Quick-Disconnect Liquid Cooling Loops for Hot-Swappable Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid cooling systems for electronics components require powering down or physical access for maintenance, limiting the ability to remove and replace components without disrupting other circuits, and do not efficiently utilize the thermal transfer capabilities of liquid/liquid heat exchangers.
Innovation Solution
A closed cooling circuit system with quick-disconnect fittings allows for the separation of a liquid/liquid heat exchanger from a main cooling circuit, enabling the use of different liquids and maintaining cooling fluid flow through a bypass line, even when components are removed or the panel is opened, using either a pump or compressor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If quick-disconnect fittings are used to separate removable components from the main cooling circuit, then component replaceability and maintenance ease are improved, but thermal transfer efficiency deteriorates due to the interruption of direct liquid-to-component contact
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into a main host cooling circuit and a separate service loop cooling circuit. The service loop can be quickly disconnected from the heat exchanger via quick-disconnect fittings, allowing component replacement while maintaining a functional cooling path through the service loop's own pump and fluid/air heat exchanger.
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid/air heat exchanger acts as an intermediary cooling mechanism for the service loop. When the quick-disconnect fittings are open and the service loop is disconnected from the main liquid cooling circuit, the fluid/air heat exchanger provides alternative thermal management by transferring heat from the service loop fluid to air.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the back panel is opened or components are removed while under power, then continuous operation is maintained, but cooling capacity is reduced due to loss of direct liquid cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The service loop cooling circuit maintains continuous cooling operation through its own pump and closed-loop configuration. Even when disconnected from the main host cooling circuit via open quick-disconnect fittings, the service loop continues to circulate cooling fluid through its alternative cooling path via the fluid/air heat exchanger, ensuring uninterrupted thermal management.
3Reliability
If direct liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger is used, then thermal transfer performance is improved, but system complexity increases due to the need for quick-disconnect fittings and bypass lines
Solution Approach 1:
The service loop cooling circuit is designed with multi-functionality to handle both connected and disconnected states. The same service loop pump, fluid lines, and fluid/air heat exchanger serve dual purposes: providing cooling when connected to the main circuit and providing standalone cooling when disconnected, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems for each state.
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 solution enables efficient thermal transfer and continued cooling of components during maintenance or component removal without power disruption, utilizing the higher thermal capacity of liquid/liquid heat exchangers and preventing fluid leakage, while allowing for flexible liquid choices in the cooling circuits.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid/liquid heat exchanger and quick-disconnect fittings allows for the separation of removable electronics components from the main cooling circuit
Implementation Method 2
The cooling system can comprise a two-phase loop
Implementation Method 3
an optional refrigeration compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for cooling heat generating components including an electronics cooling circuit loop having a liquid heat exchanger separable from a main liquid cooling circuit manifold by quick-disconnect fittings. This supports the use of different liquids in the electronics subsystem cooling circuit loop and in the main liquid manifold of the master cooling circuit. Also included are two phase loops and an optional compressor.