Rotatable Dual-Pattern Cooling Manifold for Server Size Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional manifolds for rack cooling systems are inflexible and fail to accommodate varying server sizes due to fixed dimensions, leading to compatibility issues when the layer height of a rack is adjusted.
Innovation Solution
A modular manifold design with adjustable hole patterns and interchangeable joints/adapters that allow for 180-degree rotation to adapt to different server sizes, ensuring compatibility by altering the hole configuration and joint sizes to match server interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional fixed-size manifold is used, then the manifold structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot adapt to different server sizes when rack layer height is adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold incorporates adjustable components including rotatable joints that can be rotated to different angles, telescopic arms with adjustable lengths, and interchangeable adapters. These dynamic elements allow the manifold to change its configuration to match different server sizes and rack layer heights, transforming a static structure into an adaptable one that maintains compatibility across various server configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold is divided into multiple modular segments including separate joints, arms, and adapters that can be independently adjusted or replaced. This segmentation allows specific portions of the manifold to be modified without replacing the entire structure, enabling adaptation to different server sizes while maintaining overall structural integrity and simplifying the adjustment process
2Adaptability or versatility
If the manifold size is fixed, then manufacturing and installation are straightforward, but the manifold does not fit different server water inlet/outlet positions
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold incorporates universal joints and interchangeable adapters that can accommodate multiple server interface types and positions. The same basic manifold structure can serve multiple functions by adjusting joint angles or replacing adapters, allowing a single manifold design to be compatible with various server water inlet and outlet positions without requiring custom-manufactured components for each configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold utilizes adjustable parameters including joint rotation angles, arm lengths, and adapter types that can be modified to match different server configurations. By changing these parameters rather than the fundamental manifold structure, the system achieves compatibility with different server interfaces while maintaining standardized manufacturing processes for the core components
3Reliability
If traditional manifolds are replaced for different server sizes, then optimal cooling performance is achieved, but time and cost are wasted on multiple replacements
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than replacing the entire manifold when server configurations change, the system allows for partial adjustments of specific components such as rotating joints to different angles or replacing only the adapter portion. This partial action approach maintains optimal cooling performance by properly positioning water connections while avoiding the time and cost of complete manifold replacements
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 modular design enhances versatility and convenience by allowing the manifold to fit various server sizes without replacement, maintaining efficient cooling performance across different rack configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The inlet pipe (10) is used to deliver cooling water to the server. The outlet pipe (20) is used to recover the hot water from the server.
Data Source
AI summary
A manifold for cooling server includes an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a plurality of first hole groups, and a plurality of second hole groups. The distance between every two adjacent first hole groups is first distance, the distance between every two adjacent second hole groups is second distance, and the first distance is not equal to the second distance. The first distance is designed for one size of server, and the second distance is designed for another size of server. When changing the size of all servers in the rack, turning manifold 100 to 180 degrees to change the first hole groups 30 to the second hole groups 40 for adapting the severs, which makes the manifold 100 adapt two different sizes of server. A rack and a data center cooling system using the manifold are also disclosed.