Spray Cooling Enclosure for Fanless Data Center Servers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data center cooling technologies, such as fan-based systems and immersion cooling, are inefficient, costly, and cumbersome, requiring significant power consumption and complex hardware designs, while immersion cooling involves labor-intensive server replacement processes.
Innovation Solution
A hermetically sealed container system that uses a spraying device to distribute a non-corrosive fluid and pressurized gas or air to cool data center servers, eliminating the need for exhaust fans and metal enclosures, and recirculates the fluid for continuous cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fan-based air cooling systems are used, then cooling effectiveness is achieved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pressurized gas (pneumatic system) to force cooling fluid through the server components instead of using mechanical fans. A gas source provides pressurized air or inert gas that flows through distribution manifolds and exits via nozzles directed at server components, eliminating the need for electric fans and significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining effective cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical fan-based air cooling system with a fluid injection system driven by pressurized gas. Instead of using rotating mechanical components (fans) to move air, the system uses pressurized gas to inject cooling fluid directly onto server components, substituting a simpler pneumatic mechanism for a complex mechanical system
2Temperature
If traditional fan-based cooling with metal enclosures is used, then cooling is effective, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional metal enclosures and fan assemblies from the cooling system. By extracting these complex components and replacing them with a simplified pressurized gas distribution system using manifolds and nozzles, the overall device complexity is reduced while maintaining cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is segmented into modular components: a gas source, distribution manifolds positioned at different locations, and multiple nozzles targeting specific server components. This segmentation allows for flexible configuration and simplified maintenance compared to integrated fan-enclosure systems
3Temperature
If immersion cooling is used, then cooling efficiency improves, but installation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fully immersing servers in cooling fluid as in traditional immersion cooling, the patent applies partial action by injecting cooling fluid only at critical hot spots on server components using targeted nozzles. This reduces the amount of cooling fluid needed and eliminates the requirement for large immersion tanks while maintaining effective cooling where it is most needed
4Temperature
If immersion cooling tanks are used, then cooling is effective, but ease of operation deteriorates due to labor-intensive server replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The use of pressurized gas delivery system allows for easy connection and disconnection of cooling components. The modular manifold and nozzle system can be quickly installed or removed without the labor-intensive processes required by immersion cooling tanks, improving ease of operation and maintenance
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 reduces power consumption, decreases noise, lowers costs, and simplifies server maintenance, allowing for modular design and improved serviceability, while enhancing cooling efficiency without the need for traditional air flow enclosures.
Implementation Method 1
a spray device located within the interior portion for spraying a non-corrosive fluid over the data center computer server to, in conjunction with the pressurized gas or air, cool at least a portion of the data center computer server
Implementation Method 2
spraying a non-corrosive fluid over the data center computer server to, in conjunction with the pressurized gas or air, cool at least a portion of the data center computer server
Data Source
AI summary
Described are examples for improving heat transfer for a data center, which may include a hermetically sealed container having sides defining an interior portion that is able to hold pressurized gas or air, a data center computer server located within the interior portion, and a spray device located within the interior portion for spraying a non-corrosive fluid over the data center computer server to, in conjunction with the pressurized gas or air, cool at least a portion of the data center computer server.