Modular Super-Calculation Architecture With Autonomous Liquid Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular super-calculation architectures face challenges in maintenance, installation, and repairs, particularly in liquid-cooled systems, due to issues with hydraulic circuit management, reliability, and safety, leading to reduced uptime and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A modular super-calculation architecture with independent electronic calculation modules that include autonomous liquid cooling devices, electric power, and a protective container, allowing for hot swapping and easy maintenance without affecting computation performance, using standard electronic cards for inter-functionality and scalability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid cooling is used in modular super-calculation architectures, then cooling efficiency is improved, but maintenance complexity and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into independent modular units, each with its own liquid cooling circuit. This segmentation allows individual modules to be maintained or replaced without affecting the entire system, reducing maintenance complexity while preserving cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid cooling circuit is extracted and integrated directly into each modular unit, separating it from a centralized cooling system. This extraction eliminates complex inter-module hydraulic connections, reducing safety risks and maintenance burden while maintaining effective cooling.
2Temperature
If modular units are connected with hydraulic circuits for liquid cooling, then cooling performance is improved, but reliability and safety decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into independent circuits within each module, eliminating complex inter-module hydraulic connections. This reduces potential failure points and improves reliability while maintaining cooling performance through direct-to-processor cooling in each unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic circuit is extracted from the modular interface and contained entirely within each unit. This eliminates the risk of liquid leakage at connection points between modules, significantly improving safety and reliability while preserving effective cooling through integrated heat sinks.
3Productivity
If blade configuration with rear connection planes is used, then interconnection density is improved, but mechanical wear and connection stability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic connection is extracted from the blade interface, eliminating liquid leakage risks at connection points. Electrical and data connections are maintained through robust mechanical interfaces, separating the problematic hydraulic aspect from the interconnection system.
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized mechanical interface acts as an intermediary between modules, providing stable electrical and data connections without requiring hydraulic connections at the interface. This mediator structure reduces mechanical wear while maintaining high interconnection density.
4Ease of operation
If intervention for maintenance or repairs is performed, then system usability is maintained, but computation performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into independent modules that can be individually maintained or replaced. This allows intervention on a single module without affecting the entire system's computation performance, as other modules continue to operate normally.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling circuit is extracted and integrated into each module, allowing hot-swappable maintenance without liquid leakage risks. This enables maintenance operations to proceed without system shutdown, maintaining usability while preserving overall computation performance.
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 solution enables quick and efficient maintenance, reduces downtime, and maintains computation performance by ensuring each module is independent hydraulically, electrically, and mechanically, while using standard components for simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
one or more autonomous liquid cooling devices disposed intermediate between said electronic cards of the calculation node to define one or more cooled groups of cards in a sandwich
Implementation Method 2
liquid cooled
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
A modular super-calculation architecture (10) comprises a plurality of electronic calculation modules (12) communicating with each other in a network and liquid cooled. Each electronic calculation module (12) includes a calculation node (40), one or more autonomous liquid cooling devices (60), an electric power device (74), a box-like container that encloses and protects inside it at least the calculation node (40), the electric power device (74), and the one or more liquid cooling devices (60). Each electronic calculation module (12) is independent hydraulically, electrically, in terms of network communication and mechanically at least from the other electronic calculation modules (12), and can be inserted and/or removed or substituted hot from said architecture.