Immersion Cooling Retrofit With Side-Return Single-Phase Fluid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing two-phase and hybrid immersion cooling systems are costly due to the use of expensive non-flammable, thermally conductive, dielectric, low boiling point fluorochemicals as operating fluids, and there is a need to convert these systems to more cost-effective one-phase immersion cooling systems without a known method for convenient conversion.
Innovation Solution
The conversion of two-phase or hybrid immersive cooling systems to one-phase systems is achieved by modifying the structure to allow a cooled portion of a high boiling point substitute operating fluid to flow into the reservoir from a direction other than from above, and using a high boiling point composition as the substitute operating fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two-phase or hybrid immersion cooling systems are used, then effective heat management is achieved, but operational costs increase due to expensive fluorochemicals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the operating fluid by using high boiling point fluorochemicals instead of low boiling point fluorochemicals. This parameter change allows the system to operate in single-phase mode while maintaining heat transfer effectiveness, thereby reducing operational costs without sacrificing heat management reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes expensive low boiling point fluorochemicals with more cost-effective high boiling point fluorochemicals. This replacement strategy reduces the cost of the operating fluid while maintaining the essential cooling function through a different thermal mechanism
2Loss of energy
If conversion to one-phase immersion cooling is attempted, then cost reduction is achieved, but system structure modification complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the fluid system to enable phase change, the patent inverts the approach by selecting a fluid with different thermal properties (high boiling point) that naturally operates in single-phase mode. This inversion simplifies the conversion process by focusing on fluid selection rather than complex structural modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the conversion challenge by changing the dimensional approach from modifying existing phase-change infrastructure to selecting a fluid that operates in a different thermal dimension (single-phase vs. two-phase), thereby avoiding complex structural modifications
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 approach allows for the conversion of expensive two-phase systems to more economical one-phase systems, reducing operational costs while maintaining effective heat management for heat generating components such as crypto miners.
Implementation Method 1
The heat transfer to the operating fluid can occur via natural convection and/or forced convection. In natural convection the operating fluid utilizes gravity currents for circulation with or without the help of an agitator. In forced convection, a pump is used to circulate the operating fluid within from the reservoir, through the heat exchanger, and back to the reservoir.
Implementation Method 2
The operating fluid extracts heat from the heat generating components, and transfers it to a coolant via a heat exchanger, which the rejects the transferred heat at a facility level through a coolant flowing through the heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 3
The operating fluid extracts heat from the heat generating components, and transfers it to a coolant via a heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A two-phase or hybrid immersive cooling system is converted to a one-phase immersive cooling system, by (1) modifying a structure of the two-phase immersive cooling system such that a cooled portion of a substitute operating fluid flows into the operating fluid reservoir from a direction other than from above the reservoir, and (2) using a high boiling point composition as the substitute operating fluid. In some embodiments the tube condensers of the two-phase or hybrid immersive cooling system are retained, and in other embodiments at least portions of the regions previously occupied by tube condensers are used for heat exchangers, and optionally fluid pumps. In still other embodiments at least portions of the regions previously occupied by tube condensers are used for hot fluid holding tanks.