Modular Cooling Distribution Unit With Redundant Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid cooling distribution units in information handling systems face challenges with high availability due to component failures, requiring additional space and resources for redundancy, which increases costs and reduces power density.
Innovation Solution
A modular liquid-to-air cooling distribution unit is designed with 1+1 redundancy for active components like pumps and no redundancy for passive components like heat exchangers, optimizing space and cost by configuring the unit to occupy the same rack space as a non-redundant unit, with a heat exchanger at the front and redundant pump modules at the rear, and employing quick disconnects for tool-less servicing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If 1+1 redundancy is implemented for all active components in conventional cooling distribution units, then system availability is improved, but rack space requirements and system cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling distribution unit is divided into modular components: a heat exchange module and multiple pump modules. Each pump module is independently redundant, allowing selective redundancy implementation. The modular design enables the system to achieve 1+1 redundancy for pumps while maintaining a compact form factor that fits within standard rack spaces, thus improving reliability without proportionally increasing rack space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The redundant pump modules are designed to occupy the same rack space as a single non-redundant unit would. The modules are nested or arranged in a space-efficient configuration where the redundant components share the same physical envelope, allowing high availability without increasing the overall rack footprint.
2Reliability
If 1+1 redundancy is implemented for all active components, then system availability is improved, but the number of external conduits and coolant resources roughly double
Solution Approach 1:
The redundant pump modules share common fluidic connections to the heat exchange module and manifold system. Both pump modules connect to the same coolant distribution infrastructure, allowing them to share coolant resources rather than requiring duplicate coolant supplies. This multi-functional connection approach enables redundancy while conserving coolant resources and reducing the number of external conduits needed.
3Reliability
If conventional cooling distribution units are designed with redundant components, then system availability is improved, but power density of the rack is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the cooling system into modular pump units with selective redundancy, the patent enables precise placement of redundant components only where needed for reliability. This segmentation allows the majority of rack space to be dedicated to high-power computing hardware, maintaining high power density while providing targeted redundancy for critical cooling functions.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional cooling distribution units lack redundant components, then cost and space are conserved, but hot servicing of pumps and mechanically active components is not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The pump modules are designed with dynamic reconfiguration capability through quick disconnect couplings that allow hot swapping. The fluidic connections incorporate quick disconnect features enabling pump modules to be removed and replaced while the system remains operational. This dynamic design provides hot servicing capability without requiring full system shutdown, balancing ease of repair with operational continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The redundant pump modules are pre-configured with quick disconnect couplings and standardized interfaces that enable rapid replacement. The redundant component is prepared in advance and can be immediately swapped in when a failure occurs, facilitating hot servicing without disrupting system operation. This preliminary preparation of redundant components with service-friendly interfaces enables easy maintenance while maintaining system availability.
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
This configuration achieves high availability equivalent to conventional 1+1 redundant systems while conserving space and resources, maintaining high reliability and reducing costs by allowing hot servicing of pump modules without disrupting operation.
Implementation Method 1
The heat exchange module includes a heat exchanger to dissipate heat from a liquid coolant
Implementation Method 2
a fan assembly to move heated air in proximity to the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
each of which is configured to circulate liquid coolant through a closed loop circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A highly available and modular cooling distribution unit (CDU) includes a heat exchange module and a pair of redundant pump modules, all configured to occupy a designated rack space that is comparable to rack space required for a conventional 1×CDU without redundancy. The heat exchange module may be fluidically coupled to one or more rack information handling resources via liquid coolant conduits, manifolds and accompanying valves, sensors, etc. In at least one embodiment, the heat exchange module includes a heat exchanger to dissipate heat from a liquid coolant and a fan assembly to move heated air in proximity to the heat exchanger. Each pump module is coupled to the heat exchange module and configured to circulate liquid coolant through a closed loop circuit that includes the heat exchanger, the liquid coolant conduits and manifolds, and information handling resources.