Server Cooling Circuit Redundancy via Cross-Connected Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for computing devices lack redundancy in pump functionality, leading to ineffective heat removal when a pump fails, potentially affecting connected cooling modules and heat-generating components.
Innovation Solution
A cooling circuit with multiple modules arranged in parallel, interconnected by valves that allow coolant flow between adjacent modules in case of pump failure, along with a controller that detects pump failures and adjusts electrical power loads and alarms operators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cooling modules are arranged in parallel with individual pumps, then each module can independently cool heat-generating components, but the system lacks redundancy and becomes vulnerable to pump failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring cross-connected valves between adjacent cooling modules before any failure occurs. These valves remain closed during normal operation but are automatically opened upon pump failure to redirect coolant flow from working modules to the failed module's heat-generating components, ensuring immediate redundancy activation without requiring complex real-time decision logic
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces coolant as an intermediary substance that can be redirected between modules through the valve system. When a pump fails, the coolant flow path is reconfigured through the cross-connected valves, allowing coolant to serve the failed module's cooling needs from adjacent modules, effectively mediating the failure impact
2Reliability
If a pump fails in a cooling module, then that module can no longer cool its components, but the failure may also affect connected cooling modules in series
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling system into independent parallel modules, each with its own pump and heat-generating components. The cross-connected valves create controlled segmentation that allows isolation of the failed pump's impact to its own module while preventing propagation to other modules, as each module can independently receive coolant through its dedicated pump or through the valve-mediated backup path
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cooling system uses multiple parallel modules with redundancy, then pump failure can be compensated, but the system complexity and valve interconnections increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing redundancy and cross-connection only between adjacent cooling modules rather than creating a fully interconnected system. Each module is locally connected to its immediate neighbors through cross-connected valves, providing sufficient failure compensation while minimizing the overall number of valves and interconnections compared to a universal cross-connection approach
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
Ensures continuous effective heat removal from heat-generating components by redirecting coolant flow and adjusting power loads, maintaining system performance even with pump failures, and alerting operators to critical conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fluid enters a cooling conduit of the cold plate... The cooling fluid absorbs heat from heat-generating components
Implementation Method 2
Each cooling module includes a cold plate having a cooling conduit passing therethrough, and a pump fluidly coupled to the cooling conduit
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system for a rack of servers includes a plurality of cooling circuits, where each cooling circuit is coupled to a server of the rack. Each cooling circuit includes a plurality of cooling modules arranged in parallel. Each cooling module includes a cold plate having a cooling conduit passing therethrough, and a pump fluidly coupled to the cooling conduit. The cooling circuit further includes one or more valves fluidly interconnecting the plurality of cooling modules. Each of the one or more valves, when turned on, fluidly connects the cooling conduits of any two adjacent cooling modules. The cooling system further includes a first cooling distribution manifold fluidly connected to the cooling circuit of each of the plurality of servers through an inlet pipe, and a second cooling distribution manifold fluidly connected to the cooling circuit of each of the plurality of servers through an outlet pipe.