Rack-Mounted Liquid Cooling Manifold for Immersion Servicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing immersion cooling systems for computing devices require significant resources and time to service, as they necessitate removal of devices from cooling tanks and draining of liquids, often relying on robotic arms and large cooling tanks.
Innovation Solution
A liquid cooling system with a rack configuration that allows computing devices to be mounted at an angle, featuring an input manifold, output manifold, and drain manifold, which enables fluid coupling and decoupling to manage cooling liquid flow, including a pump, reserve tank, and heat exchanger for efficient cooling and servicing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If computing devices are removed from cooling tanks for servicing, then the computing devices can be serviced, but the liquid must be allowed to drain off the computing device via gravity which requires time and resources
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the liquid draining function from the gravity-dependent process by introducing an active pumping system. The pump is positioned to receive liquid from the cooling tank and actively transport it through a conduit system, separating the draining function from passive gravitational flow and enabling controlled, rapid liquid removal during device servicing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a conduit as an intermediary element between the cooling tank and the drainage system. This conduit serves as a dedicated liquid transport pathway that facilitates efficient liquid removal during device extraction, mediating the transfer of liquid from the tank to the drainage point without requiring the device itself to be the drainage pathway.
2Extent of automation
If robotic arms are used to remove computing devices from cooling tanks, then device removal can be automated, but the system requires large expenditure of resources
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the device removal and liquid handling functions into separate, independent systems. The manual or automated device extraction is separated from the liquid management function, which is handled by the dedicated pump and conduit system. This segmentation allows flexible choice of extraction method while ensuring efficient liquid handling through specialized equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system performs self-service liquid management through the integrated pump and conduit system. When a device is removed from the tank, the pump automatically activates to drain the liquid, eliminating the need for external intervention or complex robotic systems to handle both device and liquid simultaneously. The system serves itself by automatically managing liquid flow during the servicing process.
3Temperature
If large cooling tanks are used for immersion cooling, then effective cooling of computing devices can be achieved, but servicing requires removal of devices and draining of large volumes of liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the passive gravitational drainage system with an active mechanical pumping system. The pump provides controlled, directed liquid flow to remove coolant from the tank during servicing, substituting the natural but slow gravitational flow with a mechanically driven system that can rapidly and controllably manage large volumes of liquid, thereby simplifying the servicing process despite the large tank size.
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 reduces the need for extensive resource allocation and time by allowing gravity-assisted liquid flow and controlled drainage, enhancing the efficiency of servicing and cooling operations while maintaining effective heat management.
Implementation Method 1
immersion cooling involves submerging electronic components in a liquid that is thermally conductive
Implementation Method 2
The rack system can be connected to a pump system for pumping the liquid into and out of the rack
Implementation Method 3
to and from external heat exchangers, heat pumps, or other thermal dissipation/recovery devices
Implementation Method 4
the liquid must be allowed to drain off the computing device (e.g., via gravity)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A system having a rack, an input manifold, an output manifold, and a drain manifold is installed. The rack is configured to support a computing device. The input manifold, the output manifold, and the drain manifold are each configured to be fluidly coupled to the housing. When the computing device is in a first position relative to the rack, the input manifold and the output manifold are fluidly coupled to the housing and the drain manifold is disconnected from the housing. When the computing device is in a second position relative to the rack, the input manifold and the output manifold are disconnected from the housing and the drain manifold is fluidly coupled to the housing. When the computing device is in a third position relative to the rack, the input manifold, the output manifold, and the drain manifold are disconnected from the housing.