Mountable MEC Server With Passive Cooling for Harsh Edge Sites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile devices face challenges in computational tasks due to increased complexity and application demands, while battery technology has not evolved at the same pace, necessitating a solution for efficient edge computing in harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
A mountable mobile edge computing (MEC) server with passive thermal cooling, high computing power, and memory, designed for harsh conditions, using a LAN on Mother (LOM) board and passive thermal cooling units with cooling blocks and heat pipes, enabling fan-less operation and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If active cooling systems (fans) are used to cool the MEC server, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical fan-based active cooling system with a passive cooling system that uses natural convection and heat pipes. The heat pipes transfer heat from the processor to the heat sink, while natural air convection dissipates the heat without requiring moving parts, thus eliminating the complexity and power consumption associated with fans.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive cooling system operates autonomously without external power input or mechanical intervention. The heat pipes automatically transfer heat based on temperature gradients, and the heat sink dissipates heat through natural convection, making the cooling system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for active control mechanisms.
2Use of energy by moving object
If fan-less passive cooling is implemented, then power consumption is reduced, but cooling capacity may be insufficient for high-performance computing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition technology through heat pipes, which employ phase change of the working fluid (evaporation and condensation) to transfer heat efficiently. This phase transition mechanism enables high heat transfer capacity without requiring mechanical fans, as the phase change process naturally absorbs and releases heat at different locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink is designed with optimized local structures including fins and heat pipe arrangements tailored to specific cooling requirements. The local quality of the heat dissipation surfaces is enhanced to maximize heat transfer efficiency in passive cooling, allowing effective cooling capacity without additional power consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If edge servers are deployed in harsh environments (rain, dust, moisture), then deployment versatility is improved, but reliability decreases due to environmental damage
Solution Approach 1:
The MEC server is enclosed in a protective housing that acts as a flexible barrier against environmental factors. The housing structure, combined with sealed connections and protected internal components, shields the server from rain, dust, and moisture while allowing the server to be deployed in diverse harsh environments without compromising reliability.
4Power
If computational tasks are performed on mobile devices, then computing power is improved, but energy consumption increases due to battery limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The MEC server acts as an intermediary between mobile devices and the cloud. It offloads computationally intensive tasks from mobile devices to the edge server, which has access to more powerful hardware and cooling systems. This intermediary approach enables mobile devices to perform complex computing tasks without consuming excessive battery energy, as the heavy lifting is performed remotely.
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 MEC server provides reliable, efficient computing in harsh environments, supports 5G/6G use cases, enhances user experience, and reduces power consumption, while being easy to deploy on towers or buildings.
Implementation Method 1
a passive thermal cooling unit comprising cooling blocks, a plurality of fins, and heat sinks, is configured to dissipate heat generated in the mountable MEC server, using a passive thermal cooling technique to the heat sinks
Implementation Method 2
dissipate heat generated in the mountable MEC server, using a passive thermal cooling technique to the heat sinks
Data Source
AI summary
Present disclosure generally relates to computing and wireless communications, particularly, to mobile edge computing (MEC) server and method for MEC. The MEC server includes casing. The casing includes scalable processor comprising external Platform controller Hub (PCH) is configured to perform edge computing of network data associated with telecommunication network. Further, MEC server in casing includes Board Management Controller (BMC) communicatively coupled to PCH is configured to manage functions of motherboard and manage access to remote monitoring function of MEC server. Furthermore, MEC server in casing includes ethernet controllers configured to perform fronthaul connectivity with radio unit associated with telecommunication network, or Backhaul connectivity for optical ethernet associated with telecommunication network. Further, MEC server includes passive thermal cooling unit comprising cooling blocks, fins, and heat sinks, to dissipate heat in MEC server, using passive thermal cooling technique to heat sinks.