Rack-Mounted Liquid Cooling With Heated-Flow Recirculation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid cooling solutions for rack-mounted assemblies in datacenters struggle to optimize temperature control of cooling liquids and heated liquids, leading to inefficiencies in heat dissipation and potential electronic component failures.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that involves determining differential temperature values and redirecting heated liquid flows using valves, potentially with machine learning predictions, to maintain optimal temperature differentials and improve cooling efficiency by recycling heated liquid within or between rack-mounted assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid cooling blocks are used to directly cool heat-generating electronic data processing elements, then cooling efficiency is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs temperature sensors to continuously monitor the temperature of cooling liquid before and after the heat-generating components. A controller receives these temperature signals and adjusts the flow rate of cooling liquid accordingly, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains precise temperature control while ensuring adequate cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the flow rate of cooling liquid based on real-time temperature conditions. The controller modifies valve positions or pump speeds to optimize cooling performance under varying thermal loads, enabling the system to adapt between high cooling efficiency modes and precise temperature control modes as needed.
2Power
If liquid immersive cooling is used to cool heat-generating electronic data processing elements, then cooling capacity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into modular components including separate cooling circuits for different zones, individual temperature sensors at key points, and distributed valve control points. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high cooling capacity through multiple parallel cooling paths while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides active cooling through liquid circulation, monitors temperature across multiple zones, regulates flow rates dynamically, and can operate in different modes (immersive, block cooling, or hybrid). This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated solution.
3Productivity
If hybrid liquid cooling solutions are used to maximize cooling of heat-generating electronic data processing elements, then cooling performance is improved, but loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes operating parameters such as cooling liquid flow rate, valve positions, and pump speeds based on real-time temperature measurements and thermal load conditions. This allows the hybrid cooling system to optimize the balance between cooling performance and energy consumption by adjusting parameters to match actual thermal requirements rather than operating at constant high performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic monitoring and adjustment cycles where temperature sensors continuously measure conditions, the controller analyzes thermal states, and flow rates are adjusted in periodic intervals. This periodic control enables the system to maintain high cooling performance while minimizing energy loss by avoiding constant operation at maximum capacity.
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
Enhances cooling efficiency by maintaining optimal temperature differentials, increasing cooling capacity with the same liquid volume, and preventing electronic component failures by dynamically managing liquid flow and heat absorption.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid cooling blocks are positioned to be in direct thermal contact with the heat-generating electronic data processing elements, so that the received cooling liquid absorbs the generated heat
Implementation Method 2
the heated liquid is circulated, via the cooling circuit, back to the cooling liquid source for recooling
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid cooling method and system for a rack-mounted assembly to control cooling liquid temperature are disclosed. The system includes a cooling circuit circulating a cooling liquid to a rack-mounted assembly and a heated liquid from the rack-mounted assembly, a dry cooling module supplying the cooling liquid and receiving the heated liquid for recooling. A controller is communicatively coupled to an input liquid temperature sensor, an output liquid temperature sensor, and a valve. The controller determines an input cooling liquid temperature value, an output heated liquid temperature value, calculates a differential temperature value, and in response to the calculated differential temperature value being below a target differential temperature value, redirects at least a portion of a flow of the heated liquid egressing from an outlet of the rack-mounted assembly to an inlet of the rack-mounted assembly.