Rotating Immersion Tank for Data Center Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing immersion cooling systems for data centers are costly due to the need for specialized components like pumps, heat exchangers, and long cooling liquid pipes, which can lead to high installation costs and potential system failures if these components malfunction.
Innovation Solution
An immersion cooling apparatus with a rotatable immersion tank that uses a primary refrigerant to cool a secondary refrigerant, eliminating the need for a dedicated pump and pipe system, and incorporating projections on the tank surfaces to enhance heat transfer and circulation, allowing for direct cooling of electronic devices without additional cooling towers or heat exchangers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated cooling components (pump, heat exchanger, pipes) are used for immersion tank cooling liquid, then cooling function is ensured, but installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The immersion tank is merged with the housing containing primary refrigerant, creating an integrated cooling system where the tank wall serves as the heat exchange interface, eliminating the need for separate heat exchangers and dedicated cooling liquid circulation systems
Solution Approach 2:
The primary refrigerant in the housing serves multiple functions: it directly cools the immersion tank wall and indirectly cools the electronic devices through the tank wall, replacing the need for separate cooling towers and heat exchangers
2Productivity
If immersion tank cooling liquid is circulated through heat exchanger, then cooling efficiency is maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling liquid circulation system (pump, pipes, heat exchanger) is extracted and removed from the system. Instead, the primary refrigerant directly contacts the immersion tank wall to provide cooling, simplifying the system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The immersion tank wall acts as an intermediary heat exchange surface between the primary refrigerant in the housing and the secondary refrigerant (cooling liquid) inside the tank, enabling heat transfer without requiring complex circulation systems
3Productivity
If projections are added on tank surfaces, then heat transfer is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Projections are added locally on the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the immersion tank to enhance heat transfer at critical interfaces, while the rest of the tank maintains a simple cylindrical shape for easy manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The projections on the tank surfaces create curved geometries that increase surface area and improve heat transfer efficiency between the primary and secondary refrigerants
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 installation costs, enhances cooling efficiency, and provides redundancy in the driving mechanism to ensure continuous operation, extending the cooling keeping period and improving power consumption and cooling efficiency compared to traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
the immersion tank being dipped into and cooled down by the primary refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
the immersion tank having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, the inner circumferential surface being positioned facing the electronic device, the outer circumferential surface being positioned on an opposite side of the inner circumferential surface, each of the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface having a plurality of projections
Data Source
AI summary
An immersion cooling apparatus includes an immersion tank in which an electronic device is disposed and in which a secondary refrigerant is stored, the electronic device being dipped into and cooled down by the secondary refrigerant, a housing in which the immersion tank is disposed and in which a primary refrigerant is stored, the immersion tank being dipped into and cooled down by the primary refrigerant, and a driver that rotates the immersion tank, wherein the immersion tank being rotatably attached to an interior of the housing, the immersion tank having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, the inner circumferential surface being positioned facing the electronic device, the outer circumferential surface being positioned on an opposite side of the inner circumferential surface, each of the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface having a plurality of projections.