Rail-Based Liquid Cooling for Information Handling Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional air-cooling methods for information handling systems become inefficient as they require more powerful fans and increased airflow to manage heat, leading to higher power consumption, larger system sizes, and excessive noise, while also failing to maintain optimal temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A rail system is introduced that includes stationary and sliding rails fluidically coupled to external conduits and a heat exchanger, allowing for efficient fluid cooling of information handling resources by transferring heat from components to a cooling fluid, which is then recycled through the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air cooling methods are used for information handling systems, then the system can dissipate heat, but the power consumption increases, system size increases, and noise becomes excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies liquid cooling through stationary and sliding rails that deliver coolant directly to heat-generating components. This hydraulic cooling method replaces traditional air cooling, providing superior heat dissipation efficiency with lower power consumption and reduced noise from pumps compared to high-speed fans.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent cooling circuits with stationary rails and sliding rails that can be independently controlled. Each rail can be tailored to specific cooling requirements of different components, optimizing cooling effectiveness while minimizing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Temperature

If air cooling methods are used for information handling systems, then the system can dissipate heat, but the system size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidsystem size

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Liquid cooling through rails provides more efficient heat transfer per unit volume compared to air cooling. This allows for compact cooling infrastructure with smaller heat exchangers and reduced space requirements for cooling components, directly addressing the system size issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling system transitions from three-dimensional air flow paths to more efficient liquid flow channels within the rails, utilizing the internal volume of the stationary and sliding rails for heat transfer. This dimensional optimization reduces the overall space required for effective cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Temperature

If air cooling methods are used for information handling systems, then the system can dissipate heat, but the noise becomes excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid cooling system using pumps and fluid flow generates significantly less noise compared to high-speed fans required for air cooling. The hydraulic system operates quietly while providing superior cooling performance, eliminating the excessive noise problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

4Temperature

If fan power is increased to provide adequate cooling, then cooling effectiveness improves, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs liquid cooling through stationary and sliding rails that deliver coolant directly to heat-generating components. This hydraulic cooling method provides superior heat dissipation efficiency with lower power consumption from pumps compared to high-speed fans, directly resolving the trade-off between cooling effectiveness and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 reduces the disadvantages of traditional cooling methods by enhancing heat transfer efficiency, minimizing power consumption, and maintaining lower temperatures within the information handling system, thus improving overall cooling performance.

Implementation Method 1

transfer heat from an information handling resource thermally coupled to the heat exchanger to the cooling fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

thermally coupled to the heat exchanger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

conduct the cooling liquid internally from the first external fluidic conduit through at least a portion of the first stationary rail

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS9699938B2System and method for cooling information handling resources

Publication Date: 2017.07.04 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A system may include a chassis having a pair of stationary rails mechanically coupled thereto. Each stationary rail may receive a corresponding telescoping sliding rail. Each stationary rail/sliding rail combination may be configured to convey a cooling fluid to or from a heat exchanger.