Server Rack Liquid Cooling with Vibrating Heat Exchanger Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid cooling systems for datacenter server racks are costly and space-consuming due to large piping conduit configurations and heavy pumps, which increase operational and initial investment costs and reduce datacenter productivity.
Innovation Solution
A liquid cooling arrangement with a server rack liquid cooling loop, incorporating vibrations elements such as acoustic or ultrasonic wave generators to enhance thermal exchanges in heat exchangers, optimizing the flow of cooling liquid and reducing the boundary layer to improve cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional piping conduit configurations and large capacity pumps are used to supply cooling liquid to water blocks, then the cooling capacity is sufficient to service the vast number of heat-generating components, but the initial investment costs and operating costs become prohibitively costly
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into modular server clusters, each with its own integrated cooling loop. This segmentation allows the system to serve multiple heat-generating components through distributed cooling units rather than requiring a single complex centralized piping infrastructure, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adequate cooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling liquid serves multiple functions: it cools heat-generating components directly through water blocks, absorbs thermal energy in the thermal exchanges zone, and transports heat to heat exchangers for dissipation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated cooling infrastructure for each function, simplifying the overall system.
2Reliability
If conventional piping conduit configurations and large capacity pumps are used to maintain necessary liquid flow rates, then the cooling needs of vast number of heat-generating components are met, but the footprint occupied becomes large, reducing datacenter productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling infrastructure is nested within the server rack structure itself. Cooling channels and conduits are integrated into the rack framework and server housing, allowing cooling liquid to be distributed through the existing spatial structure without requiring additional external piping space. This nesting approach maintains necessary flow rates while minimizing the footprint occupied by cooling infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system utilizes vertical and three-dimensional space within the server rack rather than only horizontal floor space. Cooling channels are routed through multiple levels and dimensions of the rack structure, allowing efficient liquid distribution without increasing the horizontal footprint, thereby preserving server density and productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If large capacity pumps are used to convey cooling liquid through the liquid cooling loop, then the cooling liquid can reach all heat-generating components, but the operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system operates dynamically by circulating cooling liquid through the thermal exchanges zone only when thermal energy needs to be transferred to the heat exchanger. The pump can modulate its operation based on real-time thermal conditions, reducing energy consumption during periods when maximum cooling capacity is not required while maintaining adaptability to serve all heat-generating components when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces a purely mechanical high-power pump configuration with a more efficient pump system that works in conjunction with natural convection and thermal-driven flow. The pump provides baseline circulation, but the thermal energy differential between the cooling liquid and ambient air creates additional flow that reduces the mechanical work required, thereby lowering operating costs while maintaining distribution coverage.
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 vibrations elements enhance thermal exchanges between the cooling liquid and air, optimizing heat exchanger efficiency and reducing the size of the heat exchanger, thereby lowering costs and increasing datacenter productivity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one element, called vibrations element, configured to generating a field of vibrations of the cooling liquid in an area of said at least one exchanger, called vibrations area
Implementation Method 2
the flow of the cooling liquid is locally changed, which helps a reduction of the boundary layer and/or increases local turbulences in the liquid flow
Implementation Method 3
the heat exchanger being configured such that thermal energy is exchanged between the liquid and an air flow in the thermal exchanges zone
Implementation Method 4
thermal energy is exchanged between the liquid and an air flow in the thermal exchanges zone
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7
AI summary
The invention relates to a liquid cooling arrangement for cooling heat-generating components of a datacenter server rack, comprising: a liquid cooling loop, a plurality of server clusters; at least one heat exchanger fluidly connected to the liquid cooling units of the plurality of server clusters via the liquid cooling loop, the heat exchanger comprising at least one manifold (203, 204) for collecting the cooling liquid and a zone, called thermal exchanges zone, the heat exchanger being configured such that thermal energy is exchanged between the liquid and an air flow in the thermal exchanges zone; and a pump fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger, wherein the liquid cooling arrangement (100) comprises at least one element (200), called vibrations element, configured to generate a field of vibrations of the cooling liquid in an area of said at least one exchanger, called vibrations area.