Sealed Rack Server Cooling With Hybrid Air-Liquid Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air cooling methods are inadequate for effectively dissipating the high heat generated by electronic components in server units, especially in harsh environments, leading to potential failure and performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid air and liquid cooling system is employed within sealed enclosures, utilizing air conduits, baffles, and air-liquid heat exchangers to transfer heat through a liquid coolant conduit, while maintaining a sealed environment to prevent contamination and enable deployment in challenging conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If air cooling is used, then the cooling system is simple, but it cannot effectively dissipate high heat from electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two distinct enclosures: a first enclosure containing electronic components with air cooling, and a second enclosure containing liquid cooling equipment. This segmentation allows each cooling method to operate independently in its optimal environment, with the air-cooled first enclosure sealed to prevent contamination while the liquid-cooled second enclosure handles the actual heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed barrier wall with an air liquid heat exchanger acts as an intermediary between the air-cooled first enclosure and the liquid-cooled second enclosure. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the air in the first enclosure to the liquid in the second enclosure, enabling effective heat dissipation while maintaining the sealed environment and preventing contamination.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the enclosure is sealed to prevent contamination, then protection from external contaminants is improved, but heat dissipation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed enclosure is segmented into two functional zones: the first enclosure that remains sealed to protect electronic components from contaminants, and the second enclosure that houses liquid cooling equipment for heat dissipation. This segmentation allows the sealed barrier to maintain protection while the liquid cooling system in the second enclosure handles thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The air liquid heat exchanger positioned in the barrier wall serves as an intermediary that enables heat transfer from the sealed first enclosure to the liquid cooling system in the second enclosure. This intermediary mechanism allows effective heat dissipation without compromising the sealed environment's protection against contaminants.
3Temperature
If hybrid air and liquid cooling is implemented, then heat dissipation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid cooling system is segmented into two independent enclosures with distinct cooling mechanisms. The first enclosure uses air cooling with fans and heat sinks, while the second enclosure uses liquid cooling with coolant circulation. This segmentation simplifies the overall design by allowing each cooling method to operate independently without requiring complex integration, while still achieving effective heat dissipation through the combination of both systems.
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 system achieves significantly lower component temperatures and reduced noise, allowing deployment in non-traditional environments such as outdoors and vehicles, with improved thermal management and protection from external contaminants.
Implementation Method 1
At least one air liquid heat exchanger is provided in an air flow path between the first enclosure and the second enclosure such that heated air passing between the first enclosure and the second enclosure passes through the air liquid heat exchanger to effect an extraction of the heat from the heated air
Implementation Method 2
The liquid coolant conduit is configured to effect a transfer of heat away from the air liquid heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A sealed server unit is described. The server unit utilises a combination of air and liquid cooling to effect a cooling of the electronic components within the server unit. By sealing the unit to ambient conditions it is possible to deploy the server unit in non-traditional environments.