer plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The introduction of micro-grooves adds a dimensional feature to the otherwise flat heat transfer plate surface. This dimensional change creates three-dimensional flow channels that guide working liquid while allowing bubbles to escape laterally, maintaining heat transfer efficiency without complex internal structures.
3Reliability
If the entire outer surface of the boiler is covered by boiling-triggered bubbles, then heat transfer fails due to dry-out, but increasing working liquid flow pressure may cause other issues
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer plate is segmented into micro-groove channels that provide dedicated pathways for working liquid flow. This segmentation maintains stable heat transfer by ensuring continuous liquid contact while avoiding the need to increase overall working liquid pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The micro-grooves act as intermediary structures that facilitate working liquid flow without requiring high pressure. These grooves serve as conduits that guide the liquid through the boiling region, maintaining contact with the heat transfer plate while bubbles form and escape in the inter-groove spaces.
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
The micro-grooved design prevents dry-out, improving heat exchange efficiency and maintaining consistent fluid flow, thereby ensuring effective heat dissipation from heat generating objects.
Implementation Method 1
the capillary layer has an array of micro-grooves, which divides the capillary layer into a plurality of heat dissipating units. A bottom surface of the micro-grooves is coated with a thermal resistance layer... the working liquid can flow into the capillary pores of the heat dissipating units from the sidewall of the micro-grooves
Implementation Method 2
the boiler is in thermal contact with heat generating objects and submerged within a non-conductive insulating working liquid. When heat generating objects are in operation, a great deal of heat is generated, and then transferred to the boiler through a copper heat transfer plate
Implementation Method 3
the working fluid is boiled due to absorbing the heat of the boiler. The boiling-triggered bubbles flow out from the outer surface of the boiler
Implementation Method 4
the working fluid is boiled due to absorbing the heat of the boiler
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a two-phase immersion-cooling micro-grooved boiler, which is mainly used for heat dissipation of heat generating objects. The boiler comprises a heat transfer member and a capillary layer positioned in tight contact with a surface of the heat transfer member. The capillary layer has an array of micro-grooves which divides the capillary layer into a plurality of heat dissipating units. The bottom surface of the micro-grooves is coated with a thermal resistance layer. While the boiler operates, the working liquid can flow into the heat dissipating units from the sidewall of the micro-grooves without being blocked from contact with the heat transfer member by boiling-triggered bubbles. As a result, dry-out of the heat transfer member can be avoided, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the boiler and the flow-back rate of the working fluid.